Current Chase leader and 2012 NASCAR champion Brad

Canada is ready to welcome the world for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, but which invited nation should be considered the guest of honour? Catch up with our primer below and learn which nations are forces to be reckoned with as Canada looks for a historic finish and the top prize in women’s soccer is handed out. Homare Sawa - Age: 36 - Previous WC: 5 The Defending Champs: Japan Any discussion of the top competitors has to start with the title-holders. Japan didn’t come into the 2011 tournament as world-beaters, but they got better with every match and walked off with the top prize. The Nadeshiko qualified as Asia’s third-place nation and were drawn in with Mexico and England. They rebounded from a group stage-finale loss to England that forced them to second and proceeded to stun Germany (in extra time), Sweden and the United States (in penalties) to claim the nation’s first World title. They were edged 2-1 by the Americans at the Olympic tournament and suffered a crucial loss to South Korea that handed the 2013 East Asian Cup to the North Koreans. They came into the Asian Cup with a point to prove and did not look back after a tournament-opening draw with Australia. They blanked Vietnam and Jordan before an extra-time victory over China and a shut out of the Aussies to claim the Continental crown. They enter the 2015 tournament as the third-ranked team in the world and have lost just twice in 2014, going 14-3-2 in three competitions and a quartet of friendlies. They boast a pair of dangerous weapons with Asian Cup MVP Aya Miyama and 2011 World Cup Best Player and Golden Boot Homare Sawa anchoring the attack with 30 years’ experience and 116 goals between them. Alex Morgan - Age: 25 - Previous WC: 1 The Golden Girls: United States Believe it or not, the U.S. women’s team is on a pretty serious losing streak when it comes to the World Cup. That sounds a bit funny, since the nation has lost just five games in the six World Cup tournaments and has never walked away without a medal. Added to that is the fact that the four times they’ve lost in the knockout stage it was always to the eventual champions. Here’s the problem. Three of those four crucial losses have come in the last three tournaments. The U.S. watched Germany claim titles from afar in both 2003 and 2007 before Japan’s triumph in 2011. The last time the United States won the top women’s prize was 1999 when Brandi Chastain created one of the most indelible images in the recent history of sport. The Americans got a measure of revenge by taking out Japan at the 2012 Olympics after a controversial semifinal victory over Canada, but they’ve dominated that tournament of late, taking the last three gold medals and four of five in the event’s history. Qualification was no trouble whatsoever as the Americans rolled through the CONCACAF Championship with a 5-0 record outscoring opponents 21-0. The Americans are 15-3-2 in 2014 with their only hiccups coming in a disastrous Algarve Cup campaign. The last time the team conceded a goal was an Aug. 20 friendly against Switzerland. They are currently riding a 650-minute shutout streak. With over 500 caps between them Abby Wambach (34) and Christie Rampone (39) provide the U.S. with experienced and hungry leadership. Rampone was a member of the 1999 squad but watched the entire knockout round as an unused sub. Wambach has never won a World Cup. Is it “now-or-never” time for the pair? Anja Mittag - Age: 29 - Previous WC: 2 The Unsatisfied: Germany Heading into the 2011 World Cup, there was little reason to believe Germany would not once again prove to be the world’s best. The nation had won back-to-back World Cup titles and was hosting the event for the very first time. The club must simply have been salivating at the thought of a third title being theirs to take on the Frankfurt pitch. And then, the unthinkable. After getting through a strong Group that featured Canada, France and Nigeria, the Germans drew the Japanese, who stumbled in the opening round and had never won a medal at the tournament. Karina Maruyama had different ideas, her marker in the second extra-time session bounced the Germans before they could even have a shot at a medal. Germany’s record is remarkable similar to the Americans’, only without the trio of bronze medals. They’ve lost four knockout games, all to the eventual champs and have only been beaten once in group play, posting a 14-3-1 combined record. While they did not qualify for the 2012 Olympics (qualification was based on the 2011 World Cup, where France and Sweden fared better), they were crowned European Champs in 2013 after a trio of 1-0 knockout victories over Italy, Sweden and Norway. They rolled through qualifying with a perfect 30 points through 10 qualifiers with a ridiculous plus-58 goal-differential. Anja Mittag, Celia Sasic and Dzsenifer Marozsan finished one-two-three in qualification scoring, compiling 28 goals on their own. The Germans have lost only once this year, in an October friendly with France. Cristiane - Age: 29 - Previous WC: 2 The Breakthroughs?: Brazil Brazil has qualified for every Women’s World Cup. Brazil has lost just two games in the history of the South American Women’s Championship, claiming six of seven titles. The all-time women’s World Cup goal-scoring leader is a Brazilian. However, Brazil has never won a Women’s World Cup. The closest they came was 2007, when they were handled 2-0 in the Final by Germany. However, that loss marks their only trip to the Final match. The country holds a modest 15-4-7 all-time record bowing out before the semis in four of six trips. So, why the optimism? With Marta – the aforementioned all-time co-leader – and the dynamic Christiane, who won the Copa Femenina Golden Boot, the Brazilians boast what could very easily be the only one-two punch at the tournament capable of going round for round with the Americans’ Wambach and Alex Morgan. However, entering the tournament ranked sixth in the World, the Brazilians will likely find themselves in the second seeding pot, meaning a tough opening-round match against the likes of Germany, Japan, Sweden, France, the U.S. or (in a best-case scenario for Germany) the host Canadians is likely in the cards. Gaetane Thiney - Age: 29 - Previous WC: 1 The Rising Stars: France Steadily rising since the summer of 2013, the French could be peaking at the right time. They have lost just once in 2014 (on the road, to the Americans) and have stood their ground, earning draws against Brazil and the U.S. A perfect 10-0 in qualifying, outscoring opposition by 51 goals, the French offence is led by 29-year-old Gatane Thiney who topped the qualification scorers’ list with 14 goals. The pairing of Marie-Laure Delie and Eugenie Le Sommer chipped in a combined 16, giving Les Bleues a balanced and lethal attack. The team is something of a new power in the women’s game. They first qualified for the World Cup in 2003 and made their Olympic debut at the 2012 London Games, but they are the reigning fourth-place finishers at both events. A penalty-kick loss to Denmark sent them home from the Women’s Euro in 2013, but the early exit could well stand to make the team even hungrier for a historic result on Canadian soil. Lotta Schelin - Age: 30 - Previous WC: 2 Not to be forgotten: Sweden They took a chunk out of the Americans at the 2011 tournament, earning a 2-1 group-stage victory over the U.S. and forcing them to a tougher route through the knockout stage, beginning with a quarter-final against Brazil. While they fell in the semis to Japan, the Swedes took home the bronze as a consolation prize. The team posted a perfect 10-0 qualifying run, allowing just one goal (on a penalty kick). Captain Lotta Schelin is a force to be reckoned with, and she could easily add to her career total of 73 goals in the tournament proper. The Swedes come into the draw as one of the five top seeds and are one of many teams that will challenge the five contenders listed above. Also to be watched: Former Asian powerhouse China, 1995 Champs Norway, three-time quarter-finalists England, African champs Nigeria. Adidas Shoes Australia Sale . 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CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. -- After more than six weeks in limbo, NASCAR star Tony Stewart finally got the news he had been hoping for. A grand jury that heard testimony from more than two dozen witnesses, including accident reconstruction experts and drivers, and looked at photographs and video decided against bringing criminal charges against Stewart for the death of 20-year-old sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr. during an Aug. 9 race. That doesnt mean its over. A few hours after Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo announced the grand jurys decision in this upstate New York hamlet, the Ward family indicated in a statement read over the telephone by sister Kayla Herring that they will seek civil damages in the young drivers death. "Our son got out of his car during caution when the race was suspended. All the other vehicles were reducing speed and not accelerating except for Stewart, who intentionally tried to intimidate Kevin by accelerating and sliding his car toward him, causing the tragedy," the family said Wednesday. "The focus should be on the actions of Mr. Stewart. This matter is not at rest and we will pursue all remedies in fairness to Kevin." The family might have a difficult task: Tantillo disclosed that Ward was under the influence of marijuana the night he died and said two different videos were enhanced, frames were isolated and viewed at at least three different speeds and finally overlaid with grids and data. Both showed Stewart had done nothing wrong. "The videos did not demonstrate any aberrational driving by Tony Stewart until the point of impact with Kevin Ward, at which point his vehicle veered to the right up the track as a result of the collision. Prior to that, his course was pretty straight," said Tantillo. He added that toxicology evidence from Wards autopsy "indicates that at the time of operation he was under the influence of marijuana. The levels determined were enough to impair judgment." Stewarts reaction was not one of celebration, and his statement had the same twinge of sadness that hes carried since he returned to NASCAR three weeks ago following three weeks of seclusion after Wards death. The 43-year-old NASCAR superstar acknowledged the investigation was "long and emotionally difficult" but noted it allowed time for all the facts to be presented. "This has been the toughest and most emotional experience of my life, and it will stay with me forever. Im very grateful for all the support Ive received and continue to receive," he said. "While much of the attention has been on me, its important to remember a young man lost his life. Kevin Ward Jr.s family and friends will always be in my thoughts and prayers." David Weinstein, a former state and federal prosecutor in Miami who is not involved in the case, said the toxicology evidence will make it difficult for the Wards to win a lawsuit against Stewart. He said the Ward statement showed the family was "clearly upset and at a vulnerable point." "Hopefully, someone will explain to them that Kevin will be dragged through the mud during a civil trial," he said. "After the results of the toxicology report and the findings of the grand jury, the deep pockets will not be willing to settle this lawsuit so quickly." The decision came nearly seven weeks after Stewarts car struck and killed Ward, sending shock waves through the top racing series in thee United States.dddddddddddd The brash and popular NASCAR driver known as "Smoke" skipped three races as he grieved, and returned to racing in late August. One of the biggest stars in the garage, Stewart has 48 career Cup wins in 542 starts but is winless this year and did not make the championship Chase field. Sheriff Philip Povero spent weeks investigating, several times saying he did not have evidence to suggest Stewart meant to harm the other driver. Authorities said the first car to pass Ward had to swerve to miss hitting him. The front of Stewarts car appeared to clear Ward, but Ward was struck by the right rear tire and hurtled through the air. He died of blunt force trauma. The sheriff asked in the days after Wards death for spectators to turn over photos and videos of the crash as investigators worked to reconstruct the accident. Among the things being looked at were the dim lighting, how muddy it was and whether Wards dark firesuit played a role in his death, given the conditions. Tantillo also said two videos -- one from a fan, the other from the tiny track in Canandaigua -- had been examined and enhanced. The grand jurors "were not considering whether anybody else was at fault," Tantillo said. "However, I am sure from their deliberations and discussions that the fact that Kevin Ward was observed running basically down two thirds of the track, into a hot track, into the middle of other cars that were racing, played a big, big factor in their decision," he said. "Realistically, I think judgment is probably the most important factor in this case." Stewart vowed to co-operate in the investigation but he did not testify before the grand jury. He issued a brief statement expressing deep sadness and then dropped off the radar, missing races at Watkins Glen, Michigan and Bristol before coming back for the Aug. 31 race at Atlanta. Stewarts peers were protective of him as questions emerged in the aftermath of the crash, and it pained them that Stewart was grieving in private and had cut off communication with so many of them. They welcomed him back in Atlanta, two CEOs from his top sponsors stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him before the race in a sign of support, and fans gave him a robust cheer, too. NASCAR spokesman Brett Jewkes said there were "no winners" in the accident and expressed support for Wards family and Stewart. Current Chase leader and 2012 NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski tweeted after the marijuana disclosure: "Cant believe what Im reading about Tony Stewarts case. Why didnt they release this sooner?!?!" After Wards death, NASCAR announced a rule that prohibits drivers from climbing out of a crashed or disabled vehicle -- unless it is on fire -- until safety personnel arrive. The series also cleared the way for Stewart to make its Chase for the Sprint Cup championship with a win, despite missing the three races. Stewart, who is from Columbus, Indiana, has long been one of the most proficient drivers in racing, winning in every kind of series, from sprint cars to the elite Sprint Cup Series. He has for years taken part in little races in nondescript towns because he loves the thrill of the high horsepower, lightweight cars skidding around the dirt. He rarely made his schedule public, popping up when he pleased, and he was welcome at the clay track at Canandaigua Motorsports Park the night before the NASCAR race in nearby Watkins Glen. ' ' '