Friday Ramble: World Cup Excitement
There's a lot of star players missing next month's World Cup through injury, but there is still quality everywhere. Plus, I answer your questions.
I was asked on a podcast earlier this week what has been my main takeaway from the various squad announcements leading up to the World Cup so far.
My answer was obvious, the amount of key players missing the tournament through injury, with USA captain Becky Sauerbrunn the latest. The ACL epidemic is already well-known and much talked about, but it’s worth remembering Catarina Macario, Mal Swanson, Vivianne Miedema, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Delphine Cascarino, Beth Mead, Leah Williamson and others are missing the tournament because of that dreaded little otherwise insignificant ligament.
Others, such as Patri Guijarro and Mapi León, are sitting it out for reasons bigger than football, and it’s led to some fans discussing just how many quality players are missing the tournament.
But rest assured! Having been going through every nation’s squad one-by-one as they’ve been announced, albeit some still have some cuts to make, there’s some genuine excitement to be had when it comes to the big nations and even the smaller nations, such is the spread of quality now around the world.
Take the world champions. They’re a bit thin on the ground at the back and in reality should be further forward too with no Macario or Swanson, yet they have the blockbuster duo of Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman, combined with the experience of Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Lynn Williams, and of course teenage sensation Alyssa Thompson.
Stacked attacks are somewhat of a theme when looking through the national teams. Look at Norway, who had a horrendous Euro 2022. New head coach Hege Riise has been given a favourable draw and you can make every argument that a front three of Guro Reiten, Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen is one of the best in the world, if not the best, and they’re supplemented by in-form payers such as Emilie Haavi, as well as Frida Maanum just behind them.
Spain’s squad of course looks a little different, though not as much as it may have since the return of the likes of Alexia Putellas, Aitana BonmatÃ, Mariona Caldentey and co, but it’s Levante’s Alba Redondo you want to watch out for, coming into the tournament as the top scorer in Liga F last season, some distance ahead of any Barcelona player.
We know all about Germany’s young talents from Euro 2022, and while one or two may yet get the chop from Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, you can’t not be excited about watching an attack with young talents such as Jule Brand, Nicole Anyomi, Klara Bühl and co.
What about 2019 finalists Netherlands? Yes, there’s no Miedema, but there’s no amount of young talent waiting to take her spot. It’s a surprise Ajax’s Romée Leuchter has been released from camp, but they have Esmee Brugts, Tiny Hoekstra and the clinical Fenna Kalma who will be joining Wolfsburg this summer.
Some nations, such as Brazil, are yet to release their squads, but even some of the nations maybe less fancied to go all the way have some unbelievable quality, particularly in their attacking ranks.
Look at Nigeria with Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu and the five O’s as I now call them! Onumonu, Oshoala, Ordega, Oparanozie and Okoronkwo. African rivals Zambia are similar with the brilliant Barbra Banda accompanied by Madrid CFF duo Racheal Kundananji and Grace Chanda. Kundananji was the second top scorer in Liga F behind Redondo and on their day could cause chaos for anyone.
Over in the Americas, it’s a similar story. Don’t sleep on Colombia, they’re in a group where second place looks wide open. Lady Andrade will be a familiar name to those who remember her lighting it up in 2015, but they have local legend Catalina Usme as well as Levante’s superb Mayra RamÃrez, Atlético Madrid’s Leicy Santos and of course one of the top superstars on the planet in Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo.
Even Haiti, one of the poorest nations in the world, have produced some incredible talent. All eyes will be on Melchie Dumornay who is Lyon bound this summer, but they have various other forwards plying their trade in France. Nerilia Mondesir is an excellent forward, then there’s Roselord Borgella, Batcheba Louis and Roseline Éloissaint, all of whom play in France professionally.
One team I’ll be keeping an eye on is Japan, in a group with Zambia and Costa Rica - both beatable - and a Spain team piecing themselves together. After two successive finals, 2019 was a bit of a disappointing, but they have a great mixture of experience and some really exciting youth, in all areas.
What’s not to like about a midfield which includes Portland Thorns’ Hina Sugita, Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa, Angel City’s Jun Endo and Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano? Ahead of them will be Chelsea’s new superstar Maika Hamano, currently shining in Sweden with Hammarby IF, as well as WE League top scorer Riko Ueki who has previous starred at youth teams, and of course the ever-present Mina Tanaka.
Some quality may have been lost from this tournament, but there’s still an incredible amount to be excited about right through the nations.
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Answering your Questions
Gary - Anything at all on Spurs? Manager, out of contract players, signings?
Quiet for now, but I’d take that as a good thing. If signing players from within England, they can’t be announced until 1st July anyway. I heard rumours they were looking at a Scandinavian head coach, but nothing more than that for now. Hannah Hampton has also been rumoured to join on loan when she signs for Chelsea, but that’s a rumour for now.
John D’Oh! - If it turns out that Russo is going to Arsenal (as seems to be the case) do you think that it's a wise move and, if so, why? Equally do you think that it's an unwise move and, if so, why?
It’s an interesting question. I think the ‘circus’ around it puts a bit more pressure on, as do the fees that have come with it. Arsenal won’t pay anything but they were willing to pay half a million and the wage isn’t said to be far off a similar figure, so much so other teams baulked at the amount. It think it’s a wise move in that Jonas Eidevall is desperate for her and therefore has a clear plan to get the best out of the attributes, but they say the grass isn’t always greener and all that. Russo had it good at Manchester United but it’s an interesting new challenge and I do think it will work out in terms of her overall addition to the attack.
What you’ve missed
Feature: How an entire football club was lost to the 2011 Japan earthquake
Feature: How former Germany legends are helping to develop the next generation (Premium)
Opinion: Sorry Jamaica situation continues unedifying World Cup build-up
Opinion: What next for Manchester United after key departures?
Interview: Tactics Talk with Lyon and Canada’s Vanessa Gilles
You can also keep track of ALL the World Cup 2023 squad lists in our new World Cup hub!
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Another good article, anything on the contracts of Hayley Ladd, Aoife Mannion, Risa, and Earps??
Their respective deals are due to end at the end of this month, and there hasn't been any info on them from the club, one year extensions or even longer deals .....
Thanks for reply Rich - much appreciated!