European six in all-star lineup

Players from Denmark, England, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden have been selected in the FIFA Women's World Stars team to meet China in Wuhan as a prelude to the FIFA Women's World Cup finals draw on 22 April.

All-star squad
The 18-player all-star squad will be coached by Tina Theune-Meyer, who led Germany to World Cup glory in 2003, together with England manager Hope Powell. The goalkeepers are Norway's Bente Nordby and England's Rachel Brown, with Laura Georges of France, whose country missed out on the finals, in defence alongside Denmark's Gitte Andersen. The midfielders include Sweden's Lotta Schelin while Germany's Conny Pohlers is among the forwards. Their opponents China are coached by Marika Domanski-Lyfors, the former Sweden chief who has been appointed to guide the hosts through the finals.

Germany and Norway seeded
After the game, the draw will take place at the Guanggu Science and Technology Exhibition Centre. Holders Germany and Norway, third in the world rankings, will be among the top seeds along with China and the United States. Denmark, England and 2003 runners-up Sweden will also represent Europe, while the other finalists for the event from 10-30 September are: Australia, Korea DPR, Japan, Nigeria, Ghana, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand, who today won the Oceania Football Confederation preliminary competition to qualify.