September 22, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 09, 1428

TIANJIN (China), Sept 21: The United States is the favourite, and China is the host, but both face tough games in the quarterfinals of the women’s World Cup this weekend.

The Americans have drawn a demanding game against England, and China will take on former champion Norway. Defending champion Germany and Brazil — the only team with three victories in group play — also face potential upsets. Germany goes against North Korea and the South Americans have Australia.

The No 1-ranked United States — undefeated in 50 games — meets England on Saturday in Tianjin knowing its only previous losses in the World Cup have been against European teams: Norway in 1995 and Germany in 2003.

The Americans have survived three tough group matches — a draw with North Korea and victories over Sweden and Nigeria. But they have not been completely convincing, failing to score much and relying on stellar defense.

The team has found the net just five times in three games, which is less than half the total it scored at this stage of its World Cup-winning campaigns of 1991 and 1999.

England is coming off a 6-1 mauling of Argentina, but showed its best form in the prior match when it held Germany to a 0-0 draw.

China plays Norway on Sunday in Wuhan having fallen at the quarterfinal hurdle twice before. Germany’s clash with North Korea on Saturday in Wuhan.—AP