Draw for 2011 women's World Cup unfolded

Draw for 2011 women's World Cup unfolded

(L-R) Steffi Jones, head of the organization committee of the Women's Soccer World Cup, Worawi Makudi, chairman of the committee for women's football and the FIFA Women's World Cup, and Tatjana Haenni, FIFA's head of women's football, hold a sign ahead of the draw in Frankfurt for the 2011 FIFA women's soccer world cup, Nov 29, 2010.

BERLIN - The draw of the four groups for the women's World Cup to be held from June 26 to July 17 next year was unfolded Monday in German city of Frankfurt.

Following is the result of the draw:

Group A: Germany, Canada, Nigeria, France.

Group B: Japan, New Zealand, Mexico, England.

Group C: United States, North Korea, Colombia, Sweden.

Group D: Brazil, Australia, Norway, Equatorial Guinea.

It will be a tough job for Australian girls in next year's Women's World Cup, as a draw determined that they are due to take on former winners Norway and Brazil. The Australians will play in group D at the tournament.

It is the second time Australia has been fated to confront Norway in the group stage of a World Cup after a 1 to 1 draw in the 2007 tournament.

Brazil also played the Matildas in the tournament three years ago, knocking the Australians out in the quarter-final stage on their way to a runners-up finish.

"I think we've drawn a tough group but I think group A, C and D are all tough groups," the Coach Tom Sermanni said, "If you look purely at the rankings Group B is probably the easier group on paper but at a World Cup all teams are difficult.

"For the first match, the Australians will be against Brazil in Moenchengladbach on June 29.

(L-R) England's coach Hope Powell, Japan's coach Norio Sasaki, Mexico's coach Leonardo Cuellar and New Zealand's coach John Herdman from Group B pose with the World Cup trophy after the final draw in Frankfurt for the 2011 Women's World Cup, Nov 29, 2010.

(L-R) FIFA ambassador Adriana Karembeu, Steffi Jones, head of the organization committee of the Women's Soccer World Cup Germany, Tatjana Haenni, FIFA head of women's football, and Germany's former soccer star Guenter Netzer present the final groups during the draw in Frankfurt for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Nov 29, 2010.

(Xinhua)