Roaring to Victory: Can the Lionesses Triumph in the 2023 Women’s World Cup?
- Scarlett Collins
- May 6, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: May 10, 2023
Last year, the Lionesses reunited the nation with their inspirational, empowering, and exhilarating Euros win on home soil. Sarina Wiegman’s squad is under increased pressure as a result of their success, and they are considered one of the favourites to win the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Will our Lionesses be able to capture the elusive World Cup trophy this summer?
The team's final two international games before the tournament were played at the beginning of April. They added another trophy to their collection with a thrilling triumph over Brazil in the first women's Finalissima at Wembley. You can read the complete match report for this game here. However, when they played Australia at the Gtech Community Stadium, their impressive 30-game unbeaten streak ended. The Lionesses were punished in the first half by a clinical Sam Kerr finish, and then Charlotte Grant's header doubled the Matildas' lead in the second half. It was inevitable that such a remarkable unbeaten streak would end, and while it is good that it happened in a friendly, it is vital to consider what it might indicate moving ahead. That being said, Captain Leah Williamson reflected on the result and what it meant to the team.
"We wanted to learn this whole time; we wanted to be pushed to our limits, and we need to take it up a new level. In the past, we won those games; we turned them around, but actually, tonight, to lose it gives you a bit of fire."
Sarina has instilled a culture among the team of always looking forward and thinking about how to improve. There is always something they can build upon to ensure they continue to perform at their best. The manager makes this clear in her post-match interview.
"Every game we get some warnings—against Brazil, we got some warnings in the Finalissima. We know where we want to go and what to do. … [T]his is just a very big learning moment for us that we need to get to a higher level to win these games."
Given the interviews after the game, it is clear that the mood in the camp is one of disappointment rather than annoyance or a lack of confidence. One loss does not erase all of their prior victories or eliminate their possibility of dominating the international stage in a few months. Ex-Lioness Karen Carney expressed that the Brazil and Australia games have acted as "two tactical lessons," and these insights will only help strengthen the team. While as a nation we want to keep our expectations realistic, it is also vital to support and empower the Lionesses through every hurdle. Let us flash forward to July and look at the Lionesses route to the final, their biggest rivals for the trophy, and the factors that may affect their success.
The Lionesses are in Group D along with China, Denmark, and Haiti. The Chinese women’s football team won the Asian Women’s Football Championship and the East Asian Football Federation Championship in 2022, so they are looking to continue their success. Their standout player, Wang Shuang, helped seal their World Cup qualification and assisted them in lifting their recent silverware. Denmark has not qualified for the Women’s World Cup since 2007, and in all European competitions, it has struggled to make it out of the group stages. An exception to this came in the 2017 Euros, where they came second after losing to the Netherlands in the final. Lastly, Haiti is noted as one of the top women’s teams in the Caribbean and has qualified for their first-ever World Cup. The Lionesses are the clear favourites to top the group; however, it is important not to underestimate anyone, especially China.
It is hard to determine the team’s route to the final as World Cups can be full of shocks and surprises; however, there is an agreed-upon prediction of whom they could face. If the Lionesses win the group, they will likely face the runner-up of Group B, which could be Australia or Canada. Both of these opponents would prove to be tough tests, with Australia showing their talent and understanding of how to minimise England’s threat in the recent game. Canada women, despite ongoing pay struggles, are the current Olympic gold medal holders and runners-up in the 2022 Confederation of North, Central American, and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Women’s Championship.
A victory in the Round of 16 could see them face Germany in the quarterfinals and set up a rematch of the 2022 Euros final. Germany’s dominance and talent were demonstrated in that match, but England came out on top to secure the trophy. This could lead the Lionesses to face France in the semi-finals, who beat them 3-1 in 2021. However, France have gone through a transition after losing their long-term head coach, Corinne Diacre. Additionally, their captain, Wendi Renard, announced that she was stepping down from international duty for mental health reasons but has recently stated that if new coach Hervé Renard calls her up, she will go. There are many frontrunners regarding whom England could face in the final, with Spain, Sweden, and the USA being among the favourites. These are all teams the Lionesses have beaten in the past year. Spain’s team is currently in turmoil, with many players unhappy with coach Jorge Vilda and asking for his dismissal. England exerted dominance over Sweden in the Euros with a 4-0 victory. Furthermore, Sweden's women's team has struggled to find a win in recent international friendlies. The United States has cemented themselves as one of the greats in women’s international football, both on and off the field. They are the most decorated international women’s team with four World Cups (1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019), four Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012), and nine CONCACAF titles. The World Cup-winning squad from 2019 has changed a fair amount, with many fresh faces and talents to be displayed on the world stage. However, it is important to note that our Lionesses have shown great growth as a team, which can be seen when compared to the USA. In 2019, the United States beat England 2-1 in the semi-finals, where they displayed their experience, confidence, and game management. This result was recently reversed in October 2022, when the Lionesses beat them at Wembley by the same scoreline. Therefore, highlighting the development of the team under Wiegman and the transition the United States has gone through.
It is impossible to predict the path and outcomes given the recent growth, development, and success of international women’s football. However, we can reflect on what may impact the Lionesses’ journey to success. We will see a changed team at the competition in the summer, with Ellen White and Jill Scott retiring from football after the Euros. Losing these experienced players is a shame, but matches played since the Euros have shown that the team is more than capable of continuing their success. It is unclear whether the loss of White and Scott will have a greater impact at an international tournament, but the Lionesses have plenty of other experienced players, such as Lucy Bronze. Unfortunately, Wiegman has also seen her team plagued by injuries, and some players are looking uncertain to make her tournament squad. Chelsea’s Millie Bright missed the recent two international games due to a knee injury. It is unclear how long the centre-back will be out for, but her absence was certainly felt even though Jess Carter stepped up to fill the role. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes seems optimistic about her return, so hopefully, we will see her in an England shirt in July. Bright’s Chelsea teammate Fran Kirby has announced that she will be missing the World Cup due to a knee injury she sustained in February and also due to a fatigue issue. In a tweet, she announced that it was time to put her health first, and it seems as if the England star will be out for the foreseeable future. Two more players who join England’s injury list are Arsenal’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson. Mead suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in November and is continuing her rehabilitation. Wiegman has stated that Mead could make a return for the tournament, but as it edges closer, the more the uncertainty grows. If she is unable to reach full fitness before the squad is announced, her presence will be missed. Mead was one of England’s biggest goal threats at the Euros and won the golden boot with six goals and four assists. Leah Williamson is the most recent player on the Lionesses’ injury list. The Arsenal and England captain went down after a challenge in their crucial game against Manchester United on April 19th. She joins an extensive list of top-flight professional female footballers who have suffered an ACL injury. Williamson posted an emotional piece to her Instagram page, stating that her "World Cup and Champions League dream" is over for her. Additionally, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes commented that this is "[D]evastating for the Lionesses and Arsenal. . .". Williamson has demonstrated her leadership abilities on the pitch and post-match in interviews. Her stability and authority help bolster the midfield and defence, and it would be difficult for anyone to fill her position. Furthermore, this also highlights the importance of increased research for female athletes regarding ACL injuries, as the number just keeps on rising. The absence of these four pivotal players would be a huge loss for the squad, and Wiegman will have a challenging task on her hands to fill those gaps.
Speaking of pivotal players, the importance of Kiera Walsh in the midfield was shown in recent games. Brazil altered their formation to a 4-2-3-1 at halftime and made it difficult for Walsh to get on the ball. This led to England struggling to get forward, with goalkeeper Mary Earps being called into action on many occasions. Despite Brazil’s late equaliser, the Lionesses showed resilience to win 4-2 on penalties. It was clear that Australia recognised how key Walsh is to England’s midfield, as she barely got an opportunity to hold the ball. This, among other things, was what ended the Lionesses’ unbeaten run. Teams at the World Cup will be looking to keep the Barcelona midfielder quiet, so Wiegman and her staff will need to be tactically aware of this and ready to adapt to overcome such a challenge. On top of this, Alex Greenwood being pulled out of the squad ahead of the game due to injury and Lauren Hemp leaving the pitch early due to a concussion certainly impacted the team. England may have to rely on fresh faces and their squad depth to ensure important players are protected.
At the Euros, the Lionesses showed great resilience in key games, such as when they went a goal down against Spain for the first time in the tournament. Being able to remain calm and confident are key factors that will help the team succeed, as demonstrated in the final against Germany. The mindset Sarina Wiegman has instilled in her squad, paired with the talent across the pitch, is what makes them such a threat. It will be hard to break such a hungry, passionate, and driven squad that is looking to continue cementing their legacy in English football. They have already lifted three trophies in the past year, and a fourth would certainly round it off nicely.
Written by Scarlett
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