FIFA Women’s World Cup Group H Preview: Powerhouse Germany looks to cruise through
Other than the United States, just one different nation within the historical past of the Women’s World Cup has a number of titles to their title – Germany, who gained back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2007, which earns them the second-highest FIFA rating on the earth.
No one else of their group is close to the highest 10, with Korea Republic the following highest at 17, adopted by Colombia at 25 and newcomers Morocco at 72. But Group H is dynamic, quick and thrilling, and will probably be doing every part they will to trigger an upset for the highly-ranked Germans.
GROUP A SCHEDULE
July 24: Germany vs. Morocco
July 25: Colombia vs. Korea Republic
July 30: Korea Republic vs. Morocco
July 30: Germany vs. Colombia
Aug. 3: Korea Republic vs. Germany
Aug. 3: Morocco vs. Colombia
THE TEAMS
Germany
FIFA world rating: 2
Odds to win the World Cup: +710 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: -2000 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: Eight
Best displaying: 2003, 2007 (Champions)
2019 World Cup: Lost to Sweden in quarter-finals
Manager: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable beginning XI: Merle Frohms (VFL Wolfsburg), Marina Hegering (VfL Wolfsburg), Kathrin Hendrich (VfL Wolfsburg), Felicitas Rauch (VfL Wolfsburg), Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Sara Däbritz (Olympique Lyonnais), Lina Magull (Bayern Munich), Lena Oberdorf (VfL Wolfsburg), Alexandra Popp (VfL Wolfsburg), Lea Schüller (Bayern Munich), Tabea Waßmuth (VfL Wolfsburg)
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THE BIG QUESTION:
Can Germany discover success once more after shedding out within the European 2022 ultimate?
THE PULSE:
Germany brings a mixture of veteran expertise and rising stars to the desk, with Wolfsburg teammates Alexandra Popp and Lena Oberdorf 11 years aside in age however each bringing a starvation to the worldwide stage after their Champions League marketing campaign ended with out a title.
Expected to run by their group with ease, Germany is coming off a 2-1 defeat to England in additional time of the European 2022 ultimate which might have added a ninth European title to their resume.
The final time the German facet gained a global competitors was eight years in the past on the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games, and their purpose is to fulfill the United States within the ultimate and block them from getting a three-peat.
THE X-FACTOR:
Popp was unavailable for the Euro ultimate as she suffered an harm throughout warm-ups, however scored six of Germany’s objectives within the competitors up till that time. She additionally scored three objectives in Wolfsburg’s Champions League marketing campaign this previous season.
She has scored over 60 worldwide objectives for Germany, has set a file for scoring in 5 consecutive European video games, and can total be a power within the entrance for her nation. Injuries have plagued Popp all through her profession, however she’s going to all the time return to signify her nation.
Korea Republic
FIFA world rating: 17
Odds to win the World Cup: +17,100 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +1,759 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: Three
Best displaying: Canada 2016 (Round of 16)
2019 World Cup: Group stage (0-0-3)
Manager: Collin Bell
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1
Probable beginning XI: Kim Jung Mi (Incheon Hyundai SRA), Choo Hyo-joo (Suwon UDC), Shim Seo-yeon (Suwon UDC), Lim Seon-joo (Incheon Hyundai SRA), Jang Sel-gi (Incheon Hyundai SRA), Kim Hye-ri (Incheon Hyundai SRA), Cho So-Hyun (Tottenham Hotspur), Ji So-Yun (Suwon UDC), Park Eun-sun (Seoul WFC), Choe Yu-ri Incheon Hyundai SRA), Son Hwa-yeon (Incheon Hyundai SRA).
THE BIG QUESTION:
Can Korea Republic make use of their group drawing and make it previous the primary spherical of the knockouts?
THE PULSE:
While Korea has been to a few Women’s World Cups earlier than this, they don’t have a lot to point out from their earlier appearances, with their solely win coming from the 2015 version of the event the place they defeated Spain 2-1.
With gamers like Ji So-yun and Cho Sohyun having expertise taking part in among the many greatest within the ladies’s sport within the Women’s Super League, they bring about not solely the abilities however the tempo wanted to assault in opposition to a tricky squad like Germany.
Korea Republic had their best-ever end on the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, shedding 3-2 to powerhouse China, however making it to the ultimate confirmed that this system has come a good distance and is on the upwards development.
THE X-FACTOR:
Ji So-yun has 67 worldwide objectives, main the ladies’s nationwide program together with her tally and has been named South Korea’s Women’s Footballer of the Year six occasions for her accomplishments on the pitch.
Ji is thought for large objectives, like scoring within the 2015 FA Cup ultimate in opposition to Sunderland for Chelsea, and has a present for method, however has additionally realized the physicality and route attributable to her play in England. She will probably be closely relied on to attain in huge moments for her nation.
Colombia
FIFA world rating: 25
Odds to win the World Cup: +17,500 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +1,183 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: Two
Best displaying: Canada 2015 (Round of 16)
2019 World Cup: N/A
Manager: Nelson Abadía
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1
Probable beginning XI: Catalina Pérez (Avai), Daniela Arias (America de Cali), Jorelyn Carabalí (Atletico Mineiro), Monica Ramos (Gremio), Manuela Vanegas (Real Sociedad), Lorena Bedoya (Real Brasilia), Liana Salazar (Corinthians), Diana Ospina (America de Cali), Leicy Santos (Atletico Madrid), Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid), Catalina Usme (America de Cali)
THE BIG QUESTION:
Can Colombia make it to the group stage after failing to even qualify for the World Cup final time round?
THE PULSE:
Making it to the Women’s World Cup after failing to qualify in 2019, Colombia is already in some scorching water after a pleasant with Republic of Ireland needed to be stopped after 20 minutes do to the physicality.
Colombia are attributable to play China in a pleasant earlier than their World Cup marketing campaign formally begins, however as a rustic are using the excessive of advancing to the ultimate of the 2022 Copa America Feminina defeating Argentina, earlier than they misplaced 1-0 to Brazil.
Colombia is one other squad with a mixture of children with star energy in Linda Caicedo, in addition to the dynamic and veteran presence of gamers like Leicy Santos and captain Daniela Montoya. They convey physicality for certain, but in addition expertise and pace to this group.
THE X-FACTOR:
Caicedo scored the winner in opposition to Argentina to place Colombia into the ultimate of the 2022 Copa America, and gained the Golden Ball because the event’s most beneficial participant at simply 18 years outdated.
She scored twice within the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in August of 2022, and earned the Silver Ball and the Bronze Boot for her performances within the U17 World Cup in India. Falling in need of gold on the U17 World Cup, Caicedo appears to do extra harm on the senior stage.
Morocco
FIFA world rating: 72
Odds to win the World Cup: +50,000 (through Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +13,800 (through Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: None
Best displaying: N/A
2019 World Cup: N/A
Manager: Reynald Pedros
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable beginning XI: Khadija Er-Rmichi (ASFAR), Zineb Redouani (ASFAR), Sabah Seghir (Sampdoria), Yasmin Mrabet (Levante Las Planas), Hanane Ait El Haj (ASFAR), Élodie Nakkach (Servette), Ghizlane Chebbak (ASFAR), Sarah Kassi (Fleury), Fatima Tagnaout (ASFAR), Kenza Chapelle (Nantes), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al-Ahli)
THE BIG QUESTION:
Will Morocco shock their group and make it to the Round of 16 at their first ever Women’s World Cup?
THE PULSE:
Morocco completed second to South Africa on the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which sealed them their spot on the Women’s World Cup for the primary time with Ghizlane Chebbak being named participant of the event.
With gamers like Rosella Ayane who even have Women’s Super League expertise, Morocco has expertise in among the high leagues on the earth that can assist them to offensively sustain with the opposite groups of their group.
While nobody is anticipating Morocco to be taking part in on the ultimate matchday of the competitors, they’ve the instruments wanted to have the ability to make waves of their group, similar to the boys’s facet did in Qatar.
THE X-FACTOR:
Captain Chebbak will probably be pressured to carry out, with the 32-year-old having scored 21 objectives in 56 appearances for Morocco. But all eyes will probably be on Fatima Tagnaout after her latest showings on the worldwide stage.
The 24-year-old was named the most effective participant of the CAF Women’s Champions League with ASFAR, main them to their first-ever title within the event, and will probably be anticipated to be a playmaker to arrange Chebbak and Ayane.
