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OneFootball
Richard Buxton¡25 July 2023
đ đ Women's World Cup: Best XI of Matchday One
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OneFootball
Richard Buxton¡25 July 2023
The opening round of matches at the Womenâs World Cup is officially done and dusted. Hereâs a look back on the first set of fixtures and an XI of the most impressive players.
Jamaica came through their opening Group F encounter with France unscathed thanks in no small part to Spencerâs exploits between the sticks.
The Tottenham goalkeeper faced down one of the tournamentâs early favourites in fine form to claim a famous point for the Reggae Girlz.
Jitka KlimkovĂĄâs side have the Leicester City full-back to thank for instigating their surprise World Cup lift-off against Norway.
Not only did Bott spark the move for Hannah Wilkinsonâs historic opener, she also provided the cross that won a spurned penalty just minutes later.
Ilestedt headed into her third World Cup finals on the back of a best-ever return of three goals in 12 international outings last year.
Arsenalâs new recruit picked the ideal time to build on that scoring streak, rising in the 90th minute to power home a winner against South Africa.
A 5-0 hammering tells only half the story of Japanâs comfortable win over Panama as captain Kumagai continued to lead by example.
Operating at the heart of a back three, Romaâs one-time World Cup winner kept things tight as her country pipped Spain to Group Câs top spot.
Catley did not simply step up as captain in place of a sidelined Sam Kerr for the Matildaâs win over Ireland â she fully owned it.
Her rifled second-half penalty settled matters in Sydney while she also proved a relentless threat through set pieces and open-play deliveries.
Lena Oberdorfâs absence with a hamstring issue thrust Leupolz into the limelight for Germanyâs ultimately comfortable victory over Morocco.
Stepping into that void, the Chelsea enforcer demonstrated her wealth of experience with a seamless midfield partnership alongside Sara Däbritz.
A ground-out win over Haiti forced Walsh to prioritise breaking up the play over her usual role as the Lionessesâ midfield conductor.
The 26-year-old was still influential with a series of timely interceptions as Sarina Wiegmanâs European champions held off several threats.
One of Europeâs standout midfielders last season, BonmatĂ continued her imperious form as La Roja got up and running in Wellington.
A curling strike midway through the first half capped off another stellar display to put Costa Rica to the sword inside the opening 45 minutes.
The Seleção saved the best for last as Borges capped off a final day of first-round fixtures by scoring the tournamentâs maiden hat-trick.
Her selflessness in front of goal also allowed Beatriz Zaneratto to extend their countryâs lead in a comfortable four-goal dismantling of Panama.
Germanyâs defeat in last summerâs European Championship final was widely attributed to Poppâs absence through injury, the striker netting six times as Germany made their way to Wembley only to miss the final.
The Wolfsburg striker has picked up where she left off on the international stage, netting a first-half brace that set the wheels in motion for a 6-0 rout over Morocco.
Leaving your mark in a team that is reigning world champions and still boasting household names in Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe is no mean feat.
But Smith etched her name into USA history as the youngest player to score two goals on a debut at the World Cup in their routine win over Vietnam.