The long wait is over. On Monday evening, 29 November 2010, each of the 16 FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011™ participants finally found out who they will be up against in the group stages of next year’s tournament. Over 600 guests attended the event at the Frankfurt Congress Centre, where each team’s fate was revealed during a glittering 45-minute show.
There was plenty of excitement about Group C, in which the USA, Korea DPR, Sweden and Colombia will be battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals. Hosts Germany face Canada, Nigeria and France in Group A, which kicks off on 26 June with the tournament’s opening match between Silvia Neid’s reigning champions and Canada at the Berlin Olympiastadion.
Needless to say, there was plenty of enthusiasm among the German delegation in the audience.
In Group B, Japan, New Zealand, Mexico and England will all fancy their chances of a top-two berth and subsequent place in the knockout stages, while Group D also had tongues wagging as Brazil, Australia, Norway and Equatorial Guinea were all drawn in the same section.
Overview of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 groups:
Group A
Germany
Canada
Nigeria
France
Group B
Japan
New Zealand
Mexico
England
Group C
USA
Korea DPR
Colombia
Sweden
Group D
Brazil
Australia
Norway
Equatorial Guinea
Monday evening’s show also provided the LOC with the ideal opportunity to generate yet more enthusiasm for next year’s festival of women’s football. Legendary German Football star Günter Netzer and top model and women’s football ambassador Adriana Karembeu conducted the draw, with FIFA Head of Women’s Competitions Tatjana Haenni hosting the event.
German pop-rock band Wir Sind Helden provided the entertainment on a thoroughly enjoyable evening for all those in attendance.
Fifa.com