Women's World Cup lowdown: All you need to know ahead of the France showpiece

The eighth Women's World Cup gets underway in Paris on Friday evening as hosts France take on South Korea at the Parc des Princes.

It is the most highly-anticipated edition of the tournament in history with a number of games already sold out and up to 10 teams in with a solid chance of winning it.

Sportsmail tells you all you need to know ahead of the tournament.

THE CONTENDERS

France

World ranking: 4

Coach Corinne Diacre has added a psychological edge to a national side who have never been to a major final, despite Lyon dominating Europe. In January they even beat the USA, who they could meet in the quarters.

Star player: Amandine Henry (Lyon)

United States

Defending champions and the team to beat despite lodging a sex discrimination case against the US Soccer Federation in March, for paying them less than the men. A younger generation - Mallory Pugh, Tierna Davidson and Rose Lavelle - are rising.

Star player: Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride)

Germany 

Managerial upheaval gives rivals hope - coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg has had only four games at the helm. But technical class should tell, with a younger crop of stars, including Lina Magull and Lea Schuller, now contributing.

Star player: Dzsenifer Marozsan (Lyon)

THE DARK HORSES

England

Phil Neville's more ambitious tactics and a close connection with the players justifies the optimism which soared when his side won the SheBelieves Cup in March ahead of the USA, Japan and Brazil. Unconvincing in warm-up matches.

Star player: Nikita Parris (Lyon)

Japan 

Remnants of the 2015 finalists - Aya Sameshima, Mizuho Sakaguchi and Mana Iwabuchi - are still around and confidence back at home that the team, who England face in the group stage, could reprise their 2011 success.

Star player: Yui Hasegawa (Nippon TV Beleza)

Canada 

Their 1-0 win over England in a warm-up game revealed the threat of one of the tournament's most physical and organised sides, who have the prolific Christine Sinclair to provide the goals.

Star player: Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns)

THE DREAMERS

Italy

One of the trailblazers for the women's game in the 1970s before they fell behind. Club sides helping the nation become competitive. Could well make knockout stages.

Star player: Manuela Giugliano (AC Milan)

Jamaica

Debut for a nation with some stories to tell. Three of Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw's brothers were killed in gang violence but she has emerged as one of her country's best players.

Star player: Khadija Shaw (Tennessee Volunteers)

Thailand 

The best team in South East Asia and more successful than the Thai men, with a re-formed national league in the country helping. There was no domestic football in the country between 2013 and 2016.

Star player: Pikul Khueanpet (Bundit Asia)

How it works

The 24 teams are split into six groups of four. The top two sides from each and the four best third-placed teams will reach the last 16.

The semi-finals and final take place in Lyon. The final is on July 7 at 4pm.

Lyon's Parc Olympique Lyonnais will host both the semi-finals and final of the tournament

The draw was held on December 8, with the 24 teams divided into four pots based on their FIFA world rankings.

Group A: France, Norway, Nigeria, South Korea

Group B: Germany, China, Spain, South Africa

Group C: Italy, Brazil, Australia, Jamaica

Group D: England, Japan, Scotland, Argentina

Group E: Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Cameroon

Group F: United States, Sweden, Thailand, Chile

Key dates

Friday: France v South Korea, 8 pm, Paris.

Sunday: England v Scotland, 5 pm, Nice.

Friday, June 14: England v Argentina, 8 pm, Le Havre.

Wednesday, June 19: England v Japan, 8 pm, Nice.

June 22-25: Last-16 ties.

June 27-29: Quarter-finals.

July 2-3: Semi-finals, Lyon, both 8 pm kick-offs.

July 6: Third-place match, 4 pm, Nice.

July 7: World Cup final, 4 pm, Lyon.