Women's Olympic Final Qualification Round: All you need to know

FINAL QUALIFICATION ROUND
Group A: Japan, DPR Korea, Australia, China, Korea Republic, Vietnam

JAPAN

Best display: Silver medal (2012) / Performance in 2012: Silver medal / Previous appearances: 1996, 2004, 2008, 2012

As the highest-ranked Asian side in the qualifiers, as well as being the reigning AFC Women’s Asian Cup champions and with home advantage, Japan have every right to be confident of their prospects of sealing one of two qualification berths for the 2016 Olympic Games. They will also be looking to give their fans something to cheer about especially after last year’s disappointing end to their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign, where they were beaten 5-2 by United States in the final. The Nadeshiko’s best display at the Olympics came four years ago in London, when they won the silver medal following another loss to the Americans in the decider.

DPR KOREA

Best display: Group stage (2008, 2012) / Performance in 2012: Group stage / Previous appearances: 2008, 2012

After failing to qualify for the first three editions of the tournament, DPR Korea made history in 2008 when they made their debut appearance in Beijing, before repeating the feat four years later at London 2012. On both occasions, they failed to make it out of the group stage but, at the very least, they will be looking to make it three consecutive appearances at the Games to reaffirm the progress they have made it recent times. Having also been disqualified from participating at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, the North Koreans will be raring to once again show what they are capable of.

AUSTRALIA

Best display: Quarter-finals (2004) / Performance in 2012: Did not qualify / Previous appearances: 2000, 2004

Australia have previously appeared at the Olympic Games twice in 2000 and 2004, reaching the last eight in the latter edition before losing out to Sweden. Nonetheless, since joining the AFC in 2006, they have failed to qualify for the tournament and will be hoping the third time’s the charm after missing out on Beijing 2008 and London 2012. They did show a couple of positive signs in their run to the quarter-finals in last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, and will once again be relying on the likes of Lisa De Vanna and Elise Kellond-Knight to fire them to glory.

CHINA PR

Best display: Silver medal (1996) / Performance in 2012: Did not qualify / Previous appearances: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008

In the first-ever women’s football tournament at the Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996, China made an impressive run to the final before ultimately being beaten by United States. Since then, they have failed in their bid to get close to a repeat of that display, reaching the quarter-finals in 2008, while 2000 and 2004 saw them eliminated at the group stages. However, the Chinese reached a new low four years ago when they failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time ever, and will be desperate to make amends this time around.

KOREA REPUBLIC

Best display: Have never qualified / Performance in 2012: Did not qualify / Previous appearances: None

Korea Republic will be looking to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in their history, and it certainly will not be easy coming up against a host of formidable opponents. However, the Taegeuk Nangja have shown improvement in recent times, as they showed last year when they reached the Round of 16 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup before losing to France. If they manage a repeat of those performances, they could just cause an upset or two.

 VIETNAM

Best display: Have never qualified / Performance in 2012: Did not qualify / Previous appearance: None

Entering the qualifiers at the second round, Vietnam initially got off to a bad start after losing 1-0 to Chinese Taipei in their opening match. Nonetheless, they bounced back with a 4-2 triumph over Myanmar before victories over Jordan and Thailand proved enough to see them finish top of the table, two points above their closest challengers. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet was on fire for the Vietnamese with four goals and she will have to be at the top of her game once more, if they are to have any chance of making their maiden appearance at the Olympic Games.

QUALIFIERS FORMAT
Teams ranked in the top five – Japan (1st), Australia (2nd), DPR Korea (3rd), China (4th) and Korea Republic (5th) – are the automatic contenders in the Qualification Final Round where they are joined by the winners from Qualification Round 2, Vietnam.

The group will play a one-round league where each team will play one match against every other team.

The top two finishers from Qualification Final Round will fly the Asian flag at the Summer Olympics women’s football tournament.

QUALIFIERS DATES
February 29 to March 9, 2015

VENUE
Osaka, Japan

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Photo: AFP