FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 - Australia/New Zealand

[Stan]

From 20th July to 20th August.

Group A:
New Zealand
Norway
Phillipines
Switzerland

Group B:
Australia
Republic of Ireland
Nigeria
Canada

Group C
Spain
Costa Rica
Zambia
Japan

Group D
England
Haiti
Denmark
China

Group E
USA
Vietnam
Netherlands
Portugal

Group F
France
Jamaica
Brazil
Panama

Group G
Sweden
South Africa
Italy
Argentina

Group H
Germany
Morocco
Colombia
South Korea

[Stan]

England squad

Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City).

Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United).

Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Bethany England (Tottenham Hotspur), Lauren Hemp, (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Manchester United).

[Stan]

Germany squad

Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger (Chelsea), Merle Frohms (Wolfsburg), Stina Johannes (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ena Mahmutovic (MSV Duisburg).

Defenders: Sara Doorsoun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marina Hegering (Wolfsburg), Kathrin Hendrich (Wolfsburg), Sophia Kleinherne (Eintracht Frankfurt), Sarai Linder (Hoffenheim), Sjoeke Nusken (Eintracht Frankfurt, joining Chelsea in July), Felicitas Rauch (Wolfsburg), Carolin Simon (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: Sara Dabritz (Lyon), Chantal Hagal (Hoffenheim), Svenja Huth (Wolfsburg), Paulina Krumbiegel (Hoffenheim), Lena Lattwein (Wolfsburg), Melanie Leupolz (Chelsea), Sydney Lohmann (Bayern Munich), Lina Magull (Bayern Munich), Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg).

Forwards: Nicole Anyomi (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jule Brand (Wolfsburg), Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich), Laura Freigang (Eintracht Frankfurt), Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg), Lea Schuller (Bayern Munich), Tabea Wassmuth (Wolfsburg).

[Tommy]

Shame that most matches are going to be in the middle of the night or early in the mornings, I'll still try to catch some of Germany's games. Genuinely excited about this though. I hope our girls can go far. The squad looks really good. 

Just a shame that Giulia Gwinn wasn't nominated after working very hard to recover from a ACL rupture, but I guess she just doesn't have the match practice she needs for such a tournament. 

[6666]

Unfortunate that Leah Williamson & Beth Mead are injured for the tournament. But at least we have Russo there rapping Arsenal.

[Stan]

 

 

[Tommy]

New Zealand beat Norway in the opening match.

 

Now Australia plays against the big underdogs from Ireland. 

 

[Stan]

What a win for NZ. Delighted for them as it's a host, too. Probably their most difficult group game. 

[Tommy]

Australia beat Ireland 1-0, but it wasn't as easy as some people thought it would be. Ireland gave them a good fight and even had plenty of scoring opportunities towards the end of the game. Maybe Ireland should have been more brave early on. 

[Stan]

Took a while for Spain to break Costa Rica down, but they've scored 3 in 6 minutes. 3-0 up. 

[Stan]

Nike haven't made the England GK kit available for public buying. I find that pretty bad, to be honest. 

[Stan]

Penalty in every game so far. 

[Reluctant Striker]

On 21/07/2023 at 12:35, Stan said:

Nike haven't made the England GK kit available for public buying. I find that pretty bad, to be honest. 

Umbro would have done. When they were making England & Barcelona kits. But that's American too now.

Not sure why they stick with Nike really. May aswell be trying New Balance, Castore, Asics, Canterbury, even Adidas & Puma.

Apparently even the mens keeper tops are not sold via England FA store.

[Reluctant Striker]

Thought starting Russo as striker & Kelly as winger didn't look as good as retired White & injured Mead.

Personally, I would get Rachel Daly in as starting number 9. She's had a far, far better season than any other England forward.

[Stan]

Thought Russo was unlucky not to get a goal today though. Not sure why Kelly was moved to the left at half time. 

England struggled today and they looked a bit rusty. 

[Stan]

Dumornay was very good for Haiti. Best player on the pitch, arguably. 

[Tommy]

Oh wow, I didn't know that Hervé Renard is managing France's women's team. I remember him for coaching several African men's teams. 

[Tommy]

Jamaica gets their first ever point at a World Cup against France.  France wasted a lot of chances, but Jamaica actually defended well most of the time, and even had their own counter attacks. 

[Stan]

That's a seriously good result for Jamaica. No-one expected that.

[Tommy]

Oberdorf not fit in time for this is a huge blow. 

Anyway, let's go! 

[Stan]

Popp x2 already. 

[Tommy]

Decent first half, albeit with room for improvement. But luckily Popp is inevitable. Good game from Klara Bühl as well. 

[Stan]

And Bluhl scores straight after half time after a bit of a scramble. 

[Tommy]

Very good start into the tournament. I didn't expect such a big win after the last rather unfortunate friendlies. Morocco's defence and their goalkeeper looked a bit overwhelmed, to put it mildly. But still a very good game from our women. Klara Bühl and Jule Brand impressed me the most. Also a positive sign that the players who came from the bench made an instant impact, especially Lea Schüller. 

Oh and we played without Lena Oberdorf and Marina Hegering. Two of the most important players. 

 

[Tommy]

Also this was filthy.

 

Juuuuule.