Canada have been drawn in Group A of the FIFA Women's World Cup Germany 2011 with France, Nigeria and hosts Germany.
In fact, Canada will face the host Germans in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2011. Canada then face France on Thursday, June 30, and Nigeria on Tuesday, July 5.
Should Canada advance beyond the group phase, it will face first or second place from Group B in the quarterfinal stages. Group features Japan, New Zealand, England, and Mexico. In the semifinal stage, Canada would face a team from either Group C (USA, North Korea, Colombia, Sweden) or Group D (Brazil, Australia, Norway, Equatorial Guinea).
"Playing the holders Germany in front of their home crowd in the opening match is a big task," said Canadian head coach Carolina Morace. "The Germans, though, might be a little nervous in the circumstances, too. I see no reason why we shouldn’t take something from the opening match, provided we play well."
Canada will be participating in its fifth consecutive FIFA Women's World Cup, dating back to the second competition in Sweden in 1995. Germany and Nigeria are both taking part in their sixth FIFA Women's World Cup, while France are taking part in their second FIFA Women's World Cup.
Earlier this month, Canada won the 2010 CONCACAF Women's World Cup Qualifying tournament in Cancún, Mexico, with Morace's squad including several members of the 2010 Whitecaps FC women's team, as well as some former members of the 'Caps women. Up next for Morace's squad is the four-team II Torneio Internacional in São Paulo, Brazil.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 runs June 26 to July 17 in nine German cities: Augsburg, Berlin, Bochum, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach, Sinsheim, and Wolfsburg.
CANADA - GROUP A - FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP GERMANY 2011
26/06/2011 - Berlin - Germany vs Canada
30/06/2011 - Bochum - Canada vs France
05/07/2011 - Dresden - Canada vs Nigeria
