Tournament preview: Who’s in? Who can win?

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This article was published 31/05/2019 (2632 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GROUP A: France, Nigeria, Norway, South Korea

The breakdown: Corinne Diacre named her France squad live on a popular news telecast, after which came the inevitable questions about her controversial omission of Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who led the French league in scoring last season with Paris Saint-Germain. Still, even without the 20-year-old, Les Bleues will have ample firepower in the form of Eugénie Le Sommer and Kadidiatou Diani, although it’s in defence that the hosts will look to frustrate their opponents. Norway, meanwhile, will be without Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, who withdrew from the setup in protest of that country’s football federation. Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala was Nigeria’s standout player at the 2015 tournament and will again be relied upon to unlock defences for the perennial African champions. South Korea required a playoff against the Philippines just to qualify for the World Cup but earned impressive wins against Argentina and New Zealand earlier this year.

The star: The veteran Le Sommer remains one the sport’s best attackers and scored six goals in the Champions League for Lyon last season.

The surprise: Rasheedat Ajibade starred for Nigeria at last year’s U20 World Cup and turned a standout domestic campaign in 2017, in which she led the league in scoring and was named its player of the season, into a December move to Norwegian outfit Avaldsnes.

The key match: France will host 1995 World Cup winners Norway on June 12 in Nice. Top spot in Group A will be up for grabs, and with it a round-of-16 encounter that won’t include one of Australia or Brazil.

The prediction: France and Norway advance.

GROUP B: China, Germany, South Africa, Spain

The breakdown: Germany’s national team, as their spirited “Do you know my name?” video reminds viewers, has won a record eight European championships. No other country has won back-to-back World Cups (2003 and 2007), and Die Nationalelf arrive in France as reigning Olympic champions. Captain Alexandra Popp, fresh off a league and cup double with Wolfsburg, leads a side that is largely in its prime and poised to contend for a second major title in three years. Spain, in only its second World Cup, eased through qualifying and will rely on a core of Barcelona players, including captain Marta Torrejón and the exciting Jennifer Hermoso, who is full of goals. China were a women’s soccer power in the mid-1990s but haven’t even won an Asian Cup since 2006. Midfielder Wang Shuang, who enjoyed a successful first season at Paris Saint-Germain, will be hoping to lead a resurgence. South Africa are participating in their first World Cup and nearly beat Nigeria at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Thembi Kgatlana scored five goals.

The star: Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan finished third in 2018 Ballon d’Or voting and is a key contributor in the powerhouse Lyon team. She might well be the best player at this World Cup.

The surprise: Patricia Guijarro won the Golden Ball at the 2018 U20 World Cup and will provide a creative spark from the centre of the park for Spain.

The key match: South Korea and China will play on June 13 in Paris. With Germany running away with this group, there are points to be spread around the other three teams, with a likely third-place berth in the round of 16 up for grabs.

The prediction: Germany, Spain and South Africa advance.

GROUP C: Australia, Brazil, Italy, Jamaica

The breakdown: Between 2004 and 2008, Brazil played two Olympic gold medal games and one World Cup final. They lost on each occasion. Incredibly, the core of those teams — namely Marta, Formiga and Cristiane—is back for one more go-around in a last-ditch attempt to claim that elusive international title. The thing is, if they progress deep into the knockout stages in France, it will likely be because the likes of Debinha and Bia Zaneratto, both of whom are in their primes, took them there. Australia, incidentally, knocked Brazil out of the 2015 World Cup in the round of 16 before losing to eventual runners-up Japan. They might be co-favourites to win this group. Italy are the bracket’s wild card. They crashed out of the 2017 European Championship but qualified comfortably for the World Cup, benefiting from a rock-solid defence. Jamaica are making their World Cup debut but impressed in a recent 3-2 defeat to a very competitive Scotland team in Glasgow.

The star: Australia captain Sam Kerr led the National Women’s Soccer League in scoring last season and is its top marksman once again this time around. She has succeeded the legendary Lisa De Vanna as her country’s leader and best player.

The surprise: Italy have reversed their form following their disastrous Euro showing, and leading Serie A goal scorer Valentina Giacinti scored twice in a 5-0 trouncing of Mexico in February.

The key match: Brazil will face Italy in their final Group C match on June 18 in Valenciennes. If Australia lead the standings at that point, the showdown could have huge ramifications for second place and a possible third-place berth in the round of 16.

The prediction: Australia, Brazil and Italy advance.

GROUP D: Argentina, England, Japan, Scotland

The breakdown: In front of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and a record crowd at Hampden Park, Erin Cuthbert released a scorcher from 30 yards to equalize with Jamaica en route to an entertaining 3-2 win. It was a positive, high-energy send-off for the World Cup debutantes, who also topped their section in qualifying. In France, they’ll go up against rivals England, the Group D favourites, who raised eyebrows by leaving Fara Williams out of their squad. But head coach Phil Neville’s is a team populated with superstars, including Nikita Parris, Toni Duggan and captain Jill Scott. Now in the post-Homare Sawa era, Asian champions Japan are in the midst of a generational shift, led by 26-year-old forward Mana Iwabuchi. Argentina, finally, are back in the World Cup for the first time since 2007 but required a playoff against Panama to qualify. Striker Sole Jaimes largely disappointed after joining Lyon earlier this year but previously won a pair of titles with Boca Juniors.

The star: Parris finished second in FA Women’s Super League scoring last season and turned that form into a move to powerhouse Lyon. Jodie Taylor may be England’s most established forward, but Parris is hitting her peak at exactly the right time.

The surprise: In addition to her pre-tournament stunner against Jamaica, Scotland’s Cuthbert also scored an impressive goal against Lyon in the Champions League. At 20, she’s already a key player in an exciting, up-and-coming Scotland team.

The key match: England-Scotland. Need we say more? They’ll open their respective World Cup campaigns against one another June 9 in Nice in a match that could determine top spot in Group D.

The prediction: England, Scotland and Japan advance.

GROUP E: Cameroon, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand

The breakdown: Is this the best Canada squad ever? Captain Christine Sinclair would probably say so, and that’s after recent teams won Olympic bronze in both London and Rio de Janeiro. But the Canadians have never made a World Cup breakthrough — they’ve contested only one semifinal, and that was back in 2003 — so progressing to the final four is the minimum requirement for a group that boasts both experience and youth in every position: Sinclair and Jordyn Huitema in attack; Desiree Scott and Jessie Fleming in midfield; Allysha Chapman and Kadeisha Buchanan in defence. They’ll be pushed for top spot in the bracket by the Netherlands, who won Euro 2017 and possess one of the game’s true superstars in Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema. Oceania champions New Zealand actually played Canada to a scoreless draw at the last World Cup, and striker Rosie White arrives in France in form after scoring in wins over both Norway and Mexico. Cameroon went out on penalties to Nigeria at the 2018 Africa Cup of Nations but will be hard pressed to improve on their round of 16 showing of four years ago in Canada.

The star: Sinclair scored just twice at the 2015 World Cup — a disappointing haul by her standards. In what might be her swan song, she’ll want to score the four goals she needs to break Abby Wambach’s all-time record and, more importantly, lead Canada deep into the tournament.

The surprise: Huitema, just 18, is as exciting a Canadian attacking prospect since, well, Sinclair. She recently signed for Paris Saint-Germain and will provide a quick, skilled option in the final third.

The key match: Canada and the Netherlands will clash on June 20 in Reims in a match that will almost certainly determine the group winners.

The prediction: the Netherlands, Canada and New Zealand advance.

GROUP F: Chile, Sweden, Thailand, United States

The breakdown: When the United States went out at the quarterfinal round of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it marked the first time that women’s soccer’s most high-profile team had failed to progress to at least the final four of a major competition. They’re still the World Cup holders, but success in France may depend more on the midfield exploits of Lindsey Horan, Morgan Brian and Julie Ertz than the influence of over-30 stars such as Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe. That said, this needs to be a tournament in which Alex Morgan dominates for the U.S. to repeat as champions. They’ll face a familiar foe in Group F. Sweden, the Olympic silver medallists, will be without the retired Lotta Schelin, although in Stina Blackstenius they have a legitimate big-game player, and an experienced defence will frustrate attacking opponents. Chile’s unionized women’s team will make their World Cup debut in France, although they have yet to win a single match in 2019. Striker Taneekarn Dangda and Thailand return to the World Cup, although their recent results have also been disappointing.

The star: Morgan scored just once at the 2015 World Cup and only twice at the 2016 Olympics. U.S. success in France could rest on her ability to deliver in the big moment.

The surprise: Few national teams have had to fight for respect as ruthlessly as Chile’s, and 24-year-old defender Camila Sáez was one of the heroes who took them into a first World Cup.

The key match: The United States-Sweden match on June 20 in Le Havre will be all about seeding. Finishing second in Group F will likely mean a difficult round-of-16 encounter with one of Canada or the Netherlands

The prediction: United States and Sweden advance.

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