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Jonathan White

China were handed as kind a draw as could be expected at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women’s football tournament in Zurich on Wednesday.
The Steel Roses, who sealed Asia’s last spot at the Summer Games by beating South Korea in the play-offs, will face Brazil, Netherlands and Zambia in group F.
They have avoided tournament favourites and world No 1 USA as well as the two highest-rated teams in pot two – Rio 2016 runners-up Sweden (No 5) and Great Britain (No 6). Holders Germany did not qualify.
China were unable to face hosts Japan or the other Asian Football Confederation qualifier Australia. 


🚨⚽️ The women's Olympic football groups! Check out how the draw went for the 1⃣2⃣ teams that will take part in the upcoming Games!@Olympics @FIFAcom #Tokyo2020
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) April 21, 2021

With Japan in pot one that meant China would face either Netherlands or Fifa Women’s World Cup holders the USA.
That means No 14 ranked China face the third-best team in the world in the Netherlands, seventh-ranked Brazil and the lowest ranked team in the tournament, No 104 rated Zambia. 
Tokyo Olympics: China fans congratulate Wang Shuang and women’s football team – then stick boot into men
The Zambians were one of three teams ranked lower than China in the draw along with No 22 New Zealand and No 37 Chile.
The other groups see hosts Japan, Canada, Great Britain and Chile in group E with the US, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand in group G. 
Canada, who came third in Rio, were also in pot three with China so the teams could not meet in the group stages.


📈 The 12 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament teams have been ranked and allocated pots for Wednesday’s draw 🔢@Olympics #OlympicFootball #Tokyo2020➡️ https://t.co/GuutMtOt5s pic.twitter.com/m8lF5z64rN
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) April 16, 2021

In the men’s draw, group A saw hosts Japan handed meetings with South Africa, Mexico and France.
Group B is made up of New Zealand, South Korea, Honduras and Romania, while group C see Egypt join Spain, Argentina and Australia.
The final group D sees holders Brazil meet Germany, Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia. 


⚔️ The draw for the Men's #OlympicFootball Tournament has thrown up some intriguing clashes!#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/aWBvZJw3Zq
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) April 21, 2021

Unlike the women’s tournament where there are no restrictions, the men’s competition is limited to players aged under-23 with the exception of three over-age players per squad. 
This has been extended to men who are under-24 after the Games was delayed for a year.
The Tokyo 2020 football tournament takes place from July 21 to August 7, beginning with the women. 


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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo 2020: China’s women avoid United States in Olympic football draw

China’s women’s national football team celebrate their victory over South Korea to seal their place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

China’s Steel Roses book ticket to Tokyo 2020 after Wang Shuang heroics against South Korea

Chinas Wang Shanshan (left) and South Korea’s Cho So-hyun compete for the ball during the qualifying play-off second leg women’s football match for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Suzhou. Photo: AFP 

Chinese players celebrate after scoring during their second leg playoff qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Suzhou, Jiangsu province in April. Photo: AFP  

China’s Lou Jiahui and South Korea’s Ji So-yun compete in the second leg of their Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifier at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Suzhou, Jiangsu province in April. Photo: AFP  

China women rise on Fifa rankings after Tokyo 2020 Olympics victory over South Korea

Chinese fans watch the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifier against South Korea at Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. Photo: AFP

China’s team celebrate their victory over South Korea. Photo: AFP

Tokyo 2020: Chinese netizens ask why women’s teams are better than men’s

China’s women’s football team celebrate qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

China’s Xu Yunli (11) celebrates with teammates Zhu Ting (2) and Yang Fangxu (3) during the gold medal volleyball match against Serbia at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: AP

Yao Ming (right), chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, and Yi Jianlian of China react during defeat to Nigeria at the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Guangzhou. Photo: Xinhua

China star Wang Shuang wasn’t ‘forced’ to leave PSG by national team ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

China’s Wang Shuang celebrates scoring  against South Korea in the second leg of the Tokyo Olympics Asian qualification play-off in Suzhou. Photo: Xinhua

Wang celebrates scoring against South Korea in the Olympic qualifier on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Football


Steel Roses avoid world No 1 US, Great Britain and Sweden in draw that sees them face lowest possible ranked teams
Zambia make up their group for tournament which begins on July 21



Steel Roses avoid world No 1 USWNT, Great Britain and Sweden in draw that sees them face lowest possible ranked teams.


Tokyo 2020: China’s women avoid United States in Olympic football draw

Steel Roses avoid world No 1 US, Great Britain and Sweden in draw that sees them face lowest possible ranked teams Zambia make up their group for tournament which begins on July 21

Steel Roses avoid world No 1 US, Great Britain and Sweden in draw that sees them face lowest possible ranked teams

Zambia make up their group for tournament which begins on July 21