Canada To Play Germany, Japan and Argentina

Canada’s Women’s World Cup Team have been drawn into Group C and will play Germany, Japan and Argentina in the opening round of the 2003 Women’s World Cup.



Canada will play against Germany on September 20 in Columbus and then face Argentina on September 24 at Columbus. The team will then travel to Boston to play Japan at Foxboro Stadium on September 27.



Should Canada advance to the quarter-finals they would play against the winner or runner-up in Group D (China, Ghana, Australia and Russia) on October 2 in Portland.



“It was a very exciting moment,” said Head Coach Even Pellerud following the draw. “I’m quite pleased with the outcome as it could have been much worse for us.”



“Germany is probably the top team in the world and it will be great opening test for us.”



“I’m not worried about the 12th place ranking and I’m not surprised,” Pellerud added when asked about the rankings. “It’s more of a historical list.”



2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup Schedule



Group A

United States

Sweden

Nigeria

North Korea

t

Group B

Norway

France

Brazil

South Korea

t

Group C

Germany

Canada

Japan

Argentina

t

Group D

China

Ghana

Australia

Russia



#tLocationtDate & Time (Local)tTeams

Group A

1.tWDCt09/21/03tUnited States vs Sweden

2.tPHLt09/20/03tNigeria vs North Korea

9.tPHLt09/25/03tUnited States vs Nigeria

10.tPHLt09/25/03tNorth Korea vs Sweden

17.tCLBt09/28/03tUnited States vs North Korea

18.tCLBt09/28/03tSweden vs Nigeria



Group B

3.tPHLt09/20/03tBrazil vs South Korea

4.tWDCt09/21/03tNorway vs France

11.tWDCt09/24/03tNorway vs Brazil

12.tWDCt09/24/03tSouth Korea vs France

19.tBOSt09/27/03tNorway vs South Korea

20.tWDCt09/27/03tFrance vs Brazil



Group C

5.tCLBt09/20/03tGermany vs Canada

6.tCLBt09/20/03tJapan vs Argentina

13.tCLBt09/24/03tGermany vs Japan

14.tCLBt09/24/03tArgentina vs Canada

21.tWDCt09/27/03tGermany vs Argentina

22.tBOSt09/27/03tCanada vs Japan



Group D

7.tLOSt09/21/03tChina vs Ghana

8.tLOSt09/21/03tAustralia vs Russia

15.tLOSt09/25/03tChina vs Australia

16.tLOSt09/25/03tRussia vs Ghana

23.tPORt09/28/03tChina vs Russia

24.tPORt09/28/03tGhana vs Australia



Quarter-Finals

25.tBOSt10/01/03t1st A vs. 2nd B

26.tBOSt10/01/03t1st B vs. 2nd A

27.tPORt10/02/03t1st C vs. 2nd D

28.tPORt10/02/03t1st D vs. 2nd C



Semi-Finals

29.tPORt10/05/03tW25 vs. W27

30.tPORt10/05/03tW26 vs. W28



Third Place

31.tLOSt10/11/03tL29 vs. L30



Final

32.tLOSt10/12/03tW29 vs. W30



FIFA Women’s World Rankings (as of July 16, 2003):

Ranking Country Points

1. USA 2169

2. Norway 2159

3. Germany 2152

4. China 2110

5. Sweden 2073

6. Brazil 2036

7. North Korea 2004

8. Denmark* 1967

9. France 1963

10. Italy * 1943

11. Russia 1899

12. Canada 1867

14. Japan 1850

15. Australia 1839

23. Nigeria 1738

24. South Korea 1727

35. Argentina 1624

53. Ghana 1458



Note: Denmark and Italy are the only two teams on the above list not participating in 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.