We’re well into the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the knockout phase due to start on Sunday and some teams already preparing for a Round of 16 tie.
Two weeks of scintillating action have produced some brilliant performances and a handful of stunning Women’s World Cup 2023 results, notably Morocco’s first ever finals win, over the Korean Republic, and the Philippines heroic victory over hosts New Zealand.
There have been some great performances in attack, Spain women have been scoring at will, and Sweden put in the best showing of the tournament so far, taking on a talented Italy side and whacking them 5-0. In defence England have looked solid and are yet to concede a goal, picking up two 1-0 wins; but while strikers and goalkeepers often write the headlines, the battles in the big games are often won and lost in the middle of the park.
The players who break up attacks, link up play and launch attacks are the most influential so, 39 games in, we’re looking at the midfield players who have caught the eye in the qualifying stages of the competition.
So here are the SBOTOP picks of the best three.
Lindsay Horan – USA
The pre-tournament Women’s World Cup 2023 betting odds pitched the Stars and Stripes as the favourites to conquer all, and they are on track to make it three world crowns on the bounce, though they still have work to do to qualify for the last 16 after being held to a draw by the Netherlands.
USA failing to win is a rarity indeed, and it may have been worse but for co-captain Lindsay Horan who popped up with a second half equaliser. The 29 year old central midfielder stole in at the near post to meet a corner from Rose Lavelle and power her header beyond the Dutch keeper.
She also scored in USA’s 3-0 victory over Vietnam and, in an typically all action display, she picked up a yellow card too!
After a successful stint at Portland Thorns Horan is now back at Ligue superpower Lyon for a second time and she has everything needed to be an all-round midfielder, pace, strength, superb passing ability, vision and a calm head. USA play Portugal on Tuesday and Horan will ensure her team gets over the line.
Aitana Bonmati – Spain
One of the most admired midfielders in world football, 25 year old Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati, has stood out among the free scoring Spaniards as a cultured operator with the penchant for a special moment. In La Roja’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica she evaded two challenges before curling a beauty into the far corner to put her entry in for the ‘goal of the competition.’
Spain are already through to the knockout phase after also beating Zambia 5-0; and a 4-0 defeat to Japan on Monday won’t discourage the team most likely to nudge the USA out. Bonmati operates in central midfield and links up well with the excellent Alexia Putellas and she showed just what a player she is when she destroyed Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final. Bonmati was among the group of players who went on international strike last September and Spain fans will be delighted the dispute was resolved in time for her to take her place at the World Cup.
Guro Reiten – Norway
The Norwegians have made it through to the knockout phase of the World Cup and Guro Reiten has impressed along the way. She fired home a penalty during Norway’s 6-0 rout of the Philippines and also teed up Sophie Raug’s third as the striker hit the first hat-trick of the competition, and Reiten dominated the centre of the park as Norway snuffed out Switzerland in a 0-0 draw. She plays traditionally out wide on the left side of midfield but she is a versatile player and can switch to a central role, with great positional sense and great link up play.
At 28 years of age she is in the prime of her career and is key part of Chelsea’s team, making the Blues tick and Reiten has a brilliant record of goals and assists for club and country. She made her debut for Norway in 2014 and has racked up 18 goals in 83 appearances while scoring 22 goals in 76 games for Chelsea.
Norway, ranked 12th in the world by FIFA, have underachieved in recent competitions and, if they are to go deep into this competition, the inspirational Reiten will be the player to watch.
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