Dawn of a new goal-den era

After decades in the doldrums, women's soccer is finally enjoying mass appeal, as Agence France-Presse reports

Women's soccer has fought a long battle for recognition - but after several false starts the game has swelled in popularity and this year's World Cup finals in France promises to be the most-watched in history.

The women's game first emerged in Britain after World War I and found a new wave of support in the late 1960s before receding - only to re-emerge in the 1990s.