Group B: Germany, China, Spain, South Africa - 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup teams

Topics: Germany, China, Spain, South Africa, FIFA Women's World Cup

Live Soccer TV takes a look at the four teams in Group B: Germany, Spain, China, and South Africa. With Germany expected to qualify for the round of 16, which of the three other sides will join them?

Germany

Ranked only behind the USWNT as per FIFA, Germany will be making their eighth straight appearance at the World Cup this summer. Die Nationalelf are just a handful of sides who have been serial participants at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Having won two titles, the 2003 and 2007 champions will be looking to make it a third this summer.

However, they would need to be better equipped for the dangers lying ahead, after their path to France 2019 was less than smooth. They suffered their first ever home defeat in a World Cup qualifier. Nonetheless, they rebounded well, cruising to victory in their remaining games to secure the top spot in their group and will be looking to continue their strong track record at this competition.

The Germans disappointingly finished fourth at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada as England took bronze.

Germany lost to England in the Third-Place final at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.

DID YOU KNOW: Germany have always gotten out of the group stage at every single World Cup they have participated in. Their "worst" performance was reaching the quarter-finals in 1999 and 2011.

Germany Women's National Team fixtures and broadcast listings

Spain

Despite the success of the men's side -- especially between 2008 and 2013, Spain's women's team have not enjoyed the same levels of achievement on the bigger stage. They will be looking to slowly establish themselves in Women's Football as they make their second consecutive appearance at the Women's World Cup this summer.

Four years ago, La Roja failed to make an impact as they bowed out at the group stages without winning a single game. They will naturally hope to do better, but could face a tough battle for a Round of 16 spot with China tipped to qualify alongside favorites Germany.

Stealing three points against debutants South Africa on Matchday 1 will be crucial for the Spanish who picked up a point from a 1-1 draw against Costa Rica in their opening game at the last Women's World Cup, only to end up hard done against Brazil (1-0 loss) and South Korea (2-1 loss).

DID YOU KNOW: Spain were the first European team to seal their spot at France 2019 by winning all eight of their qualifying games, scoring 25 goals and conceding just two.

Spain Women's National Team fixtures and broadcast listings

China

China are among the more experienced sides at this competition, but have yet to get their hands on the title. The furthest they have ever gotten was to the 1999 final, but ended up losing that famous spot-kick shoot-out against the USWNT.

The 8-time continental champions have had to settle for less than gold at the AFC Women's Asian Cup since 2006 whilst watching rivals Japan achieve more than them both in Asia and at the world level. If the Chinese are to get back their power, the time is now.

Group B looks favorable for them although their opening fixture against European giants Germany could make or break their momentum for the rest of the games.

DID YOU KNOW: The Steel Roses, like Germany, have always cleared the group stage in every single Women's World Cup they have taken part in. The only exception was in 2011, when they failed to qualify for the tournament hosted in Germany.

China Women's National Team fixtures and broadcast listings

South Africa

Ranked just inside the top 50 (they're presently 49th), South Africa will be making their Women's World Cup debut this summer. Will they turn out to be a major surprise as they try to have an impact on the biggest platform? Certainly, they will be full of ambition and hope, but it remains to be seen how far they can go.

DID YOU KNOW: Star player and current team captain Janine van Wyk is the most-capped South African player of either gender, with 165 appearances and counting.

South Africa Women's National Team fixtures and broadcast listings

Who will qualify from Group B at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup?

China and Germany are the obvious favorites. It would take guts and concentration for 2018 Africa Women's Cup of Nations runners-up, South Africa, to build on their solid defense reputation in France and find the goal(s) that would see them earn a dream knockout stage qualification in their debut Women's World Cup campaign. Spain, on the other hand, would strive to do better than placing rock-bottom as they did in Canada 2015 as they might fancy qualification as a third-place best finisher.