WWC 2023: Group B Preview
Hosts Australia have the raucous backing of a home crowd, a solid World Cup track record, and arguably the best player on the planet. Is this their time to finally break through?
Australia
FIFA Rank: #10
Qualified as: Co-Hosts
The Skinny
If there's cause for concern for Australia, it's that they underwhelmed in their last major tournament, exiting in the quarterfinals of last year's Asian Cup. However, given that the promise of qualification to this tournament didn't apply to them as the recipients of an automatic bid, perhaps they can be forgiven for being somewhat distracted. Since then, it's been mostly smooth sailing for the Matildas, as they enter the tournament having won 9 of their last 10 matches. After three consecutive quarterfinal berths from 2007 to 2015, they'll be motivated to bounce back from a disappointing Round of 16 exit 4 years ago, and return the bulk of a team, including star Sam Kerr, that reached the Olympic semifinals in 2021. It's not hard to see them as a real contender this time around.
Ireland
FIFA Rank: #22
Qualified as: 2nd place in UEFA Group A; defeated Scotland 1-0 in playoff
The Skinny
What a way to mark your first-ever major tournament appearance. Ireland had never qualified for a Women's World Cup or even Euro Cup in their history, but have come somewhat out of nowhere in the last two years, barnstorming through their qualifying group to finish a narrow 2nd place to favorites Sweden, and then upsetting Scotland in Glasgow to snatch the last qualifying spot. Lest you think their own nation didn't take notice, the scenes of Ireland's send-off for their players are legitimately tear-jerking, and such is the demand for Irish tickets in Australia that the Girls In Green's matchup with the hosts had to be moved to Sydney's Stadium Australia, the largest venue in the tournament. Now, will all the good momentum and overwhelming support be enough to continue their surprising run through what might be the most difficult group in the Cup? That remains to be seen.
Nigeria
FIFA Rank: #40
Qualified as: Semifinalists in 2022 African Cup of Nations
The Skinny
I alluded to this in my piece yesterday ranking groups by difficulty, but at least on FIFA rank alone, I think Nigeria may be the most underrated team in the tournament. Sure, they failed to win last year's Africa Cup of Nations for only the second time in history, but they remain the toast of Africa overall, with a squad littered with players across Europe's best leagues (and some in America as well). They're World Cup mainstays, having reached every single tournament, and on two occasions, including last time out, qualifying for the knockout stages. I struggle to see how there are 39 teams better than the Super Falcons, I suppose is what I'm saying. Despite being the lowest-seeded in Group B, in an easier group, they may be a sleeper pick to make it to the Round of 16. As it is, they will be a tough out.
Canada
FIFA Rank: #7
Qualified as: Runners-up in 2022 CONCACAF W Championship
The Skinny
After spending nearly their entire existence in the "good but not great" tier, Canada finally broke through in 2021 with their first major tournament title, a gold medal in the Tokyo Summer Olympics. Can they continue that success over to the World Cup? There's seemingly no reason they could not, but it should be noted they have always seemed to perform better in the Olympic Games than this tournament. Even before 2021, there were back-to-back bronze medals in London and Rio, whereas apart from a 4th place finish in the 2003 World Cup, they have only progressed to the knockout stages of this tournament one other time, when they reached the quarterfinals on home soil in 2015. That, plus the fact that they have won only 1 of their last 6 matches coming into this tournament may be cause for some concern, but make no mistake: based on the names on the teamsheet, the Canadians can still hang with anybody in the World.
Group B Best XI
Unlike in Group A, all four teams in Group B are represented in this Best XI. Nigeria and Ireland crash the party thanks to young Paris FC stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie and star Arsenal fullback Katie McCabe, respectively. Apart from those two, though, the rest of the team is comprised of Canadians and Australians, as you might expect. If they were in fact teammates, Canada's Christine Sinclair (perhaps the greatest goalscorer of all time) and Australia's Sam Kerr (perhaps the greatest women's player on the planet over the last few years) would form a strikeforce for the ages. Midfielders Caitlin Foord (Arsenal) and Emily Van Egmond (San Diego Wave) are also ones to watch for Australia, but the defense belongs almost exclusively to Canada. Star defensive mid Desiree Scott (Kansas City Current) will patrol in front of a downright imposing backline that consists of the likes of Chelsea teammates Kadeisha Buchanan and Ashley Lawrence, who are int he conversation for best center-back and right-back in the tournament, period.
Group Prediction
As much as I want to believe in the Ireland hype train, I just think the level of competition will be a bit too much for them in their first Cup, though I do think they'll fight Nigeria to a proud point. Speaking of Nigeria, I discussed above how underrated I believe them to be, and as such, expect they night nick an unexpected point; I'll say Australia are the more likely, as they'll catch them in between their emotional opener and huge match against Canada. I do project the Aussies to come out on top, though, finally beating Canada for the first time in their last five tries on the last matchday of group play.
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