DATE=9/29/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-308038

TITLE=WWC SOCCER LOSERS (L O)

BYLINE=JIM STEVENSON

DATELINE=FOXBORO, MA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The first round of the Women's World Cup soccer tournament is complete and the original field of 16 teams has been cut in half. V-O-A's Jim Stevenson has more on the short appearance of the teams that are going home.

TEXT: On Sunday, fans had a last look at Australia, Ghana, Nigeria and North Korea as the teams were eliminated from the Women's World Cup. Argentina, France, Japan and South Korea finished their brief runs on Saturday.

In Group-A, North Korea was hoping to surprise the world after defeating China twice in World Cup qualifying to become the Asian Champions. But a lone victory in their first game over Nigeria was not enough to advance. Although Nigeria appeared as the African champions, the Super Falcons failed to win a single game. Coaches from both teams felt bad officiating on the field dealt fatal blows to their World Cup runs.

France and South Korea had similar experiences in Group-B, where the French women won, lost and tied. South Korea was winless. France was making its first Women's World Cup appearance and has yet to compete in the Olympics or reach the semifinals of the eight previous UEFA [yoo-aye-fuh] European Women's Championships. South Korea barely qualified for the tournament by defeating Japan (1-0) in the third place match of this year's Asian Championships.

Group-C said goodbye to Japan and winless Argentina. Japan's highlight was a 6-0 thrashing of Argentina in their opening game. Japan started playing women's international soccer in 1979 and is one of eight nations to qualify for all four Women's World Cups. Argentina was making its first appearance in the tournament.

Australia and Ghana fell short. Australia earned just one point from a 1-1 tie with Group-D winner China, while Ghana's only win came at the expense of Australia in the third and final game for both teams. Ghana qualified as the runner-up to Nigeria (2-0) in the African Championship final. Australia finished last in the 1995 Women's World Cup and improved only slightly this year with two losses and a tie.

While the Athens Olympics are just next year, these eight teams will have four years to prepare for the next Women's World Cup to be held in China. (SIGNED)

NEB/SPTS/JIM/KL/FC