Now that the club football season is over, there’s still one more big football event to look forward to, and that is the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand next month.
While all eyes are going to be on the United States, the winningest team in this competition with four trophies, teams such as Spain, England, France, Norway, and Australia are going to give the Stars and Stripes a run for their money, according to the Women’s World Cup 2023 odds.
For the first time ever, the ninth edition of this tournament will have 32 nations competing for the biggest prize, which also means that some of the world’s best women footballers are going to take the spotlight, and SBOTOP is here to feature them one by one.
Alexia Putellas, Spain
Putellas was recently named to Spain’s preliminary Women’s World Cup roster, and why wouldn’t they? After all, she has won everything there is to win in football, including back-to-back Ballon d’Ors in 2021 and 2022.
The only concern about Putellas is her fitness. La Reina is coming back from an ACL injury that kept her from competing in the Euros last year, which saw them eliminated by eventual champions England in the quarter-finals.
But by now, everybody is aware of what she brings to the table for Spain. She’s a versatile playmaker who can play as a winger or as a midfielder, and she’s also a proven leader, captaining the Spanish team for as long as we can remember.
Lauren Hemp, England
Hemp became a cult hero for England when she delivered the corner kick that led to Chloe Kelly’s winning goal in the Euro 2022 final. Since that iconic moment, she hasn’t looked back.
She took over as the Three Lionesses’ No. 9 when Ellen White retired and Alessia Russo was sidelined with an injury, and she did well, offering a preview of what’s to come this summer.
Despite being only 22 years old, Hemp is already an established star. She is a four-time winner of the PFA Young Player of the Year award, and she is fresh from a strong campaign for Manchester City, registering 10 goals in 28 WSL appearances this year.
Selma Bacha, France
Another youngster who’s on the rise is Selma Bacha, who is one of the top young defenders that we have today.
Bacha is poised to make a lot of noise for France in the summer because she’s coming off a productive year at Lyon, tallying two goals and nine assists for them this season.
Those raw numbers appear modest on paper, but they’re already impressive for a full-back. According to ESPN, Bacha is also first in completed crosses, first in shot-creating actions from dead balls, third in chances created, and fourth in expected assists (xA).
Her versatility should fit in well with a veteran-laden French team. If she stays healthy throughout this tournament, France should like their chances to make it far in this competition.
Ada Hegerberg, Norway
In 2017, Hegerberg quit the national team after arguing that women in Norway didn’t receive the same opportunities and pay in football as men. Five years later, she is back in the Norway squad, ending her long dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF).
“It feels incredibly good to be back. I’ll do my part to help us achieve great things, both on and off the field – for football, for Norway, but not least for the next generation,” said the Lyon star.
The 27-year-old striker holds the record for the most goals scored in a Champions League campaign (15) and is currently the all-time leading goal scorer in the Champions League (59).
Hegerberg faced an uphill climb to reach this point after suffering leg injuries in 2020. But she’s back now, and she’s excited for the new opportunity.
Sam Kerr, Australia
Leading the host country’s Matildas is Sam Kerr, who boasts an extensive resume, both in club and international football.
The Chelsea striker and FIFA 23 cover girl is the only footballer to win the Golden Boot on three different continents (Australia, North America, and Europe), and she is also Australia’s all-time leading goal scorer – male or female – with 63 international goals.
Kerr had been with the Matildas since she was 15, eventually becoming their captain since 2019. Look for her to be a regular in the Women’s World Cup 2023 highlights reel as she tries to take Australia into a deep Women’s World Cup run on home soil.
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