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US women´s football team cry foul over tough World Cup draw
WUHAN, China (AFP) - Two-time champions the United States cried foul on Sunday after being handed a nightmare assignment in this year's Women's World Cup.
The world's top-ranked team were landed in the archetypal 'Group of Death' including 2003 runners-up Sweden, Asia's number one North Korea, and Nigeria.
The draw ceremony here was overshadowed by discontent over North Korea's exemption from the draw, when they were simply placed in Group B apparently to avert an early match-up with hosts China.
Coach Greg Ryan was clearly furious with the move.
"I don't understand it," he said, adding that no official explanation had been given.
"At this point it doesn't matter. What's done is done. We just have to start preparing for North Korea as our first match.
"It's just one that I don't understand."
Reigning champions Germany were given a relatively easy ride against Japan, England and Argentina in Group A.
The draw also smiled on China, runners-up in 1999, who will play Denmark, Brazil and New Zealand in Group D.
World number three Norway will play Ghana, Australia and Canada in Group C.
Earlier, officials refused to give a reason for North Korea's pre-arranged placement.
At a bad-tempered press conference, officials stonewalled four separate questions on why North Korea had been taken out of the draw.
FIFA general secretary Urs Linsi said the decision had been made by the organising committee, and denied North Korea had been consulted.
"I think if you make a draw you don't ask the teams," he said.
World Cup committee chairman Worawi Makudi would only say the decision had been made "after careful analysis and study."
The move means North Korea cannot meet China before the semi-finals.
China hosted the inaugural World Cup in 1991 and was scheduled to hold the 2003 edition before the SARS outbreak prompted a move to the United States.
The US are the most successful World Cup team, winning the first title in 1991 and again in 1999 and reaching the semi-finals in the other two editions.
Their 1999 victory gave women's football its most iconic moment to date, when a record crowd and huge TV audience watched a thrilling penalties win over China.
Norway were the 1995 winners and Germany are the title-holders after their 2-1 golden goal win over Sweden in 2003.
The fifth World Cup will be played from September 10-30 across five Chinese cities: Wuhan, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Tianjin.
The top two teams from each group progress to the quarter-finals.
Draw for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup to be played in China from September 10-30:
Group A
Germany
Japan
England
Argentina
Group B
Nigeria
United States
North Korea
Sweden
Group C
Norway
Ghana
Australia
Canada
Group D
China
New Zealand
Brazil
Denmark
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