For some, Group D is considered this tournament’s ‘group of death’, as it features 3 of the top 10 from the world rankings as well as the African champions. USA, Australia, Sweden and Nigeria will provide six hotly contested matches, the highlight of which will take place on the 12th June when second ranked USA face off against fifth ranked Sweden.
The four teams have plenty of World Cup pedigree between them having featured at every tournament since 1995. The USA will of course be favourites to progress to the latter stages of the finals in neighbouring Canada, but expect the other three to do all they can to topple the States.
United States of America
World ranking: 2
Nickname: Team USA
Previous best: Winners (1991, 1999)
The USA are second-best team in the world, with only the titanic force of Germany above them in the FIFA rankings. The Americans have a formidable record at the World Cup, having made the semi-finals at every attempt.
They first won the trophy back in the tournament’s inaugural year in 1991, before more success on home soil in 1999.
Star striker Alex Morgan will be leading the line for Team USA this summer, and is one of the finest goal scorers in the world, having bagged 51 goals in 84 international appearances. At just twenty-five years of age, Morgan has lots of time left in her career, but will be jumping at the chance to take her country to a historical third Women’s World Cup triumph.
Alongside Morgan, thirty-five-year-old Abby Wambach holds the record for most goals scored in a US shirt, and always tends to be in the right place at the right time to convert the most crucial of chances.
USA come into the tournament in good form having produced some solid performances in their three most recent friendlies, including two wins and a goalless draw against the Republic of Ireland, Mexico, and South Korea respectively.
Australia
World ranking: 10
Nickname: The Matildas
Previous best: Quarterfinals (2007, 2011)
Australia has come a long way in women’s football, quite literally. The Matildas will make the 7,000-mile journey to Canada carrying more expectation than ever before having risen to 10th in the world rankings. They finished second in their group back in 2007 and 2011 to reach the quarterfinals, but will need to be at their best this year if they wish to continue that trend.
Caitlin Foord burst onto the international scene at the 2011 World Cup where her dazzling performances earned her the award for Best Young Player at the age of just 16, and Australia will hope they can utilise the talents of their rising star again four years on.
The Aussies are now Asia’s second best side, beaten only by Japan at last year’s Asian Championship, but reaching the final was enough to earn Alen Stajcic, their then interim boss, the permanent role. Stajcic proceeded to raise a few eyebrows when announcing his World Cup squad, choosing to leave out Australia’s all-time record goal scorer, Kate Gill. The Aussies will instead be relying on the likes of Samantha Kerr and Lisa De Vanna to provide that killer instinct up top.
Sweden
World ranking: 5
Nickname: N/A
Previous best: Runners-up (2003)
Sweden’s best ever World Cup finish occurred the last time the tournament was being hosted in North America. In 2003 they lost out to Germany in the final, but will be hoping to go one better in Canada this year.
The Swedes eased through qualifying, conceding just once in their 10 matches along the way, largely in part to defensive midfielder Nilla Fischer who will provide the squad with much needed experience alongside long-standing midfielder Lotta Schelin.
One to watch for Sweden is PSG-forward Kosovare Asllani, who will cause problems for even the best defenders with her speed and agility. Asllani has been prolific since signing for the French side, where her attributes have been likened to fellow swede, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Pia Sundhage took charge of her native Sweden back in 2012, after disappointingly losing out in the 2011 final, when she managed the US. Despite that defeat in Germany, Sundhage knows how to win silverware, having led the US to two consecutive Olympic golds.
Nigeria
World ranking: 33
Nickname: Super Falcons
Previous best: Quarterfinals (1999)
Nigeria have proved once again to be the undisputed champions of Africa, winning a record ninth African Championship in 2014 to reach their seventh consecutive World Cup.
Despite that the Super Falcons look, on paper, to be the group of death’s weakest side, although they shouldn’t be ruled out too early after proving their worth against the rest of the world last summer, finishing runners-up at the Under-20 World Cup.
The tournament also showcased the talent of Asisat Oshoala, who won the Best Player and Golden Boot award. Oshoala has since signed for Liverpool Ladies and picked up the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award last month.
Despite appearing at all 6 previous World Cups, the Nigerians have only reached the knockout stages once, back in 1999. The unfavourable group means they will have to be at their very best to progress through, but the introduction of the best third-place system might give them a fighting chance.
