11 April 2013
Between 4-9 April 2013, UEFA got the ball rolling for FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ qualifying, kicking off Europe’s 18-month campaign with preliminary tournaments in Lithuania and Malta. The latter, along with Montenegro, the Faroe Islands and Albania took significant steps towards reaching the showpiece event.
FIFA.com rounds up the action from the continent’s first Canada 2015 qualifying games, at which two newcomers were swift to announce their arrival on the international scene.
To read the full story and follow full coverage of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers, please visit FIFA.com/Canada2015.
The first four nations eliminated from FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifiers were Lithuania, Georgia, Luxembourg and Latvia.Debutants pass first test en route to Canada
(FIFA.com) Wednesday 10 April 2013
Between 4-9 April, UEFA got the ball rolling for FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ qualifying, kicking off Europe’s 18-month campaign with preliminary tournaments in Lithuania and Malta. The latter, along with Montenegro, the Faroe Islands and Albania took significant steps towards reaching the showpiece event.
FIFA.com rounds up the action from the continent’s first Canada 2015 qualifying games, at which two newcomers were swift to announce their arrival on the international scene.
Group A: Debutants Albania through to next round
With two victories, one draw and a second-placed finish, Albania can look back with pride at their performances in the mini-tournament in Malta. It was a remarkable achievement for a team making its debut appearance in a women’s competition at any level. Their success is all the more noteworthy given that they are currently a long way behind Latvia, Luxembourg and Malta in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking. Hosts Malta were also in fine form and, following a 1-1 draw in their opening fixture against Albania, coach Pierre Brincat’s charges roared through the gears. After routing Luxembourg 6-0 in their second outing, they went on to beat Latvia 2-0 in their final match.
“It’s a huge satisfaction to top the group, especially competing with larger countries,” said Brincat. “We’ve made history for Malta with this qualification. This is the result of a lot of dedication from the players, who have come into this tournament believing in themselves. We’re looking forward to the draw on the 16th April. This was a huge learning experience for these players and it’s only the beginning. We hope to get into a good group and we’ll do our best against the more experienced nations.”
Final standings:
1. Malta (7 points)*
2. Albania (7)*
3. Latvia (1)
4. Luxembourg (1)
Group B: Faroe Islands and Montenegro on song
In Lithuania, all eyes were on Montenegro as the nation’s women’s team lined up for its first ever competitive game at full international level. An entertaining 3-3 draw with the Faroe Islands ensured it was a debut to remember. Zoran Mijovic’s side followed that up with a 2-0 win over Georgia, while a 1-1 draw with Lithuania in their final match guaranteed the team a top-two finish. “We’re very satisfied with the results we achieved in Lithuania,” coach Mijovic told the Montenegro Football Association website. “Now we have to get ready for the group stage and our opponents in qualifying. We don’t have a lot of time and we still have a lot of work to do in order to prepare the team for the upcoming challenges.”
The Faroe Islands can also start planning for the main group stage. Victories over Lithuania (1-0) and Georgia (2-1), as well as their draw with Montenegro secured Jon Pauli Olsen’s side top spot.
Final standings:
1. Faroe Islands (7)*
2. Montenegro (5)*
3. Georgia (3)
4. Lithuania (1)
*The top two teams from each group will advance to join the remaining 38 UEFA entrants in the main group stage, the draw for which will be made on 16 April. The group fixtures, which will include home and away ties against each opponent, will be played between 21 September 2013 and 17 September 2014.
Remember you can stay up-to-date with all the latest qualifying news right here on FIFA.com. You can also find out more about Canada 2015 and the various preliminary competitions by clicking the links on the right.
FIFA.com rounds up the action from the continent’s first Canada 2015 qualifying games, at which two newcomers were swift to announce their arrival on the international scene.
Group A: Debutants Albania through to next round
With two victories, one draw and a second-placed finish, Albania can look back with pride at their performances in the mini-tournament in Malta. It was a remarkable achievement for a team making its debut appearance in a women’s competition at any level. Their success is all the more noteworthy given that they are currently a long way behind Latvia, Luxembourg and Malta in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking. Hosts Malta were also in fine form and, following a 1-1 draw in their opening fixture against Albania, coach Pierre Brincat’s charges roared through the gears. After routing Luxembourg 6-0 in their second outing, they went on to beat Latvia 2-0 in their final match.
“It’s a huge satisfaction to top the group, especially competing with larger countries,” said Brincat. “We’ve made history for Malta with this qualification. This is the result of a lot of dedication from the players, who have come into this tournament believing in themselves. We’re looking forward to the draw on the 16th April. This was a huge learning experience for these players and it’s only the beginning. We hope to get into a good group and we’ll do our best against the more experienced nations.”
Final standings:
1. Malta (7 points)*
2. Albania (7)*
3. Latvia (1)
4. Luxembourg (1)
Group B: Faroe Islands and Montenegro on song
In Lithuania, all eyes were on Montenegro as the nation’s women’s team lined up for its first ever competitive game at full international level. An entertaining 3-3 draw with the Faroe Islands ensured it was a debut to remember. Zoran Mijovic’s side followed that up with a 2-0 win over Georgia, while a 1-1 draw with Lithuania in their final match guaranteed the team a top-two finish. “We’re very satisfied with the results we achieved in Lithuania,” coach Mijovic told the Montenegro Football Association website. “Now we have to get ready for the group stage and our opponents in qualifying. We don’t have a lot of time and we still have a lot of work to do in order to prepare the team for the upcoming challenges.”
The Faroe Islands can also start planning for the main group stage. Victories over Lithuania (1-0) and Georgia (2-1), as well as their draw with Montenegro secured Jon Pauli Olsen’s side top spot.
Final standings:
1. Faroe Islands (7)*
2. Montenegro (5)*
3. Georgia (3)
4. Lithuania (1)
*The top two teams from each group will advance to join the remaining 38 UEFA entrants in the main group stage, the draw for which will be made on 16 April. The group fixtures, which will include home and away ties against each opponent, will be played between 21 September 2013 and 17 September 2014.
Remember you can stay up-to-date with all the latest qualifying news right here on FIFA.com. You can also find out more about Canada 2015 and the various preliminary competitions by clicking the links on the right.
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014
Qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 also took place in Europe from 4-9 April 2013, with seven nations progressing from Stage 2 of the UEFA Women's U-19 Championship.
The seven European nations that advanced to the final stage in Wales were Sweden, France, Denmark, England, Norway, Finland and Germany. Those seven nations - along with host Wales - will be divided into two groups of four via the tournament draw on 7 May.
The UEFA Women's U-19 Championship final round runs 19-31 August in Wales. Elite duo shine, Euro contenders joust
Club football took a back seat over the past week as a host of high profile international teams claimed the spotlight. On centre stage was a classic billing between heavyweights Germany and USA with the world’s top two ranked nations unable to be separated in yet another high-quality encounter. England and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ hosts Canada continued an ever-growing rivalry, while numerous UEFA Women’s EURO contenders honed their form ahead of July’s continental showdown.
Read more on Women's Football at FIFA.com.
UEFA Draw for FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifiers
The draw for the group stage of the UEFA qualifying competition will take place on 16 April 2013, with group matches to be played between 21 September 2013 and 17 September 2014. The decisive play-off fixtures, which will determine the continent’s eight Canada 2015 participants, will take place between 25 October and 27 November 2014.
For more information on FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Qualifiers, please visit FIFA.com/Canada2015.
FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015
The FIFA Women's World Cup is held every four years, with the next edition to be played in Canada in 2015. It marks the first major sporting event hosted in Canada from coast to coast, with matches to be played in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montréal and Moncton. The FIFA Women's World Cup will feature the 24 best women's football teams in the world.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 will be preceded one year earlier by the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, one of two FIFA women’s youth tournaments. The FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup returns to Canada for the first time since 2002. The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2014 will feature 16 teams featuring players born 1994 or later.
The National Organising Committee for the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 features Victor Montagliani (chair), Steven Reed, Janine Helland, Doug Redmond, Clare Rustad, Walter Sieber and Peter Montopoli.
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