Hosts Canada will play China in the curtain-raiser of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on Saturday.
This is just one game in the 52 of the expanded format which has 24 teams, eight of whom have never appeared at a World Cup before.
TheCable presents a preview of the all the groups, fixtures, and favourites to advance to the next round.
GROUP A
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Canada, China, Netherlands, New Zealand
June 6
Canada v China (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
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New Zealand v Netherlands (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
June 11
China v Netherlands (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
Canada v New Zealand (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
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June 15
Netherlands v Canada (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
China v New Zealand (Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg)
Favourites to advance
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This might not be the proverbial Group of Death but any of the four can have a Living in Bondage experience despite never seeing the popular Nollywood movie! Canada and the Netherlands, though, should survive one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.
GROUP B
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Germany, Ivory Coast, Norway, Thailand
June 7
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Norway v Thailand (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
Germany v Ivory Coast (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
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June 11
Germany v Norway (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
Ivory Coast v Thailand (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
June 15
Thailand v Germany (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
Ivory Coast v Norway (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
Favourites to advance
This should be a straight one between Germany and Norway. The West African side are highly likely to finish as the whipping boys, sorry, girls in the group.
GROUP C
Cameroon, Ecuador, Japan, Switzerland
June 8
Cameroon v Ecuador (BC Place, Vancouver)
Japan v Switzerland (BC Place, Vancouver)
June 12
Switzerland v Ecuador (BC Place, Vancouver)
Japan v Cameroon (BC Place, Vancouver)
June 16
Ecuador v Japan (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
Switzerland v Cameroon (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
Favourites to advance
On paper, Japan and Switzerland should easily qualify from this group. Africa’s vice-champions, Cameroon are a long shot to advance – as well as Ecuador.
GROUP D
Australia, Nigeria, Sweden, United States
June 8
Sweden v Nigeria (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
United States v Australia (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
June 12
Australia v Nigeria (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
United States v Sweden (Investors Group Field, Winnipeg)
June 16
Nigeria v United States (BC Place, Vancouver)
Australia v Sweden (Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton)
Teams in Group D
United States
Qualified as: CONCACAF Women’s Championship winner
Previous World Cups: 6
Best finish: Champion in 1991, 1999
FIFA rank: 2
Average age: 29
Australia
Qualified as: AFC Women’s Asian Cup runner-up
Previous World Cups: 5
Best finish: Quarter-finals in 2007 and 2011
FIFA rank: 10
Average age: 24
Sweden
Qualified as: UEFA Group 4 winner
Previous World Cups: 6
Best finish: Runner-up in 2003
FIFA rank: 5
Average age: 27
Nigeria
Qualified as: African Women’s Championship winner
Previous World Cups: 6
Best finish: Quarter-finals in 1999
FIFA rank: 33
Average age: 23
Favourites to advance
The Group of Death! Picking the Super Falcons ahead of the USA and Sweden is borne more out of patriotism than pedigree. But like we know, nothing is impossible in the game.
Group E
Brazil, Costa Rica, South Korea, Spain
June 9
Spain v Costa Rica (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
Brazil v South Korea (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
June 13
Brazil v Spain (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
South Korea v Costa Rica (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
June 17
Costa Rica v Brazil (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
South Korea v Spain (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
Brazil, the Copa America Femenina winners, should easily qualify in this group comprising two World Cup newcomers Spain and Costa Rica. South Korea and Spain will fight for second place.
GROUP F
Colombia, England, France, Mexico
June 9
France v England (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
Colombia v Mexico (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
June 13
France v Colombia (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
England v Mexico (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
June 17
Mexico v France (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
England v Colombia (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
Favourites to advance
France and England are clear favourites here. Mexico could cause an upset but Colombia – South America’s vice-champion – will find the challenge beyond their ability.
Let the fun begins!
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