Sweden has been the perennial bridesmaid at the Women’s World Cup, having participated in all eight previous tournaments, and finishing runners-up in 2003 to go along with a trio of semifinal appearances. Ranked third in the world at the moment, the Swedes are hitting their stride coming into this summer’s competition and are the overwhelming favourites to win Group G as the only top-10 nation in the group.
Both South Africa and Argentina have been here before and they’ve made strides over the last few years, but don’t expect the Argentines to duplicate the success of their male counterparts at last year’s World Cup in Qatar. Truth be told, both nations will be lucky to get out of the group. That leaves Italy, a rising power in Europe, in prime position to go through as the second-place team in Group G.
GROUP G SCHEDULE
July 23: Sweden vs. South Africa (1 a.m. ET)
July 24: Italy vs. Argentina (2 a.m. ET)
July 28: Argentina vs. South Africa (8 p.m. ET)
July 29: Sweden vs. Italy (3:30 a.m. ET)
July 2: Argentina vs. Sweden (3 a.m. ET)
July 2: South Africa vs. Italy (3 a.m. ET)
THE TEAMS
SWEDEN
FIFA world ranking: 3
Odds to win the World Cup: 17.90 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 1.17 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Best showing: Runners-up (2003)
2019 World Cup: Semifinals (5-0-2)
Manager: Peter Gerhardsson
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable starting XI: Jennifer Falk (BK Häcken) – Nathalie Björn (Everton), Hanna Lundkvist (Atlético Madrid), Magdalena Eriksson (Bayern Munich), Jonna Andersson (Hammarby IF) – Filippa Angeldahl (Manchester City), Hanna Bennison (Everton), Caroline Seger (FC Rosengård) – Stina Blackstenius (Arsenal), Rebecka Blomqvist (VfL Wolfsburg), Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona)
THE BIG QUESTION: After three third-place finishes and one appearance in the final, can Sweden take the next step at the World Cup and win it all?
THE PULSE: Peter Gerhardsson has the benefit of coaching a team full of experienced players who play at the highest levels of club soccer, including forward Fridolina Rolfö who scored the winning goal for Barcelona in this season’s UEFA Champions League final. Captain Caroline Seger will be appearing in her fifth World Cup, while Magdalena Eriksson has close to 100 caps to her credit as Sweden’s defensive anchor.
This Swedish team has quality and depth all over the pitch, but it’s in the attack where it is especially shines. Stina Blackstenius scored eight times for Arsenal this season, while Rolfö bagged five goals during the World Cup qualifiers. Rolfö is a supreme playmaker, while AC Milan’s Kosovare Asllani is noted for creativity in the middle of the park.
THE X-FACTOR: It can’t be overstated: The Swedes have a first-rate roster stacked with experienced, top quality players at every position. No team has played as many games as Sweden at the Women’s World Cup without ever winning the tournament. But this year’s squad is one of the best — if not the best — it’s ever had. That will serve Sweden very well this summer.
SOUTH AFRICA
FIFA world ranking: 54
Odds to win the World Cup: 501.00 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 67.50 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 1
Best showing: Group stage (2019)
2019 World Cup: Semifinals (0-0-3)
Manager: Desiree Ellis
Probable formation: 4-4-1-1
Probable starting XI: Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns) — Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Noko Matlou (Eibar), Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebohang Ramalepe (Mamelodi Sundowns) – Linda Motlhalo (Glasgow City), Nomvula Kgoale (TS Galaxy), Refiloe Jane (Sassuolo), Noxolo Cesane (Tigres UANL) – Hildah Magaia (Sejong Sportstoto) – Thembi Kgatiana (Racing Louisville)
THE BIG QUESTION: Can South Africa win its first World Cup game after losing all three of its matches during its tournament debut in 2019 in France?
THE PULSE: The Banyana Banyana won last year’s African Cup of Nations largely on the strength of their defensive prowess, conceding just three times and recording a trio of shutouts. Andile Dlamini was named the tournament’s top goalkeeper, while defender Bambanani Mbane made the tournament’s best XI. So, keeping things tight at the back has been South Africa’s hallmark, and it’ll be leaning on its defensive strength at the World Cup.
THE X-FACTOR: South Africa will be looking to forward Thembi Kgatiana to create some magic this summer. The Banyana Banyana produced just four shots on target and scored a single goal at their previous World Cup appearance, and that came courtesy of Kgatiana, who found the back of the net in a 3-1 loss to Spain. Aside from playing in the NWSL, Kgatiana has turned out for several top clubs across Europe, and the hope is that that experience can help her lead the attacking charge for the South Africans at the World Cup.
ITALY
FIFA world ranking: 16
Odds to win the World Cup: 89.50 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 6.16 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 3
Best showing: Quarter-finals (1991 and 2019)
2019 World Cup: Quarter-finals (3-0-2)
Manager: Milena Bertolini
Probable formation: 3-5-2
Probable starting XI: Francesca Durante (Inter Milan) – Lisa Boattin (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elena Linari (Roma) – Annamaria Serturini (Roma), Arianna Caruso (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Emma Severini (Fiorentina), Lisa Boattin (Juventus) – Cristina Girelli (Juventus), Valentina Giacinti (Roma)
THE BIG QUESTION: Can the Italians live up to their potential and build upon their solid run at the previous World Cup after a disastrous showing at last summer’s European Championship?
THE PULSE: Dour and defensive-minded Italians? Not this squad! This Italy team packs plenty of attacking punch, as it breezed through the qualifiers with nine wins from 10 games and outscored its opponents by a combined 40-2. Cristina Girelli of Juventus led the way with eight goals in 10 appearances.
That’s not to say the Italians can’t defend, because they can. Juventus’ Lisa Boattin is one of the best centre backs in Serie A, and Italy won all of its nine matches in the qualifiers by shutting out its opponents. But there’s no question that this Italian side’s biggest strength is in its multifaceted attack.
THE X-FACTOR: AS Roma is coming off a historic season in which it won its first Serie A league title. At the same time, the club also competed in the UEFA Champions League. Roma scored 68 times in Serie A, the second-best attack in the league, and four of Roma’s key players are on Italy’s World Cup squad: Manuela Giugliani, Valentina Giavinti, Giada Greggi and Annamaria Serturini.
Manager Milena Bertolini has also called up a number of players from Juventus who finished just behind Roma in the Serie A table. Relying on a core of players from the top two teams in Italy’s top division should lead to increased cohesion and understanding within Bertolini’s squad at the World Cup.
ARGENTINA
FIFA world ranking: 28
Odds to win the World Cup: 209.00 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: 17.15 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 3
Best showing: Group stage (2003, 2007 and 2019)
2019 World Cup: Group stage (0-2-1)
Manager: Germán Portanova
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1
Probable starting XI: Vanina Correa (Rosario Central) – Romina Núñez (UAI Urquiza), Miriam Mayorga (Boca Juniors), Aldana Cometti (Madrid CFF), Eliana Stábile (Santos) – Daiana Falfán (UAI Urquiza), Lorena Benítez (Palmeiras) – Yamila Rodríguez (Palmeiras), Florencia Bonsegundo (Madrid CFF), Estefanía Banini (Atlético Madrid) – Mariana Larroquette (Orlando Pride)
THE BIG QUESTION: Outscored by a combined 37-5 in its nine World Cup games to date, can Argentina keep things tight at the back to give itself a chance to get out of the group?
THE PULSE: While Argentina boasts forwards who can score and midfielders who can create chances, historically its biggest issue has been in defence. The South Americans have been shut out in six of their nine games at the World Cup over their previous two appearances. Opponents have averaged 4.1 goals per game against the Argentines at the World Cup — that’s simply not good enough. Much will be expected of the double pivot in midfield of Daiana Falfán and Lorena Benítez at this year’s tournament to lock things down in the centre of the park and to protect the back four.
With Sweden the favourite to win the group, Argentina will be battling it for second place. Its opening game against Italy is crucial — if the South Americans can somehow take a point and then beat South Africa in their second game, they’ll stand a very good chance of advancing to the knockout round for the first time in team history.
THE X-FACTOR: Forward Yamila Rodriguez was named to the best XI and finished as the top scorer (six goals) at last summer’s Copa América Femenina, helping Argentina achieve an impressive third-place finish. The 25-year-old has a knack for unlocking defences and getting into dangerous attacking positions, and Argentina will be relying on her to do much more of that at the World Cup.
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