Canada to defend Cyprus Women’s Cup title

The fifth edition of the 2012 Cyprus Women’s Cup kicks off this 28 February in Larnaka, Nicosia, and Paralimni, Cyprus. For the second year in a row, 12 teams will compete in the women’s international competition organized by the football associations of Scotland, Netherlands and England. All 12 teams will play four matches from 28 February to 6 March.

The 12 teams are split into three groups, with winners of the first two groups eligible to compete in the championship match on 6 March. Canada has won three of the four previous editions of the Cyprus Women’s Cup, including each of the last two against Netherlands (2011 final) and New Zealand (2010 final).

England, Finland, France and Switzerland will compete in Group A while Canada, Italy, Netherlands and Scotland will compete in Group B. Korea Republic, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and South Africa will compete in Group C.

After the group phase (matches on 28 February, 1 March and 4 March), the top three teams from Group A will meet the top three teams from Group B in matches for 1st/2nd place, 3rd/4th place or 5th/6th place. The bottom-two teams from Group A and Group B will meet the top-two teams from Group C in matches for 7th/8th place or 9th/10th place. The bottom-two teams in Group C will play in the match for 11th/12th place.

This year’s Cyprus Women’s Cup features four teams that competed in last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. Of the 12 teams in Cyprus, 10 of them are returning from last year’s competition. Last year’s competitors Mexico and Russia are replaced by debutant Finland and returning nation South Africa. Since 2008, fifteen different national “A” teams have participated in the annual Cyprus Women’s Cup.

2011 CYPRUS WOMEN’S CUP – CANADA FIXTURES
28 February 2012 – Canada v Scotland
1 March 2012 – Canada v Italy
4 March 2012 – Canada v Netherlands
6 March 2012 – Classification matches