Germany kick off women’s World Cup against Canada

FRANKFURT - Defending champions and hosts Germany were Monday drawn against Canada, Nigeria and France in the group stage of the 2011 women’s football World Cup.

Germany, winners in 2003 and 2007, play the opening game against Canada in Berlin June 26 as a result of the draw for the sixth edition of the four-yearly tournament made in Frankfurt.

Top-ranked United States, winners in 1991 and 1999, face North Korea, Colombia and Sweden in Group C, while Japan, the seeded team in Group B, meet Mexico, New Zealand and England.

Brazil, losing finalists in 2007, face Australia, Equatorial Guinea and 1995 winners Norway in Group D

Germany come up against two opponents in Canada and Nigeria they beat comfortably in recent friendlies. The Germans were 5-0 winners over Canada in September and thrashed Nigeria 8-0 four days ago.

But Germany striker Birgit Prinz said the games would not be significant next year and that the hosts were drawn against “difficult opponents.”

Canada coach Carolina Morace said: “It’s always difficult to play the first game in a tournament but we are looking forward to it.

Thirty-two matches will be played from June 26 to July 17 in nine stadiums in Augsburg, Berlin, Bochum, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Moenchengladbach, Sinsheim and Wolfsburg.

The tournament comes five years after the 2006 men’s World Cup in Germany.

The opening game is at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, venue for the 2006 World Cup final, with the final to be staged at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt.