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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:05 a.m., Sunday, April 20, 2008

Soccer: U.S. women, men set after draw for Olympics

By STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer

BEIJING — The American women finished third in last year's soccer World Cup in China. They'll have to do better in the Beijing Olympics or new coach Pia Sundhage knows she'll probably be out of work.

The draw was announced today for the men's and women's Olympic soccer tournaments that begin in early August. The U.S. women's team won gold medals at the 1996 and 2004 Olympics.

"If we don't get the gold medal, I don't know if I'll have a job," Sundhage said. "That's how it is in the U.S. They have high expectations."

In the 12-team women's draw, the United States was in Group G with Norway, Japan and New Zealand.

Sundhage took over for Greg Ryan, whose contract wasn't renewed after the World Cup. Unlike Ryan who favored a long-ball, counter-attacking style, Sundhage favors more possession soccer.

"The girls were not happy taking only third in the World Cup, so that could serve as motivation for the Olympics," she said.

The reigning World Cup champion Germany, and World Cup runner-up Brazil were drawn together against North Korea and Nigeria in Group F. Host China was drawn in Group E against Sweden, Argentina and Canada.

For the women, the top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals. They are joined by the two best third-placed teams.

In the 16-team men's tournament, defending champion Argentina was drawn in Group A alongside the Ivory Coast, Australia and Serbia. In Group B, it's the Netherlands, Nigeria, Japan and the United States.

Group C has China, New Zealand, Brazil and Belgium. Group D features World Cup champion Italy against South Korea, Cameroon and Honduras.

Both tournaments open before the official start of the Aug. 8-24 Olympics. The women's tournament begins on Aug. 6 with six games scheduled in Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.

The men start on Aug. 7 with eight games in Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang and Qinhuangdao.

The women's final is Aug. 21 at Workers' Stadium in Beijing. The men's final is Aug. 23 at the new 91,000-seat National Stadium in Beijing — the "Bird's Nest."