WWC Group G 🇸🇪🇿🇦🇮🇹🇦🇷 Outsiders, underachievers, uncertainty | OneFootball

Our Women’s World Cup attention now turns to Group G which takes place entirely in New Zealand.

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Who is in Group G?

The favourites

Sweden are firm frontrunners to top the group, having reached the semi-final stage at the last World Cup and European Championship, while also winning silver at the Olympic Games two years ago.

Italy look well placed to join them and make it a European double, although they’ll need a big improvement on their Euro 2022 showing which saw them finish bottom of the group but they do undoubtedly possess a talented squad.

Neither Argentina nor South Africa have qualified from the group stage in four previous attempts between them. Can they make history?

What’s the key game?

Argentina were much improved at the last World Cup, drawing twice (including staging a heroic and dramatic comeback from 3-0 down against Scotland), while narrowly losing to England and seem likelier than South Africa to mount a challenge for a knockout spot.

They won’t get a better chance to potentially take advantage of the uncertainty (more on that to come) in the Italy camp and pounce to stake their claim for qualification than in the opener.

The sides meet on matchday one in Auckland and if the South American side can avoid defeat, it open things up for a genuine shot at upsetting the odds.

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

Magdalena Eriksson (Sweden)

In attack, the likes of Fridolina Rolfö and Stina Blackstenius often, rightly, claim the limelight but Sweden’s chances will again likely rely on how resolute they can be at the back, which is where the newly-signed Bayern Munich defender, who is closing in on the prestigious 100 cap mark, will be crucial with her quality and experience.

Hildah Magaia (South Africa)

The Banyana Banyana’s scoring hopes this summer rest on Magaia, who was the hero of their successful Women’s African Cup of Nations win where she finished top scorer, netting both goals in the final in a 2-1 win over Morocco to deliver their first ever continental title at last after four consecutive runners-up finishes. After missing out on this tournament in 2019, it is her chance to make up for lost time.

Cristiana Girelli (Italy)

She may now be 33 but the Juventus forward remains Italy’s biggest attacking threat, as she evidenced at the last World Cup with a group stage hat-trick. She also comes into the tournament in fine form, having notched 25 goals and provided eight assists at club level last season.

Estefanía Banini (Argentina)

Back in the squad after a prolonged absence, she played a key role in Argentina’s Copa América run last year which saw them secure qualification this summer, which she has already announced will be her last World Cup. Can the Atlético de Madrid attacker to go out on a high?

And the big storyline?

How Italy will cope after some less than ideal preparation which has led to concerns over the camp’s mood.

While the peninsula’s men’s side continue to struggle to qualify for this competition, the Azzurre will compete in successive editions of the competition for the first time ever but the build-up has been strewn with controversy.

Coach Milena Bertolini came under fire with her shock exclusion of long-serving captain Sara Gama for “technical, tactical and physical reasons” and it wasn’t the only one, with Milan duo Valentina Bergemaschi and Martina Piemonte being left out also causing surprise.

Those were all the more eyebrow-raising when she chose to bring Barcelona midfielder Giulia Dragoni, who is 16 and although she became the youngest woman this century to appear for Italy with her substitute appearance against Morocco in early July.

Although she is supremely talented, Dragoni is also yet to make a senior appearance for the Champions League winners.

There are also additional reports from Italy that Bertolini is considering deploying star striker Girelli in a deeper midfield role and has experimented with her there in training, although she did surprisingly sit out their first tournament warm-up game completely.

If things don’t start well, the pressure could really ramp up.

Prediction

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