Women’s World Cup Preview – Group D

With the FIFA Women’s World Cup beginning this Saturday, we look to the teams in Group D; Which players could shine and help their nation to progress through the Knockout stages and beyond.

USA – 3/1

The American’s had a rough start to 2014 with them struggling in the Algarve Cup and only managing a seventh place finish. That said, in the CONCACAF Championship, they regained their form and dominated their neighbours once again with a perfect show, scoring 21 goals and conceding none in 5 wins, claiming their 7th regional title and qualifying for Canada 2015.

As two-time World Champions, United States have a good blend of youth and experience in their squad. Former FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year Abby Wambach leads the Stars & Stripes in attack and with 182 goals to her name, coach Jill Ellis has one of the world’s best strikers. Aiming to provide Wambach with numerous goal scoring opportunities will be Houston Dash’s Carli Lloyd, USA team captain Megan Rapinoe and international strike-partner Alex Morgan. Canada 2015 will be Hope Solo’s third World Cup; the American Goalkeeper has kept 77 clean sheets in her 169 caps and along with defenders Becky Sauerbrunn, Ali Krieger and Christie Rampone, they make up a well-drilled and strong defence.

Ellis, 48, took her first appointment as a coach of a woman’s nation team having replaced Tom Sermanni in May 2014 after the Australian was sacked a month earlier. She is also heavily involved in USA women’s soccer programmes at all levels as a DIrector of Development since 2011.

The USA have won the Women’s World Cup twice in their six previous appearances in the showcase tournament, firstly in 1991 then as hosts in 1999.

ONE TO WATCH – ABBY WAMBACH

Wambach, most known for scoring from diving headers, helped the USA to win the Gold medal in the 2012 Olympic games, and has won numerous player awards in her illustrious football career but at 35, Canada 2015 will most likely be the strikers last World Cup and she will surely want to end her affair with the global tournament on a high.

FIXTURES

08 JUNE     00:30     AUSTRALIA          Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg

12 JUNE      01:00     SWEDEN                Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg

16 JUNE      01:00     NIGERIA                BC Place Stadium, Vancouver