Women's World Cup: Eight Standout Global Players American Fans Should Take Note Of
By Mike Cardillo
The 2015 Women’s World Cup kicks off Saturday in Canada. Let’s take a look at eight players from around the world, i.e. non-American, who could make headlines during the tournament.
Christine Sinclair, Canada: A recent feature by the Vancouver Sun dubbed Sinclair, “the perfect and perfectly modest Canadian hero.” Few would be so modest when they have 153 goals in 222 international matches on their resumé — which is third all-time.
Louisa Nécib, France — If there’s a chance for a breakout player and team its Nécib and France, which finished fourth at the last Olympics and World Cup. Nécib plays for Lyon — perennially the best women’s club team in Europe — and is considered the best creative midfielder in the women’s game.
Nadine Angerer, Germany: The 36-year-old goalkeeper announced she’ll retire from international play following the World Cup, her fifth. Angerer won 2013 FIFA World Player of the Year honors to go along with her pair of World Cup winner’s medals. Angerer, who plays in America for the Portland Thorns, didn’t allow a goal during the 2007 tournament.
Homare Sawa, Japan: Sawa — the Most Outstanding Player at the 2011 World Cup — made Japan’s roster, despite an injury late in 2014 that put her status on the roster in doubt. This will be Sawa’s sixth World Cup, but it doesn’t sound like she is a shoo-in to play thanks to younger options. World Cups often raise these sorts of questions for coaches: go with experience and hope history repeats itself or roll the dice with new blood.
Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria: Here’s a name for U.S. fans to be leery of when the teams meet on June 16 in Vancouver. The Liverpool Ladies striker is the 2014 African Player of the Year and recently took up best Women’s Player in England honors via the BBC. Oshoala was the top-scorer in last year’s U-20 World Cup as she helped Nigeria reach the final, where it lost in extra time to Germany.
Lotta Schelin, Sweden: The Swedish captain is another star who plays at Lyon. Schelin, a midfielder, has 80 goals in 149 matches. She won the Golden Boot at the 2013 European Championship.
Marta, Brazil — The five-time FIFA World Player of the Year has been suiting up for Brazil since 2002 and yet she’s still only 29. Marta remains one of the most exciting soccer players on the planet and likely will lead the 2015 tournament in Vines, GIFs and easily RT-able material.
Verónica Boquete, Spain — Spain qualified for its first World Cup thanks in no small part to the scoring of Boquete, its captain, along with Natalia Pablos and Sonia Bermudez. The trio ranges in age from 28-30 but only Bermudez enters the World Cup with more than 50 caps.