(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-14 09:57

The 16 best teams in the world meet in five Chinese cities, beginning Stember 10, 2007, in the fifth Women's World Cup. A points system (three for a win; one for a tie) determines the top two teams that will advance from each four-team group.

Sweden

Coach: Thomas Dennerby

Path to World Cup: Started qualifying with a shocking draw against Iceland. Won out the rest of the way to secure the group, including winning the final against the Czech Republic. Team will look a lot like the 2003 version that played for the championship.

World Cup history: Finished second in 2003, third in 1991 and was a quarterfinalist in '95 and '99.

USA

Coach: Greg Ryan

Path to World Cup: Qualified by advancing to championship of Gold Cup, the region's qualifying tournament. Under Ryan, the Americans are 39-0-6 since last year, including victories against World Cup participants such as China (2-0), Brazil (2-0), Norway (1-0), Canada (6-2), Denmark (2-0) and Sweden (3-2).

World Cup history: Won the championship in 1991 and '99 and finished third in '95 and 2003.

 

Nigeria

Coach: Effiom Ntiero

Path to World Cup: Easily won the African title for the fifth time behind the play of Cynthia Uwak. Virtually the same team returns after Nigeria was the biggest disappointment in the last World Cup, where it lost every game and failed to score a goal.

World Cup history: Super Falcons have qualified for every event, with their best finish coming during a 1999 run to the quarterfinals.

DPRK

Coach: Kim Kwang-Min

Path to World Cup: Lost in the semifinals to China in Asian qualifying, but the youth team won the country's first world title in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship in a 5-0 win against the Chinese. Senior team defeated Japan in a third-place playoff last year to earn an automatic berth.

World Cup history: In two appearances (1999, 2003) has failed to advance past the group stage.