Which two groups will achieve the general – and who will win?
There are a number of actually sturdy contenders, together with England, however lacking key gamers via damage cause them to much less of a pressure. Australia will likely be galvanized by means of the house enhance and with a prolific goalscorer like Sam Kerr up most sensible they might meet the US, who I be expecting to most sensible Group E, within the ultimate, in spite of the reigning champions being a facet in transition. Anita Asante
Australia v USA and I’m backing the holders to have an excessive amount of as soon as once more, so USA to win. Karen Carney
USA and England – the USA at all times be able whilst England have the enjoy of profitable a significant match beneath their belts. Both are affected by accidents however have the energy intensive that is wanted. USA to win even though. Sophie Downey
England and Spain to satisfy within the ultimate. England to win. Jonas Eidevall
Spain v Brazil. This would qualify as some stage of wonder on each and every facet of the draw and Brazil would wish to navigate their well past a bunch of European giants to get there. Talent is plentiful for each the groups. In Spain’s case, they have got to triumph over disorder on the federation stage and in Brazil’s case they after all have the essential enhance round them. After a long time of what-ifs, Brazil get the process achieved in Marta’s ultimate World Cup. Jeff Kassouf
Australia to overcome the US within the ultimate. Home benefit could be a double-edged sword if there’s nonetheless a skeptical public to be satisfied. But this Australian squad have already received the fight for hearts and minds at house and move into the match with a scorching momentum. Jonathan Liew
Australia will face both Spain or the US within the ultimate. The Matildas will win, on consequences. Kieran Pender
I simply can’t leave out a chance to again the Matildas to move the entire approach on house soil. And for them to overcome the arena No 1 USA within the ultimate will be the maximum superb of triumphs. joey peters
Four-time champions USA and co-hosts Australia. The new youngsters at the block will win it. Why? Sam Kerr. Suzanne Wrack
Who will win the Golden Boot?
One of the most efficient issues about this match is the quantity of thrilling attacking gamers. Many folks would most definitely put cash on Sam Kerr however USA’s Sophia Smith additionally has the prospective to have an improbable step forward match so I would not rely her out both. But it might be a laugh to peer Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji display why she was once one of the crucial most sensible scorers in the principle European leagues with Madrid CFF. AA
Sam Kerr. Her report for membership and nation speaks for itself. KC
Sam Kerr , The Australian captain is on house soil and made for the most important moments. Her motion and skill to discover a objective when it issues maximum is 2d to none. SD
Sophia Smith, USA. JE
To set up Debinha. Brazil’s run would require brilliance from the participant now serving as the focus. Karolin will have to raise that scoring load as neatly, however Debinha will thrive at this World Cup in her high. She’ll win the award by means of racking up some targets within the crew degree ahead of including some vital moves within the knockout rounds to hold her group to the general. JK
Alex Morgan is the having a bet favourite but additionally a rotation possibility. No such qualms over Sam Kerr. JL
Sam Kerr. Who else? KP
Given her prolific scoring report for membership and nation, it’s little wonder that I’m backing Sam Kerr. If the Matildas are to move deep at this match, Australia’s captain will rating a bucketful of targets. JP
It it is going to be anyone like Sophia Smith or Alex Morgan placing part a dozen previous Vietnam, or Alex Popp in opposition to Colombia, South Korea and Morocco. SW
Who would be the wonder group of the match?
Brazil or Norway. Brazil have regarded forged defensively of their warm-up video games and feature very gifted younger stars reminiscent of Geyse and Karolin blended with the enjoy of Debinha and naturally Marta. As for Norway they have got Ada Hegerberg, Caroline Graham Hansen and Guro Reiten main the road with in-form attacking midfielder Frida Maanum supporting in at the back of them. All they want is that chemistry to click on. AA
Australia. They are a excellent facet, aided by means of house benefit. KC
To set up Zambia. Their performances at Tokyo 2020 confirmed that they’ve firepower, in particular within the type of their captain Barbra Banda, and their skill at the counterattack is attention-grabbing. In pre-tournament friendlies, they seem to have added some defensive solidity to their play and a win in opposition to Germany may have boosted their self belief. SD
Spain. JE
Haiti. Most informal fanatics will take a look at Haiti’s global rating (53) in a bunch with the European and Asian champions and be dismissive however it is a group that gave the US some hassle early in qualifying and has constructed against this second during the last decade. Serious allegations encompass the Haiti program off the sphere. On the sphere, it is a gifted group this is higher than the remainder of the arena realises. JK
Italy are unbeaten since crashing out of final 12 months’s Euros and with an intriguing aggregate of adlescent and enjoy may just turn out an unknown amount. JL
With 8 international locations making their World Cup debuts, there are many alternatives for surprises. I anticipated a minimum of a few debutants to growth past the crowd degree. Zambia are a contender, impressed by means of their contemporary victory over Germany and led from the entrance by means of the fearless Barbra Banda. But my cash is at the Philippines – coached by means of canny ex-Matildas boss Alen Stajcic and drawn in an evenly-matched Group A. KP
Canada are the reigning Olympic champions and were impressive on their tour to Australia late last year, but have just once before gotten beyond the quarter-finals at a World Cup – in 2003, when they finished fourth. JP
Australia. They offer so much more than Kerr now, they are a team primed and ready for this tournament. For a more left-field choice, Zambia. SW
Who will be the breakthrough player of the tournament?
I’ve been really impressed with Trinity Rodman. The USA striker is frighteningly quick and will cause havoc against defenses. She scored two very different but equally well-executed goals in their send-off game against Wales and, at 21 years of age, the scope of her potential is very exciting. AA
Sophia Smith. A great talent with a lot of experience at international level already. KC
sophia smith, The 22-year-old American has been tearing it up in the NWSL over the last couple of seasons and now it is time for her to make her mark. Confident and technically adept, she has been a mainstay of Vlatko Andonovski’s side and appears at home on the global stage. SD
Salma Paralluelo (Spain). JE
Barbara Banda, Zambia. True, anyone paying attention should know the name after her performance at the Olympics, but the harsh truth is that the wider world still does not know Banda’s talent as a Zambian international and professional in the less-heralded Chinese Super League. That relative anonymity changes now. Expect Banda to score goals for a talented Zambia team that could just make it out of Group C against the odds. She will have the world’s attention after this tournament. JK
Barbra Banda destroyed Germany in a friendly in Fürth earlier this month and the 23-year-old Zambia striker has the speed and audacity to make a name for herself. JL
To install Salma Paralluelo. If heavyweights Spain are to go far (and following a turbulent couple of years, it could go either way), the 19-year-old will need to star. Barcelona’s dangerous winger missed the Euros through injury but the World Cup could be her breakthrough moment. KP
Katrina Gorry is taking part in the most efficient soccer of her occupation post-pregnancy, and the veteran may just emerge to grow to be a dominant determine off and on the ball in Australia’s midfield. She’s more likely to get at the scoresheet greater than as soon as as neatly. JP
I’d find it irresistible to be Lauren James, so I’ll say Lauren James. She’s essentially the most naturally technically proficient England footballer since Kelly Smith and now she’s in a position to turn it at the largest of phases. SW
What are you maximum taking a look ahead to?
I’m actually intrigued to peer if Rachel Daly can reflect her very good type from this season at Aston Villa within the No 9 function for England, in addition to Keira Walsh marshalling the midfield the similar approach she did so successfully on the Euros. But, I’m additionally taking a look ahead to observing how the international locations who’ve had gamers drop out both via damage or disputes with their control/federations, organize to conform. AA
It will likely be a super match with a number of video games and the entire global’s eyes will likely be at the recreation another time. What extra may just you need? KC
At this second, the opener at Stadium Australia. Over 80,000 will prove in Sydney to look at the hosts in opposition to the Republic of Ireland on their debut. The Irish usually are closely supported too with an important expat neighborhood over right here. It will make for a spine-tingling environment and instance. SD
An unpredictable match that will likely be determined by means of small margins. JE
Parity and upsets within the first Women’s World Cup to characteristic 32 groups. Growing the sport globally way extra groups can win the match and extra groups on the match can compete in any given fit. That would possibly now not result in a brand new winner, essentially, however it’s going to imply a extra chaotic and entertaining crew degree that can set the tone for a memorable match. That and seeing New Zealand’s opener in individual. The power of nationwide pleasure at a gap rite is not like anything in recreation. JK
Covering a World Cup with no need to fret about whether or not the stadiums had been constructed with slave hard work or whether or not my telephone is being tapped by means of the name of the game police. JL
Long past due however after all right here, this would be the second girls’s soccer comes of age. The Women’s World Cup would be the largest carrying match on the planet this 12 months, with the game gaining the mass consideration it merits. As an Australian, for that to return on house soil is an actual satisfaction. I will be able to’t wait. KP
I’m maximum taking a look ahead to sharing in a birthday celebration of the match with former Matildas and the ones which have been concerned within the girls’s sport for a very long time and who’ve needed to fight for goodbye. They can revel in this second and be so happy with how a ways the sport has come. JP
Finding out how Megan Rapinoe goes to make use of the degree of her ultimate World Cup to affect alternate. SW