Women’s World Cup 2023: Player Power Rankings
The Women’s World Cup is already providing top quality entertainement and excitement, with the two rounds of group matches now in the bag and the knockouts approaching.
Few teams have put together two top performances so far, showing just how competitive this tournament is. The United States were hot favourites coming in, but had to come from behind to rescue a point against Netherlands in their second game, while Germany have lost in the group stage for the first time since 1995 after losing to Colombia following a 6-0 thrashing of Morocco.
England have continued to win, despite remaining fairly unconvincing, while France bounced back from a frsutrating draw with Jamaica to beat a Brazil team that romped to victory against Panama.
Australia have also flattered to deceive, falling to a defeat to Nigeria in their second game.
These are 90min’s player power rankings following round two of the group stage…
Hinata Miyazawa got the ball rolling for Japan in their win over Zambia, netting the first goal and later also contributing the third. As one of a pair of number 10s, she provides a crucial link between the midfield and the main striker. But she was rested from the start against Costa Rica.
Spain veteran Jenni Hermoso was forced to miss Euro 2022 because of injury has is making up for lost time at this World Cup. Her two goals against Zambia were a key part of La Roja making it into the knockout stages with a game still to spare – all still against a difficult backdrop.
New Arsenal signing Amanda Ilestedt isn’t known for scoring goals, but three in two group games so far has put the centre-back in bizarre contention for the Golden Boot. She scored the late winner against South Africa and then twice more against Italy.
Brazil have had countless World Cup stars over the past 32 years and Ary Borges added her name to that list with a stunning hat-trick on her debut in the competition. The Selecao took Panama to pieces and 23-year-old was a huge part of it, but was less prominent in the subsequent loss to France.
Alexandra Popp has nothing left to prove but remains as determined as ever. There was a moment in Germany’s 6-0 annihilation in Morocco that showed it best: her team was already 4-0 up and a personal brace was in hand, but when the ball was there to be won in front of goal, she bundled herself, a teammate and a defender into the net to reach it first. Scored a late penalty in Germany’s shock defeat to Colombia.
READ MORE ON THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Spain survived without Aitana Bonmati and the other players who took a stand against coach Jorge Vilda. But La Roja are far superior now that she is back and that showed enormously in the way the Barcelona midfielder dictated things and constantly picked clever passes against Costa Rica. She continued to show that in the 5-0 victory over Zambia.
Teresa Abelleira’s rise at this level has been a silver lining of the concerning situation that continues to surround the Spain squad. She picked out more key passes (10) in La Roja’s opening win over Costa Rica than co-hosts Australia (8) did as a whole team in their respective first match, before later scoring an outstanding strike from distance against Zambia.
Lindsey Horan has so far risen to the occasion of captaining the United States. On location in New Zealand, 90min’s Lizzy Becherano said of the Vietnam game: „Horan was everywhere on the pitch to stand as one of the most dynamic players of the match.“ She added a second against Netherlands, although had been at fault for the goal her team conceded.
The sky is the limit for Linda Caicedo, who is already smashing it at her first senior World Cup, having set the Under-17 World Cup alight just last year. The 18-year-old found the net against South Korea in the first round of games and then scoed an absolute belter against Germany.
Sophia Smith is the leading talent in a new generation of American players making their World Cup bow in 2023. She didn’t disappoint on matchday one, racking up two goals and an assist against Vietnam. Still a creative force for good against Netherlands, without adding to her tallies.
LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN’s FOOTBALL CLIMATE CONVERSATION PODCAST
Former Italy international Arianna Criscione, Dulwich Hamlet’s Brittany Saylor and Football for Future founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop join Katie Cross to have football’s climate conversation about the Women’s World Cup and tournament football’s carbon footprint. Pledgeball’s Heather Ashworth also gives an update on the Pledgeball’s new Women’s World Cup initiative.
If you can’t see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!