Women's World Cup Team Capsules

NEW YORK (AP) -- Capsules of the fourth Women's World Cup (teams listed in predicted order of finish within group):

GROUP A

United States

Fourth appearance. Best performance: Winner in 1991 and 1999.

Key player: Forward Mia Hamm.

Player bios: Click here.

Coach: April Heinrichs.

Defending champions look to become first team to win consecutive Women's World Cups. Heinrichs picked 12 players from '99 squad that beat China on penalty kicks to win championship, among them Hamm, leading career scorer in international soccer (142 goals) and Kristine Lilly, who has most international appearances (255).

Drawn into toughest first-round group, Americans will not have cakewalk into quarterfinals like in '99. Brandi Chastain and Joy Fawcett will anchor defense that allowed only three goals in six matches in 1999 and should carry team deep into tournament.

Barring mistakes from usually sure-handed goalkeepers Briana Scurry and Siri Mullinix, U.S. team will be favorite to complete hat trick of World Cup titles.

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Sweden

Fourth appearance. Best performance: Third in 1991.

Key Player: Forward Hanna Ljungberg.

Coach: Marika Domanski Lyfors.

Always a strong team, Swedes have lost in quarterfinals of past two Women's World Cups. They were knocked out by Scandanavian rival Norway in 1999, and as hosts in '95 lost to China on penalty kicks after 1-1 draw.

Playing solid 4-4-2 formation, Swedes allowed only four goals in six qualifying matches.

Sweden will look to Ljungberg, who scored in each of her team's games at 2003 Algarve Cup, for goal production. She tore knee ligament in last game of first round in 1999, and without her, team had little chance against Norway.

With Malin Andersson and Malin Mostroem directing midfield, Swedes have strong squad, but could find themselves out after first round if they don't beat North Korea.

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North Korea

Second appearance. Best performance: Never advanced from first round.

Key player: Forward Ri Kum-suk.

Coach: Ri Song-gun.

Little-known outside of their region, North Koreans are two-time champions of Asia. Ended China's run of seven straight Asian championships in 2001 and defeated powerful Chinese again in June to claim regional title.

Ri Kum-suk had 15 goals in 2003 Asian tournament and although many came against lesser teams in early rounds, she scored twice in final, including an overtime penalty kick to win. Paired with Jin Pyol-hui, who had hat trick against China in 2001, North Koreans boast potent scoring line.

A physical side, how will this North Korean squad match up against teams from outside Asia.

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Nigeria

Fourth appearance. Best performance: Quarterfinals in 1999.

Key Player: Forward Mercy Akide.

Coach: Sam Okpodu.

Three-time champions of Africa, Nigerians were one of two teams to score against host Americans in '99. Super Falcons led after two minutes of first-round game, but the U.S. team scored six goals in 24 minutes en route to 7-1 romp. Nigerians trailed Brazil 3-0 at halftime in quarterfinals, but stormed back to force overtime, only to lose in extra period.

A quick team capable of producing quality offensive runs. Akide, the first African player to score in WUSA, is one of main targets up front, while captain Florence Omagbemi, who has played in all three previous Women's World Cups, directs team from defensive midfield position.

Okpodu played college soccer at North Carolina State University and coached Virginia Tech women's team for 10 seasons.

GROUP B

Norway

Fourth appearance. Best performance: Winner in 1995.

Key player: Forward Dagny Mellgren.

Coach: Aage Steen.

Norwegians have winning record against United States, only nation in field with such a mark. Norway beat the Americans in semifinals of 1995 World Cup and won gold at 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Norway had some of top players in the WUSA, including Boston's Mellgren, who tied for league lead with 14 goals. New York's Anita Rapp and Carolina's Unni Lehn provide versatility in midfield.

Hege Riise, one of top players from 1995 championship team, is recovering from knee surgery and if she plays at all, may be limited. Still, Norway has best chance of knocking off the United States.

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Brazil

Fourth appearance. Best performance: Third in 1999.

Key player: Midfielder Sissi.

Coach: Paulo Goncalves.

Brazil blew three-goal lead against Nigeria in 1999 quarterfinals, won in overtime to advance to semifinals, where team lost to Americans. Held Norway to scoreless draw in third-place game and won on penalty kicks.

Much like their male counterparts, Brazilian women attack with flair and speed. Forwards Pretinha and Katia each scored five goals for San Jose in WUSA, but Pretinha will not play (knee injury).

With Sissi directing midfield along with San Diego's Daniela, Brazil can push ball forward as well as any team. Sometimes- questionable defense showed some mettle in 1-0 loss to the United States in July exhibition, but lapses in the back cost Brazilians then, and may be their undoing.

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France

First appearance.

Key Player: Forward Marinette Pichon.

Coach: Elisabeth Loisel.

French lack major international experience, having never played in Women's World Cup or Olympics. France hasn't reached semifinals of European Championships, either.

Pichon tied for WUSA lead with 14 goals in 2003 and was league's MVP in 2002. She has deft skills in front of goal and cool finisher's instinct. She doesn't have too much support, however. Stephanie Mugneret-Beghe of Boston Breakers provides some help in midfield, but rest of team is inconsistent.

Captain Corrine Diacre has more than 100 international caps.

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South Korea

First appearance.

Key Player: Goalkeeper Kim Jung-mi.

Coach: An Jong-goan.

Much like its men's team in World Cup 2002, South Korea's women should be very fit and capable of playing three games in one week with little fatigue. However, it's unlikely South Korea will be playing any more than that, especially having been drawn into this tough group.

Never a power in Asia, South Korea needed 1-0 victory over Japan in 2003 Asian championships to qualify on goal by Hwang In-sun. Young striker Park Eun-sun is fast but inexperienced up front. With some stellar play from Kim Jung-mi, South Korea could take some points away from this group.

GROUP C

Germany

Fourth appearance. Best finish: Runner-up in 1995.

Key Player: Forward Birgit Prinz.

Coach: Tine Theune-Meyer.

Germany was leading United States 2-1 in quarterfinals in 1999 only to lose 3-2. It's only time Germans failed to reach semifinals in World Cup.

Prinz, who plays for Carolina in WUSA, scored 11 goals in 2003, tied for fourth in league. She represents Germany's top scoring threat, along with Boston's Maren Meinert, who had nine goals for Breakers in 2003. Meinert won league MVP and All-Star MVP awards, and was selected as first-team All-WUSA player.

Steffi Jones and Washington's Sandra Minnert anchor solid defense. Midfielder Bettina Wiegmann is making her fourth World Cup appearance.

If both teams win their groups, a Germany-United States rematch in semifinals should happen.

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Canada

Third appearance. Best finish: Never advanced from first round.

Key Player: Forward Charmaine Hooper.

Coach: Even Pellerud.

One of most improved teams over past four years, Canada has benefited greatly from WUSA. Hooper, even at age 35, is still one of top strikers around. She scored 11 goals for Atlanta Beat in 2003, tied for fourth with Mia Hamm and Birgit Prinz. Hooper will likely be paired with 20-year-old Christine Sinclair up front. Both finished with seven goals in 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which U.S. team beat Canada in overtime in final.

Pellerud led his native Norway to World Cup title in 1995. Since taking over Canada, his team has gained valuable international experience by playing China, Norway and the United States more than 20 times in past three years.

Boston Breakers goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc has lots of experience against top strikers and is solid. Canada could draw China in quarterfinals and has skill to go deeper into tournament.

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Japan

Fourth appearance. Best finish: Quarterfinals in 1995.

Key Player: Midfielder Homare Sawa.

Coach: Eiji Ueda.

After being held scoreless in semifinals and third-place game in 2003 Asian Championship, Japan needed 4-2 aggregate victory over Mexico to earn last spot in field.

Sawa is leader of team, and squad's fate might depend on creative Atlanta Beat midfielder. Sawa was first-team All-WUSA in 2002.

Forward Mio Otani is team's biggest scoring threat up front, while defender Emi Yamamoto likes to push up left side to aid attack. Yamamoto set up goals in each of two games against Mexico.

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Argentina

First appearance.

Key Player: Forward Marisol Medina.

Coach: Jose Carlos Borello.

Whereas Argentina's men's team provided one of great flops of the 2002 World Cup when it didn't make it out of first round, the Argentine women are not expected to advance. With virtually no WUSA experience and generally untested in international play, Argentina will struggle against elites.

Rosana Gomez wears No. 10 on her back, made famous by Diego Maradona. Medina was leading scorer in qualifiers with seven goals in five matches.

GROUP D

China

Fourth appearance. Best finish: Runner-up in 1999.

Key Player: Forward Sun Wen.

Coach: Ma Liangxing.

Many of China's top players trained together instead of playing in WUSA, in preparation for hosting World Cup. However, in May, tournament was moved from China because of outbreak of SARS virus.

While Chinese will play well together, can they equal the run put together in 1999, when they lost on penalty kicks in final to United States -- the same team which eliminated them in 1995.

Wen, 30, will be playing in her fourth World Cup. She won Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards in 1999 for being most valuable player and leading scorer. She could be paired with 31-year-old Bai Jie up front, creating savvy and dangerous front line.

With Zhao Lihong and youngster Pu Wei in midfield and Fan Yunjie coming up from the back, China has potent attack. A possible matchup with Canada in quarterfinals will tell whether this Chinese team has what it takes to win elusive first title.

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Australia

Third appearance. Best finish: Never advanced from first round.

Key Player: Defender Cheryl Salisbury.

Coach: Adrian Santrac.

Australia has gone through goal-scoring drought in warmup matches, going 497 minutes without goal. That ended when Salisbury scored in 1-0 victory over Scotland in exhibition match, but Aussies have trouble finding back of net.

Lack of output up front puts onus on back line to shut out opposition. Salisbury, who plays for New York in WUSA, is also squad's all-time leading scorer. She is teamed with San Jose defender Dianne Alagich, who is nursing slight hamstring strain.

New York's Joanne Peters and Washington's Kelly Golebiowski are talented midfielders.

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Russia

Second appearance. Best finish: Quarterfinals in 1999.

Key Player: Goalkeeper Svetlana Petko.

Coach: Yuri Bystritsky.

Petko was in goal for Russia's first women's national team game in 1990. Now 33, Petko has more than 130 caps. Her experience from 1999 tournament, where Russia beat Canada and Japan in first round before losing to China in the quarterfinals, will be useful.

Attacking players Alexandra Svetslikaia, Irina Gregorieva, and Natalia Barbashina are top goal-scoring threats. Defender Maria Bourakova, 37, is team's oldest member and anchors back line, along with Vera Stroukova.

Russia's match against Australia on Sept. 21 should decide which one advances to quarterfinals.

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Ghana

Second appearance. Best finish: Never advanced from first round.

Key Player: Midfielder Alberta Sackey.

Coach: Oko Aryee.

Ghana became first country to beat Nigeria at African women's championships with upset in early rounds of 2002 tournament. Nigeria exacted its revenge in final, but second place was enough for Ghana to qualify for World Cup.

Sackey, African women's soccer player of year, scored winner against Nigeria.

Goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana is regarded as best in Africa. On other end of field, Nana Amma Gyamfuah is veteran forward, while Elizabeth Baidu provides youthful scoring touch.

Ghana was outscored 10-1 in 1999 tournament, but managed to tie Australia. If Sulemana is on her game, Ghana could take points away from more-established teams in this group.

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