Women's World Cup Draw: Possible Groups of Death
The draw for the 2015 Women's World Cup takes place in Ottawa, Canada, on Saturday, with Ecuador becoming the 24th nation to qualify for it when they beat Trinidad and Tobago in a play-off on Tuesday.
The Ecuadorians are one of eight nations making their debut at women's football's showpiece event, which has been expanded from 16 teams to 24 for the first time ever ahead of the seventh tournament being held all across Canada from June 6 to July 5 next year.
Holders Japan are one of four previous champions who will be in the draw, which looks set to throw up some fascinating groups.
Here are some possibilities:
Top Seeds Brazil Could Face Scandinavian Tests
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According to a report from The Equalizer's Jeff Kassouf, the seedings for the draw won't be officially announced by FIFA until Friday, but it is highly likely that geographical considerations will come into play as well as just the world rankings.
While we already know that hosts Canada will be a top seed, Kassouf claims they will be joined by the USA, Germany, Japan, France and Brazil, with the latter taking Sweden's place in the top bracket due to the fact that two other European teams already reside there, while none from South America do.
It would be typical, then, for the Brazilians—a squad featuring the lethal Cristiane (above), who has 70 goals in 85 internationals—to be drawn against the Swedes, who are one place above them in the world rankings and reached the last four at both the previous World Cup and 2013's European Championships.
The presence of fellow Scandinavians Norway—the runners-up at that Euros and the 1995 world champions—would add an even greater spice to that group.
England Could Eye Revenge Against France
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England coach Mark Sampson (above) will lead his side into his first major tournament, with the Welshman having replaced the long-serving Hope Powell at the end of last year.
You'd think the 32-year-old will hope that his side avoid France in the group, given that it was the French who knocked England out of the last World Cup on penalties at the quarter-final stage in 2011, and at the group stage of Euro 2013 when an emphatic 3-0 defeat cost Powell her job.
The pairing of the two would lead to an interesting group, though, and with both sides having won all 10 of their qualification matches, scoring over 100 goals between them, then Sampson might feel as though his team are better equipped this time.
Emerging Spain Could Be Dark Horses
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With a world ranking of 16, Spain look likely to be given a tough group on their debut at the Women's World Cup. However, with talents like captain Veronica Boquete (left) in their squad, they are sure to cause whoever they face a few problems.
Boquete plays her club football with Frankfurt in Germany, and so she'll no doubt be hoping for a crack at the Germans with a side who surprisingly made it out of the group stages at Euro 2013—where the highlight was a dramatic and last-gasp 3-2 win over England.
Spain could really be tricky opponents for whoever they draw, with England doubtless hoping to avoid them again and hosts Canada wary of the potential damage they could cause.
Holders May Struggle Against Asian Rivals
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Just 12 years after they suffered a record 9-0 defeat to the USA, Japan surprised many when they won the World Cup in Germany in 2011.
To qualify for Canada all they had to do was reach the last four of the Asian Cup in May this year, but once there, they found their fellow qualifiers will put up a stern test at the finals.
In the semi-finals Japan needed a winner in the final minute of extra-time to see off China, before a 1-0 victory over Australia in the final in Ho Chi Minh City.
On both occasions the winning goals were scored by defender Azusa Iwashimizu (above), but it is the London-based strike partnership of Shinobu Ohno (Arsenal) and Yuki Ogimi (Chelsea) who you suspect will have to be on form should they come up against old rivals again.
The US Won't Relish Sweden Test
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Still the world No. 1 despite not winning the World Cup since 1999, the USA wouldn't exactly be too happy to see Sweden drop down to the second group of seeds given that the Swedes beat them at the last World Cup in 2011.
The vastly experienced Americans breezed into the tournament by winning all five of their matches at the CONCACAF Championships without goalkeeper Hope Solo (above) conceding a goal, but you suspect it is the European challengers which are going to concern coach Jim Ellis the most.
As well as that 2011 win, the Swedes beat the US in a match in the Algarve in March, while Switzerland remain the last side to score a goal against Solo and her defenders.
A group with all three in would be good to watch.
