A major tournament trophy with underdog Australia would lift her into the sport’s pantheon. They’re led by captain and tournament poster woman Sam Kerr, who remains the world’s most dangerous striker. The host Matildas will enjoy a massive home-field advantage. Lena Oberdorf, a 21-year-old midfield wrecking ball, is a superstar in the making. Alexandra Popp, a 32-year-old playing in her fourth World Cup, is the primary goal-scorer. In its final tuneup friendlies, Germany barely beat Vietnam then was stunned by 77th-ranked Zambia, 3-2. But Germany’s form since a crushing loss to England in extra time in the 2022 Euros final has been suspect. An inviting slate of Group H opponents (Morocco, Colombia, South Korea) will help get their tournament in gear. There’s pedigree and plenty of talent on the side of the 20 World Cup winners (Germany’s own bid for a three-peat ended in the 2011 quarterfinals). Odds to win: 8/1 About to play in her fourth World Cup, veteran striker Alexandra Popp faces an uphill battle to reverse the fortunes of a team that hasn’t been playing at its best recently. Could lingering resentments be Spain’s undoing? Germany Now they’re (mostly) back and Vilda is still in charge. Why the B-team? Several of the team’s top players were absent in an attempted mutiny against coach Jorge Vilda. Last October, Spain beat the USWNT, 2-0 … with their B-team. At the 2019 World Cup, the USWNT squeaked past a not-quite-ready Spain in the Round of 16 on a late Megan Rapinoe penalty. Add in the wondrous Aitana Bonmati, with Irene Paredes anchoring the defense. It starts with Alexia Putellas, who has been awarded the past two Ballons d’Or as the world’s top player and recently returned from a knee injury. With a core group borrowed from Barcelona, the most dominant club team in the world, Spain has a fluid, attack-minded setup. Spain, the heavy favorite in Group C, looms as women’s soccer’s next great national team. Why Megan Rapinoe was laughing after World Cup penalty miss Inside Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird’s expertly designed NYC pied-à-terreĭon’t cry for Megan Rapinoe and humiliated USWNT - they’re a bunch of unpatriotic losers Three names USWNT should consider as it heads for likely coaching change Lauren James, a 21-year-old dribbling blur, is the popular choice as the breakout star of the entire tournament. Keira Walsh controls the game from the midfield. The Lionesses enter the World Cup - and a dangerous Group D - depleted by injuries to attacking engine Fran Kirby, first-choice forward Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson, but there’s certainly a seven-win roster here. Under the stewardship of head coach Sarina Wiegman, England announced itself as an in-form superpower by winning the 2022 Euros. Two hundred and fifty-odd years of revolutionary history in the background. England, the rampaging and reigning champions of Europe, on the other. Picture it: The USWNT, within reach of a historic three-peat, on one side. The FA via Getty ImagesĪ final between the United States and England might be the showdown this moment of women’s soccer needs and deserves. Odds to win: +450 England’s young forward Lauren James could emerge as a star in this year’s World Cup. Women’s National Team’s biggest competition at the World Cup: England That’s the disappointing thing tonight for me – the lads have trained well and trained hard out here but that performance should give them a lot to think about on the plane home, because it’s certainly given me a lot to think about.A look at the U.S. For me, that starts on day one of pre-season and ends at the end of the season. “The players must be up for the fact they have to fight to play in the team. Also, through the team, there are things I want to strengthen, and I can be honest about that, because a club like Everton has to have a competitive squad.” We know there is a void in forward areas, we are short in numbers there. When you think of where we were last year, we have lost a big player in Richarlison…we wish him well, but our club now continues. It’s important to think in that way because you want to get better and personnel is key. We’re all very collectively joined up on that and it reinforces the thoughts we’ve all got. “As a club, reinforced the situation in terms of what we need to do with the squad, because it has to be stronger than what we saw tonight. And if we don’t want to be in that situation again, they have to better and I have to be better. “We had an amazing night and an amazing run…but, as soon as that finished, I put it to bed very quickly, so the players have to put it to bed as well, because we were in that fight for a reason. “The players have to work and understand we were in a relegation battle for a big portion of last season,” he said.
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