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| Familiar foes for DPR Korea |
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| DPR Korea have set the benchmark for Asian women at all levels. |
SANTIAGO – DPR Korea will renew acquaintances with two nations they defeated on route to winning the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after the East Asians were grouped with Mexico and Brazil for the 2008 event.
The reigning World and Asian champions, who hammered Mexico 4-0 in the group phase before booking their place in the 2006 final with a 1-0 triumph over Brazil, will also face Norway in Group D of the 16-team tournament, which takes place in Chile from November 19 to December 7.
China, runners-up to DPR Korea in the deciding match of the 2006 final and to Germany two year’s earlier, are in Group B along with Argentina, France, and the USA, three nations that were also pooled together in the group stage back at the last edition of the competition.
Meanwhile, Asia’s remaining representative in the competition Japan, who qualified by finishing runners-up to DPR Korea at the 2007 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship, have been drawn in Group C with Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo and 2004 winners Germany.
China kick-off the competition on in the tournament curtain raiser on November 19 when the two-time beaten finalists take on Argentina at the Estadio Nelson Oyarzun in Chillan, while the two other Asian sides are in action the following day.
Japan meet Canada on the artificial turf of the Estadio Municipal in the Chilean capital Santiago before DPR Korea face a tough opener to the defence of their title when they take on Brazil in the Estadio German Becker in Temuco.
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