Having previewed Groups A and B of the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Afrosport takes a look at Group C comprising Spain, Costa, Zambia and Japan.
The latter are the most familiar face of all four teams while the Spaniards are loaded with top talent. The Zambians are new faces while the Costa Ricans are making a return after eight years.
Spain
La Roja are making their third consecutive World Cup appearance, their first outing coming in the 2015 edition where they failed to make it out of the group stage before reaching the round of 16 in the last edition in France, losing 2-1 to eventual champions, the United States.
Spain head to Australia and New Zealand with more momentum this time as they are ranked sixth in the world and are top seeds in Group C.
They finished on top during the qualifiers, eight points ahead of Scotland and have won nine of their previous 11 games (D1 L1). The team is also beaming with some of the best female talent in the world such as Barcelona ace Alexia Putellas, Ona Batlle, Olga Carmona, Aitana Bonmati, Athenea del Castillo and veteran Jennifer Hermoso.
Costa Rica
Las Ticas are appearing at World Cup for only the second time after making their debut in 2015 and, like Spain, crashed out in the group stage, finishing ahead of La Roja in Group E.
Costa Rica will not be heading to Australia and New Zealand in great form as they are with just one win in their last 10 matches (D2 L7), the win coming in their last warm-up friendly against World Cup debutants Haiti which ended in a 2-0 victory.
Amelia Valverde’s side are currently ranked 36th in the world and will want to make a better impression this time around but will have it all to do in Group C, starting with their first game against Spain in Wellington on July 21.
Zambia
The Cooper Queens made it to the Mundial for the very first time after finishing third at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
They have played eight games this year in preparation for the World Cup and have won three of them, drawing one and losing four.
Zambia are ranked 77th in the world making them the lowest-ranked team in Group C. As underdogs, they will really have their work cut out and must do the extraordinary to shine when they face Japan in Hamilton on July 22.
Coach Bruce Mwape will look towards his star forwards like Grace Chanda, Barbra Banda, Racheal Kundananji, goalkeeper Hazel Nali and midfielder Avell Chitundu to bring some pride to the team.
Japan
The Nadeshiko have been to every Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991, claiming ultimate victory at the 2011 edition in Germany where they defeated the United States on penalties in the final. This was followed by a runners-up finish at the 2015 edition in Canada, losing 5-2 to the US.
The Japanese are the second-highest-ranked team in Group C and will be expected to impress though they have failed to make it to the knockout round four times (1991, 1999, 2003, 20007).
Futoshi Ikeda’s ladies will be coming to their ninth World Cup with mixed form, winning four of their last nine games, losing five. They would need to up their game when they start their campaign against Zambia with the Cooper Queens eager to make a first impression at the global showpiece.
Group C fixtures
Spain vs Costa Rica
Date: July 21
Time: 8:30 AM
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Zambia vs Japan
Date: July 22
Time: 8:00 AM
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Japan vs Costa Rica
Date: July 26
Time: 6:00 AM
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Spain vs Zambia
Date: July 26
Time: 8:30 AM
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Japan vs Spain
Date: July 31
Time: 8:00 AM
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Costa Rica vs Zambia
Date: July 31
Time: 8:00 AM
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
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