WWC Group A 🇳🇿🇳🇴🇵🇭🇨🇭 Co-hosts, superstars, debutants eye history | OneFootball

This summer’s Women’s World Cup kicks off with a wide-open group where every team could cause a shocks. Buckle up.

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Who is in Group A?

The favourites

With former Ballon d’Or winner and serial striker Ada Hegerberg leading the line plus plenty of star-power behind her in Caroline Graham-Hansen, Guro Reiten and others, Norway easily claim the favourites tag.

However, Switzerland’s Lia Wälti, Ramona Bachmann, Alisha Lehmann and others will hope to knock them down a peg, having all thrived in club football this season.

What’s the key game?

Naturally, the meeting between Norway and Switzerland will catch plenty of eyes. And with the clash on Matchday Two, the result will play a significant role in who finishes top of the table and maybe even who could suffer a shock early exit.

Can you give me a player to watch for every team?

Ali Riley (New Zealand)

Captain for both club (Angel City FC) and country, defender Ali Riley’s leadership will be key for the Ferns as co-hosts of the tournament. She has over 150 caps and is also in good form, having played in 13 of 14 NWSL games so far this season. Can she rally her squad to an impressive campaign on home soil?

Guro Reiten (Norway)

While Hegerberg grabs plenty of headlines, as does Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Guro Reiten is the one to watch this summer off the back of a superb season.

The registered 11 goals and 15 assists in last season’s Women’s Super League triumph and Women’s Champions League run. Club manager Emma Hayes selected her as her Player of the Season and she also has nine goal contributions in 11 matches for Norway this calendar year.

Tahnai Annis (Phillippines)

As co-captain, the midfielder (38 caps and 13 goals) will be the leader the tournament debutants need to continue their rise in women’s football. Ahead of the tournament, Annis admitted confidence (individually and within the squad) is running high as the AFF Women’s Championship winners continued to move up FIFA’s rankings to a highest-ever spot of 46th.

Ramona Bachmann (Switzerland)

A serial winner in multiple countries, and a World Cup hat-trick under her belt, the PSG star is a daring player who isn’t afraid to strike from range and in style when her side needs it the most. Her dynamism will be a threat as she enters the tournament following her best-ever season at club level in France’s top flight and the UWCL, scoring nine goals and creating a further four across the two competitions.

And the big storyline?

We’ve already taken a look at the two favourites but what about the underdogs?

The Philippines are at their first ever World Cup and will be looking to make more history as unfancied outsiders. As for co-hosts New Zealand, they will hope the boost of playing on home soil sees them end a record run of 15 matches at World Cup finals without a win.

Prediction

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