SOCCER WOMENS WORLD CUP ARTICLES

This isn’t the game that either England or Sweden wanted to be in after making it to the semifinals, but both countries have a winning history here. The Three Lionesses made it to the Women’s World Cup Semifinals for the first time back in 2015, and they managed to beat Germany in the third-place game after a crushing loss to Japan in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Sweden has finished in third place twice, earning third place after crushing Germany in the inaugural World Cup and again in 2011 with a 2-1 win over France.   More

This will be the third straight Women’s World Cup Final appearance for the United States. The USWNT were stunned by Japan in 2011, but they were able to get their revenge by blasting Japan 5-2 in the 2015 Final. They are out to win back-to-back titles for the first time in their history and add a fourth star to their emblem this Sunday when they take on the Netherlands. The Netherlands are the eighth different country to make it to the World Cup Finals, and they are out to be the fifth different country to win the World Cup.   More

The two best teams left in the Women’s World Cup will meet in the first semifinal on Tuesday outside of Lyon. The United States and England were both expected to be here. The USWNT has made it to at least the semifinals in all eight World Cups, while England were one of the favorites before the start of the tournament. Whichever team wins will be the favorite to win the World Cup over either the Netherlands or Sweden on Sunday, as the best team left from the top half of the bracket.   More

Sweden and the Netherlands are quite familiar with one another. These two teams met in the quarterfinals of the 2017 European Championships, with the Dutch winning 2-0 off of goals from Lieke Martens and Vivianne Miedema. The Netherlands went on to win the Euros, claiming their first major championship in women’s soccer, and now they are looking for more. This is the country’s first appearance at the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup, and the Dutch are hoping for another title provided they can get past the Swedes on Wednesday.   More

The path is clear for Germany. Germany are looking to win their third World Cup (tying the United States for most all-time), and they have a very fortuitous draw. The Germans were placed in the bottom half of the bracket and won’t have to go through France, the US, or England to get to the finals. They are the biggest favorite of any team in the Quarterfinals, but Sweden will be out to play spoiler.   More

The Netherlands have been the most improved team in women’s soccer over the last five years. The Dutch had never qualified for a Women’s World Cup prior to 2015, and they have been on a rampage with increasingly better results since that initial taste of success. They won the 2017 European Championship, and now they are out to make the semifinals of the World Cup. Italy will look to stop them and keep their own dreams of World Cup glory alive.   More

The two favorites to win the Women’s World Cup before the start of the tournament will meet in the Quarterfinals on Friday. This was always likely to happen after the bracket was announced, but now it has come to fruition and either hosts France or the defending champion United States will see their tournament come to an abrupt end. The loser is sure to be disappointed, while the winner will immediately become the favorite to win it all. Whichever country is victorious will face either England or Norway for a spot in the World Cup Final.   More

Ahead of the 2019 Women’s World Cup, England were one of the favorites. The Three Lionesses were listed behind the United States, France, and Germany, and they have lived up to expectations. England have yet to drop a match in France, winning all three of their Group Stage matches before cruising to a win in the Round of 16 over Cameroon. Norway are out to derail England’s dreams of winning the World Cup though, and they have already knocked one perceived contender out of the competition. The winner of this match will face either the United States or France for a spot in the final.   More

The hosts of this year’s World Cup would certainly earn their first title if they were to go on and win this competition. France have been put into an extraordinarily difficult bracket for the knockout rounds, and they might have to beat Brazil, the United States, England, and Germany over the next two weeks to add their first star to their logo. Their first match will come against Brazil this weekend, and the Selecao would love to disappoint the home crowd.   More

A former World Cup winner and a team on the rise will meet in one of the first matches of the knockout round when Norway and Australia clash in their Round of 16 match on Saturday in Nice. The winner of this game will face the winner of England and Cameroon in Le Havre on June 27. Australia are slight favorites ahead of this match, but Norway are a dangerous team and proved it with their play in Group A.   More

The United States and Sweden will duke it out to determine the top spot in Group F on Thursday. Both teams have won their first two matches and are through to the knockout rounds, but in an interesting twist, winning the group might not be the best route forward. While the winner of this group is likely to meet hosts France in the quarterfinals, the runner-up will probably meet a struggling Germany. That could lead to some gamesmanship.   More

The Group E winner will be decided on Thursday afternoon when the Netherlands and Canada meet for the top spot in the group. Canada like their chances here as they have yet to lose to the Dutch (9-3-0 all-time) in international play, but the Netherlands have an advantage. These teams are level on goal differential, yet the Netherlands would win the group in the event of a draw by way of scoring one more goal than Canada in the previous two matches.   More

Coming into the Women’s World Cup, France were one of the teams to beat. Unlike some of the other favorites that have been largely or partly unimpressive, the French have been up to the task at hand, and they will have a chance to finish first in Group A with a result against Nigeria on Monday.   More

The United States are ready to get back on the field. The USWNT have been criticized by many media members for blasting Thailand 13-0 in their World Cup opener, but many of those critiques will melt away provided they don’t beat Chile by 13 or more on Sunday. That’s extremely unlikely considering the style that La Roja employs, but nevertheless Chile are massive underdogs coming into their last match.   More

This hasn’t been a great World Cup for Germany, but they are in the position they were hoping for after two games nonetheless. Germany won their first two games over Spain and China, so they are sitting atop Group B coming into the last game of the Group Stage. Any result over South Africa gives them the group, and they are heavy favorites to get at least a point against Banyana Banyana.   More

Ahead of the World Cup, England were seen as one of the favorites to win it all. The Three Lionesses were the fourth-favorite at the World Cup, and they took care of business in their first game. They can put themselves in prime position to win Group D with a win over Argentina on Friday. The Argentines stunned former world champions Japan by holding them scoreless in a 0-0 draw, and that was Argentina’s first ever result in this competition.   More

Italy are in pole position to win Group C after a shocking win over Australia in their first match of the World Cup. The Blues look set to make their first appearance in the knockout rounds of this competition since its debut back in 1991, and they can lock up a spot with a win over Jamaica on Friday. The Reggae Girlz are making their World Cup debut, so they are hefty underdogs ahead of their second match.   More

The Steel Roses have made it to at least the quarterfinals in each of their previous World Cup appearances, but China likely needs a win over South Africa on Thursday to keep those hopes alive this year. Both teams are in a hole after losing their opening matches, so a loss for either team would likely prove fatal. China are sizable favorites to get the victory, yet South Africa proved they weren’t a pushover in their opening match.   More

At the start of the World Cup, many thought that this game would decide the winner of Group C. Australia and Brazil were the two favorites to top the group when the field was announced, but the Aussies were stunned by Italy in their first match. Their last-second defeat has opened the group up and placed the Matildas in a precarious position. Brazil have a chance to establish themselves as the top team in the group with a victory here.   More

Much has been made of Ada Hegerberg’s absence over the last two years, but Norway have performed quite well without the reigning Ballon d’Or winner. The Norwegians claimed the Algarve Cup earlier this year with three straight wins, and they were sharp in their opening win over Nigeria in their first match at the Women’s World Cup. Now, they will face their toughest opponent in Group A, and they certainly won’t be receiving many cheers when they face hosts France.   More

If you take a look at the knockout round bracket, you know the importance of Wednesday’s game between Germany and Spain. The winner of Group B has a pretty clear path to the semifinals assuming the chalk holds up in other groups. The team that finishes first will play a third-place team from another group in the Round of 16 and either the runner-up from Group F or Group E in the quarterfinals. However, the second place team will likely play the United States in the Round of 16, and if they happen to somehow win that match, a game with France likely awaits. Neither Germany or Spain want to finish second with that potential slate.   More

The United States are massive favorites coming into their opening Women’s World Cup match against Thailand on Tuesday. The USWNT are the largest favorite that I can recall at this competition, as they handed the Chaba Kaew their worst loss ever less than three years ago. Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, and Heather O’Reilly all netted goals in the first five minutes to lead the Stars and Stripes to a 9-0 rout of Thailand. They will look to put this game away early once again.   More

Scotland are looking to best longtime rival England after being humiliated by England during their first major international foray two years ago. The two countries were paired in the same group during the 2017 European Championships, and England hammered Scotland 6-0. Jodie Taylor netted a hat trick as the Three Lionesses ran roughshod over a Scottish side that was missing some of its best players due to injury. Scotland are healthy ahead of this year’s World Cup, so they are hoping to stand a better chance.   More

Norway and Nigeria are two of the seven countries that have qualified for all eight Women’s World Cups to date. However, these two teams have experienced vastly different results in this competition. The Norwegians have had a lot of success in the Women’s World Cup. The Grasshoppers made it to the semifinals in four of the first five World Cups, and they won the 1995 World Cup. Norway have not had the same success recently, but they have made it to the knockout rounds in six of their seven World Cup trips.   More

Two nations will be after their first World Cup victories when Spain takes on South Africa on Saturday. This is Spain’s second trip to the Women’s World Cup, and La Roja are looking for a win after exiting with an 0-1-2 record in the group stage at this event in 2015. Meanwhile, South Africa are making their first appearance at the Women’s World Cup. Any result for Banyana Banyana would be met with jubilation, as they are considered one of the weakest teams at this year’s competition.   More