WWC 2023: Group A Preview
Can captain and longtime veteran Ali Riley help the co-host Kiwis reach their first-ever knockout stage?
New Zealand
FIFA Rank: #26
Qualified as: Co-Hosts
The Skinny
If New Zealand is going to avoid being the first hosts in Women's World Cup history to fail to progress out of Group Play, they're going to need to count on an upset or two; they head into the tournament as the 3rd-lowest ranked team in this group, and with only one victory in the calendar year 2023. Fortunately for the Ferns, they have a competitive but not particularly star-studded selection of teams in their group, and a good amount of veteran experience in their squad, the bulk of whom have played in the last 3 World Cups.
Norway
FIFA Rank: #12
Qualified as: 1st place in UEFA Group F
The Skinny
Over the last 20 years, Norway haven't been able to quite return to the level they were at through the first four editions of this tournament, wherein they won the 1995 Cup and were runners-up two other times. That, however, speaks more to the growing level of the game in general than it does any decline in Norway; the Gresshoppene remain perennial contenders. In arguably the least-impressive group of all, and with some of the best players in the tournament on their side, they're the clear favorites in this group, and will be eager to put the memories of a disastrous Euro 2022 campaign behind them.
The Philippines
FIFA Rank: #46
Qualified as: Semifinalists in 2022 AFC Asian Cup
The Skinny
One side effect of the expansion to 32 teams is that there's no shortage of shock qualifiers in this World Cup. The Filipinas definitely fall into this category; the debutantes are the 5th-lowest ranked team at this tournament, and had a tough road to qualify. Asia as a confederation is bested only by Europe in terms of difficulty in the women's game, and yet the Philippines were able to finish 4th place at last year's Asian Cup to qualify for their first-ever World Cup. Their roster is a fascinating mishmash of domestic league players and American college students, but in this tournament? With some of the names they had to face to even get here? Count them out at your own risk.
Switzerland
FIFA Rank: #20
Qualified as: 2nd place in UEFA Group G; defeated Wales 2-1 (a.e.t.) in playoff
The Skinny
Switzerland, a seemingly perennial Round of 16 qualifier-- nothing more, nothing less --in the Men's game, has had a weird journey in the Women's game. Completely off the map for some 20-odd years, La Nati made their first World Cup appearance in 2015, and immediately crashed the knockout stages, nearly upsetting hosts Canada in the Round of 16. They then went back to missing out on the 2019 tournament altogether. Their current iteration is a bizarre combination of some of the most talented players in all of Europe, and some real clear weak spots elsewhere, which may explain why they are now consistently qualifying for the European Championships, but not performing particularly well, and finished World Cup qualification with four straight victories to clinch their spot, but then failed to win a single match since October 2022. Getting out of, nay, even winning Group A isn't out of the question for the Swiss, but they will be counting on huge performances from their star players.
Group A Best XI
If you needed any reminder that Norway, not seeded team New Zealand, is the team to beat in the group, just take a gander at this 'Best XI,' in which they can lay claim to over half of the starting lineup, including the entire front 4. Three-time Women's Footballer of the year Ada Hegerberg will lead the line, and although it's painful to leave Switzerland's Ana Maria Crnogorčević out of this XI, it's impossible not to give the right winger spot to Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen, who is also one of the best players at this tournament. The Swiss do end up with the second-most representation, between the Arsenal pair of defensive mid Lia Wälti and right-back Noelle Maritz, as well as veteran goalie Gaëlle Thalmann. As for co-hosts New Zealand, if it's going to overachieve at this tournament, it will likely be on the back of its stout defense, which is evidenced by the inclusion of captain and star Ali Riley, as well as her center-back teammate Rebekah Stott.
Group Prediction
I'm still a little burnt and skeptical about Norway after watching them flame out in the group stages of the Euro Cup last summer despite being the 5th-seeded team overall, but in such a wide open group, I'm not going to pass up the easy prediction that they take top honors. That said, I will go out on a bit of a limb and project that hosts New Zealand will do enough in an emotional opening match to take a crucial point off the Norwegians, and do the same to more evenly-matched Switzerland, which will be enough to see them through to their first ever Round of 16 berth.
Comments