FIFA Women’s World Cup Group G Preview: This could finally be Sweden’s year
Sweden has been the perennial bridesmaid on the Women’s World Cup, having participated in all eight earlier tournaments, and ending runners-up in 2003 to go together with a trio of semifinal appearances. Ranked third on the earth in the meanwhile, the Swedes are hitting their stride coming into this summer season’s competitors and are the overwhelming favourites to win Group G as the one top-10 nation within the group.
Both South Africa and Argentina have been right here earlier than and so they’ve made strides over the previous couple of years, however don’t count on the Argentines to duplicate the success of their male counterparts eventually 12 months’s World Cup in Qatar. Truth be informed, each nations can be fortunate to get out of the group. That leaves Italy, a rising energy in Europe, in prime place to undergo because the second-place crew in Group G.
GROUP G SCHEDULE
July 23: Sweden vs. South Africa (1 a.m. ET)
July 24: Italy vs. Argentina (2 a.m. ET)
July 28: Argentina vs. South Africa (8 p.m. ET)
July 29: Sweden vs. Italy (3:30 a.m. ET)
July 2: Argentina vs. Sweden (3 a.m. ET)
July 2: South Africa vs. Italy (3 a.m. ET)
THE TEAMS
SWEDEN
FIFA world rating: 3
Odds to win the World Cup: 17.90 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 1.17 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Best exhibiting: Runners-up (2003)
2019 World Cup: Semifinals (5-0-2)
Manager: Peter Gerhardsson
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable beginning XI: Jennifer Falk (BK Häcken) – Nathalie Björn (Everton), Hanna Lundkvist (Atlético Madrid), Magdalena Eriksson (Bayern Munich), Jonna Andersson (Hammarby IF) – Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City), Hanna Bennison (Everton), Caroline Seger (FC Rosengård) – Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal), Rebecka Blomqvist (VfL Wolfsburg), Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona)
THE BIG QUESTION: After three third-place finishes and one look within the remaining, can Sweden take the following step on the World Cup and win all of it?
THE PULSE: Peter Gerhardsson has the advantage of teaching a crew stuffed with skilled gamers who play on the highest ranges of membership soccer, together with ahead Fridolina Rolfö who scored the successful aim for Barcelona on this season’s UEFA Champions League remaining. Captain Caroline Seger can be showing in her fifth World Cup, whereas Magdalena Eriksson has near 100 caps to her credit score as Sweden’s defensive anchor.
This Swedish crew has high quality and depth all around the pitch, however it’s within the assault the place it’s particularly shines. Stina Blackstenius scored eight instances for Arsenal this season, whereas Rolfö bagged 5 objectives in the course of the World Cup qualifiers. Rolfö is a supreme playmaker, whereas AC Milan’s Kosovare Asllani is famous for creativity in the course of the park.
THE X-FACTOR: It can’t be overstated: The Swedes have a first-rate roster stacked with skilled, high-quality gamers at each place. No crew has performed as many video games as Sweden on the Women’s World Cup with out ever successful the match. But this 12 months’s squad is likely one of the greatest — if not the very best — it’s ever had. That will serve Sweden very effectively this summer season.
SOUTH AFRICA
FIFA world rating: 54
Odds to win the World Cup: 501.00 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 67.50 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 1
Best exhibiting: Group stage (2019)
2019 World Cup: Semifinals (0-0-3)
Manager: Desiree Ellis
Probable formation: 4-4-1-1
Probable beginning XI: Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns) — Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Noko Matlou (Eibar), Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Ramalepe (Mamelodi Sundowns) – Linda Motlhalo (Glasgow City), Nomvula Kgoale (TS Galaxy), Refiloe Jane (Sassuolo), Noxolo Cesane (Tigres UANL) – Hildah Magaia (Sejong Sportstoto) – Thembi Kgatiana (Racing Louisville)
THE BIG QUESTION: Can South Africa win its first World Cup recreation after shedding all three of its matches throughout its match debut in 2019 in France?
THE PULSE: The Banyana Banyana received final 12 months’s African Cup of Nations largely on the energy of their defensive prowess, conceding simply 3 times and recording a trio of shutouts. Andile Dlamini was named the match’s high goalkeeper, whereas defender Bambanani Mbane made the match’s greatest XI. So, preserving issues tight on the again has been South Africa’s hallmark, and it’ll be leaning on its defensive energy on the World Cup.
THE X-FACTOR: South Africa can be trying to ahead Thembi Kgatiana to create some magic this summer season. The Banyana Banyana produced simply 4 pictures on track and scored a single aim at their earlier World Cup look, and that got here courtesy of Kgatiana, who discovered the again of the web in a 3-1 loss to Spain. Aside from taking part in within the NWSL, Kgatiana has turned out for a number of high golf equipment throughout Europe, and the hope is that that have will help her lead the attacking cost for the South Africans on the World Cup.
ITALY
FIFA world rating: 16
Odds to win the World Cup: 89.50 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 6.16 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 3
Best exhibiting: Quarter-finals (1991 and 2019)
2019 World Cup: Quarter-finals (3-0-2)
Manager: Milena Bertolini
Probable formation: 3-5-2
Probable beginning XI: Francesca Durante (Inter Milan) – Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma) – Annamaria Serturini (Roma), Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Emma Severini (Fiorentina), Lisa Boattin (Juventus) – Cristina Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma)
THE BIG QUESTION: Can the Italians reside as much as their potential and construct upon their strong run on the earlier World Cup after a disastrous exhibiting eventually summer season’s European Championship?
THE PULSE: Dour and defensive-minded Italians? Not this squad! This Italy crew packs loads of attacking punch, because it breezed by means of the qualifiers with 9 wins from 10 video games and outscored its opponents by a mixed 40-2. Cristina Girelli of Juventus led the way in which with eight objectives in 10 appearances.
That’s to not say the Italians can’t defend, as a result of they will. Juventus’ Lisa Boattin is likely one of the greatest centre backs in Serie A, and Italy received all of its 9 matches within the qualifiers by shutting out its opponents. But there’s no query that this Italian facet’s greatest energy is in its multifaceted assault.
THE X-FACTOR: AS Roma is coming off a historic season wherein it received its first Serie A league title. At the identical time, the membership additionally competed within the UEFA Champions League. Roma scored 68 instances in Serie A, the second-best assault within the league, and 4 of Roma’s key gamers are on Italy’s World Cup squad: Manuela Giugliani, Valentina Giavinti, Giada Greggi and Annamaria Serturini.
Manager Milena Bertolini has additionally referred to as up a variety of gamers from Juventus who completed simply behind Roma within the Serie A desk. Relying on a core of gamers from the highest two groups in Italy’s high division ought to result in elevated cohesion and understanding inside Bertolini’s squad on the World Cup.
ARGENTINA
FIFA world rating: 28
Odds to win the World Cup: 209.00 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 17.15 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 3
Best exhibiting: Group stage (2003, 2007 and 2019)
2019 World Cup: Group stage (0-2-1)
Manager: Germán Portanova
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1
Probable beginning XI: Vanina Correa (Rosario Central) – Romina Núñez (UAI Urquiza), Miriam Mayorga (Boca Juniors), Aldana Cometti (Madrid CFF), Eliana Stábile (Santos) – Daiana Falfán (UAI Urquiza), Lorena Benítez (Palmeiras) – Yamila Rodríguez (Palmeiras), Florencia Bonsegundo (Madrid CFF), Estefanía Banini (Atlético Madrid) – Mariana Larroquette (Orlando Pride)
THE BIG QUESTION: Outscored by a mixed 37-5 in its 9 World Cup video games to this point, can Argentina hold issues tight on the again to present itself an opportunity to get out of the group?
THE PULSE: While Argentina boasts forwards who can rating and midfielders who can create possibilities, traditionally its greatest challenge has been in defence. The South Americans have been shut out in six of their 9 video games on the World Cup over their earlier two appearances. Opponents have averaged 4.1 objectives per recreation in opposition to the Argentines on the World Cup — that’s merely not ok. Much can be anticipated of the double pivot in midfield of Daiana Falfán and Lorena Benítez at this 12 months’s match to lock issues down within the centre of the park and to guard the again 4.
With Sweden the favorite to win the group, Argentina can be battling it for second place. Its opening recreation in opposition to Italy is essential — if the South Americans can by some means take some extent after which beat South Africa of their second recreation, they’ll stand an excellent likelihood of advancing to the knockout spherical for the primary time in crew historical past.
THE X-FACTOR: Forward Yamila Rodriguez was named to the very best XI and completed as the highest scorer (six objectives) eventually summer season’s Copa América Femenina, serving to Argentina obtain a formidable third-place end. The 25-year-old has a knack for unlocking defences and stepping into harmful attacking positions, and Argentina can be counting on her to do far more of that on the World Cup.
