A look at the field in the women’s World Cup in Canada, with analysis provided by Jen Plante, CEO of Atlanta-based Empowering Sports. She was formerly director of player development and assistant coach with the Atlanta Beat after an All-American career on Ohio State’s women’s soccer team.
Women’s World Cup Preview
Group A
Canada
How qualified: Automatic berth as host
FIFA world rank (as of March 27): 8
Best finish in World Cup: Fourth in 2003
Top player: Christine Sinclair. The team captain will also be the biggest goal-scoring threat.
About the team: The host squad didn't get the easiest of draws in this group but should advance for just the second time in its sixth appearance in the World Cup.
China
How qualified: Third place at AFC Asian Cup
FIFA world rank: 16
Best finish in World Cup: Runner-up in 1999
Top player: Yang Li scored six goals during the AFC Asian Cup.
About the team: This young squad will rely on its counter-attacking ability to nick results.
Netherlands
How qualified: Defeated Italy in a playoff in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 12
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Vivianne Miedema scored 16 goals during qualifying and is a star in the German Bundesliga. That was more than any player on the European-based teams.
About the team: It could win the group with a roster filled with attacking talent, but not a lot of experience in important tournaments.
New Zealand
How qualified: Won Oceania championship
FIFA world rank: 17
Best finish in World Cup: Never advanced past the group stage in three attempts
Top player: Defender Abby Erceg has 100 caps, the first Kiwi to reach that mark, but Ali Riley, an American-Kiwi, is the team's top player
About the team: It's hard to tell how well this team will play considering how poor the Oceania group is. New Zealand outscored its competition in the three-game qualifying tournament, 30-0.
Schedule
Saturday: Canada vs. China, 6 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Saturday: New Zealand vs. Netherlands, 9 p.m., Fox Sports 2
Thursday: China vs. Netherlands, 6 p.m., Fox Sports 2
Thursday: Canada vs. New Zealand, 9 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 15: Netherlands vs. Canada, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 15: China vs. New Zealand, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports 2
Plante’s picks:
Canada will advance behind its star player, Christine Sinclair. Not only is she a solid forward and goal scorer, but she has been the consistent backbone of the team for years. Canada also has great young talent and will play with the pride of the country on its shoulders.
Netherlands have one of the best young players in the world, Miedema. They should be fun to watch with their technical play and creativity.
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Group B
Germany
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 1
Best finish in World Cup: Two-time champ (2003, '07)
Top player: Anja Mittag led the team with 11 goals during qualifying.
About the team: The women's team plays a lot like the men's team that won the World Cup in Brazil last summer. It rarely makes mistakes, can force opponents into mistakes and has the depth and quality to field wave after wave of players.
Ivory Coast
How qualified: Finished third at African Women's Championship
FIFA world rank: 67
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Tia Vino Ines N'Rehy scored five goals during qualifying.
About the team: Ivory Coast plays organized defense — necessary to advance in the World Cup — but has a roster lacking experience in the world's biggest tournaments. Likely won't advance because of the strength of the group.
Norway
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 11
Best finish in World Cup: Champions in 1995
Top player: Caroline Hansen led the team with eight goals in qualifying.
About the team: A dark horse to excel because of a combination of its pedigree — this is its seventh World Cup — and a mix of experience and young players.
Thailand
How qualified: Finished fifth in AFC Asian Cup
FIFA world rank: 29
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Kanjana Sung-Ngoen led the team with three goals during the Asian Cup.
About the team: A team that qualified, frankly, because of the weakness of the Asian group. It is considered the worst team in the field and should get overrun in the group stage.
Schedule
Sunday: Norway vs. Thailand, 1 p.m., Fox
Sunday Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m., Fox
Thursday: Germany vs. Norway, 4 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Thursday: Ivory Coast vs. Thailand, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 15: Thailand vs. Germany, 4 p.m., Fox
June 15: Ivory Coast vs. Norway, 4 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Plante’s picks:
Germany will feel the pressure to remain No. 1 in the world and while some key players have retired, they have the mentality to compete as the highest level.
Norway will give them a great game as the European leagues have created more parity among player development.
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Group C
Cameroon
How qualified: Runner-up in African Women's Championship
FIFA world rank: 53
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Gaelle Enganamouit scored three goals during qualifying
About the team: Slightly different than other African teams because its style is based on defense, not offense.
Ecuador
How qualified: Defeated Trinidad and Tobago in an interregional playoff
FIFA world rank: 48
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Giannina Lattanzio scored three goals during qualifying.
About the team: This is Ecuador's first appearance in a major tournament since 1998.
Japan
How qualified: Won AFC Asian Cup
FIFA world rank: 4
Best finish in World Cup: Champions in 2011
Top player: Nahomi Kawasumi is an attacking threat on a team that has such balanced scoring, it's hard for a defense to target one player.
About the team: The defending champs like to play with the short-passing style preferred in today's game. The team is on a roll, having won the previous World Cup, finished second at the 2012 Olympics and taken the Asian Cup.
Switzerland
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 19
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Lara Dickenmann, who played at Ohio State, led the team with 11 goals during qualifying.
About the team: The Swiss should advance through what could be considered the tournament's weakest group. The squad features former Atlanta Beat player Ramona Bachmann at forward.
Schedule
Monday: Cameroon vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 2
Monday: Japan vs. Switzerland, 10 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Friday: Switzerland vs. Ecuador, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Friday: Japan vs. Cameroon, 10 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 16: Ecuador vs. Japan, 5 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 16: Switzerland vs. Cameroon, 5 p.m., Fox Sports 2
Plante’s picks:
Japan will win the group with ease. They have the most returning players from the last World Cup and have the potential to win the whole thing. Technically they are one of the best at playing in tight spaces and are quick enough to manage the speed of play on the turf.
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Group D
Australia
How qualified: Runner-up at AFC Asian Cup
FIFA world rank: 10
Best finish in World Cup: Quarterfinals (2007, '11)
Top player: Katrina Gorry was the leading scorer in qualifying with three goals, but watch for Caitlin Foord, named best young player at the 2011 World Cup.
About the team: Though a young and talented team, coach Alen Stajcic's side will have a difficult time getting out of this group because of the power of the U.S. and Sweden.
Nigeria
How qualified: Won African Women's Championship
FIFA world rank: 33
Best finish in World Cup: Quarterfinals in 1999
Top player: Desire Oparanozie led the Super Falcons with five goals during World Cup qualifying but keep an eye on Francisca Ordega, who has made an impact with the Washington Spirit this season.
About the team: The queens of African soccer, the team has rarely done anything of note in the World Cup and this year won't be an exception. They like to attack, which will open them up for counter-attacks in what is typically defensive-minded tournament.
U.S.
How qualified: Won CONCACAF championship
FIFA world rank: 2
Best finish in World Cup: Champions (1991, '99)
Top players: Carli Lloyd has supplanted Abby Wambach as the team's best player. But Wambach's still a threat because she's good in the air or with the ball at her feet, and is a tough, physical matchup for defenders.
About the team: The U.S. is deep, talented and hungry after failing to win it all in the past three World Cups. Wambach will be supported by Megan Rapinoe, Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan, to name a few, on a team that should make it to the championship game. One of the favorites to win.
Sweden
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 5
Best finish in World Cup: Runner-up in 2003
Top player: Midfielder Caroline Seger will control Sweden's attack, which is based on possession and forcing opponents into mistakes.
About the team: Though long ago eclipsed by Germany as the power in Europe, Sweden is still a very formidable side and could bump the U.S. for the top spot in the group.
Schedule
Monday: Sweden vs. Nigeria, 4 p.m., Fox
Monday: U.S. vs. Australia, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Friday: Australia vs. Nigeria, 5 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Friday: U.S. vs. Sweden, 8 p.m., Fox
June 16: Nigeria vs. U.S., 8 p.m., Fox
June 16: Australia vs. Sweden, 8 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Plante’s picks:
This is the group of death for a reason. No favorite in this group other than my patriotism to the red, white and blue! While I think the U.S. and Sweden will be Nos. 1 and 2, Australia will be right behind and get a third-place pick.
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Group E
Brazil
How qualified: Won Copa America championship
FIFA world rank: 7
Best finish in World Cup: Runners-up in 2007
Top player: Marta, one of the best players in women's history and a five-time winner of FIFA's women's player of the year award, is back.
About the team: Brazil ran over the rest of South America to win the Copa America for the sixth time by scoring 22 goals and allowing only three.
Costa Rica
How qualified: Runner-up in CONCACAF championship
FIFA world rank: 37
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Shirley Cruz Trana, a veteran, will organize the midfield from a deep role. She plays professionally for Paris Saint-Germain.
About the team: A team that can change its style to suit its opponent with capable forwards and wingers and a steady back line.
South Korea
How qualified: Fourth at AFC Asian Cup
FIFA world rank: 18
Best finish in World Cup: Didn't advance past the group stage in only previous appearance in 2003.
Top player: Park Eun-Sun scored six goals to lead all players at the AFC Asian Cup.
About the team: The South Koreans scored 16 goals while conceding none during the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup, but couldn't muster the same offense in the semifinals against China, a more evenly matched opponent. They recently held the U.S. to a 0-0 tie in an exhibition.
Spain
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 14
Best finish in World Cup: First appearance
Top player: Vero Boquete is considered a top playmaker, something Spain has in abundance. Boquete formerly played for Portland before joining Frankfurt.
About the team: Spain rolled through its qualifying group with 42 goals scored and two against. The core of this team won 2004 European Under-19 championship.
Schedule
Tuesday: Spain vs. Costa Rica, 4 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Tuesday: Brazil vs. South Korea, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 13: Brazil vs. Spain, 4 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 13: South Korea vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 2
June 17: Costa Rica vs. Brazil, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 1
June 17: South Korea vs. Spain, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 2
Plante’s picks:
Brazil. Any time Marta is on the field, you have to be confident in the team. With potential to earn another golden boot, she has more solid play from her teammates than ever before.
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Group F
Colombia
How qualified: Runner-up in Copa America
FIFA world rank: 28
Best finish in World Cup: Failed to advance past the group stage in previous appearance in 2011.
Top player: Yoreli Rincon scored three goals during qualifying and is considered the next Marta.
About the team: The squad cruised through the Copa America, holding Brazil to a draw in the championship game. It is expected to use a 4-4-2 built around a strong defense.
England
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 6
Best finish in World Cup: Quarterfinals (1995, 2007, '11)
Top player: Eniola Aluko scored 13 goals in qualifying, but Steph Houghton is the team's leader.
About the team: One of many Europeans teams that rolled through qualifying, scoring 52 goals and conceding one. The British were beaten by Canada 1-0 in a recent exhibition.
France
How qualified: Finished atop its group in European qualifying
FIFA world rank: 3
Best finish in World Cup: Fourth in 2011
Top player: Gaetane Thiney scored 13 goals during qualifying.
About the team: The French destroyed their qualifying group with 54 goals scored and three against. They won the Cyprus Cup last year by defeating England 2-0. They were beaten 2-0 by the U.S. in the finals of the Algarve Cup earlier this year. France didn't field its full squad in the event.
Mexico
How qualified: Finished third at CONCACAF championship, scoring two goals in extra time to defeat Trinidad and Tobago
FIFA world rank: 25
Best finish in World Cup: Failed to advance past group stage in two previous appearances (1999, 2011)
Top player: Winger Teresa Noyola could be the catalyst for the offense.
About the team: The women's team is similar to the Mexican men's team in that it features technically gifted players who sometimes don't get the expected results.
Schedule
Tuesday: France vs. England, 1 p.m., Fox
Tuesday: Colombia vs. Mexico, 4 p.m., Fox
June 13: France vs. Colombia, 1 p.m., Fox
June 13: England vs. Mexico, 4 p.m., Fox
June 17: Mexico vs. France, 4 p.m., Fox
June 17: England vs. Colombia, 4 p.m., Fox Sports 1
Plante’s picks:
France and England are playing good soccer with a lot of team talent. The leagues in Europe continue to be great for development of their players.
Plante’s picks for the four best third-place teams
China
Australia
Spain
Mexico
Planet’s championship pick:
I do like Japan but not sure if they have the depth to win it all.
So I will go with the U.S. They are not the most technical team and are lacking a central midfielder, but they do have goal scoring forwards who each bring a special element to the game.
— Compiled from soccer websites and publications, including Fox Sports, ESPN, FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation.
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