China get tough draw in 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

World
Europe

01:29

China have been drawn against Germany, Spain and South Africa in Group B at next year's FIFA Women's World Cup.

Defending champions the United States got a favorable draw in Group F along with Thailand, Chile and Sweden when the draw was made for the 24 participating teams in Paris on Saturday.

The 15th-ranked China, who qualified for the finals through their third-place finish at the Asian Cup in April. have featured in six of the previous seven editions of women's soccer most prestigious tournament. Their best result was in 1999 when they finished runners-up to the U.S., losing on penalties in the final.

Ettie, the official mascot for the FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 /VCG Photo

Responding to the draw, Chinese player Wang Shuang, who currently represents Paris Saint-Germain in the French league, told Xinhua, "It will not be an easy game against every team. After all, it's the World Cup. Players and coaches will pay great attention to it, so there is much possibility ahead.

"I think we just need to focus on ourselves and move on step by step, without thinking too much about other factors. Train hard and prepare well for the World Cup, that's quite simple."

For Spain's head coach Jorge Vilda, China have improved a lot in recent years with the new coach. He said they are in the top ten in women's football and can fight for the top spot in the group.

"We played China before at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but it's two years later," said Desiree Ellis, head coach of the tournament's debutants South Africa. "We will just have to play very well, in particular for what we did this year. We need to execute our plans."

The venue for the final draw for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 in Paris, December 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Hosts France will play the World Cup opening match against South Korea on June 7, 2019, at the Parc des Princes in Paris. The other two contenders in Group A are Norway and Nigeria.

Australia are joined in Group C by Italy, Brazil and Jamaica. Group D will be played among England, Scotland, Argentina and Japan.

Canada, Cameroon, New Zealand and the Netherlands constitute Group E.

52 matches will be played across nine stadiums in France, with the final to take place in Lyon on July 7.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency