Paris: Saturday's FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 draw set up a raft of inviting matches and no shortage of talking points, as the 24 teams learned of their group stage opponents at next year's showpiece.
With Korea Republic to appear in the competition's opening match, Japan and Australia both set to resume recent rivalries and China PR and Thailand drawn against former world champions, the ceremony was a memorable one for Asian sides.
The Continent's five qualified teams were all represented at the draw in Paris, and key figures from each shared their thoughts on the challenges ahead at next year's Finals.
Yoon Duk-yeo: Head coach, Korea Republic
"We played against France in 2015 at the previous World Cup. They are a strong team, especially as the tournament is played at home for them. We must prepare for this opening match because there will be many supporters, cheering on the French. This will be the most difficult part of our preparation, but we want to fight and show that Korea Republic is not a team that can be beaten easily."
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“프랑스는 개최국으로서의 이점이 있다. 나이지리아는 아프리카를 대표하는 강팀이다. 노르웨이는 1995년 대회에서 우승을 차지했던 팀이다. 우리로서는 쉽지 않은 조 편성이 됐다. 하지만 꼭 승점을 가져오겠다. 프랑스와의 1차전은 향후 두 경기를 잘 치러낼 수 있는지의 관건이 될 전망” . #대한민국 #여자대표팀 #감독 #윤덕여 . 2019 FIFA 프랑스 여자월드컵 조별예선 일정 ⏰ 한국시간 기준 프랑스개최 1차전 ?? vs. ?? #프랑스 2019.06.08(토) 05:00 2차전 ?? vs. ?? #나이지리아 2019.06.12(수) 23:00 3차전 ?? vs. ?? #노르웨이 2019.06.18(화) 05:00 . #FIFAWWC #DareToShine #Ettie
GROUP A
France v Korea Rep: June 7, Paris
Nigeria v Korea Rep: June 12, Grenoble
Korea Rep v Norway: June 17, Reims
Wang Shuang: Attacking midfielder, China PR
"There will not be an easy game against any team; after all, it's the World Cup. Players and coaches will pay great attention to it, so there is much possibility ahead. I think we just need to focus on ourselves and move on step by step, without thinking too much about other factors. Train hard and prepare well for the World Cup, that's quite simple."
????????#FIFAWWC
#DareToShine https://t.co/Sf77q3R1TO— Wangshuang (@wangshuang7) December 8, 2018
GROUP B
Germany v China PR: June 8, Rennes
South Africa v China PR: June 13, Paris
China PR v Spain: June 17, Le Havre
Alen Stajcic: Head coach, Australia
"The first immediate instinct is: It wouldn’t be a major football tournament for the Matildas unless we had to play Brazil - 2007, 2011, 2015 and now 2019, and the Olympics we’ve crossed with Brazil, so it's very exciting to be playing them again. Italy, we haven’t played in a major tournament. (They're a) good up and coming team. Jamaica’s got so many young girls playing in the American colleges and, again, another emerging nation and first time in the World Cup for them. It's very exciting and can’t wait to put all our preparations in place to meet all those three fantastic countries."
Head coach Alen Stajcic is excited by our group, headlined by another clash with Brazil at a major tournament! #GoMatildas #FIFAWWC
Read more: https://t.co/gLkQV77k6P pic.twitter.com/o7jJqqX2uM
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) December 8, 2018
GROUP C
Australia v Italy: June 9, Valenciennes
Australia v Brazil: June 13, Montpellier
Jamaica v Australia: June 18, Grenoble
Asako Takakura, Head coach, Japan
"There is no doubt that competing against any team in this group will make for a difficult game. There is a big goal of raising a trophy again in the World Cup, and I want to fight in each game and give our best in order to get there and to grow within the tournament. We are a challenger. I will also analyse the competing countries, but first I would like to pursue Nadeshiko Japan's football."
FIFA女子ワールドカップフランス2019 組み合わせ決定 ～なでしこジャパンはイングランド、スコットランド、アルゼンチンと対戦 #jfa #daihyo #nadeshiko #なでしこ https://t.co/WmWNBdc2WW
— なでしこジャパン (@jfa_nadeshiko) December 9, 2018
GROUP D
Argentina v Japan: June 10, Paris
Japan v Scotland: June 14, Rennes
Japan v England: June 19, Nice
Suchawadee Nildhamrong: Forward, Thailand
"I am very thankful for this opportunity to be representing Thailand in the World Cup. I’m also very excited to play against the US. This will be extremely challenging, but also a dream!"
GROUP F
United States v Thailand: June 11, Reims
Sweden v Thailand: June 16, Nice
Thailand v Chile: June 20, Rennes
Source: the-afc.com