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Americans get tough draw in Women's World Cup
April 22, 2007
WUHAN, China (Ticker) - The United States is the top-ranked women's soccer team in the world but you wouldn't know it by how they were treated Sunday.
Three of the world's top five-ranked teams, including the United States, have been drawn together in Group B of the Women's World Cup, which takes place later this year in China.
The Americans will meet up with Sweden and North Korea, who are ranked fourth and fifth respectively, and Nigeria.
"I think we've got a challenging draw. I think we might have got the top team out of each pot," U.S. coach Greg Ryan said. "We have to get back to work, start preparing. It's going to be a great group and it's going to be a great challenge for all of the teams to get out of that group."
All three games promise to be enthralling encounters for the Olympic champions but it will be the clash between Ryan's team and the North Koreans that is sure to attract interest beyond the game.
The continuing tension between the United States and the reclusive communist state, whose nuclear program has worsened already bad relations between the countries. But Ryan does not believe the political overtones will overshadow what he expects to be a challenging encounter.
"I have great respect for the North Korean football team," he said. "I have watched them, scouted them for several years and I'm very proud of these women and what they have accomplished as women in North Korea.
"It's going to be about football, it won't be anything else and we look forward to a great game with them. They're a physical team but they're also skilful. They're strong and I thought they were a great soccer-playing team when I saw them, but it's been a couple of years. We're used to physical play, we're a physical team so we'll be fine."
The U.S. has drawn difficult first-round groups in the past two Women's World Cup tournaments, playing Nigeria and North Korea in both 1999 and 2003. In 1999, the U.S. opened the tournament with Denmark and in 2003 vs. Sweden, which eventually made it to the final.
Defending champion Germany headlines Group A along with Japan, England and Argentina.
Group C has No. 3 Norway, Ghana, Australia and Canada. Hosts China are in Group D along with New Zealand, Brazil and Denmark.
The 2007 Women's World Cup will be held in China from September 10-30, in what is considered a prelude to next year's Beijing Olympics. Games will be played in five Chinese cities, Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Tianjin.
The top two teams from each group progress to the quarterfinals.
April 22, 2007
WUHAN, China (Ticker) - The United States is the top-ranked women's soccer team in the world but you wouldn't know it by how they were treated Sunday.
Three of the world's top five-ranked teams, including the United States, have been drawn together in Group B of the Women's World Cup, which takes place later this year in China.
The Americans will meet up with Sweden and North Korea, who are ranked fourth and fifth respectively, and Nigeria.
"I think we've got a challenging draw. I think we might have got the top team out of each pot," U.S. coach Greg Ryan said. "We have to get back to work, start preparing. It's going to be a great group and it's going to be a great challenge for all of the teams to get out of that group."
All three games promise to be enthralling encounters for the Olympic champions but it will be the clash between Ryan's team and the North Koreans that is sure to attract interest beyond the game.
The continuing tension between the United States and the reclusive communist state, whose nuclear program has worsened already bad relations between the countries. But Ryan does not believe the political overtones will overshadow what he expects to be a challenging encounter.
"I have great respect for the North Korean football team," he said. "I have watched them, scouted them for several years and I'm very proud of these women and what they have accomplished as women in North Korea.
"It's going to be about football, it won't be anything else and we look forward to a great game with them. They're a physical team but they're also skilful. They're strong and I thought they were a great soccer-playing team when I saw them, but it's been a couple of years. We're used to physical play, we're a physical team so we'll be fine."
The U.S. has drawn difficult first-round groups in the past two Women's World Cup tournaments, playing Nigeria and North Korea in both 1999 and 2003. In 1999, the U.S. opened the tournament with Denmark and in 2003 vs. Sweden, which eventually made it to the final.
Defending champion Germany headlines Group A along with Japan, England and Argentina.
Group C has No. 3 Norway, Ghana, Australia and Canada. Hosts China are in Group D along with New Zealand, Brazil and Denmark.
The 2007 Women's World Cup will be held in China from September 10-30, in what is considered a prelude to next year's Beijing Olympics. Games will be played in five Chinese cities, Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Tianjin.
The top two teams from each group progress to the quarterfinals.
