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WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP: Neighbours stand in holders' way

/noticias.info/ by Paul Saffer
from Nyon

World and European champions Germany will meet the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Wales in the defence of their continental title after the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ qualifying group draw was made in Nyon by UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson and Karen Espelund, chairwoman of the UEFA Women's Football Committee. Eleven places are up for grabs alongside hosts Finland in the final tournament which has been expanded from eight to 12 teams.

Qualifying system
Thirty countries will compete in the main qualifying phase between April 2007 and October 2008 with only the group winners assured of a berth in Finland. The six runners-up and four third-placed sides with the best records against the nations finishing first, second and fourth in their groups will be drawn into five two-legged play-offs for the remaining spots in the summer 2009 showpiece. While Germany are going for a fifth straight title since 1995 - and seventh overall - 2005 runners-up Norway are hoping for a third European crown. They take on Russia, Poland, Austria and Israel, one of five teams to advance from the new preliminary round, along with Wales.

Swedish task
Another of those pioneers, Romania, have the daunting task of tackling inaugural continental champions Sweden, the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup runners-up, along with Italy, Hungary and the Republic of Ireland. Denmark and England have qualified for the 2007 World Cup with Germany, Sweden and Norway; Kenneth Heiner-Møller's Denmark side are in Group 5 with Ukraine, Scotland, Portugal and Slovakia, while England encounter the Czech Republic, Spain, Belarus and Northern Ireland. France, pipped to the World Cup by England, play Iceland, Serbia, Greece and Slovenia.

UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ qualifying draw

Group 1
England
Czech Republic
Spain
Belarus
Northern Ireland*

Group 2
Sweden
Italy
Hungary
Republic of Ireland
Romania*

Group 3
France
Iceland
Serbia
Greece
Slovenia

Group 4
Germany (holders)
Netherlands
Switzerland
Belgium
Wales*

Group 5
Denmark
Ukraine
Scotland
Portugal
Slovakia*

Group 6
Norway
Russia
Poland
Austria
Israel* notas_de_prensa_archivo