From July 20 to August 20 the best female footballers will converge on New Zealand and Australia for the Women’s World Cup. In the first of this countdown series, let’s take a look at Group A.
This group comprises of co-host New Zealand, Norway, Philippines and Switzerland.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand will be banking on home advantage to make appreciable impact at the World Cup. In their past five appearances they have never gone beyond the group stage, in fact they are yet to win a World Cup match, so progressing to the knock-out stage will be a great achievement for them.
Their manager, Jitka Klimkova, 48, took the job in 2021. The former Czech Republic international defender has garnered experience as a member of the USA women’s team coaching staff and have served as the coach of New Zealand’s U-17 and assistant coach to the U-20 women’s team.
Recall that in April the Super Falcons spanked them 3-0 in an international friendly match.
Ali Riley
STAR PLAYER
New Zealand will depend on their American-born captain, Ali Riley. The 35 year-old have played over 150 times for New Zealand and have played club football for Chelsea and Bayern Munich. She currently plays for Angel City in Los Angeles.
This is the strongest team in this group. They are among the few teams that have participated in all previous editions of the World Cup. They conquered the world in 1995. Anything less than reaching the quarter finals will be seen as a failure.
They are coached by 53 year-old Hege Riise, a former mid-fielder who holds Norway’s all-time appearance record with 188 caps. She played in that Norway team that won the 1995 World Cup.
Ada Hegerberg
STAR PLAYER
Ada Hegerberg had an injury plagued season with her club Lyon of France, yet she is one of the most feared strikers in Europe. If things go well with her at the World Cup, Norway will definitely go far.
PHILIPPINES
Philippines are expected to be the whipping girls in this group, unless they can muster the fortitude to prove book makers wrong. They are making their World Cup debut and their inexperience could be their undoing.
In October 2021, they appointed 49 year-old Australian, Alen Stajcic as their manager and he brought instant result, taking them to the semi-finals of the 2022 Asian Cup. Stajcic, unlike his team is not new to the Women’s World Cup. He took the Matilda’s of Australia to the quarter-finals of the 2015 World Cup.
Tahnai Annis
STAR PLAYER
United States born Tahnai Annis is their skipper, play-maker and free-kick specialist all in one. She plays her club football in Iceland.
SWITZERLAND
Their only previous World Cup appearance was in 2015, they got to the last 16. Their manager is Inka Grings, a 44 year-old German. A prolific striker in her playing days.
She made history in 2019 when she was appointed head-coach of men’s fourth-division side SV Straelen, thereby becoming the first female coach in the top four tiers of men’s football in Germany.
Lia Walti will be the biggest weapon Switzerland will unleash on their opponents. Though injury cut short her season with Arsenal, she will be unstoppable if she becomes fully fit before the World Cup commences.
