The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will get underway on July 20, with New Zealand taking part in the opening match in opposition to Norway.
The event may have among the finest gamers in girls’s soccer throughout the globe as 32 nations will battle it out in a bid to be topped as world champion.
Ahead of the event, the next are 5 defenders to look out for:
Wendie Renard
Wendie Renard of France will undoubtedly be one of many star points of interest within the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Renard virtually missed out on the event, after falling out with former Les Blues supervisor Corinne Diacre.
But after the French Football Federation sacked Diacre and appointed Herve Renard as head coach, Wendie stated she was open to returning to the nationwide group if the coach selects her.
Standing at 6ft2in tall, Renard is a dominating presence within the backline. Apart from her bodily power, Renard is blessed with good tempo and method and can be helpful throughout set-pieces, together with her skill to seek out the online with highly effective headers.
Renard has received a file 14 French league titles and eight European Cups, making her probably the most adorned gamers in girls’s membership soccer. All that’s lacking is a world title and Renard will hope to alter that.
Irene Paredes
The Spain girls’s soccer group has been within the news as a result of its public altercation with the Royal Spanish Football Federation. While the battle has nonetheless not been absolutely resolved, La Rojas will hope to make a optimistic impression on the upcoming World Cup and win their maiden World Cup title.
And, main their backline shall be one of many veteran gamers Irene Paredes. A troublesome marker with a formidable aerial presence, Paredes may have a serious position to play in marshalling Spain’s defence. While she must take care of the absence of Barcelona associate Mapi Leon, Paredes will nonetheless, be an vital determine within the Spanish defence.
Ashley Lawrence
The Canada girls’s soccer group is normally efficient on the subject of shutting out the opposition and Ashley Lawrence is without doubt one of the important causes behind that.
The 28-year-old left-back has spent her complete skilled profession at Paris Saint-Germain and is without doubt one of the driving forces behind the membership’s success.
Now, the defender will look to make her mark with the nationwide group within the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
What makes Lawrence such an asset is her versatility. Primarily taking part in as a left-back, Lawrence also can play in midfield, which provides to Canada’s squad depth and can enable coach Beverly Priestman to rotate extra.
Lucy Bronze
Lucy Bronze was an integral a part of the England squad that received the European Championship in 2022. Playing her third World Cup, Bronze comes with a great deal of expertise which shall be helpful for Sarina Weigan and her group.
The 31-year-old, who primarily operates as a right-back, also can play inverted fullback and has been deployed in that position fairly a couple of occasions by Weigman. Apart from her commanding presence in defence, Bronze possesses tempo and has wonderful crossing skill in her arsenal, which makes her a menace from the flanks.
Making equal contributions in assault and defence, Bronze’s skill to learn the opponent’s sport is one thing the Lionesses will profit from within the World Cup.
Ellie Carpenter
Ellie Carpenter suffered a serious setback when she suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) damage within the first half of the 2022 Champions League. However, the Australian right-back has made a robust return and shall be one of many main elements if her group is to go deep within the event on house soil.
Named the W-League’s W-League Young Footballer of the Year three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020, Carpenter at 23, has solidified her place within the Matildas backline. She earned her first senior cap at 15, in a match the place Australia thrashed Vietnam 9-0.
With robust groups like Nigeria and Canada in her group, Carpenter will must be at her defensive finest with a purpose to cross the primary hurdle – qualifying for the knockouts.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com