Cities welcome world champions
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Article summary
Fans in Wattenscheid, Mainz, Magdeburg and Gera will be able to watch FIFA Women's World Cup holders Germany this year while their bid for the 2011 event has been confirmed.
Article body
Germany's schedule prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup will take them to Wattenscheid, Mainz, Magdeburg and Gera as they continue preparations for the defence of their title in China.
Dutch encounter
A below-strength squad began 2007 with goalless draws against the United States, hosts China and England in the annual Four Nations Tournament, and will next play in the Algarve Cup in March, taking on Norway, France and Denmark in a testing group. But the first chance home fans will have to see the world and European champions will be on 12 April in Wattenscheid, as Germany begin their UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ campaign with a home qualifier against the Netherlands.
Norway warm-up
The next friendlies will take place in Magdeburg on 29 July and Gera four days later, with the opponents to be confirmed, and EURO qualifying then continues against Switzerland on 23 August. A week later, before departing for China, Germany face Norway in Mainz in a friendly that will again reunite the teams which contested the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ final. After returning from the World Cup, Germany play Belgium on 28 October in Lubeck in another EURO qualifier.
2011 bid
