With the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup a month away, here is a guide to nine must-watch players.
Following huge developmental progress within women’s football since the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there are plenty of exciting talent to watch out for across the tournament in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August.
From players like Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold to Spain’s Irene Paredes and Jamaica’s Bunny Shaw, there are plenty of stars looking to impress at the World Cup across 32 teams as some underrated players look to spring a surprise.
Now, here is a look at nine players who will be must-watch across the tournament for a variety of reasons.
Mary Earps (England)
With 21 clean sheets in all competitions for Manchester United and England since the start of UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 last July, Mary Earps definitely enters this tournament as one of the in-form goalkeepers to watch out for across the tournament.
In fact it is credit to Sarina Wiegman’s trust in Earps that the 30 year-old has missed just five of England’s 31 matches under Wiegman for tactical reasons, and there is no reason why Earps shouldn’t continue to be the goalkeeper to fear at this World Cup.
Earps’ biggest threat to being the stand-out goalkeeper of the tournament however comes from Germany’s Merle Frohms, with both players having managed to keep 21 clean sheets for club and country this season just like they achieved identical records at the Women’s Euros last summer.
Either way, Earps is set for her biggest tournament yet after having already tasted Women’s Euro success on top of two Arnold Clark Cup titles and Women’s Finalissima against top opposition, although England need her at peak performance given their injury issues elsewhere.
Wendie Renard (France)
Despite having initially ruled herself out of the tournament prior to Corinne Diacre’s sacking in March following a fierce fallout between players and manager, Wendie Renard is now set to do a u-turn after featuring in Hevre Renard’s squad in April in wins over Colombia and Canada.
The 32 year-old central defender though knows that this tournament realistically represents her last chance at World Cup glory, yet she has the experience to guide this team through a period of change and adaption under Hevre’s reign with one eye on a home Olympics next summer.
It is therefore understandable that nobody considers France as outright serious contenders but with a manager who knows how to upset the odds at a World Cup, this World Cup could well see France spring a surprise spearheaded by Wendie and her strong leadership abilities.
Rachel Daly (England)
Having scored 35 goals in total for Aston Villa and England this season, Rachel Daly undoubtedly has to be considered a major favourite for the Golden Boot at this World Cup.
Throw in the fact that England are missing two quality players in Beth Mead and Fran Kirby who can add firepower to the Lionesses’ attack, and Daly surely is the perfect fit to fill that void given her versatility which makes her a crucial player in Wiegman’s squad.
Daly has also created eight assists in total this season which further underlines how important a role she could play for England both in terms of attack and defensively – having traditionally been utilised at left-back more than central striker for the Lionesses than at club level.
Attention also won’t be largely on Daly such is England’s depth that focus will primarily fall upon higher-profile names like Alessia Russo and Lauren Hemp.
Megan Rapinoe (USA)
Despite having fallen out of favour under Vlatko Andonovski with just two starts in her last 10 appearances for USA, Megan Rapinoe can’t be underestimated given her experience and is the defending Golden Boot winner.
Rapinoe however will be 38 years-old come start of tournament and with her game time having been limited since Autumn 2021, this World Cup is likely to be her last but she is still a proven talent who can have an impact as both a starter and substitute.
Andonovski meanwhile has evolutionised his US squad with a blend of youth and experience so much of Rapinoe’s potential impact depends upon how the manager plans to utilise her across the tournament.
On that note, Rapinoe certainly shouldn’t be written off given her quality and experience with two World Cup titles under her belt, yet this could be a tournament which sees a changing of the guard if Rapinoe is unable to hit her heights of past tournaments.
Ella Toone (England)
Whilst players like Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, England’s Georgia Stanway and France’s Grace Geyoro headline the midfield ahead of this tournament, Ella Toone shouldn’t be underestimated given her form for Man Utd and England having been involved in 19 goals since July 2022.
With 11 assists and 8 goals across the last 12 months for club and country and having missed out on two trophies with Man Utd, Toone is a player who is capable of causing creative issues when allowed space to attack with passes and dribbles to trouble oppositional defences.
Toone though is appearing at her first World Cup which might seem daunting but this 23 year-old has the making of a breakout star, especially if she can deliver like she did at last summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros.
Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Having missed last summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros due to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury, Alexia Putellas will certainly be one to watch on the world’s biggest stage.
With one goal in six appearances following her return from injury in late April, Putellas’ lack of match fitness poses a tricky question as the lead name in a much-changed squad from their difficult UEFA Women’s Euro campaign.
On one hand, Putellas is entering this tournament in fresher shape than many of her rivals due to having missed much of the season with injury, yet she on the other hand has to adjust to a much-changed squad due to various players unavailable due to ongoing tensions with the Spanish FA.
The 29 year-old midfielder – who is considered the Best FIFA Women’s Player, now has the tough task of getting back to her best under intense scrutiny of the World Cup Stage and leading the Spanish charge at a tournament where they’re firm favourites despite missing some experienced stars.
Sam Kerr (Australia)
As the host nation’s lead star, Sam Kerr will be under huge scrutiny as Australia look to claim a first World Cup title on home soil.
With 34 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances for club and country this season, Kerr is well set to spearhead the Socceroos’ charge if she can bring her technical ability and physicality which has been her biggest assets this season for Chelsea at club level.
Kerr also is a proven player when it comes to the big occasions – having scored against Chelsea’s title rival, Manchester United in both WSL clashes and Women’s FA Cup Final en-route to lifting both trophies, so a home tournament shouldn’t faze her too much.
Australia also have the benefit of a relatively easy group with Republic of Ireland, Nigeria and Canada, where Kerr should be at her best after scoring five goals at the same stage in 2019 but their knockout path could prove difficult with England, France and Germany set to be in the same half.
Either way, Kerr is undoubtedly the stand-out star to watch out for across the tournament because only injury or tricky opposition likely could stop her from leading Australia to glory.
Stina Blackstenius (Sweden)
With a proven track record in major competitions despite only one successful title to their name (1984 UEFA Women’s Euro), Sweden can’t be written off with forward, Stina Blackstenius set to spearhead their title challenge.
Blackstenius in particular has established herself as a player who can be relied upon to deliver on the big occasions – having netted in every major tournament that she has featured in, which was evident in leading Arsenal’s comeback to win last season’s League Cup.
The 27 year-old Swede has also enjoyed her second-best season in terms of goals within the last six years with 18 goals in total for Arsenal, complete with an impressive work rate which has proved difficult for oppositional defences to handle.
Blackstenius has also seen Sweden suffer multiple heartbreaks in major tournaments as they twice finished runners-up at Olympics, secured third at 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and suffered Quarter-Final then Semi-Final agony at UEFA Women’s Euro in 2017 then 2021 respectively.
Those experiences and her excellent season coming into this tournament should hopefully motivate her to try and take Sweden to a first World Cup title, especially when she is surrounded by a talented forward selection with teammates like Lina Hurtig and Fridolina Rolfo.
Although many eyes are on various forwards heading into the tournamment, Blackstenius seems to have quietly gone under the radar but I think she could be a surprise star – especially with Sweden placed in a tough group from the get-go.
Sophia Smith (USA)
At just 22 years-old, USA’s Sophia Smith has established herself as a huge rising name ahead of what will be her first World Cup as she looks to spearhead America’s title defence in what is anticipated to be their hardest World Cup yet against fierce competition.
Famed for her fearless pace and creativity which has yielded 19 goals in the last 11 months, Smith will be a huge challenge for oppositional defences to silence because when she is a strong playmaker when not scoring goals herself.
The World Cup though is a different arena and with this USA team in transition as players like Kristie Mewis and Alex Morgan approach their twilight years, there is no better time than now for Smith to step up and stake her claim outright as America’s new star in international football.
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