As the reigning world and European champions, Germany will travel to the World Cup with high hopes of retaining their title.
Silvia Neid's side have been performing at a consistently high level in recent years, with only the USA, China (twice), Norway and Australia having got the better of them.
Above and beyond the obvious advantage of possessing world-class talents such as midfielder Renate Lingor and striker Birgit Prinz, the German squad has strength in depth perhaps unrivalled in the women's game.
That was certainly borne out in the qualifiers where Germany netted 31 goals in their eight group matches, with no fewer than 12 different players getting their names on the scoresheet. The team certainly has no shortage of forwards, being able to call on the likes of Petra Wimbersky, Conny Pohlers, Sandra Smisek and Martina Mueller in addition to Prinz. Playmaker Renate Lingor is ably assisted in midfield by Kerstin Garefrekes, who herself notched four goals in the qualifying round.
The reigning champions also look strong in the goalkeeping department, where they can count on Silke Rottenberg and her understudy Nadine Angerer, a talented shot-stopper who would be first choice between the posts for most other teams.
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Coach: Hiroshi Ohashi |
Japan's victory over CONCACAF's third-placed side Mexico in March means they can finally get down to the business of preparing for September's showpiece in China. Making amends for their fourth-place finish at last year's AFC Women's Championship, Japan recorded a 3-2 aggregate win to secure their fifth straight finals' appearance and climb to ninth in the world rankings - their highest ever position.
The progress of the women's game in Japan has benefited greatly from an aggressive long-term development policy. The senior squad have been consistently impressive on both the continental and world stage, further boosting the standing of women's football domestically.
The emergence of star midfielder Homare Sawa as a national celebrity has also added to the appeal of women's football in Japan, pushing the team and their results further into the spotlight. Sawa has racked up an eye-catching 60 international goals in her 118 senior appearances and has appeared in three previous World Cups. Come September, the Nadeshiko will be aiming to reverse a trend that has seen them fail to qualify for the last eight of a World Cup since Sweden 95.
In November 2006 at the South American qualifying for the World Cup, Argentina showed their enormous potential by seeing off neighbours Brazil to take their first continental title and secure a second successive appearance at women's football's showpiece event.
Back in 2003, Argentina made their World Cup debut after CONMEBOL were granted an additional qualifying berth for the finals in the USA. Despite the fact that they had something of a baptism of fire there, losing all three games, conceding 15 goals and scoring just one, they vowed to come back stronger for the experience.
In goal, Argentina are fortunate to be able to call on the experienced and safe hands of Romina Ferro, a veteran of USA 2003. Other senior players include the astute Marisa Perez in midfield, influential playmaker Rosana Gomez and striker Mariela Coronel. At the other end of the spectrum are defender Eva Gonzalez and striker Maria Potassa, two starlets who made the breakthrough at Russia 2006 and shot to fame with the winning goals against the previously all-conquering Canarinha.