WWC 2023: Group F Preview
Both in terms of imperious stature and significance to her team, Wendie Renard is like France's Virgil Van Dijk. Now that she has returned to the team following a brief managerial spat, is she ready to lead an immensely talented group to new heights?
France
FIFA Rank: #5
Qualified as: Winners of UEFA Group I
The Skinny
Group F is interesting because it features not one, but two different nations that could arguably feel as if they are the best women's football nation to never lift a major trophy. Les Bleues were a bit later to the game than some of their fellow powers, but broke through with 4th place finishes both at the 2011 World Cup and 2012 Summer Olympics, and followed that up by reaching the quarterfinal stage of the next two tournaments following. The quarterfinal purgatory was real in the European Championship for them, too, marking their exit in every instance from 2009 to 2017. They finally snapped that last summer with a semifinal berth in the 2022 Euros, but were dismissed by the top-ranked Germans. Much like their 2018 men's team that lifted the trophy, though, France's women are arguably more talented than they ever have been, and it's in large part thanks to a youth infusion which has also contributed to the growth of their domestic league, as one of the best in the World. They haven't been completely able to escape the injury bug, as veteran midfielder Amadine Henry will be a signifcant miss, and they also haven't been drama-free; over the last couple years, several starters, including longtime captain and star defender Wendie Renard walked away from the national team citing numerous issues with the coaching staff. In March, however, after an extremely successful qualifying campaign, France hired new manager Herve Renard, who has impressed in his stints in the men's game, and Renard and co. came walking back in. Maybe it was as simple as needing a change at the top, but maybe the returners can sense there's a special opportunity with this squad.
Jamaica
FIFA Rank: #43
Qualified as: 3rd place in 2022 CONCACAF W Championship
The Skinny
After laying dormant for a number of years, Jamaica's women's program has exploded into life over the last several years. The Reggae Girlz have finished 3rd place in the last two North American tournaments, and four years ago in France, made their first-ever World Cup appearance. Unfortunately, they were placed into an enormously difficult group in 2019, but still, the experience could serve them well this time. With a starting lineup that will feature a smattering of European-based and NWSL players, they will be up for the fight.
Brazil
FIFA Rank: #8
Qualified as: Champions of 2022 Copa América Femenina
The Skinny
There's a feeling that's come over Brazil fans and Marta appreciators alike that, similar to the popular sentiment about Messi and Argentina circa four years ago, the window has closed for the woman many claim to be the greatest player of all time to win a World Cup with her country. Brazil have been close a number of times, reaching the World Cup semifinals in 1999 and 2003, and the Final in 2007. They also reached the Gold Medal match at both the Athens and Beijing Summer Olympics. Each time, they came up just short, and since then, their 'golden era' has ebbed away somewhat, giving way to exits in the first knockout stage in each of the last three World Cups. Still, there's hope for the Selecaõ to replicate the trajectory of Messi and their South American neighbors in last year's Men's World Cup; like that team, this Brazil squad has a sneaky amount of young talent, and while the names on the teamsheet may not pop as much as in years past, synergy seems to be at its highest point in a while. In the last two calendar years, Brazil have won another Copa América trophy and have lost only thrice: to reigning champions U.S.A., reigning Olympic gold medalists Canada, and reigning European champions England, the latter of which was in a penalty shootout in London. Count them out of the title race at your own risk.
Panama
FIFA Rank: #52
Qualified as: 3rd place in 2022 CONCACAF W Championship Group B; defeated Papua New Guinea 2-0 and Paraguay 2-1 in inter-confederational playoffs
The Skinny
Like their North American peers Haiti in Group D, Panama took a roundabout route, but ended up where they want to be, in their first-ever World Cup. It's actually the first inter-continental competition ever for Las Canaleras, who also haven't ever played in the Olympics. Their 4th place finish in the 2018 CONCACAF W Championship was the first (and remains only) time they progressed past the group stage at any tournament, so needless to say, they'll be the clear underdogs in this group. But guess what? Nobody knows that as well as they do. In their qualifying playoff group, they were the 3rd-ranked team out of 4, and that mattered not. I'd imagine they're not going to be too upset with being the Cinderellas at this dance too.
Group F Best XI
As loaded as France are, and they do clearly dominate most of this squad, it's not insane to argue that the three best players in this group play for other teams (especially with Henry's injury absence). Jamaica may be big underdogs, but if they're going to pull off an all-time stunner, it will no doubt be due in part to the play of Real Madrid forward Khadjia "Bunny" Shaw, who has been their main supply in attack. This is a less-talented Brazil team than we may be used to, but Debinha is still as electric as any player in this World Cup, and what more can we say about Marta? At the ripe old age of 37, the G.O.A.T. is still changing games in the middle of the park for the Orlando Pride. But yes, this Best XI is still French through-and-through; even without Henry, the French midfield should be in good hands with Aston Villa's Kenza Dali and Paris Saint-Germain's Grace Geyoro. PSG winger Kadidiatou Diani is a can't-miss footballer, and in the back 5, with the sole exception of Brazil's Arsenal defender Rafaelle, it's a French bastille flanked by fullbacks from Lyon and Chelsea, and helmed by the talismanic Renard.
Group Prediction
Such is the talent and depth France have, they can definitely win this group if they merely want to. The million dollar question is, with everything going on in their camp...will they want to? Even though they're different nations with different issues, I don't think I can predict Spain will put their inner strife behind them and then turn around two days later and claim France won't, so I'm banking on the French figuring it out in time to top the group. Apart from that question, this group is probably the easiest to predict top to bottom; Brazil isn't quite as good as (full-strength) France, but is still very good. The North American teams are leagues behind them, but Jamaica is notably better between the two.
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