FIFA Women’s World Cup Group D Preview: Can England overcome key absences to its squad?

After upsetting Germany to win the European Championships last summer, England emerged as tournament favourites for this year’s World Cup. That was, however, until the Lionesses were ravaged by injuries and departures. Captain Leah Williamson and Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead are out with injuries, while mainstay veterans Jill Scott and Ellen White chose to hang up their boots.

But England aren’t the only storyline to watch in this group. Haiti will be making their Women’s World Cup debut, and their journey to this stage has been nothing short of inspiring. Despite national unrest and limited funding, they beat Senegal and Chile to secure a historic qualification. This delivered hope and energy to Haiti’s team and nation — an energy that will surely be evident on the pitch. Denmark hasn’t competed in the Women’s World Cup in 16 years, and China are ranked just one spot behind the Danes. While England are thought to be the group favourites, this group is set up for some intriguing storylines to unfold.

GROUP D SCHEDULE

July 22: England vs. Haiti (5:30 a.m. ET)
July 22: Denmark vs. China (8:00 a.m. ET)
July 28: England vs. Denmark (4:30 a.m. ET)
July 28: China vs. Haiti (7:00 a.m. ET)
August 1: China vs. England (7:00 a.m. ET)
August 1: Haiti vs. Denmark (7:00 a.m. ET)


 

THE TEAMS

Keira Walsh will be pulling the strings in the midfield for England at the Women’s World Cup this summer. (Rui Vieira/AP)

ENGLAND
FIFA World Ranking: 4
Odds to win the World Cup: +380 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: -3,333 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 5
Best showing: Third place (2015)
2019 World Cup: Fourth place

Manager: Sarina Wiegman
Probable formation: 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1
Probable starting XI: Mary Earps (Manchester United) — Millie Bright (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea) — Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United) — Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Alessia Russo (Manchester United), Lauren Hemp (Manchester United).

THE BIG QUESTION: How will England bounce back this World Cup after injuries and retirements have ravaged their squad?

THE PULSE: Many thought that England would enter the Women’s World Cup with momentum after winning last summer’s Euros. But since securing their first major trophy, the Lionesses have suffered a series of blows. Captain Williamson and Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Mead are out with ACL tears, and gaps left by recently-retired Ellen White and Jill Scott will be tough to fill. As such, this World Cup could be a time of transition for Wiegman’s squad.

During the Euros, England found success with a 4-2-3-1. But most recently (and likely due to injury), Wiegman attempted a 4-3-3 in a friendly against Australia in April. While this formation is fairly new to the Brits, it plays to England’s strengths — aggressive and tight on defence with pace and depth on attack. It’s also an opportunity for players like Lauren James and Chloe Kelly to prove to Wiegman why they deserve minutes in the England kit. Amidst the setbacks, there are positives for England, who remain one of the group and tournament favourites. 

THE X-FACTOR: A playmaker of the highest calibre, Keira Walsh is one of the world’s best central midfielders. Her leadership and extraordinary passing range helped her lead Barcelona to a Champions League win last month, and she’ll look to help England lift another trophy this summer.

Admired for her passion and technical ability, the 26 year old provides the Lionesses with quick transitions and unmatched pace, which will be vital in the absence of Williamson and Mead. Walsh often records the highest number of completed passes and chances created per match, ranking among the top female players in the world for those metrics. So, the question is: will Walsh be able to replicate her history of success in Australia and New Zealand?


 

Denmark’s long-time captain Pernille Harder, will be making her FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

DENMARK
FIFA World Ranking: 13
Odds to win the World Cup: +5,940 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +1,087 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 4
Best showing: Quarterfinals (1991 and 1995)
2019 World Cup: N/A

Manager: Lars Søndergaard
Probable formation: 4-3-3
Probable starting XI: Lene Christensen (Rosenborg) — Sofie Svava (Real Madrid), Rikke Sevecke (Everton), Sofie Junge Pedersen (Inter Milan), Nicoline Sørensen (Everton) — Josefine Hasbo (Harvard Crimson), Sara Holmgaard (Everton), Janni Thomsen (Vålerenga) — Signe Bruun (Lyon), Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich), Amalie Vangsgaard (Paris Saint-Germain).

THE BIG QUESTION: Will Denmark have a back-up plan if they can’t connect with captain Pernille Harder, their heavily relied-upon star attacker?

THE PULSE: Denmark’s goal is to make it out of the group stage. While England are the favourites, Denmark has enough quality to beat Haiti and China. The Danes are an exciting team to watch because they have a bit of everything — players with experience at big domestic clubs, and a mix of fiery youth and experienced veterans. They are defensively strong and are masters at holding possession, but still capable on the counterattack. Having control over both ends of the pitch will make Denmark difficult to beat. Accurate crosses from Sørensen and Svava, as well as Harder’s aggression and physicality on attack make Denmark a lethal opponent.

However, while Søndergaard’s squad members are used to playing for club and country, they are not regulars at major international competitions. The lack of experience on the world’s stage could be a disadvantage if the Danes let the moment get to their heads. Additionally, in last summer’s Euros, Denmark relied too heavily on Harder to score goals and create chances. Having Harder at the heart of their strategy is risky, because if she does not deliver, the team will struggle.

THE X-FACTOR: Pernille Harder is one of the tournament’s biggest stars. The 30-year-old, who recently made a move from Chelsea to Bayern Munich, is Denmark’s longest-serving captain and all-time leading goal scorer. She previously held the top spot on the Guardian’s list of 100 Best Female Footballers (in 2020) and won the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award twice (in 2018 and 2020). Now, after a long wait, she’s finally a World Cup player and will surely aim to make her first World Cup a success.

While she was sidelined after a hamstring injury last fall, Harder is back and better than ever. She’s versatile with incredible vision and movement between the lines and doesn’t let the pressure of important matches get to her — an important skill to have at the World Cup. Before she left the Blues, Harder’s ex-Chelsea manager Emma Hayes dubbed her “fantastic mentality” as the key to her game — a mentality she’ll draw from when representing her country for the first time on the biggest stage.


 

Can Wang Shuang find her scoring touch for China this summer? (Andre Penner/AP)

CHINA
FIFA World Ranking: 14
Odds to win the World Cup: +17,700 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +3,600 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 7
Best showing: Second place (1999)
2019 World Cup: Lost to Italy in the Round of 16

Manager: Shui Qingxia
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable starting XI: Zhu Yu (Shanghai Shengli) — Yao Wei (Wuhan Jiangda), Li Mengwen (Paris Saint-Germain), Wu Haiyan (Shandong Xiangshang) — Shen Menglu (Celtic), Wu Chengshu (Canberra United), Zhang Rui (Shandong Sports Lottery), Yang Lina (Levante Las Planas) — Wang Shanshan (Tianjin Tengde), Wang Shuang (Racing Louisville).

THE BIG QUESTION: Will China be able to dig themselves out of an offensive rut and become the surprise of Group D?

THE PULSE: The current Women’s Asian Cup champions are a tough team to assess. On one hand, China has a fresh and innovative manager who has a history of success. On the other, the Steel Roses have been poor in 2023. While their more dangerous offensive weapons Wang Shanshan and Wang Shuang are used to scoring goals, the pair of strikers have gone cold as of late. Moreover, China will enter the Women’s World Cup with only two wins in their last eight matches, so the state of China’s confidence is unclear. 

That said, China is not a team that should be underestimated. They value team unity and keeping calm under pressure — which is important against heavy hitters such as England. If they want to make it out of the group stage, they’ll need to play possession ball and forward the attack to catch their opponent’s defence off-guard.

THE X-FACTOR: Wang Shuang, China’s standout performer, is a seasoned player with over 130 caps for her nation. While the 28 year old can play both as a striker and midfielder, she’ll likely take to the pitch as Wang Shanshan’s offensive partner. 

Known for her creativity and ability to dribble past opponents, Wang — who won the 2018 Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year — will be relied upon to score goals. But instead of feeling the pressure of that responsibility, she will see it as an opportunity to make her country proud. Although Wang hardly appeared in the Asian Cup due to injury, the Racing Louisville star has been successful for her club and will look to continue that form to inspire her national teammates.


 

One of the stars to watch at the FIFA Women’s World Cup: Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay. (Lee Jin-man/AP)

HAITI
FIFA World Ranking: 53
Odds to win the World Cup: +50,000 (via Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +9,220 (via Sports Interaction)
Previous World Cup appearances: 0

Manager: Nicolas Delepine
Probable formation: 4-4-2
Probable starting XI: Kerly Théus (FC Miami City) — Kethna Louis (Montpellier), Tabita Joseph (Stade Brestois 29), Jennyfer Limage (Grenoble Foot 38), Betina Petit-Frère (Stade Brestois 29) — Nérila Mondésir (Montpellier), Dayana Pierre-Louis (GPSO Issy 92), Sherly Jeudy (Grenoble Foot 38), Batcheba Louis (Fleury 91) — Melchie Dumornay (Lyon), Roselord Borgella (Dijon FCO).

THE BIG QUESTION: Can Haiti overcome inexperience and unstable defence to put in a memorable performance in their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut?

THE PULSE: Haiti stunned the soccer world when they qualified for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. To secure their first appearance at the tournament, Les Grenadières had to endure national instability and limited funding. While many people have enjoyed their remarkable quest, they’re projected to finish last in the group. Despite their compact backline, they are suspect on defence and have considerably less experience than their groupmates. Haiti is also the lowest-ranked CONCACAF nation in the competition and have had a lacklustre 2023 with only one win in their last five matches.

However, the Caribbean nation have already done the unthinkable by making it to the Women’s World Cup in the first place, so they’ll be looking to build on that momentum. Where Haiti truly shines is on attack, led by fierce duo Melchie Dumornay and Roselord Borgella. The pair are crafty and able finishers, which delightfully complements Haiti’s pacey midfield. While Delepine’s squad aren’t the most technical, they’ll have a plan … and something to prove.

THE X-FACTOR: There’s no doubt that 19-year-old Melchie Dumornay is Haiti’s key player. She is regarded as one of the most promising young talents in the women’s game, having developed her skills and awareness with football giants Lyon. The rising sensation is putting up impressive numbers in club play, often ranking highly for chances created, ball carries and assists.

Dumornay, named GOAL’s 2022 NXGN player, was key to Haiti’s World Cup qualification. She scored two powerful goals against Chile, and her backflip celebration will be cemented in Haitian football history. It’s clear that Dumornay’s football career is just getting started, and she’ll hope to make her first World Cup a memorable one.



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