Sunday the 26th June marked the start of the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup 2011 in Germany.

To celebrate the start of the three week long competition, SkillsActive look back at the literacy, language and numeracy skills project that proved so successful during last year’s world cup. Take a trip down memory lane by looking through last years daily quizzes and challenges, as well as checking out all of our fantastic resources to help you brush up your literacy, language and numeracy skills.

What are you waiting for? Start exploring the site now!!

Don’t forget! Everyday this week, SkillsActive will be featuring stories and interviews linked to the Women’s World Cup. To find out more, visit www.skillsactive.com

Spain triumphed last night over Holland with a late winner deep into extra time to win the World Cup for the first time, adding to their European Championship win two years ago.

With the end of the World Cup comes the end of our World Cup Skills project, however this website will remain so you can use the quizzes and resources to address issues surrounding literacy and numeracy skills.

Over the past month we’ve received almost 4,000 visits from around 3,000 visitors, with our most popular quiz question being the Game 5 first half question. We’ve given away lots of prizes through our competitions, and we hope you’ve picked up lots of useful (and not so useful) trivia knowledge through our daily facts! We hope you have enjoyed this resource, and will continue to do so.

For more information you can find out more about the project, browse the literacy and numeracy resources, look at all the past questions and challenges, or get in touch with us with any queries regarding literacy and numeracy skills.

Last night Germany claimed third place in the tournament with an exciting 3-2 win against Uruguay. Thomas Muller scored on his retun to the team to take him level with Wesley Sneijder, David Villa, and Diego Forlan as top goalscorer.

Tonight the climax of the tournament takes place at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. Whatever the final outcome there will be a new winner of the Fifa World Cup. Click on this link to see highlights of last night’s game and build up to tonight’s big match.

Fact of the day:

Brazil won their third World Cup in 1970, for which they were given the original Jules Rimet trophy to keep. A new trophy was made in time for the 1974 World Cup.

Test your skills today with questions about the countries flags, and about some of the top strikers in the World. And don’t forget to have a go at the competition to win a pair of tickets to England versus Hungary in August.

The day before the 2010 World Cup final between Holland and Spain, Fifa has announced it shortlist for player of the tournament. Three Spain players have been named on the 10-man shortlist for the World Cup Golden Ball award. Striker David Villa is joined by midfield pair Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Fellow finalists Holland have Wesley Sneijder, who like Villa has five goals, and Arjen Robben listed. Germany duo Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Uruguay’s Diego Forlan and Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan are the other contenders.

Fact of the day:

Did you know that Adidas, Coca-cola, Emirates, Hyundai, Sony, and Visa have each paid $100,000,000.00 to be official partners of the FIFA World Cup 2010.

Test your skills today with questions about the heights of some of the best World Cup players and rearranging the words of the World Cup anthem.

In the build up to the World Cup final on Sunday Fifa has taken the opportunity to declare that goal-line technology and refereeing changes may be introduced after the tournament. After Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany and Argentina’s controversial goal against Mexico in the second round, Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke said today “I would say that it is the final World Cup with the current refereeing system.”

Fact of the day:

Brazil’s Mário Zagallo and West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer are the only people to date to win the World Cup as both player and head coach. Zagallo won in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as head coach. Beckenbauer won in 1974 as captain and in 1990 as head coach.

Test your skills today with questions about England’s all white kit and the World Cup match between Japan and Paraguay earlier in the tournament.

After nearly a month of entertaining and dramatic football the World Cup final will be played out between Holland and Spain. This means whoever triumphs, there will be a new winner of the World Cup. Last night in a tight game Spain showed more class in midfield and managed to keep the German danger man Mesut Ozil quiet. It was the unsung hero defender Carlos Puyol who scored a powerful header to send Spain through!

Fact of the day:

Nike is producing shirts for nine of the teams participating in the World Cup. Each shirt, including the ones on sale to the public, is made from eight plastic bottles.

Test your skills today with questions about the financial cost for South Africa of hosting the famous competition, and about England’s Steven Gerrard. And don’t forget to have a go at the competition to win tickets for a tour of Wembley Stadium.

Well the Dutch have made it to the World Cup final with a 3-2 victory over Uruguay and will be determined to win the Jules Rimet trophy for the first time ever. Wesley Sneijder again scored for the Dutch but it was the wonder strike from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst which stole the show! Check out the goal below.

Fact of the day:

Did you know that until South Africa at this year’s tournament no host nation has ever failed to get beyond the group stage.

Test your skills today with questions about Argentina player Carlos Tevez and what he thought about his team before the tournament and about South African money from ticket sales.

Today the football is back with the first semi-final! Holland take on the plucky Uruguayans who came through a dramatic penalty shootout with Ghana. Wesley Sneijder is Holland’s top scorer with four goals and will want to team up with Robben, Van Persie and teamates to reach his first World Cup final.

Fact of the day:

Miroslav Klose has scored 5 goals in each of his previous two World Cup tournaments. If he keeps this streak going he will equal Ronaldo’s record of 15 World Cup Finals goals.

Test your skills today with questions about Fabio Capello’s money, and about England’s goalkeeper David James.