With just a month to wait before the Women’s World Cup starts the USA squad has been revealed, with a host of glitterati at the team’s launch event.
They love the razzmatazz in America and why not put on a show? They have the best team on the planet, ranked first by FIFA for the vast majority of the past two decades, and the USA are hot, hot favourites to win in Australia and New Zealand when the tournament begins on Thursday 20th July. Singer Taylor Swift, basketball star Shaquille O’Neal and President Joe Biden were all on the launch video as Vlatko Andonovski’s 23 woman squad was announced.
All the big names were on the list, with the notable exception of skipper Becky Sauerbrunn who has a foot injury. But 37 year old Megan Rapinoe, who is closing in on her 200th cap for the Stars and Stripes, and forward Alex Morgan, who already has 206, scoring 121 goals will be in Australia and New Zealand to give the striking unit plenty of experience. 22 year old Portland Thorns striker Sophia Smith is an exciting prospect; she has 12 goals from 29 internationals and could be one of the stars of the 2023 showcase.
18 year old Alyssa Thompson is the first teenager to be picked for a USA Finals squad since 1995 and she will hope to add to her three caps, while the other Alyssa, Naeher, will go as first choice goalkeeper again, with Casey Murphy as back up.
This is a very strong squad with the perfect blend of youth and experience and the Women’s World Cup betting odds are backing the Stars and Stripes for a third successive triumph; but while it’s all smiles in the USA, things are not quite so cheerful over the border.
Canada team in pay dispute
In other Women’s World Cup news almost 30 per cent of international women’s footballers recently polled by the players’ union FIFPro were not paid for the 2023 World qualifiers; and many played on poor pitches and had limited access to medical support. FIFPro director Sarah Gregorius said: “Any stat below 100 per cent in access to important medical checks is unacceptable. We just want to work with whoever wants to work with us, particularly FIFA and the confederations, to understand why that is the case.”
And back in North America players in the Canada women’s team is having a battle with Canada Soccer to settle a pay issue before they set off for the World Cup finals. The Olympic Champions have been involved in a labor dispute for over a year and, at the SheBelieves Cup in February, the Canada women sat out a practice session in protest over budget cuts made by their governing body. After threatening to boycott that tournament the Canadians are still waiting for a collective bargaining agreement as they haven’t had one since 2021. They have lost four of their last five games and the Canada women are desperate to get matters off the pitch sorted so they can concentrate on playing. Captain Christine Sinclair said: “We’re not at a point where we’re not getting on a plane, but time’s coming where we want it done so as players we’re not having to deal with it as we prepare.”
Fixtures are out
So as the countdown continues, the squads are taking shape and off field disputes are raging; the fixture list is out and the hosts are both in action on Thursday 20th July when New Zealand have a tough opener against Norway, ranked 12th by FIFA and 14 places above their hosts. Australia follow on with a game against Republic of Ireland and that’s one they will expect to win.
Providing they resolve their off-field problems the Canada women have a fascinating clash with a strong Nigeria side on Friday, when the highly fancied Spain also make an entrance with a very winnable game against Costa Rica. And then, on Saturday, the USA and England take the stage. The favourites face Vietnam in the early kick-off and I’d expect to see a big score there, before Zambia meet Japan, and the day’s entertainment closes with England’s opener against minnows Haiti.
Here at SBOTOP we took a look at Sarina Wiegman’s England last week, and the Lionesses will kick off their campaign with plenty of confidence, after winning the European Championships on home soil last year. England’s men are fairing pretty well in their Euro 24 qualifiers, with four wins from four, and now it’s the turn of the women to take the limelight again.
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