'Don't write off Germany'

By Alex Stone in Wuhan. Tuesday, 24 April 2007.

At the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup draw on Sunday England were placed in Group A alongside Japan, Argentina and reigning World and European champions Germany.

Prior to January's 0-0 draw between the two sides at the Four Nations Tournament in China, Germany had won fifteen out of fifteen meetings between the two countries, and there have been murmurings that with an ageing squad, their powers may be on the wane.

England 'keeper Rachel Brown, at the draw having played for the FIFA All-Stars the night before, failed to agree with that view though.

"You write Germany off at your peril," Rachel told TheFA.com, "as at this level they have a lot of players who've been in major finals, and that is invaluable once the tournament starts.

"Players like Birgit Prinz, Renate Lingor and Silke Rottenberg have an amazing number of medals between them and even when you get older, you never lose your technical ability."

Another player to watch will be left sided attacker Conny Pohlers who shone during Euro 2005, and she was quick to agree that Group B was the one to avoid.

"I'm very happy with the draw and think we could have had things much worse" Conny told TheFA.com.

"As champions there will be a lot of teams that will want to knock us out of the competition and will raise their games, but we'll be ready.

"We actually drew Japan and Argentina in our group in 2003 too, and think we beat Argentina 6-1, but four years later, everyone will be stronger, and after winning the South American section, Argentina will have to be respected."

The Draw (world rankings in brackets)

Group A

Group B