WWC Group F 🇫🇷🇯🇲🇧🇷🇵🇦 Two giants, two minnows | OneFootball

It’s time to turn our attention to Group F and two huge footballing nations at the Women’s World Cup.

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Who is in Group F?

The favourites

France have had their fair share of drama and Hervé Renard has taken over at short notice but their squad is absolutely incredible and the man in the dugout has real pedigree at international tournaments in the men’s game.

With PSG and Lyon players dominating the squad, France boast the crème de la crème of European talent and will be looking to finally deliver on the biggest international stage.

What’s the key game?

France and Brazil will both head into the competition with big ambitions but it’s hard not to be cynical about the South Americans’ chances of beating not just one but a number of top European sides. The meeting against France could be some form of litmus test for their hopes of winning the entire competition for the first time.

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

Grace Geyoro (France)

An all-round midfielder with no weakness in her game, Geyoro can play in defence but will be looked towards for end product in the final third. She has provided plenty of that for the national team in recent times, notably netting a hat-trick against Italy at last summer’s Euros, and can match almost anyone in the tournament when it comes to creativity.

Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)

The Manchester City striker arrives Down Under off the back of a sensational campaign at club level, scoring 20 goals in 22 WSL appearances in 2022/23. The Reggae Girlz will look to Shaw for more of the same and her movement, combined with her pace and superb ability in the air, will see her ask questions of any defence she comes up against.

Debinha (Brazil)

Icon of the women’s game Marta is now 37 and likely at her final World Cup. While Brazil will still look to the forward for inspiration, moments of game-changing quality are more likely to come from Debinha. The 31-year-old has 58 international goals to her name, including five at last summer’s Copa América triumph, and her link-up play will be crucial when Brazil look to make things happen in the final third.

Marta Cox (Panama)

Let’s single out someone called Marta after all. Panama captain Marta Cox became a full international at just 14, such was her talent already, and has made a habit of scoring crucial goals for her country in recent times. Drifting forward and in from the flank, Cox will drop deep to offer an option to team-mates playing out from the back, look to create constantly, and support lone striker Riley Tanner.

And the big storyline?

No player — male or female — has ever scored as many as Marta’s 17 goals at World Cup finals. But at 37, this is set to be a last dance on the global stage.

“There’s not going to be a Formiga forever. There’s not going to be a Marta forever. There’s not going to be a Cristiane. The women’s game depends on you to survive,” the legendary striker famously warned Brazilian girls back home in an emotional interview four years ago.

She wasn’t wrong. Formiga and Cristiane are not at this tournament, this will surely be Marta’s last. Can she provide one more magic moment.

Prediction

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