Women's World Cup 2023: Players to watch for every team

By Cameron Pope

Football

Tue July 18, 2023 · 1y ago

Cameron Pope is Sporting Life's women's football expert. He also provides content for BBC Sport, TalkSport, DAZN and IMG.

Follow @CamPopeSport on Twitter

Group A

New Zealand

Hannah Wilkinson
Age: 31
Position: Striker
Club: Melbourne City

New Zealand's place in Pot 1 in the group stage draw as tournament co-hosts has handed them a relatively kind group for their lowly standing in the rankings. HANNAH WILKINSON should be tasked with spearheading the attack, either centrally or as part of a two, and being clinical in front of goal is crucial for the outsiders.

The Football Ferns have bowed out in the opening stage at each of the past four World Cups, but the experienced Wilkinson, whose career has taken her from US college soccer to the Swedish, Portuguese and German leagues, gives them a fighting chance of making the top two - though it will be some task.

The Ferns lack the star names boasted by the more Hollywood rosters of the favourites, so the role of experienced defender and skipper Ali Riley, formerly of Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will also be important in a team effort.

Norway

Ada Hegerberg
Age: 28
Position: Striker
Club: Lyon

Only a teenager when she played the full 90 minutes in Norway's Euro 2013 final defeat, six-time Champions League winner ADA HEGERBERG remains Norway's best hope of breaking the spell that has kept the 1995 World Cup winners away from the final four of a major tournament for a decade.

The 2018 Ballon d'Or-winning striker endured a goalless Euro 2022 after ending a five-year national team hiatus, but four goals in five games for Lyon on her return from long-term injury near the end of the season will nevertheless stir fear among Group A competitors.

Barcelona have twice failed in their attempts to bring her to Catalonia, eager to add her goals to their front line. On that note, Caroline Graham Hansen, also of the Blaugrana, is herself back on international duty after a break for health reasons and adds more firepower on the flanks.

Philippines

Quinley Quezada
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Club: Red Star Belgrade

Debutants Philippines will be up against it in Australia and New Zealand, but it's not just the element of surprise they have in their arsenal. QUINLEY QUEZADA has struck 22 times in 48 appearances for the Filipinas, including a goal in the Women's Asian Cup against Chinese Taipei that secured their World Cup qualification.

Her experience from leagues in the US, China and Serbia will be crucial to her team's hopes of progression while fellow striker Sarina Bolden, of Western Sydney Wanderers, has experience in the US too. Between them, they hold the key to a potential upset.

Switzerland

Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic
Age: 32
Position: Winger
Club: Barcelona

A team stacked with talent, Switzerland will once again call on their top scorer and all-time record cap-holder ANA-MARIA CRNOGORCEVIC to steer them into the latter stages.

A Champions League winner with both FFC Frankfurt and current club Barcelona, her performances in Liga F since a move to Spain in 2019 have established her as one of Europe's foremost wide threats. Also deployable at right-back, she brings added versatility.

Group B

Australia

Sam Kerr
Age: 29
Position: Striker
Club: Chelsea

Nominated for every Ballon d'Or Féminin since the award's inception in 2018, Chelsea forward SAM KERR has already surpassed a half-century of Women's Super League goals and will carry the hopes of a host nation for the Matildas. Boasting tenacity and pace, her skillset sets her apart as one of the most exciting figures in the women's game.

Her goal record at international level is eye-watering, with 63 scored in 120 appearances, and in terms of ones to watch, there really couldn't be anyone else.

If this World Cup were a concert, Kerr would most certainly be the headliner.

Republic of Ireland

Katie McCabe
Age: 27
Position: Left-back
Club: Arsenal

A threat in any position down the left flank, KATIE MCCABE's performances in an Arsenal shirt won her the club's Player of the Season award in 2020-21, but if she's key for her club, her importance to the national team is on another level.

Handed the captain's armband at just 21 years of age, the now 27-year-old's influence on the Irish team cannot be understated - as those who witnessed her determined display against Scotland in the qualifying play-off can attest - and her star quality will help close the gap on the group's big-hitters, though the challenge remains enormous.

Nigeria

Asisat Oshoala
Age: 28
Position: Striker
Club: Barcelona

The eye-watering goal statistics of Barcelona striker ASISAT OSHOALA are enough on their own to make 2018 African champions Nigeria an outside threat at this World Cup.

Once of Liverpool and Arsenal, the attacker shone with Chinese club Dalian in 2017, winning the league's Golden Boot, before a 2019 move to Catalonia catapulted her to global renown. Her 86 Liga F goals in 99 matches suggest she will take some stopping this summer.

A five-time African Footballer of the Year, she is aiming to score at a third consecutive tournament.

Canada

Kadeisha Buchanan
Age: 27
Position: Centre-back
Club: Chelsea

Desperate to better their last-16 exit in 2019, getting out of the group is an absolute must for Canada, whose defence will be marshalled by KADEISHA BUCHANAN.

Now an established centre-back for Chelsea almost a decade on from winning the FIFA Young Player of the Year award at the 2015 World Cup, the link between the thrice Canadian Footballer of the Year and club teammate Jessie Fleming in midfield threatens to bring added potency.

In fact, a number of names would fit the bill as Canada's 'one to watch', with 39-year-old Christine Sinclair bringing her 323 international caps' worth of experience to the front line but, with late panic allayed after a return from injury in May, Buchanan looks poised to shine brightest.

However, it's been a rough season for the Canadian women's team. A fallout with Canada Soccer over a lack of support and pay equality marred preparations, though an interim agreement was has kept the ball rolling for now.

Group C

Spain

Alba Redondo
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Club: Levante

This pick might raise a couple of eyebrows. Alexia Putellas, winner of the last two Ballons d'Or, is clearly the standout figure in Jorge Vilda's squad and all eyes will be on the attacking midfielder from the outset, especially given the cruel circumstances in which she was ruled out of the Euros through injury on the eve of the tournament.

That's also without mentioning her vocal support of teammates who publicly made themselves unavailable for selection in protest against Vilda's management methods last September. Three players involved are now back with the squad.

But elsewhere, one teammate whose progress will be intriguing to watch is ALBA REDONDO. Streaking away from the big names in the Liga F scoring table with a massive 27 goals in 30 games, the 26-year-old doubled her tally for the previous campaign with four games remaining. If she can force her way above Real Madrid's Esther - whose goals dried up late in the term - in the pecking order, she could market herself on the global stage.

Redondo scored against China in April after coming on for Jenni Hermoso, though the Mexico-based veteran could be used as a false nine in place of an out-and-out striker.

The whole team is blessed with talent, with another Barca superstar in Aitana Bonmati ready to add goals from midfield in one of the World Cup's most stacked squads.

Costa Rica

Priscila Chinchilla
Age: 22
Position: Winger
Club: Glasgow City

After exiting their World Cup debut in 2015 after the group stage despite losing only one game, Costa Rica's hopes of going one better largely hinge on Glasgow City attacker PRISCILA CHINCHILLA. Amassing 20 goals from 41 caps at the tender age of 22, the PFA Scotland Women's Player of the Year for 2020-21 could see her stock rise even further at this World Cup.

A veritable star in the making, Chinchilla and Costa Rica can afford to play without expectation of results.

Zambia

Racheal Kundananji
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Club: Madrid CFF

Another first-time qualifier, Zambia will be an unknown quantity for many, but followers of Liga F will be well acquainted with the goals of Madrid CFF striker RACHEAL KUNDANANJI.

Signed from Eibar at the start of term, the young talent hit the ground running after the move to Fuenlabrada and netted 25 goals in the 30-game league season. Her form coming into this World Cup is white hot, with her goal in the headline-making 3-2 friendly win over Germany her 10th strike in seven games for club and country.

She also netted both goals in the 2-1 win over Barcelona in May, bringing to an end the European champions' two-year unbeaten league run and proving she has the skill to threaten the very best.

Likely to play on the flank, with China-based goal machine Barbra Banda down the middle, opponents will do well to counter her lightning pace off the mark.

Japan

Saki Kumagai
Age: 32
Position: Centre-back
Club: Roma

Captain SAKI KUMAGAI leads 2011 champions Japan in their quest to improve on their round-of-16 exit last time out in France.

A key cog in the Bayern Munich defensive wheel for the last two seasons before a move to Italian champions Roma was announced this summer, she has both the ability and the experience - not far off 140 caps' worth - to take her side out of Group C ahead of challenging competition.

She is the last remaining member of the victorious 2011 side in the squad after forward Mana Iwabuchi was left out, and she lines up for her fourth World Cup.

Group D

England

Kiera Walsh
Age: 26
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Barcelona

With Euro 2022 star Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson both ruled out with knee injuries, the star baton passes into midfield with KIERA WALSH, though the most expensive player in the world is no second choice.

Snapped up for a reported £400,000 by Barcelona last season, the former Manchester City midfielder played a starring role in England's crowning moment against Germany at Wembley and backed that up this term with a Liga F and Champions League double.

Her vision for a killer pass sets her apart and she is vital to England's hopes of repeat success on the international stage.

Another talent to keep an eye on in the absence of Mead is striker Alessia Russo, the target of a world-record transfer bid from Arsenal in January.

She ultimately headed to the Gunners on a free at the end of her campaign with Manchester United and this summer is an ideal opportunity for her to shine - if preferred to left-back-turned-striker Rachel Daly, who top-scored in this term's WSL, that is.

Haiti

Melchie Dumornay
Age: 19
Position: Midfielder
Club: Lyon

Still only a teenager, MELCHIE DUMORNAY has turned heads all around Europe this term with her performances for Reims in France's D1 Arkema; there was little surprise when news of an end-of-season move to Lyon emerged.

The supremely talented midfielder burst onto the scene at the CONCACAF Women's Under-17 Championship in 2018, securing the Golden Ball as Haiti reached the last four, before winning the Golden Boot at the Under-20 event two years later and Best Young Player at the senior competition in 2022.

Indeed, it was a Dumornay brace that sealed qualification in the play-off encounter against Chile - who had Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler between the posts, no less.

Elsewhere in the squad, Nerilia Mondesir, captain, is on the cusp of 100 top-flight appearances with Montpellier and brings a wealth of experience, despite her tender age of 24.

Denmark

Pernille Harder
Age: 30
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Bayern Munich

After three years with Chelsea, PERNILLE HARDER is swapping the WSL for the Frauen-Bundesliga next season with a move to Bayern Munich. The standout name on the national team roster, the attacking midfielder faced a battle to be ready following a hamstring injury suffered in November, but returned in time for Chelsea's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona and will be a force to be reckoned with this summer.

Named her country's best player no fewer than seven times, she was part of the squad that reached the Euro 2017 final and was formerly the world's most expensive player.

She, along with other stars such as Real Madrid's versatile young full-back Sofie Svava, makes the Danes a clear threat to group favourites England and failure to qualify for the knockout stages would be a major shock.

China

Wang Shuang
Age: 28
Position: Winger
Club: Racing Louisville

China have failed to make their mark on a World Cup since earning silver medals in 1999 and if 2023 is the year they break that trend, WANG SHUANG could be the player responsible for that change in fortunes. Her CV boasts a brief spell with Paris Saint-Germain, for whom she scored seven goals in 18 appearances, as well as back-to-back Chinese Women's Super League titles with Wuhan Jianghan University FC in 2020 and 2021.

The dynamic dribbler is now with Racing Louisville and, a standout performer in China's 2022 Asian Cup victory, she is more than capable of taking the game to England and Denmark.

Group E

United States

Megan Rapinoe
Age: 38
Position: Winger
Club: OL Reign

This World Cup will see the farewell of a legend. MEGAN RAPINOE, now 38, announced her impending retirement from the game just before the tournament and while her NSWL commitments will keep her playing through most of the calendar year, the showpiece event will be her final moment on the big stage.

Already a double World Cup winner, she can take her tally to an unprecedented three - along with teammates Alyssa Naeher, Kelley O'Hara and Alex Morgan - with victory.

Though no longer at her peak, she is an instantly recognisable figureheard of the USA team and the Americans' opener against Vietnam could see her win a 200th cap.

Vietnam

Huynh Nhu
Age: 31
Position: Striker
Club: Lank FC Vilaverdense

When it comes to Vietnamese football, there is one woman who stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of blazing a trail - and finding the net.

In August 2022, five-time Vietnamese Golden Ball winner HUYNH NHU became the first of her countrywomen to play professional football overseas after leaving Ho Chi Minh City for Portugal's Lank FC Vilaverdense.

The forward scored twice in the 5-1 friendly win over Nepal in April as Vietnam continued their preparation for their World Cup bow, also marking the scoresheet seven times at the 2022 AFF Women's Championship, where her side reached the last four.

Netherlands

Jill Roord
Age: 26
Position: Attacking midfield
Club: Manchester City

Vivianne Miedema's ACL injury, suffered in December, rules the WSL's highest-paid player out of the showpiece and comes as a huge blow to the Netherlands but, in her absence, there are a number of candidates who could take the baton.

Fellow attacker Lieke Martens, a treble-winner with Barcelona before her move to France, is one, but the 30-year-old hasn't shone quite as brightly in the colours of PSG this season.

Approaching a century of caps, JILL ROORD is one to keep an eye on. Formerly of Arsenal, she can be deployed out wide or in a central attacking midfield role and that flexibility, as well as link-up play with Martens and Juventus' Lineth Beerensteyn, will be vital to the Dutch side's chances of success.

Snapped up by Manchester City from Wolfsburg right before the tournament for a fee rumoured to be over £300,000, English audiences will be seeing much of her.

Portugal

Kika Nazareth
Age: 20
Position: Forward
Club: Benfica

By merely 20 years of age, KIKA NAZARETH has already become a serial title-winner in her homeland with Benfica and although the Portuguese club struggled in the Champions League this term, the youngster nevertheless exhibited her promise in attack.

The first female player to sign with influential agent Jorge Mendes, she made three starts at Euro 2022 and bagged three goals in World Cup qualifying.

Jessica Silva of Benfica is another important figure. A Champions League winner in 2020 with Lyon, she is one of seven Portugal players to boast 100 caps or more and that know-how will be invaluable in a team contesting their first World Cup.

Group F

France

Wendie Renard
Age: 33
Position: Centre-back
Club: Lyon

Much has changed in the France camp ahead of the World Cup, with divisive head coach Corinne Diacre replaced by Herve Renard earlier this year, fresh from his exploits at the Saudi Arabia men's helm in Qatar.

Having quit les Bleues under Diacre, ruling herself out of the World Cup, captain WENDIE RENARD - no relation to Herve - made a surprise return for the April international friendlies, playing full nineties in victories over Colombia and Canada in what constitutes a major boost for France's hopes of going deep.

No one has won more Champions League titles than the Lyon skipper, with eight.

Jamaica

Khadija Shaw
Age: 26
Position: Striker
Club: Manchester City

Keen to improve on their 2019 debut performance that saw them score just one goal in three heavy defeats, Jamaica will look to all-time leading goalscorer KHADIJA SHAW for inspiration.

Boasting a phenomenal goal return for Manchester City, the forward's five goals in March secured her the WSL's Player of the Month award, though her tally of 20 for the term was pipped by Rachel Daly's 22 in a race she was backed to win.

She has honed her technical ability on English shores after spells in France and the USA and is pivotal to Jamaica's chances of making an impression.

Nerves may have been allayed when, after pulling out of the Reggae Girlz squad for international duty in February for personal reasons, Shaw returned for an April tune-up match against Sheffield United in Leicester.

Brazil

Marta
Age: 37
Position: Forward
Club: Orlando Pride

It's tough to single out just one star in Pia Sundhage's stacked Brazil squad - but it's kind of the point of this article, I guess, so I will: MARTA.

The 37-year-old was felled by an ACL injury on Orlando Pride duty in March last year and spent 11 months on the sidelines, but made her comeback in Brazil's SheBelieves Cup win over Japan and can now look forward to a sixth World Cup.

Six times named The Best FIFA Women's Player, no one has more Brazil goals than her 115 - from 175 caps, no less - nor more goals at World Cups (17). Quick-footed even as a veteran, with flair to boot, could she become the first to net at six finals tournaments, man or woman?

Panama

Lineth Cedeno
Age: 22
Position: Forward
Club: Sporting San Miguelito

Making their World Cup bow after play-off success, Panama are very much an unknown quantity. Of the players called up to Ignacio Quintana's squad for the April internationals, only a handful represented teams in Europe and the USA.

One of those with European experience is attacker LINETH CEDENO, whose powerful headed goal against Paraguay sealed the Panamanians' progression to the finals. She hit five goals for Hellas in their ill-fated Serie A Femmenile 2021/22 campaign - a commendable achievement, given the relegated Verona club scored just 14 all season.

Cedeno moved to another struggling side, Sampdoria, last term, but struggled for goals and minutes. An early termination of her contract in March and talk of harsh treatment at the hands of Antonio Cincotta marked an unfortunate end to her spell in Italy. This World Cup is very much a shop window for the young talent.

Teammate Marta Cox, who made her international debut at 14, has grown to be another key component in midfield.

Group G

Sweden

Fridolina Rolfo
Age: 29
Position: Winger, left-back
Club: Barcelona

Runners-up in 2003, Olympic silver medallists Sweden have ample reserves of talent to call on, based both at home and abroad.

The WSL will be represented by Chelsea midfielder Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius, with Bayern Munich's Magdalena Eriksson a familiar face for Chelsea fans having made a summer move, but their leading light will likely be FRIDOLINA ROLFO of Barcelona.

The winger has played a key part in the Catalans' Liga F and Champions League campaigns and, skilled with both feet, can feature anywhere down the left flank.

South Africa

Thembi Kgatlana
Age: 27
Position: Forward
Club: Racing Louisville

Scorer of South Africa's first and only Women's World Cup goal when she netted against Spain in the 2019 group stage, well-travelled attacker THEMBI KGATLANA's talents have served teams in Italy, the US, China, Spain, Portugal, Zambia and at home.

She was Player of the Tournament when Banyana Banyana finished second at the 2018 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Ghana and a similar showing from the Racing Louisville player is more or less essential if the South Africans are to stand any chance of success.

A win in any of their group games would be a momentous first.

Italy

Cristiana Girelli
Age: 33
Position: Striker
Club: Juventus

Appearing at back-to-back Women's World Cups for the first time in their history, Italy are flying the flag for their country in a manner that their male counterparts could not after bungled qualification attempts in 2018 and 2022.

CRISTIANA GIRELLI bagged a World Cup hat-trick in 2019 against Jamaica as Le Azzurre ran to the quarter-finals and the striker represents their key source of firepower once again.

She scored 15 goals for Juventus this season in 23 games as they desperately tried to rein in Roma, meaning she's hit double figures in 10 of the last 11 seasons - and for three different clubs, too. And at 33, this could be her last dance on the international stage.

Argentina

Flor Bonsegundo
Age: 30
Position: Right midfield
Club: Madrid CFF

Since moving to Europe in 2018 to join Sporting Huelva, FLOR BONSEGUNDO has largely gone under the radar, starring for smaller teams in Spain's Liga F. Currently with Madrid CFF, a Fuenlabrada-based team not affiliated to a men's club and winning hearts with plucky performances, she dazzled this term with eight league goals, including one within mere seconds of kick-off against Real Madrid.

At the 2019 World Cup, she netted a 94th-minute equalising penalty to deprive Scotland of a famous win, though Argentina fell short of progression. This time, the midfielder - coupled with captain and veteran goalkeeper Vanina Correa - could make the difference in a tight group.

Both played 90 minutes in November's 7-0 humbling against Spain and will know full well the level their side need to reach.

Group H

Germany

Alexandra Popp
Age: 32
Position: Striker
Club: Wolfsburg

Sport is rife with 'what if' moments, but who knows what might have happened had ALEXANDRA POPP been fit for Germany's Euro 2022 final against England.

The Wolfsburg attacker had scored in every game up to that point and she bounced back well in 2022/23, netting 16 goals in 21 league games and led her team into the Champions League final with an exquisite semi-final second-leg lob against PSG.

Behind her, 21-year-old midfielder Lena Oberdorf is a model of consistency, but also buoys her team with powerful tackles and a constant buzz - however it is with Popp that opponents' problems usually start and end.

Morocco

Rosella Ayane
Age: 27
Position: Striker
Club: Tottenham

A name that every Moroccan fan knows, and many an English supporter, too. Reading-born ROSELLA AYANE, an England player up to under-19 level, opted to represent her father's country and was a key part of the unit that reached the WAFCON final last year, netting the winning penalty in the semi-final shootout.

Formerly of Chelsea, Bristol City and Apollon Limassol, Ayane can lead the line alone or play as part of an attacking duo and her pace and spontaneity could prove a handful for the rest of Group H.

Standing 5' 11", her height is an added asset from set-pieces.

Colombia

Linda Caicedo
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Club: Real Madrid

It's hard to cram into a paragraph just how excited Real Madrid fans were at the arrival of teenage sensation LINDA CAICEDO on Spanish shores. Freshly acquired from Deportivo Cali midway through the Liga F season, the young Colombian landed amid frenzied anticipation and fared reasonably well considering the circus all around her.

Three goals across league and cup from 10 starts was a promising beginning, but it doesn't reflect just how talented the mazy dribbler is. Already, she is capable of sitting down opponents a decade her senior with her runs, even when double-marked, and whatever capacity she is used in by Nelson Abadia, she could be devastatingly destructive.

The race to snap her up reportedly involved several top European clubs and it's easy to see why. What's more, she's playing an incredible third World Cup in a year, having reached the under-20 quarter finals last August and the under-17 final in October.

And to top it all, the teenager is an ovarian cancer survivor. Toppling Germany will be tough, but tackling adversity is Linda Caicedo's bread and butter.

South Korea

Ji So-yun
Age: 32
Position: Midfielder
Club: Suwon FC

A long-time Chelsea midfielder with six WSL titles under her belt, Ji So-yun's career on the international stage is in its twilight, but even at 32, Ji could well be the player to set Group H alight and fire South Korea into the round of 16 for the second time.

The all-time leading goalscorer for her country, male or female, she guided the Koreans to the Asian Cup final in 2022 and her creativity is the side's most potent weapon available.

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