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| AFC Women’s Asian Cup |
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| Stage set for AFC Women's Asian Cup 2008 draw |
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| AFC Women's Asian Cup trophy |
HO CHI MINH CITY: The stage is set for the keenly awaited draw of the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2008 which will be held at Hotel Park Royal on Friday at 1300 hours local time.
The team to avoid would be of course top-seeds and eight-time champions China who will be defending the title they won in 2006 in Adelaide by beating hosts Australia on penalties.
Eight teams, including four qualifiers Chinese Taipei, Korea Republic, Thailand and Vietnam, will be coming out of the pots to be divided into two groups of four each which will take to action on May 28 before the two finalists clash on June 8.
The top seeds China and Australia will find themselves in two separate pots while third seeds DPR Korea and fourth seeds Japan will also be slotted separately.
China, Australia and two-time winners DPR Korea go into the tournament as favourites on the back of quarter-final appearances in the FIFA Women's World Cup last year.
The Chinese have been the indomitable force in the Asian women's game, winning seven titles at a stretch from 1986 to 1999, before DPR Korea established themselves as the team to beat for the following two years.
China reclaimed their position at the top two years back in a game which went all the way to penalties before it was settled 4-2 (aet 2-2) in their favour much to the anguish of debutantes Australia.
TEAMS AND SEEDINGS: 1. China, 2. Australia, 3. DPR Korea, 4. Japan (all seeded), 5. Chinese Taipei, 6. Korea Republic, 7. Thailand, 8. Vietnam (all qualifiers)
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