titleholders japan await womens world cup draw
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Titleholders Japan await Women's World Cup draw

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Titleholders Japan await Women's World Cup draw

Mizuho Sakaguchi (C)
Ottawa - Arab Today

Defending champions Japan are among four previous winners who will find out later on Saturday how tough their group will be at next year's Women's World Cup when the draw takes place in Ottawa.
Despite their nickname Nadeshiko -- a flower symbolising grace and beauty -- the Japanese have earned a reputation as giant-killers and are among the top seeds.
The women's tournament has taken place every four years since the inaugural event in China in 1991 and for the first time there will be 24 and not 16 teams in the draw.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke will officiate at the ceremony at the Canadian Museum of History.
Teams will be drawn into six groups of four, with first-round matches to be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton.
The top two in each group will qualify for the last 16 along with four best third place finishers.
The opening match will take place in Edmonton on June 6 with the final set for Vancouver on July 5.
Despite controversy over the plastic pitches for the event Japanese head coach Norio Sasaki insisted they can adapt after beating Canada in a friendly on the surface in Edmonton in October.
"If we get used to it, I know we can handle it well," Sasaki said.
"The stadium is wonderful, and it's very big. I think for the players it was very encouraging and a good opportunity for us to play here."
Japan lifted the trophy with a dramatic win over the United States in Germany four years ago, delivering a boost to their country months after a deadly earthquake and tsunami.
But the United States gained revenge by winning the Olympic gold ahead of Japan, with Canada taking bronze and France finishing fourth.
The USA are FIFA's top ranked team ahead of fellow two-time winners Germany, and Japan. Norway, the other former champion, are ranked ninth.
Japan are in Pot 1 along with the United States, Germany, Brazil, Canada and France.
In pot 3 are former powerhouse China, while pot 4 is full of dangerous teams including fifth-ranked Sweden, European finalists Norway and a fast-improving Spain.
"We're calm ahead of the draw. We'll see. We already know that we're going to come up against some great teams," France coach Philippe Bergeroo told AFP.
"We've done the rounds, we've tried to play all types of football. The only football we don't know that well is African. But after the draw myself and my staff will travel to see how our rivals play."
"A team that worries me is Spain," he continued.
"They came out on top of their pool. We asked to play them but it wasn't possible, they play few friendlies, they work by themselves and no-one really knows what's goes on. They're in the process of preparing something."
France have lined up friendlies in 2015 against the United States and England as well as a tournament in Portugal in March.
Pot 1: Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, United States
Pot 2: Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Costa Rica, Mexico, New Zealand
Pot 3: Australia, China, South Korea, Thailand, Colombia, Ecuador
Pot 4: England, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

titleholders japan await womens world cup draw titleholders japan await womens world cup draw

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

titleholders japan await womens world cup draw titleholders japan await womens world cup draw

 



GMT 20:58 2017 Sunday ,19 February

1 dead, 27 hurt in Belgium train derailment

GMT 21:36 2017 Tuesday ,12 September

Mido stresses need for experienced

GMT 23:09 2017 Wednesday ,08 November

Colombia announces record 12-ton cocaine seizure

GMT 14:28 2017 Sunday ,11 June

Macron: modern president with Midas touch

GMT 01:59 2017 Wednesday ,11 October

April21st-May21st

GMT 01:12 2017 Wednesday ,08 November

Catalan ex-leader says Spain planned 'wave of violence'

GMT 09:28 2017 Thursday ,14 September

Defa Jadid: players need more harmony

GMT 11:27 2017 Wednesday ,26 April

Turkish Police Arrest Over 1,000 FETO Suspects

GMT 09:31 2017 Wednesday ,15 March

A bomb targeted a wedding procession in Aden
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday