WOMEN'S WORLD CUP: READY FOR THE WORLD U.S. LANDS IN TOUGHEST GROUP FOR WOMEN'S CUP.Byline: Keven Chavez Staff Writer CARSON - Four years ago in Pasadena, 90,000-plus fans roared and U.S. uniform tops swirled in the air. The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup The FIFA Women's World Cup is recognized as the most important International competition in women's football and is played amongst women's national football teams of the member states of FIFA, the sport's global governing body. - particularly the final game at the Rose Bowl - was a triumph not just for the champion United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. national team, but seemingly to sports fans and Americans as a whole. The 2003 tournament returns to the United States next month, and in October the final again will take place in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . But on Thursday at Home Depot The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products and services. Headquartered in Vinings, just outside Atlanta in unincorporated Cobb County, Georgia, Home Depot employs more than 355,000 people and operates 2,164 big-box Center, the hopes of a U.S. encore performance took a bit of a pretournament hit as the 16 qualifying teams were placed into four groups in the official draw. The U.S., FIFA's top-ranked team, will face No. 5 Sweden, No. 7 North Korea and No. 23 Nigeria in Group A, which is widely considered to be the strongest group in the tournament. ``To be the best you have to play the best and we understand that,'' U.S. forward Mia Hamm Mia Hamm (born Mariel Margaret Hamm on March 17,1972 in Selma, Alabama) is a former American soccer player. Playing for many years as a forward for the United States women's national soccer team, she scored more international goals in her career than any other player, male said. ``We know it's not going to be easy to get where we want to be. It's going to be a fight every game.'' Sweden finished sixth in the 1999 Cup and went 5-1 in qualifying games this year. North Korea won the 2003 Asian Championships, during which it outscored its opponents 60-3. Nigeria, nicknamed the Super Falcons, finished seventh in the '99 and won the African championship in 2002. ``North Korea we haven't seen in many years, but the Chinese coach (Ma Liangxiang) leaned over to me and said `They are very strong,' '' U.S. coach April Heinrichs April Heinrichs (born February 27, 1964 in Denver, Colorado) was among the first players on the United States women's national soccer team, and was captain of the United States team which won the first ever FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991. said. ``We've been saying for well over two years we think Sweden one of the top five teams in the world. ``Clearly what we have is a group with possibly four of the top seven teams in the world.'' An imposing group is nothing new to the Americans. In the 2000 Olympics, the U.S. team advanced from a group with Norway, China and Nigeria and went on to win the championship. ``We had the `Group of Death,' they said, in the Olympics in 2000,'' three-time World Cup veteran Julie Foudy Julie Maurine Foudy (born 23 January 1971 in San Diego, California) was a midfielder for the United States women's national soccer team from 1987 through 2004, finishing with a remarkable 271 caps. said. ``Our take always is that it's less about the draw than taking care of yourself and making sure you're ready.'' The tournament, which changed host countries from China to the U.S. because of the recent SARS epidemic, begins Sept. 20. The U.S. will play its first game Sept. 21 against Sweden at RFK RFK Robert F. Kennedy RFK Robotfindskitten (game) RFK Razorfen Kraul (World of Warcraft) RFK Ride For Kids RFK Request for Knowledge RFK Raum Funktionales Konzept Stadium in Washington, where opening ceremonies also will be held. The U.S. team, which has won two of the previous three Women's World Cup The Women's World Cup could refer to either the:
Home Depot Center will host the third-place game and championship game Oct. 11 and 12, respectively. Home Depot Center also will be the site of first-round doubleheaders Sept. 21 and Sept. 25 in Group D, which includes No. 4 China, No. 11 Russia, No. 15 Australia and No. 53 Ghana. Tickets go on sale to the general public Saturday. Presale tickets, through a tournament sponsor's promotion, currently are available on the Web site (www.FIFAworldcup.com). Keven Chavez, (626) 962-8811 keven.chavez(at)sgvn.com CAPTION(S): box Box: THE DRAW |
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