The European champion, the reigning world champion or an outsider: who can raise the cup at the Women’s World Cup?

United States (18% on the title)

The United States has the role of favorite for this tournament, they won the title of world champion in 2015 and 2019. If they win again this year, they can become the first team ever to take three consecutive titles. However, during the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, they could not live up to their role as favourites, they were knocked out by Sweden in the semi-finals and had to be satisfied with a bronze medal.

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+ They have already proven several times that they can win a major tournament. In addition, since their title in 2019, the Americans have some new talents in the group, such as Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Sofia Huerta. Trinity Rodmanthe 20-year-old daughter of NBA legend Dennis Rodman, is one of the great stars of American women’s soccer.

– The American team misses their captain with Becky Sauerbrunn due to a foot injury. Sauerbrunn is an important leader for the team on and off the field. Her injury is therefore a serious downer for the team. Due to more injuries and the retirement of some players, there will be 14 new names in the squad at the World Cup. So it remains to be seen whether they can find each other well on the field.

Group E: United States, Netherlands, Portugal and Vietnam

First Match: Saturday July 22 at 3 AM Belgian time against Vietnam

Fridolina Rolfö of Sweden is in shape. — © EPA-EFE

Sweden (11 %)

Sweden’s women’s squad has a strong history, this is their ninth World Cup, meaning they’ve been there since the first Women’s World Cup in 1991. Yet they have never won the title, they were already in the final once in 2003 and won the bronze medal three times. At the previous World Cup in 2019, they went out in the semi-final against the Netherlands after a goal from Jackie Groenen in extra time. The team led by national coach Peter Gerhardsson is currently third in the world rankings. One of the star players of the team is Lina Hurtig, the 27-year-old Arsenal forward was the top scorer in the qualifications with 5 goals in 8 matches. Fridolina Rolfö of Barcelona is another important player, she was also top scorer along with Hurtig by her five goals in qualifying.

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+ Sweden was undefeated in qualifying with 7 wins and 1 draw against Ireland. They even won 15-0 against Georgia. In their previous participations they always went far in the tournament, they only went out once in the group stage.

– DThe Swedes are presented with a difficult coursebecause without surprises in the group stage, they have to get past the Netherlands and the United States in the eighth final and the quarter final.

Group G: Sweden, Italy, Argentina and South Africa

First Match: Sunday July 23 at 7 a.m. Belgian time against South Africa

Alexandra Popp: goal getter with the Germans. — © AFP

Germany (9 %)

The Germans won the silver medal at the European Championship in England last year and, like Sweden, were always present at the world championship. Another nice statistic: the German women’s team is the only one besides the United States to score more than 100 goals at a World Cup. This attacking team led by Martina Voss-Tecklenburg is therefore certainly not to be underestimated with their second place in the world ranking. Their star player is Alexandra Popp. The 32-year-old football star from Wolfsburg is often decisive in the sixteen. At last year’s European Championship, she was even top scorer with England’s Beth Mead with six goals, but was unable to help her team in the final due to an injury she sustained during the warm-up. Germany has already won the World Cup twice in 2003 and 2007.

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+ Different from the other favorites the German team has few injuries and their fixed values ​​are all at the kick-off. This gives them an advantage over the other teams, which have to deal with many injuries.

– Germany lost its last match against Zambia, number 77 in the world ranking, 2-3. Not exactly a goodbye match that gives the team confidence.

Group H: Germany, Colombia, South Korea and Morocco

First match: Monday 24 July at 10.30am Belgian time against Morocco

Sarina Wiegman: Dutch success coach of the English. — © AFP

England (8 %)

England became European champion in their own country last year. This year they want to do what the men’s team never could and that is be both European champion and world champion. In 2015 and 2019 they reached the semi-finals, but they have never reached the final of a world championship. In 2019 they were defeated by the United States, the later world champion. In their qualifying match in the run-up to this World Cup, the English women won against Latvia with a monster score of 20-0. One of the team’s star players is Keira Walsh. The 26-year-old midfielder from Barcelona is very decisive for the English team due to her tactical qualities.

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+ After their European title, there is a high morale in the English team to also do well at the world championship and that intoxication can take them far. In addition, they have met Sarina Wiegman a Dutch coach, who has an excellent reputation.

– There are also a lot of injuries in England, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby are not among them. Ellen White and Jill Scott are retired from football. So there is a lot of experience that they cannot count on in this championship.

Group D: England, Haiti, Denmark and China

First match: Saturday 22 July at half past 12 Belgian time against Haiti

Alexia Putellas, two-time Ballon d’Or with Spain. — © AFP

Spain (8%)

Group E: Costa Rica, Japan, Spain and Zambia

Spain could only qualify for the World Cup for the third time and they have never achieved a really good result. In 2015 they were already eliminated in the group stage and in 2019 they went out in the round of 16. At the European championship they reached the quarterfinals. They then missed Alèxia Putellas due to a ligament injury. Putellas, a player at Barcelona, ​​won the Ballon d’Or in both 2021 and 2022.

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+ Group E is a feasible card for Spain with Costa Rica, Japan and Zambia. In addition, Spain also showed that they are in shape with big victories against Vietnam, Panama, China and the Czech Republic.

– At the end of 2022, fifteen players left the national team in protest against national coach Jorge Vilde and his team. As a result, they had to fall back on new players, for which this is their first major tournament. These events undoubtedly have a negative impact on the team.

The Netherlands easily won the farewell match of our Red Flames. — © BELGIUM

What about the Dutch women?

Then about our northern neighbours. Gracenote gave the Dutch team a 5 percent chance to win the tournament and a 45 percent chance to reach the quarterfinals. The Netherlands lost the final to the United States at the 2019 World Cup. Since then they have had to let their national coach go, because Sarina Wiegman made the switch to England. In addition, top scorer Vivianne Miedema is injured, she tore off her cruciate ligament during a match in the Champions League. Nevertheless, the Dutch women are in good shape, which they also showed during their farewell match against Belgium with a resounding 5-0 victory.

How can you follow the World Cup?

Opening match: New Zealand against Norway on July 20 at 9 a.m. Belgian time

The Women’s World Cup can be followed on VRT1 and in the Het Nieuwsblad app.

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