In 2019, the slogan “Dare to shine” challenged female footballers to dazzle in the World Cup in France. Four years later, the focus moves to the other side of the world, to Australia and New Zealand, to celebrate “Beyond greatness”. And the fact is that women’s football is growing unstoppably from end to end on all continents and is ready to entrust the successes of England’s last European Championship to this World Cup. A tournament in which, in addition, there will be a life-or-death battle for world hegemony. A throne until now reserved for the United States – winner of 4 of the 8 editions contested so far – but this year will be more expensive than ever. Europe threatens the hegemony of the bars and stars. England, Germany, Spain, Sweden… there are many teams that aspire to reach the top of everything in this tournament and, for the first time, they arrive there with real options to compete for victory.
Spain achieved its first ever victory (2-0) over the United States in October, in a friendly at El Sadar, without 15 of its best players. After the storm unleashed by the conflict between the Federation and the players, Vilda has managed to recover important footballers such as Alexia Putellas or Aitana Bonmatí. Mapi León, Patri Guijarro and Clàudia Pina will not be in New Zealand, who consider the changes promoted in the Federation to be insufficient. La roja has an accessible group, but could cross with the United States in the quarters. This if he overcomes the historical barrier of the round of 16 against Norway or Switzerland. To pass the group stage they should have no problems, as they face Costa Rica, the debutant Zambia and a Japan that has nothing to do with the one that conquered the 2011 World Cup.
Vlatko Andonovski’s team remains the favorite for the record, but injuries (Macário, Press, Mewis…) and the generational replacement (Carli Lloyd) make it an unpredictable selection. More than half (14) of the team will make their debut in a World Cup and, although inexperience may weigh them down, they have promises that are already shining in the NWSL such as Sophia Smith or Trinity Rodman, daughter of the NBA legend.
The other clear favorite is England. The new European champions have taken advantage of the boost given to British women’s football by winning the European Championship they hosted last summer, and the English League has become the strongest on the continent. It arrives touched by the injuries of its stars (Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby), but not sunk. It has experienced players including the champions of the Champions League with FC Barcelona, ??Keira Walsh and Lucy Bronze. Plus, they have the Sarina Wiegman factor on the bench. “She knows how to get the best out of us”, say the Lionesses about their respected coach.
This World Cup hopes to consolidate the European selections above all. Germany, eight-time European champion and with two World Cups in its history, is back. A decade has passed since its glory years, but in the last Eurocopa it was runner-up and clarified all the doubts it had generated in the last two tournaments. German football, with the runners-up of the Champions League, Wolfsburg, as a great benchmark, has proven to be at the highest level.
Nor should the Nordic teams be underestimated, especially Sweden, bronze in 2019 and silver at the Tokyo Olympics. Fridolina Rolfö’s Blaugrana team has reached at least the semi-finals in their last six major tournaments. And France, once its renewal has been completed and with the arrival of Hervé Renard on the bench, could be one of the revelations of the tournament.
Outside of Europe, there are also candidates to play a good role in this World Cup, such as Canada (Olympic gold in Tokyo) or Brazil, with the incombustible Marta (37 years old) playing her last World Cup.
In addition, all eyes will be on the co-host, Australia. They will have the fans overturned with their best generation of footballers. Captain Sam Kerr is the most internationally recognized. The Chelsea player has the important task of leading her team in a historic World Cup for Australian football. She will not be alone, she will be accompanied by high-level footballers such as Ellie Carpenter (Lyon), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal) or the recent signing of Real Madrid, Hayley Raso, until now at City. Enough arguments to make Matildas dream.
