FIFA Women’s World Cup, Group D Preview: WWC 2023 team news, analysis; The Lionesses aiming to dominate

Group D of the Women’s World Cup 2023 has a transparent favorite in England, which is the defending European Champion after successful the title in 2022.

With Denmark, Haiti and China PR being the opposite three groups, on paper the Danes have the best probability of qualifying to the subsequent spherical, however it could actually count on an excellent combat from China PR.

It is a troublesome equation for Haiti, which is making its World Cup debut, however world cups at all times springs its personal surprises.

Here is a have a look at all 4 groups in Group D for the WWC.

England

England will begin the event as one of many favourites. Boasting a star-studded squad, which helped the Lionesses win the European Championship final yr, Sarina Weigman’s group is anticipated to steamroll the opposite three groups within the group – Haiti, Denmark and China PR.

The greatest energy of England is its squad depth, which supplies Weigman the posh of rotation and protecting the group recent all through the event. 

The solely motive for concern for England is its damage issues that can see world-class gamers equivalent to Fran Kirby, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson miss the event. Despite that, England will hope to elevate its maiden World Cup title.

Haiti

Haiti wrote an excellent chapter in its footballing historical past by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the primary time. A 3rd-place end in Group A on the 2022 Concacaf W Championship earned it a spot on the inaugural Play-Off Tournament. In that event, it secured back-to-back wins towards Senegal and Chile to e book its place within the World Cup.

Having crossed the main hurdle of qualifying for the World Cup, Haiti finds itself in a gaggle of heavyweights the place it must face European champion England and 2017 Euro semifinalist Denmark. 

But, having overwhelmed the chances already, Haiti will likely be hopeful of constructing a mark within the event. 

Haiti captain Nerilia Mondesir shortly after qualification, stated, “I feel so much joy, and I’m incredibly proud.”

“People back home were counting on us. We were anxious not to let them down, so this is just a moment of great happiness.”

Denmark

Denmark is a rising energy in girls’s soccer. Returning to the World Cup after 16 years, the Ikasts, after a very long time, have a power-packed squad, worthy sufficient to a minimum of go deep within the event, if not win it.

Boasting the likes of Pernille Harder, Signe Bruun, Josefine Hasbo and Kathrine Moller Kuhl, head coach Lars Sondergaard has a superb group to work with. 

The quick goal could be to qualify for the knockouts and it appears possible that the Danes would be the second group after England to qualify from Group D. If they do, the group can have achieved that for the primary time since 1995.

China PR

China’s golden time in girls’s soccer got here when it reached the 1999 World Cup remaining, the place it misplaced towards the USA in penalties. Since then, it has not certified past the quarter-final stage, exiting on the last-eight part in three of its 4 makes an attempt since, full with a Round of 16 defeat in 2019.

Heading into the World Cup, it has a troublesome activity forward if it desires to interrupt the jinx within the 2023 version. Qualifying for the knockout phases will itself be a problem because of the presence of heavyweights like England and Denmark.

The equation seems troublesome for the Steel Roses. On paper, it’s extremely unlikely they’d beat England, however optimistic outcomes towards Denmark and Haiti would possibly simply squeeze them by way of to the knockouts.