FIFA Women’s World Cup Group F Preview: French seek redemption; Marta’s last dance
If Group B is the match’s so-called “group of death,” Group F is a detailed second. Amidst a handful of accidents to key gamers, France seems to be rejuvenated underneath new supervisor Hervé Renard. After failing to make a splash on residence soil 4 years in the past, Les Bleues will need redemption — and maybe benefit from “new manager bounce” whereas they’re at it.
But France isn’t the one story this group has to supply. This would be the last match for Brazilian legend Marta, whose teammates are hoping to earn their captain probably the most coveted trophy in soccer. Adding to the drama is Jamaica, led by one of many world’s greatest feminine strikers, and Panama, whose resiliency and defensive talents shouldn’t be underestimated. This provides as much as make Group F one of the vital thrilling and probably unpredictable quartets this World Cup has to supply.
GROUP D SCHEDULE
July 23: France vs. Jamaica (6 a.m. ET)
July 24: Brazil vs. Panama (7 a.m. ET)
July 29: France vs. Brazil (6 a.m. ET)
July 29: Panama vs. Jamaica (8:30 a.m. ET)
August 2: Jamaica vs. Brazil (6 a.m. ET)
August 2: Panama vs. France (6 a.m. ET)
THE TEAMS
FRANCE
FIFA World Ranking: 5
Odds to win the World Cup: +960 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: -200 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 4
Best displaying: Fourth place (2011)
2019 World Cup: Quarterfinals
Manager: Hervé Renard
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable beginning XI: Pauline Payraud-Magnin (Juventus) – Sakina Karchaoui (Paris Saint-Germain), Wendie Renard (Lyon), Elisa de Almedia (Paris Saint-Germain), Eve Perisset (Chelsea) – Grace Geyoro (Paris Saint-Germain), Sandie Toletti (Real Madrid), Kenza Dali (Aston Villa) – Amel Majri (Lyon), Eugenie Le Sommer (Lyon), Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain).
THE BIG QUESTION: Can France push previous accidents and turmoil with their federation to make up for his or her 2019 World Cup disappointment?
THE PULSE: Under the newly appointed Renard, who coached Saudi Arabia on the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup, France will look to enter a brand new period. They’ll need redemption after falling to the United States in 2019’s match, and since then, Les Bleues have been struck with turmoil. Clashes between gamers and disputes with the federation have led to disappointing outcomes for the French as of late. However, the Women’s World Cup is an opportunity for the squad to regroup and reclaim their place as one of many prime groups on the earth.
While key gamers Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Delphine Cascarino, and Griedge Mbock are out with damage, France will see Eugénie Le Sommer return to the lineup. After two years away, the 34-year-old is France’s all-time main goal-scorer and has eight Champions League titles to her identify. Veterans like Le Sommer, mixed with fiery youth, make the French squad loads stronger than years previous. Renard’s squad is aggressive, compact, and technically completed, so there will likely be an expectation for them to complete prime of the group. If they will preserve possession, the French must be simply advantageous.
THE X-FACTOR: While Les Bleues usually depend on PSG star Kadidiatou Diani to attain targets, Wendie Renard is the unsung hero of the squad. The 6-foot-1 captain makes use of her top and velocity in France’s field, making it powerful for opponents to create goal-scoring alternatives. In the D1 Arkema (the ladies’s French first division) final season, Renard gained a formidable 39 aerial duels and recorded 154 progressive passes — probably the most within the league. This proves that she’s not merely a commanding defender, however a participant who isn’t afraid to place her physique on the road to ahead the assault.
However, issues have been rocky for the defensive anchor. In February, Renard threatened to retire after disagreeing with the French federation’s administration and values. In a assertion, Renard threatened to boycott the Women’s World Cup till the French might higher assist the ladies’s crew. While each events have seemingly reached a makeshift settlement, it turns into clear that Renard is a frontrunner each on and off the pitch.
BRAZIL
FIFA World Ranking: 8
Odds to win the World Cup: +2473 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +154 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Best displaying: Second place (2007)
2019 World Cup: Round of 16
Manager: Pia Sundhage
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable beginning XI: Leticia Izidore (Corinthians) – Tamires (Corinthians), Rafaelle Souza (Orlando Pride), Lauren (Madrid CFF), Antônia (Levante) – Adriana Silva (Orlando Pride), Kerolin (North Carolina Courage), Ary Borges (Racing Louisville), Geyse (Barcelona) – Debinha (Kansas City Current), Bia Zaneratto (Palmeiras).
THE BIG QUESTION: Can Brazil’s children honour their legendary teammate Marta, and rise above prime European sides to clinch their nation’s first Women’s World Cup title?
THE PULSE: Brazil would like to win the Women’s World Cup for his or her legendary teammate Marta, who’s the competitors’s prime goal-scorer with 17 targets throughout 5 World Cups. As that is Marta’s last bow, handle Pia Sundhage will look to the youthful era to hold them ahead. But whereas the Brazilians are one of many group favourites, the eighth-ranked nation has been lacklustre in opposition to prime European sides. They usually depend on counter-attacks, which doesn’t all the time ship outcomes in opposition to the world’s greatest groups.
That stated, the Selecao’s energy lies of their pacey and artistic frontline, which is without doubt one of the greatest within the match. They know learn how to preserve composure in high-pressure conditions, which bodes effectively for them in opposition to powerful worldwide competitors. While Brazil is hoping to win the group, it will likely be powerful for them to beat France. A second-place spot after the group stage would put them in place to attract a beneficial crew within the Round of 16.
THE X-FACTOR: While Marta is an important participant for Brazil, she’s one of many match’s oldest gamers and is unlikely to make an impression for the total 90 minutes. This is the place 23-year-old Kerolin is available in. The North Carolina Courage star is the NWSL’s third-ranked goal-scorer, who will get the ball within the web by fast runs and unimaginable ball management. Her capability to create probabilities and carry the ball throughout the frontline makes her a risk to opposing defenders.
Additionally, Kerolin’s mentality heading into the match is top-notch. She’s been vocal about her want to earn soccer’s most coveted award for Brazil and her captain Marta, and has been placing within the reps throughout coaching. Able to play on the wings or by the center, Kerolin is in prime kind forward of subsequent week’s matches.
JAMAICA
FIFA World Ranking: 43
Odds to win the World Cup: +48,300 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +5820 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 1
Best displaying: They have by no means gained a match
2019 World Cup: Failed to qualify out of group (0-0-3)
Manager: Lorne Donaldson
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable beginning XI: Rebecca Spencer (Tottenham Hotspur) – Vyan Sampson (Hearts), Satara Murray (Racing Louisville), Allyson Swaby (Paris Saint-Germain), Chantelle Swaby (FC Fleury 91) – Drew Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), Havana Solaun (Houston Dash), Atlanta Primus (London City Lionesses) – Jody Brown (Florida State), Khadija Shaw (Manchester City), Kameron Simmonds (Tennessee).
THE BIG QUESTION: How will Jamaica study from their disappointing maiden marketing campaign, and make the most of star striker Khadija Shaw to earn their first World Cup win the second time round?
THE PULSE: This is Jamaica’s second time competing on the world’s stage. In 2019 they drew a troublesome group with Italy, Australia, and Brazil, dropping all three matches and solely scoring one purpose. While Group F isn’t precisely a stroll within the park, they’ll hope to file higher outcomes this time round. But to take action, they’ll need to tighten up defensively. Historically, the Reggae Girlz have struggled on the backline, which is a purple flag in opposition to groups like Brazil who excel offensively.
If Jamaica needs to make it out of the group stage, they’ll need to ahead the assault. The Caribbean nation’s largest energy is their world-class striker, Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw. Kameron Simmonds and Jody Brown are different ready scorers and will help feed Shaw the ball. Moreover, Jamaica’s match in opposition to Brazil on Aug. 2 will likely be their last within the group, and it may very well be a chance for the Reggae Girlz to hunt revenge after being pummelled by the Selecao within the 2019 match.
THE X-FACTOR: There’s no denying that Shaw is Jamaica’s diamond. The striker, who just lately gained the Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year, is ruthless and versatile in entrance of purpose. She’s the nation’s all-time prime goal-scorer, and her management and keenness for Jamaica earned her the captain’s armband.
Leading the assault for Manchester City, she netted 20 targets, the second-most within the Women’s Super League, and was considered one of City’s most constant gamers. Shaw will look to hold her wonderful membership kind this summer season when representing her nation.
PANAMA
FIFA World Ranking: 52
Odds to win the World Cup: +50,000 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +24,900 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 0
Best displaying: N/A
2019 World Cup: Did not qualify
Manager: Ignacio Quintana
Probable formation: 5-4-1
Probable beginning XI: Yenith Bailey (Tauro FC) – Hilary Jaen (Jones County Bobcats), Wendy Natis (America de Cali), Rebeca Esposina (Sporting SM), Yomira Pinzon (Saprisa), Katherine Castillo (Tauro FC) – Schiandra Gonzalez (Tauro FC), Laurie Batista (Tauro FC), Desire Salazar (Tauro FC), Marta Cox (Pachuca) – Karla Riley (Sporting FC).
THE BIG QUESTION: How can Panama use their resiliency and “nothing to lose” angle to catch their group mates off guard?
THE PULSE: Debutantes Panama are the second lowest-ranked CONCACAF nation on the match, and are projected to complete final in Group F. But that gained’t cease them from trying to make an impression on the world’s stage. Las Canaleras are resilient in nature and powerful on defence, which is compact and constant. In the inter-confederation playoffs, they didn’t concede a single purpose, which helped them qualify for the Women’s World Cup.
However, Panama is inexperienced in main worldwide competitions and isn’t used to competing in opposition to prime groups. They just lately misplaced 7-0 to Spain in a pleasant, which suggests they aren’t so watertight. Additionally, Panama depends on its youthful athletes to make a distinction, and plenty of gamers aren’t competing for top-level golf equipment regularly. This will certainly be studying expertise and a wake-up name for Quintana’s squad.
THE X-FACTOR: Marta Cox has grow to be a rising star in girls’s soccer over the previous couple years. The 25-year-old, who alternates between attacking midfield and ahead, has been constant for Panama in essential matches. During the playoff match for the Women’s World Cup, she hammered residence the game-winning purpose in opposition to Trinidad and Tobago to safe Panama’s spot in Australia and New Zealand. She’s a frontrunner each on and off the pitch, and will likely be very important in making Panama’s maiden marketing campaign one to recollect.
