Ecuador achieved something this June that no other women’s team in the nation’s history has achieved and that was to appear at a World Cup. La Tricolar were drawn in what some would argue as a decent group, however it proved far from it as Ecuador suffered huge defeats in all three of their group games, thus failing to advance to the knockout rounds. However performances did improve after the 6-0 defeat to Cameroon, they were hammered 10-1 by Switzerland (although they played fairly well for most of the game). Their final game was against the 2011 champions Japan and with Ecuador already being eliminated they had nothing to lose, only a lucky goal after 5 minutes saw the South Americans lose the game by the finest margins. Against Japan, Ecuador played really well and at the very least deserved a draw if not all 3 points. Despite all 3 group defeats and statistically being the worst team at the tournament (-16 GD, 0pts), there are still plenty of positives to take from the tournament with a number of players putting in a fantastic showing as well as scoring their first ever World Cup goal. Firstly the manager Vanessa Arauz (youngest in World Cup history) deserves huge credit for not only qualifying la Tricolar for the tournament but for the togetherness of the team and the fighting spirit they showed during all 3 games. As well as the team performance there was a number of standout players who showed plenty of potential and look to have a great future in the industry. These standout players included goalkeeper Shirley Berruz who pulled off a number of outstanding saves including one which was in contention for save of the tournament. Another standout star was Angie Ponce who impressed me with her determination and set-piece ability, despite scoring 2 own goals in Canada. She also has the honour of scoring Ecuador’s only goal of the World Cup. Despite only scoring one goal Ecuador’s attack impressed me with Monica Quinteros’ hold up play and strength up top. It was thanks to Quinteros in the first place that la Tricolor made it to Canada and she justified her selection. Also up top was Denise Pesantes who has a reputation for being quite creative, despite it being limited during the tournament. Pesantes did nearly score what would’ve been up there for goal of the tournament against Switzerland after her long range effort agonisingly hit the crossbar and bounced away. Overall there were plenty of positives for Ecuador and lots to build on as they attempt to qualify for France in 2019. However there are more pressing matters ahead with the Pan-American games taking place in Canada in July, so la Tricolor will be looking to put into place what they’ve learnt from their tournament experience.
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What a month it has been for the Lionesses, leaving late May to go to Canada more in hope than expectation and just over a month later they arrive back as heroes and rightly so. When England played their first game out in Canada against the host a week before the tournament it is fair to say the team performance looked fairly disjointed with only a couple of players sticking out. Manager Mark Sampson tactics were questioned having taken a number of players who had recently returned from injury. Things didn’t get any easier for the team heading into their first group game against France and again Sampson’s tactics left fans including myself astounded. In that game for example he had right back Lucy Bronze starting on the left wing while also playing a number of others in positions which left the fans scratching their heads. England went on to lose that match but from then on the team grew and captured a nation’s hearts back home. The Lionesses won their remaining two group games against Mexico and Colombia to clinch 2nd place in the group behind and France and advance to the knockout stages. After this England did something they’ve never achieved and that was winning a World Cup knockout game where the edged out Norway 2-1 thanks in partly to a cracker from England’s player of the tournament Lucy Bronze. The Lionesses then went on to face their toughest test, host Canada in Vancouver, this was ultimately their best performance and got fans to believe that they could win the World Cup having recorded a 2-0 win. In the last four they faced 2011 Champions Japan, where the dream of lifting the trophy was diminished in a very cruel way. Having looked the more likely team to advance to the final a unfortunate 92nd injury time own goal by one of England’s stand out players, Laura Bassett saw the Lionesses bow out, but bow out with plenty of pride. A 3rd place play-off victory over a Germany side that they had never beaten in 20 attempts, saw the team break even more history. Overall the Lionesses achieved much more than what was expected of them as they capped of their best ever finish at a World Cup. For this Mark Sampson and his coaching staff as well as well as the 23 players who worked their socks off need to be praised and have. As all their hard work has inspired a nation and hopefully as a result more fans will be eager to get down and support their local women’s side. Exciting times ahead for the women’s game if the authorities play their cards right. Regarding the national side if all goes well they will be participating in the Netherlands at the 2017 European Championships, while in four years’ time France is the destination for the next World Cup and I for one am inspired to be there and play a part of it. Lionesses we are all proud of your achievement, here’s to a bright future!
Representing the host nation is 22-year-old Adriana Leon who made her professional debut for Canada under-20’s in 2009 before making her senior debut 2 and a half years ago at the age of 20. The occasion was extra special for her as she grabbed the winner in a 1-0 friendly win over China. However this is just a result of Leon’s hard work and dedication growing up as a teenager that saw her take part in two sports which were hockey and of course football, where she settled for the latter. In 2010 she earned a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame and duly impressed for the University in her debut season in the NCAA championship. During that season she finished as Notre Dame’s second highest scorer in the league. After her successful season there, Leon transferred to the University of Florida where she juggled playing for the University side and her beloved Canada under-20’s. Despite missing a number of games due to international duty she managed to help Florida win the South-eastern Conference in 2012 by contributing a number of match winning goals along the way. Leon made the professional step up by joining the Boston Breakers for the 2013 NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) season, but was traded halfway through 2013 to Chicago Blue Stars, resulting in her record for Boston finishing (6/1). So far for Chicago Leon has played over 30 times, scoring twice. Leon is highly rated by her country due to her many attributes including her goal scoring and finishing ability, pace and her mobility on and off the ball. Given the fact that she has been allocated the number 19 jersey it seems as though Canada will utilise her skill set from the bench as opposed to starting games, however she is more than capable of holding down a starting 11 place. She heads into the World Cup hoping to add to her 5 goals in 33 caps for her country. Despite Leon being fairly young she doesn’t lack experience having already participated in a number of youth World Cup’s and tournaments and I feel this will set her in good stead to have an excellent tournament and she has the potential to be the home nations hero.
A figurehead of the team, despite her young age of 20-years-old, having made her senior international debut back in 2011 a month prior to the World Cup in Germany. She then went on to participate at the 2011 World Cup and became the youngest ever player to play at a World Cup at the age of just 16. The attacking player from New South Wales kicked off her professional club career at Central Coast Mariners back in 2009, although she did not make a single appearance for the club before leaving in 2010 due to the club withdrawing from the A-League. Foord then went on to sign for fellow A-League side Sydney where she spent 3 years there playing 35 and scoring 6 goals. After her time at Sydney came to an end Foord made the move to the NWSL in America signing New Jersey team Sky Blue where she failed to find the net, however she was deployed more as a wing back. A loan spell in Sydney followed (5 in 11) before moving back to her home country to sign for Perth Glory last year. Before making the step up to play for the national team’s senior side, Foord started off at under-16 level and was influential in Australia under-17’s winning the AFC championship. In this tournament she scored a hat-trick against Philippines as well as helping Australia remain unbeaten throughout the tournament. Foord then progressed to the under-17 team where she made five appearances, scoring the once. She made her senior debut a month before the 2011 tournament in a 3-0 win over neighbours New Zealand. Her impressive performance got her a place on the team roster where she played 2 of the 3 group games and demonstrated her top attributes including pace and ability to play in a number of positions. During the 2011 World Cup, Foord played at right-back as well as right wing and her form here contributed to her winning the young player of the tournament. Regarding Canada 2015 I feel Foord's versatility will be a massive beneficiary to the Matildas as they look to advance from a tough group containing Sweden and the United States.
The Swedish international who is originally from Kosovar and is of Kosovar-Albanian descent, but moved to Sweden at a young age where she developed a growing passion for sport. She played both football and ice hockey, but it was the path of football that Asllani chose to pursue and it has proved to pay diligence. Asllani made her club debut 10 years ago when she was just 15 for Swedish second division Vimmerby where she established herself as a highly rated prospect by scoring 49 goals in 48 games. This overwhelming form earned her a move to Damallsvenskan (Swedish top division) side Linköping’s in 2007 where she won the Swedish Cup along with the clubs first league title in her yeah and a half with the club. During her first season there Asllani was mainly used as an impact player from the bench, netting 9 goals in the process, before becoming a pivotal figure in the second season. After her spell in Sweden she moved to America to play for NWSL side Chicago Red Stars for one season where she improved her game further, despite only scoring twice. In 2010 Asllani returned to Linköping where she provided a welcome boost for the clubs Champions League campaign. However her second spell with the club proved less successful and subsequently joined Damallsvenskan counterparts Kristianstad in her hometown. Her goal record here made for good reading with a goal every other game (7 in 15). She made her big break in 2012 signing for Feminine Division 1 side Paris Saint-Germain where she helped PSG finish runners-up behind dominant Lyon by contributing 17 goals in 19 games. Asllani’s current goal record reads 37 in 50 games. Her success at club level played a massive role in her integration into the national setup. Asllani has drawn a comparison by some plaudits to her men’s counterpart Zlatan Ibrahimović due to their similar technique and pace. She made her senior debut in 2008 and earned her place at the Euro’s in 2009. However Asllani is still yet to play at a World Cup having failed to make the squad for Germany in 2011 to the surprise of many. So taking this into account, Asllani will be sure to make up for lost time and add to her 21 goals she currently has. If Sweden are to have a successful World Cup expect Asllani to be a major factor in that.
The Colombian international has had an interesting career so far despite her young age. Rincon, 21-year-old is highly rated in her own country having risen through national ranks from a very young age. She started playing football at the age of 6, before making the step up at the age of 12 to play in the local league with side Tolima where she managed to win a league title with them. However it was two years later at the age of 14 where her career really took off after making her professional debut in 2006 for Bogota. Her form for the club in the capital saw her receive a call up to the national side at the age of 17 which resulted in her receiving offers from Palmeiras in Brazil and offers from Greece and the United States too. At 18 Rincon did sign for a Brazilian club based in the state of Sao Paulo before signing for Swedish side Malmo in 2013 where playing time was limited which led to her being released after one year. She then went on to have a spell in America and had experience with Western New York at their training camp before returning to Europe with successful Italian side Torres. So far in Rincon’s international career she has gained 45 caps scoring 9 goals which isn’t too bad going from a midfielder, albeit a creative one. As taking into account the majority of the squad won’t be up to Rincon’s standards thus making certain statistics seem less favourable. Nevertheless a quality talent who has similarities with her number 10 male counterpart James Rodriguez, and if she has a successful tournament her dream move to play in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) in America may be back on.
Crnogorcevic has played a crucial part in the Swiss qualifying for their first ever World Cup. The 24-year-old has seen her stock grow over recent years and has been part of what some could refer to as the ‘golden girls’ in Swiss football alongside Lara Dickenmann and Ramona Bachmann. Her career to date has seen her play in her home country before various spells in Germany, working her way up the ladder to one of the best sides in Europe, if not the women’s game. She started her career at her home town team, Steffisburg before moving Rot-Schwarz Thun where she won the Swiss Cup. Her career took off when she moved to FC Thun where she thoroughly impressed, finishing the 2009 season as the national championships (Nationaliga A) top scorer with 24 goals. This earned her a move to Germany with Northern side Hamburg and her form there after just one season led FFC Frankfurt to sign her in 2011 where she remains today. Regarding her international career, Crnogorcevic burst onto the scene at under-19 level where she scored an impressive 25 goals in 29 games, including ones that helped the side reach the 2009 UEFA championship. Later that year she made her debut for the senior side where she has fully established herself by scoring 35 goals in 69 appearances. For this upcoming World Cup Crnogorcevic has the chance to show her huge potential in a group which the Swiss have a reasonable chance of finishing top, playing group favourites Japan, Ecuador and Cameroon. Her opponents throughout the tournament will have to be wary of her pace to get in behind defenders as well as her ability to score goals with her head.
Anticipation is quickly building for the tournament in Canada in what looks set to be the biggest and the best World Cup yet. The Women’s game over recent years has grown rapidly with many countries having professional leagues, most notably the United States, Germany, France, Sweden and in the last few years England. This year sees the tournament expanded from 16 teams to 24 teams, which of course means a lot of new names in the World Cup to get our heads around. There will be 8 teams making their tournament debut this summer representing each of the confederations (bar Oceania) with a few debutants from Africa, Thailand from Asia, Costa Rica from Central America (CONCACAF) Ecuador from South America and a couple from Europe (UEFA). The current defending champions are Japan who won the tournament for the first time back in 2011 after victory over pre-tournament favourites United States in Germany. For the first time in Women’s World Cup history goal line technology will be in place during the tournament with UK’s Hawk-Eye being used. This decision emphasises just how big the World Cup in the Women’s game has become with record TV audiences set to watch the tournament in Canada, not forgetting the spectators at the game, neither of whom would want to see their team knocked out by a controversial goal. This preview will give a brief history of how the teams have fared in past tournaments, key players to watch out for and each of the 24 Country’s squad in full, so without further ado let’s begin. Group A Starting in group A which on the face of it looks a tight group with all 4 teams in the group having an equal chance of making the knockout rounds. The front runners would have to be hosts Canada along with China, both of whom have appeared in all but one editions of the World Cup since it started back in 1991. However New Zealand will be looking to get out of the group for the first time, while the Netherlands who debut in the 2015 edition have risen up the rankings over the last year and could give the other three nations a test in the group. Canada FIFA ranking: 8th Appearance: 6th Previous best: 4th (2003) Head coach: John Herdman First of all we have Canada who qualified for the World Cup due to hosting it. Currently ranked 8th the Canadians over recent years have proven they can mix it with the best having won Bronze in the London 2012 Olympics as well as good showing’s in the Cyprus cup and a number impressive performances in friendlies against the stronger nations. Canada will be wanting to impress on home soil and have plenty of experience to help them achieve this with the likes of attacker Christine Sinclair, midfielder Desiree Scott and defender Lauren Sesselmann. They also have a range of young players coming through and are set to make an appearance in their home nation. These players include midfield duo Jessie Fleming and Ashley Lawrence who will both be appearing in their first tournament at the age of 17 and 19 respectively. So Canada have a good blend but could they be set for their best ever performance at the finals? China FIFA ranking: 16th Appearance: 6th Previous best: Runners-up (1999) Head coach: Hao Wei China will be looking to bounce back in Canada having failed to qualify for the previous tournament in 2011, thus missing out on their first World Cup. On the way to securing qualification China had an impressive Asian Cup where they claimed a 3rd place position. The steel roses secured wins over fellow World Cup competitor Thailand and Myanmar (7-0 & 3-0 respectively). China recorded a draw against South Korea which sent them through to the knockout rounds where they lost to eventual winners Japan in the semis. Given the Chinese absence from the international stage in recent years (World Cup and 2012 Olympics), it is fair to say their squad is not as strong as it once was, particularly the one that came runners-up in 1999. China does not have any stand out names but have a great understanding of each other with nearly all the squad playing in the Asian Country. The collective team spirit within the team showed at the Asian Cup last year with an excellent defensive record as well as being lethal in attack too. Overall China are capable of achieving great things this summer and can get out of the group, possibly reaching the quarters. Netherlands FIFA ranking: 12th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Roger Reijners The Dutch are making their debuts this summer having made the World Cup thanks to play-off victories over Scotland and Italy. It would be fair to say the Dutch are the dark horses of the group and possibly the tournament having been very impressive throughout qualifying. During the campaign to reach Canada the Dutch saw a number of stars emerge like 18-year-old Vivianne Miedema whose goals (19 in 23) helped the Oranje make the World Cup and also earned her a move to Bayern Munich from Dutch side Heerenveen. I really fancy the Dutch to do really well in their first World Cup and could even possibly make it to the quarter-finals. New Zealand FIFA ranking: 17th Appearance: 4th Previous best: 1st round (1991, 2007, 2011) Head coach: Tony Readings This is New Zealand’s fourth tournament (third consecutive) they’ve reached and will be looking to get out of the group stage this year having failed to do so on any other previous occasion. The football Ferns may find it tough in this group but they do have some useful players as well as experience heads who have partaken in the World Cup in Germany four years ago. These include Zurich’s Katie Hoyle who is a combative midfielder looking to break up play as well as create chances for her team mates. Others who will don the all-white of New Zealand include striker Amber Hearn who has been a key part of the setup since making her debut against Australia in 2004 and has earned nearly 100 caps scoring 45 in the process. A tricky group for the Fearns to navigate but they have every chance of advancing to the knockout rounds. Group B A slightly more predictable group than group A with current European champions Germany one of the tournament favourites, so bar any hitches they should win the group with either Norway or Ivory Coast finishing runners-up. However you can’t completely rule out Thailand as both them and Ivory Coast will be looking to make a statement on their debut. There is also potentially a third team to go through so the group could be more open than if only two teams had a chance of advancing, all I’m sure is that Germany will be one of them. Germany FIFA ranking: 1st Appearance: 7th Previous best: Winners (2003, 2007) Head coach: Silvia Neid Germany will be looking to make it a triple crown as they go in search of their third World Cup. They were one of a number of European teams who kept a 100% record in qualifying having won all 10 games and scored more than any other team (62). Die Nationalelf also only conceded 4 goals in the process meaning they had one of the tightest defenders, thus showing that they’re as great defensively as they are clinical in attack. The Germans do have a number of past and present FIFA World Player of the Year’s in their ranks with Captain and goalkeeper Nadine Angerer who won the award in 2013, while Nadine Kessler won it for 2014. Germany will be wanting to make up for what they considered a poor showing in the 2011 edition they hosted, but go into the tournament on the back of 6 consecutive Euro Championship wins. Ivory Coast FIFA ranking: 67th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Clementine Toure A team that I think many including myself don’t know what to expect having never qualified for the World Cup before and go into it as the lowest ranked team (67th). In fact it was a slight surprise they made it having qualified through the African Championships, which was only their second time competing in it. Les Elephantes beat South Africa in the winner takes all play-off having seen Nigeria (tournament winners) and Cameroon (knocked Ivory Coast out) advance in front of them. Ivory Coast’s game is built on team play due to them lacking any star or flare players, however it is this team spirit that saw them reach their first World Cup so I wouldn’t put it past them to leave a lasting impression. Norway FIFA ranking: 11th Appearance: 7th Previous best: Winners (1995) Head coach: Even Pellerud Women’s football in Scandinavia has grown rapidly in the past decade and this is partly down to Norway who like their Scandinavian counterparts (Sweden in particular), have thoroughly impressed on the international stage. They are in fact the only Scandinavian team to have won the World Cup when they lifted the trophy in Sweden back in 1995. In the group Norway will be facing some familiar opponents in the shape of Germany who they beat in the final to win their only World Cup, while Germany turned the tables on Norway and beat them in the final of Euro 2013. Norway do have tons of experience they can rely upon with players like Captain Trine Bjerke Ronning who could possibly be playing in her last World Cup at the age of 32. They do have a lot of youthful options too including the Hegerberg sisters, Ada and Andrine who play as a striker and midfielder respectively. I’m expecting another good showing from Norway and could reach the semis. Thailand FIFA ranking: 29th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Nuengruethai Sathongwien The second debutants in the group having secured fifth and the last remaining World Cup place at the 2014 Asian games where in the process they recorded vital wins over Vietnam and Myanmar. Thailand’s game is built of quick passing and good team chemistry with all but 3 of the squad members playing in Thailand, while the others play in Sweden. Also the majority of the team do play for one sole club in the Country (BG-Bandit Asia) which adds to the chemistry. Changsuk, which translates as the War Elephants have a huge attacking presence in the team, most notably 25-year-old Nisa Romyen who is the team’s biggest goal threat having bagged 14 goals in her 9 appearances she has made for the senior side. There is plenty of experience within the ranks too, so I believe Thailand have what it takes to be competitive and could be one of the surprises of the tournament. Group C An interesting group where 3 of the 4 teams are tournament debutants, while the other are the current champions. Like the previous group it seems to be a one horse race regarding the group winner but then it’s open for any of the other 3 to get the runners-up spot, with Switzerland being my tip to achieve this. However with both Cameroon and Ecuador making their first tournaments they will want to justify why they deserve a place on the grand stage. Cameroon FIFA ranking: 53rd Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Ngachu Enow Cameroon much like fellow Africans Ivory Coast are making their World Cup debuts this summer after les Lionnes finished runners-up in the African Women’s Championship to Nigeria last year. Compared to a lot of other teams participating in Canada, Cameroon’s strengths are not through their attack play but their defensive displays where they tend to edge games by the odd goal or by keeping clean sheets. During the qualification process at the African Championships Cameroon were a bit inconsistent by beating fancied South Africa, but losing to Ghana, however they did reach the final and as previously mentioned, qualify for the World Cup. Their team is littered with players who play in Europe including some with Champions League experience like goalkeeper Annette Ngo Ndom and young striker Gaelle Enganamouit. It will be interesting to see how they do, as inconstancy may cost them. Ecuador FIFA ranking: 48th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Vanessa Arauz Ecuador were the last team to qualify for the World Cup having done so on the 2nd of December last year after a 1-0 aggregate win over Trinidad & Tobago. La tricola advanced to the play-off through reaching the last four in the 2014 edition of Copa América Femenina which they hosted. Ecuador finished 2nd in the group stage behind Colombia and then beat Argentina to clinch an all-important 3rd place in the final group stage behind Brazil and Colombia. Ecuador’s main strengths are the team’s togetherness with all their players playing within the Country and being able to edge games through soaking up pressure before scoring. Interestingly La tricola go into the tournament with the youngest squad with only one player above 30, while the majority are under 24 including attacking duo Amber Torres (19) and Giannina Lattanzio (22). They also have the youngest manager Vanessa Arauz who’s only 26. The youthfulness of the team may play into their favour, not least as their group opponents may not know what to expect. Predicting an interesting World Cup for Guerreras. Japan FIFA ranking: 4th Appearance: 7th Previous best: Winners (2011) Head coach: Norio Sasaki The current champions who have a lot of talent throughout their ranks with a number of players playing across England, France, Germany and the USA. Japan who became the first Asian team to win the World Cup in 2011 will be looking to retain their title having scraped through certain games to win the Asian Cup in 2014, thus securing World Cup qualification. Japan’s squad predominantly play on home soil which does result in great teamwork and work ethic. However some players do play abroad and in some of Europe’s strongest leagues including some names English fans will be familiar with such as former Arsenal defender Yukari Kinga who returned to Japan this season and Yūki Ōgimi who left Chelsea this year in order to return to Germany. My view is that I can’t see Japan repeating the major success of 2011, but I do see the unity within the team helping them to overcome obstacles and maybe reach the semis. Switzerland FIFA ranking: 19th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Martina Vost Completing the three debutants in this group are Switzerland who have been on an meteoric rise over the last couple of years under German head coach Martina Vost who’s led the Swiss to their first World Cup. Currently ranked in the top 20, Switzerland will be eager to showcase their ability and test themselves against the best in the World. They were somewhat a bit of a surprise package in their qualifying group storming through the campaign with 9 wins and 1 draw, which came against group favourites Denmark (1-1) who themselves finished 3rd. This was the only goal the Swiss conceded highlighting the strong backbone of the team in what some would see as a tricky group to navigate out of. They were confident in front of goal as well, scoring 53 in the 10 games with the majority of goals coming from Lara Dickenmann, Ana-Maria Crnogorčević and Ramona Bachmann, all of whom will cause defences problems in Canada. I’m pretty confident la Nati will get out the group and could even advance as group winners and I wouldn’t be surprised if they reached the quarter-finals. Group D Along with group F and to some extent group A, this is possibly the toughest group with three of the four teams currently ranked in the top 10 in the FIFA rankings. In Group D there is a wide variety of teams as you have a young, but experienced Australian side who will be looking to build on their 2011 tournament, coupled with a very attacking Nigerian side who’s not short of pace. Then there are the two favourites to advance from the group with the aging Sweden side wanting to replicate past glories, while the exuberant USA will be hoping for their first trophy for 16 years. A group that quite frankly could be anyone’s! Australia FIFA ranking: 10th Appearance: 6th Previous best: Quarter-finals (2007, 2011) Head coach: Alen Stajcic The Matildas head into the World Cup having failed to retain their Asian Cup crown last year, losing to eventual winners Japan. Although it still meant they did qualify for Canada comfortably with victories over Vietnam and Jordan as well as a draw against the Japanese which could prove a marker of how far they’ve come. Qualification for the World Cup was even more impressive given the turmoil and upheaval of losing their previous coach just before the tournament with Alen Stajcic filling the position on a temporary basis. The Australian team for the Canada this summer is fairly young but a lot of them have had the added benefit of playing at the previous tournament in Germany back in 2011. The 2011 edition also saw striker Caitlin Foord named as the best young player at the age of 16. Australia do have a plethora of attacking options such as 20-year-old Foord and experienced Lisa De Vanna coupled with players who are comfortable on the ball like Katrina Gorry, so it could prove a recipe for success. An added bonus as well is that nearly all the team plays in Australia, so the Matildas may be ones to watch. Nigeria FIFA ranking: 33rd Appearance: 7th Previous best: Quarter-finals (1999) Head coach: Edwin Okon Nigeria are the only African team to have appeared in all of the previous World Cups and will be looking to emulate the success of the team 16 years ago where they reached the quarter-finals. Back home, the Super Falcons have been hugely successful winning the AFCON championships a record seven times with Equatorial Guinea winning the other two tournaments in 2008 and 2010. In the most recent tournament which Namibia hosted Nigeria won all their games on the way to claiming their 7th crown, scoring a total of 16 goals which young attacking duo Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala who scored 5 and 4 goals respectively. Nigeria also only conceded 3 goals during the tournament, which resulted in them having the best defence. Like the two players previously mentioned Nigeria’s main threat are their strikers who like to run with the ball as well as creating chances. Oparanozie comes into the tournament on the back of a great second half of the season with French club Guingamp guiding them to a comfortable 5th place finish in the process. Meanwhile Oshoala of Liverpool has recently been voted BBC World Player of World thus demonstrating the talent the Super Falcons have. A team to watch out for. Sweden FIFA ranking: 5th Appearance: 7th Previous best: Runners-up (2003) Head coach: Pia Sundhage The Swedes head into the World Cup in Canada as one of the most fancied teams in Europe having impressed in the recent major tournaments. In the European championships which Sweden hosted two years ago they reached the semi-finals while in the last World Cup in Germany Sweden achieved 3rd place. It’s fair to say women’s football in the Country is at an all-time high with their club sides impressing in the Champions League with Umea reaching the latter rounds of the competition on a number of occasions as well as claiming two past wins. Sweden won all 10 of their group games in qualifying finishing 6 points ahead of Scotland, however out of all the group winners the Blue & Yellows finished as the lowest goal scorers with 32. The team has plenty of experience throughout the spine of the team with the younger generation such as Marija Banušić of Chelsea being given the chance. If Sweden are to repeat the success of recent tournaments it is their experience players they will need the most like captain and Paris Saint-Germain midfield dynamo Caroline Seger as well as record goal scorer Lotta Schelin, currently of Lyon. United States FIFA ranking: 2nd Appearance: 7th Previous best: Winners (1991, 1999) Head coach: Jillian Ellis One of the favourites for the tournament who will be wanting to improve on their recent showings in the tournament having fallen at the final hurdle in 2011 while in the other editions they failed to make the final, finishing third on 3 occasions. The United States arguably have the most talented squad with quality in every position. For instance Hope Solo who most would say is the best keeper in the World, while the US are blessed up front as well with attacker Abby Wambach being the most caped player in the team at 241 caps and her strike partner Alex Morgan who will be looking to add to her 51 goals for her Country. The United States are a great side to watch with the talent in the team but the question is can they make it count or will it be a case of falling at the last hurdle again? Group E Group E which glancing at it you would expect Brazil to win it comfortably with the other three fighting it out for 2nd. However it may not be straight forward for the Brazil national team as the likes of Costa Rica and Spain (both debutants) will want to make a statement at their first World Cup. Meanwhile the resurgent South Korea too will be wanting to make an impression having failed to win a game at their only previous tournament. Brazil FIFA ranking: 8th Appearance: 7th Previous best: Runners-up (2007) Head coach: Vadao A hugely entertaining team with a number of world class stars, but surprisingly have never won the competition before with their best result coming in 2007 when they reached the final. Brazil head to Canada on the back of winning their sixth Copa America Femenina in Ecuador last year, a tournament that also acts as qualification for the World Cup. As Canarinhas cruised through the first stage of Copa America after picking up 3 out of 4 wins in the group of 5 with the only loss coming against Argentina who themselves took second. It is worth noting though that the loss Brazil fielded a much changed team for the loss to Argentina, so don’t let that sway your judgement about how good Brazil are. Brazil won the trophy by recording two wins and a draw from the final stage with influential striker Cristiane being key to the team’s success. For the summer the Country will also be able to rely on five time World Player of the Year Marta who has a very impressive goal record for the national team with her netting 91 goals in 92 caps. Other players who will be key if Brazil are to achieve World Cup glory include captain Bruna and their most capped current player Formiga. Brazil will be looking to get their hands on the trophy for the first time but will need to be at their best if they are to achieve this. Costa Rica FIFA ranking: 37th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Amelia Valverde Las Ticas are making their first ever appearance at the finals after securing qualification via the CONCACAF championships where they finished runners-up to current world number 2’s the United States. It was quite a remarkable achievement for Costa Rica to reach the final of the CONCACAF championship on their way to securing a World Cup berth after advancing from the group stages with 9 points from 9 with 3 wins coming against Martinique, Jamaica and surprisingly Mexico. A penalty shoot-out win over Trinidad & Tobago in the semis sealed their place at the World Cup and the CONCACAF finals, which they lost by 6 goals to United States but it didn’t dampen their optimising for Canada 2015. Virtually all the team plays within Costa Rica with a few playing North in America, although they do have one stand out player who plays for Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain. 29-year-old Shirley Cruz has valuable experience and will be looking to help guide her team past the group stage. It will be tough but with the emergence of talent from the U-17’s World Cup then anything could be possible. South Korea FIFA ranking: 18th Appearance: 2nd Previous best: 1st round (2003) Head coach: Yoon Deok-Yeo This will only be South Korea’s second appearance in the World Cup having last appeared 12 years ago where they finished bottom of their group by conceding 10 and only scoring 1, thus failing to record a single point. The South Koreans will be hoping for a better showing this time around and recent statistics show that might be the case. South Korea’s root to a place the World Cup was through last year’s Asian Cup where they finished 4th overall after topping their group with wins over Thailand and Myanmar, the later proved to be a rout (12-0). They secured a draw over China and piped them to first on goal difference before narrowly missing out on a final spot after a 2-1 defeat to Australia. South Korea head to Canada with an experienced squad with a number of players having worked their way up the national setup after appearing at previous youth World Cup’s (under-17’s & under-20’s). Their most well-known player in the side is midfielder come forward Ji-So Yun of Chelsea, who has the best goal scoring record in the team (74 caps/38 goals). Taegeuk Nangja hopes may be raised as all but 2 of the 23 player squad play in South Korea meaning team spirit will be high and I expect this to be a factor if they are to reach the knockout rounds. Spain FIFA ranking: 14th Appearance: 1st Previous best: Debut Head coach: Ignacio Quereda Somewhat surprisingly Spain have never appeared at the World Cup before despite some viewing them as one of the bigger footballing nations in Europe. It would be a fair assumption that la Roja are benefiting from the expanded World Cup format (24 instead of 16), but don’t let that make you think Spain will be pushovers. In their qualifying campaign they won 9 games and drew 1 (a 0-0 in Italy), this resulted them finishing top of their group and 3 points ahead of the Italians. Spain like some of their European counterparts who topped their respective qualification groups kept a tight defence only conceding 2 goals in 10 games (2 in a 3-2 win over Czech Republic) and kept 9 clean sheets. Spain’s strengths are the attacking players they have in their team with Arsenal forward Natalia and FFC Frankfurt’s and national captain Verónica Boquete spearheading the attack. In my view Spain are capable of getting out the group if they are able to utilise their attacking players effectively and keep it as tight at the back as they did in qualification. Group F
An interesting group to say the least. It involves two European teams who both won every single qualifying game they played, a Central American team who can be a match for anyone and a South American team who has masses of potential having improved rapidly over the last couple of years. England and France would be everyone’s favourites to advance but all it takes is a slight slip up to allow another team in. It is also worth noting that 3rd place may see a team qualify for the knockout stages, so expect Colombia or Mexico to cause a few shocks. Colombia FIFA ranking: 28th Appearance: 2nd Previous best: 1st round (2011) Head coach: Fabian Taborda Colombia who are making their second consecutive appearance in the World Cup were vastly impressive in qualifying through the South American equivalent (Copa America Femenina 2014) where they won all four group games and remained unbeaten throughout despite not winning the tournament. Nevertheless Colombia go into this tournament as an unknown quantity and with plenty to prove in what looks a tough group. Colombia’s brightest spark is 21-year-old playmaker Yoreli Rincon, who ended the Copa America last year as her Country’s top scorer, so will be looking to replicate that form in Canada this summer. Las Chicas Superpoderosas team is fairly young with the majority aged 26 or 25, but don’t think they lack experience with a number having participated at the previous World Cup in Germany including Captain Diana Ospina. Expecting Colombia to have improved since the 2011 World Cup so watch this space. England FIFA ranking: 6th Appearance: 4th Previous best: Quarter-finals (1995, 2007, 2011) Head coach: Mark Sampson The Lionesses go into this tournament with renewed vigour and optimism with manager Mark Sampson after he took the hot seat following England’s dismal showing under previous coach Hope Powell at Euro 2013. The team is much changed from the one that went to Germany four years ago with a number of young players being given their debuts under Sampson. Under the new regime England are far more attacking than they used to be as proving in qualifying after scoring 52 goals in their 10 group games, in which they had a 100% record. New players in the team include defender Alex Greenwood who’s a fantastic crosser of the ball from both open play and set-pieces, meaning plenty of chances will be created for strikers Eniola Aluko and Ellen White to prosper from. This is possibly the first major tournament where the Country and the players themselves believe that they can achieve something special and win the trophy. France FIFA ranking: 3rd Appearance: 3rd Previous best: 4th place (2011) Head coach: Philippe Bergeroo Les Blues will be aiming to win their first World Cup having only ever reached the semi-finals before. A lot will be expected from France with being ranked 3rd in the World as well as having a very impressive qualifying campaign including some standout friendly results, most notably against the United States back in February this year. France dominated their qualifying campaign winning all ten group games and conceding just 3 while scoring 54. The highlight for France’s qualifying campaign would arguably be the 10-0 and 14-0 over group opponents Bulgaria. France’s team has a good blend of experience and youth with Elodie Thomis, Louisa Necib and Eugenie Le Sommer all appearing at previous tournaments, while 20-year-old Claire Lavogez will be wanting to showcase her skills after starring at the U-20 World Cup last year. Definitely a Country to watch out for. Mexico FIFA ranking: 25th Appearance: 3rd Previous best: 1st round (1999, 2011) Head coach: Leonardo Cuéllar Mexico scraped through qualifying in the CONCACAF championships after loses to World Cup debutants Costa Rica and the United States, who won the championship, they managed to secure a 3rd place at the expense of Trinidad & Tobago whom had to settle for a winner takes all two legged play-off against Ecuador which they lost. The Mexicans will be making their third appearance at a World Cup and will be aiming to make it out the group stages for the first time, but they face a stiff test coming up against France and England as well as an ever improving Colombia. For Mexico to have any chance of getting out the group they will need to show the spirit that saw them come back to beat T&T to 3rd place (2-1 down with 10 minutes to go, won 3-2). They will be able to rely on the experience of forward Monica Ocampo to get the odd goal but it will be tough for a side that plays their football scattered across the globe with no professional league in place within the Country. Mexico would have hoped for an easier group as they go in search of their first ever win at the tournament, but they may be able to sneak 3rd place and hope. The final of this series of blogs profiling the many players who might make the England World Cup squad is on the attackers. In my opinion this is the position that England boss Mark Sampson has the toughest choices to make with only 4 to 5 likely to go to Canada. It will be interesting to see the selection Sampson makes as to whether he goes for a mixture of youth and experience or if he chooses a mixture players who will hold the ball up and others who get the goals. So who’s in with a shout? Eniola Aluko Probably the most inform striker of the lot currently and deserves to make the final cut. Aluko has vast playing experience and has made an impression at every club she has been at like Charlton, Birmingham, Chelsea or stints in America. Currently she is the figurehead of the Chelsea attack although not that potent after only scoring 2 league goals so far this season, she does having plenty of pace and can muscle the opposition off the ball. The thing that impresses me the most about Aluko is her determination to chase down balls as well as her all round play which will get her selected for the summer. Verdict: 100% Sampson will select her. Toni Duggan Duggan was pretty safe in the knowledge that she would be going to Canada, however a knee injury which forced her to miss a number of Manchester City and England games has allowed the likes of Jodie Taylor and Fran Kirby to lay down a marker ahead of her. Since joining Manchester City for the 2014 campaign her goal scoring record has been a tad disappointing in a team which is still finding its feet in WSL. So far this season Duggan has only netted once which can be forgiven due to injury, however last year she only scored a total of 4 goals in 13 games. Saying that her record for England is very impressive with 14 goals from 25, which she should ultimately be judged on. Verdict: Be tight, but may just make the cut.
Lianne Sanderson After a number of years playing abroad with stints in America, Spain and Cyprus, Sanderson returned to Arsenal after leaving them in 2008 but is yet to score thus far this season. However Sanderson is the type of player who can unlock defences with passes behind them to her teammates and is most effective when a player with pace plays alongside her. She can also finish as seen in England’s game last year with Wales which put her on 5 goals since returning to the team after quitting years earlier after a fall out with former coach Hope Powell. Overall her England record is 15 goals after 46 appearances which is good given the role she plays in the team. Verdict: Sampson has confidence in her which Sanderson repays and she’ll be ready to light up Canada. Another one who’s 100% there. Fran Kirby The only player in contention who does not play in the top flight of women’s football. Kirby is one of the new breed to be given a chance to shine under Sampson to which she has duly delivered. The Reading forward’s goal record is mightily impressive having played 40 games for her girlhood club and scoring 66 goals. Her pace and trickery gives her an advantage over her England counterparts, but the argument is she isn’t playing at the top level and should if she is to be considered. Well I beg to differ as she has proved she can do it on the international stage having netted twice in eight caps, most recently in a 2-1 win over China. So in my view she should go. Verdict: Since breaking into the side Kirby has been a regular and I don’t see that changing. On the plane. Ellen White An England regular for many years during her Arsenal days where she won championship after championship until she suffered an ACL during pre-season with her new employees Notts County. After missing the entire 2014 campaign as well as a chunk of the World Cup qualifiers, White returned in January this year after a year out and has hit the ground running with the Lady Pies scoring 3 in 6 appearances so far this season and looks set to score many more. As shown this season for her club and throughout her career White can hold the ball up to which would give Sampson an option he doesn’t have and may see her make the team. Verdict: Thought it looked unlikely with injury, but after forcing her way back into the team it’s looking more and more likely she’ll be on the plane. Jess Clarke One of the highest scorers in the WSL in 2014, Clarke thoroughly impressed for Notts County having been heavily relied upon due to Ellen White’s injury finishing the season as the second highest scorer in England with 6 goals in 13 appearances. Although this year she has only managed to muster 1 goal in 6, but that is down to her being used in wider positions for Notts this season which may help her get selected demonstrating to Sampson that she can play in a variety of positions. At 26 her England record reads 11 goals in 49 caps, but a lot of those caps are sub appearances. Verdict: Offers something different, although Sampson doesn’t seem to favour her which gets me thinking she’ll be left at home. Tash Dowie During the beginning of the World Cup qualifying and in the 2013 and partly 2014 she has been very impressive and her goal record was decent (5 in 14). However form has alluded her and she has drifted out of favour in the international setup only making sporadic appearances for her Country in recent. Though her form for Liverpool which may ultimately end up costing her a place in Canada isn’t down to her lack of work rate or clinical edge, it’s down to in my opinion lack of creativity in the team (having lost Gemma Davison to Chelsea) which would assist her with goals. So her clubs lack of transfer activity may cost her! Verdict: Lack of goals for her club may cause her to miss out. Onto to the midfield which is the most settled part of the field with the selection in most games pretty much straight forward, due to the amount of attacking players in the team (covered in next week’s blog), meaning the midfield is sparse in terms of selection. Nevertheless they have contributed massively to England’s qualification campaign with assists and goals coming from the likes of Birmingham’s Karen Carney and Arsenal’s Jordan Nobbs. The dilemma England Coach Mark Sampson will face during selection is getting the right balance between the defence minded midfielders and the attack minded. So below are the contenders up for making the cut. Karen Carney The Birmingham born international has masses of experience having starred in the Champions League as well as playing in American, not to mention her 100 caps for England. Carney’s experience will be in important for the team in the tournament in the summer. The advantage of taking Carney is that she can play in a variety of positions including midfield, winger and striker. Still only 27, Carney is in her prime and her trickery unlocks doors for her team mates. Verdict: Nailed on selection as England needs Karen Carney. Jordan Nobbs The Arsenal midfield maestro has risen to prominence in recent years having firmly established herself in both her club side as well as her Country. The 22-year-old is arguably one of the best midfielders in the Country having started off at Sunderland before moving to Arsenal where she is currently forging a midfield partnership with new signing and Spanish international Victoria Losada. Nobbs is a regular for England too having impressed Mark Sampson since taking the reins and she has been rewarded with the vice-captaincy meaning she will surely be going to the World Cup this summer. Verdict: 100% she’ll be going, no questions asked. Fara Williams Williams has a rags to riches story having been homeless for six years during her early years as a footballer. She is England’s most capped player having received nearly 140 caps for her Country, making her debut back in 2001 at the age of 17. The Liverpool midfielder has won back to back WSL 1 titles and is one of the most consistent players within league. This could most probably be Williams’s last tournament and would be wanting to leave a lasting impression as she graces the World Cup stage. One thing that’s guaranteed when she plays is a 100% commitment. Verdict: Surely on the plane. Jill Scott The former Everton player, now Manchester City like many of her midfield counterparts has huge amounts of experience having made her England debut back in 2006. Her goal scoring record from midfield for her Country reads decent as well too having scored 13 in 90 caps, thus outlining her ability to get forward. Scott also in one of only a few England internationals to have scored for team GB during the London Olympics in 2012. Whether the manager has been Hope Powell or Mark Sampson, Scot has always been round the England and I don’t see that changing. Verdict: Pretty sure she will be announced in the team Jo Potter Only recently forced her way back into the England she does have a load of experience having been one of the central figures at the heart of Birmingham’s league campaign in 2014 that saw them just miss out on the title. She did however make her England debut over 10 years ago, back in 2004 in a friendly before missing out on selection for Euro 2005. It would be fair to say injuries have plagued her international career having to withdraw from a number of squads. After 7 years out of the international wilderness she was recalled last October and did score her first England goal in 9 years as they beat Montenegro 10-0. Verdict: May miss out due to the high amount competition in the squad. Jade Moore Like Potter, Moore is another Birmingham player to force her way into the England team on the back of the Blues impressive 2014 campaign that saw them reach the Champions League semi-final that season. Moore has won silverware already in her career when the Leeds team she was part of in 2010 won the League Cup, highlighting that she was key for them despite being 19. Now 24-years-old she has worked her way into Sampson’s plans recently but there will be plenty of competition for the place on the plane to Canada. Verdict: Close call, may miss out but wouldn’t want to call it. Katie Chapman The 32-year-old has played for all the major London based clubs (including Fulham, Charlton, Arsenal and currently Chelsea) during her playing career stretching back to her debut in 2001. Chapman has only recently forced her way back into the England fold having been a regular up until 2011, but put her International career on hold due to family care issues. England coach Sampson recalled her this March and rightly so having impressed for Chelsea through her playmaking and leadership skills that has seen the London club rise to the top of the WSL 1 where they currently sit. Chapman in the past has won 2 FA World player of the year awards, thus underlining her positive influence she has on her teammates. Verdict: It will be a close call, as it depends on how many midfielders Sampson wants to take, however her experience will be invaluable. |
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