World Cup rosters are starting to come out. Here are the teams we know so far
The IX: Soccer Monday with Annie M. Peterson, June 5, 2023
We’re getting closer to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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England has released it’s World Cup squad, while Germany, South Africa and the Netherlands have released provisional rosters. I’ve included them here in case you want to stash them away for reference during the tournament.
England’s roster was of note more for who is not on it. Injuries have stung the Lionesses with Beth Mead, captain Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby all missing out.
It was thought that Mead might try to make the team. She was the top scorer and player of the tournament last year when England won the Euros on home soil.
“Mead has had enormous highs and enormous lows,” coach Sarina Wiegman said. “She is in a good place and is ahead of schedule but I am not willing to take risks and hopefully she will be ready for her club and the country after.”
England’s roster
Goalkeepers: Mary Earps , Hannah Hampton, Ellie Roebuck.
Defenders: Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Jess Carter, Niamh Charles, Alex Greenwood, Esme Morgan, Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Midfielders: Laura Coombs, Jordan Nobbs, Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Keira Walsh, Katie Zelem.
Forwards: Rachel Daly, Bethany England, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly, Katie Robinson, Alessia Russo.
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Germany’s provisional roster is out, too. They squad will eventually be cut to 23.
Germany’s provisional roster
Goalkeepers: Ann-Katrin Berger, Merle Frohms, Stina Johannes, Ena Mahmutovic.
Defenders: Sara Doorsoun, Marina Hegering, Kathrin Hendrich, Sophia Kleinherne, Sarai Linder, Sjoeke Nüsken, Felicitas Rauch, Carolin Simon.
Midfielders: Sara Däbritz, Chantal Hagel, Svenja Huth, Paulina Krumbiegel, Lena Lattwein, Melanie Leupolz, Lina Magull, Lena Oberdorf.
Forwards: Alexandra Popp, Nicole Anyomi, Jule Brand, Klara Bühl, Laura Freigang, Lea Schüller, Tabea Waßmuth, Sydney Lohmann.
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South Africa’s provisional roster
Goalkeepers: Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart, Regirl Ngobeni, Kebotseng Moletsane, Asa Rabalao.
Defenders: Asanda Hadebe, Karabo Dhlamini, Cimone Sauls, Lebohang Ramalepe, Tiisetso, Makhubela, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Bambanani Mbane, Bongeka Gamede.
Midfielders: Thubelihle Shamase, Kholosa Biyana, Thalea Smidt, Refiloe Jane, Sibulele Holweni, Linda Motlhalo, Nomvula Kgoale, Robyn Moodaly, Amogelang Motau.
Forwards: Nicole Michael, Gabriela Salgado, Sphumelele Shamase, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Noxolo Cesane, Melinda Kgadiete, Nthabiseng Majiya, Lelona Daweti, Wendy Shongwe, Ntombifikile Ndlovu, Hildah Magaia, Thembi Kgatlana.
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Portugal’s 23-player roster
Goalkeepers: Rute Costa, Inês Pereira, Patrícia Morais.
Defenders: Ana Seiça, Carole, Catarina Amado, Diana Gomes, Joana Marchão, Lúcia Alves, Sílvia Rebelo.
Midfielders: Ana Rute, Andreia Norton, Andreia Jacinto, Dolores Silva, Fátima Pinto, Kika Nazareth, Tatiana Pinto.
Forwards: Ana Borges, Ana Capeta, Carolina Mendes, Diana Silva, Jéssica Silva, Telma Encarnação.
Netherland’s provisional roster
Goalkeepers: Daphne van Domselaar, Lize Kop, Barbara Lorsheyd, Jacintha Weimar.
Defenders: Kerstin Casparij, Caitlin Dijkstra, Merel van Dongen, Kika van Es, Stefanie van der Gragt, Aniek Nouwen, Lynn Wilms, Dominique Janssen.
Midfielders: Danielle van de Donk, Damaris Egurrola, Jackie Groenen, Jill Baijings, Sherida Spitse, Victoria Pelova, Wieke Kaptein, Jill Roord.
Forwards: Esmee Brugts, Lineth Beerensteyn, Fenna Kalma, Tiny Hoekstra, Shanice van de Sanden, Renate Jansen, Romee Leuchter, Lieke Martens, Katja Snoeijs, Alieke Tuin.
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LINKS!
Women’s Champions League final shows growth of the sport, Jessica Berman told Reuters.
Just Women’s Sports on the NWSL players who may be playing their way onto the World Cup squad.
Loved this from Ameé Ruszkai of Goal.com on the Thorns-Reign rivalry.
Freya Coombe says Julie Ertz will be ready for the World Cup, from Seth Vertelney of Pro Soccer Wire.
Also from Pro Soccer Wire: Laura Harvey says Rose Lavelle has had a setback. Concerning for sure, but also think they’re approaching this with an abundance of caution.
In case you still want to go: FIFA just released more tickets for the World Cup.
Germany announces preliminary roster for the World Cup.
Today’s The IX is brought to you by Sports-Reference.com, who has a special announcement!
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FIVE AT THE IX: Sophia Smith
The Portland Thorns beat OL Reign 2-0 at Lumen this weekend, to move back to the top the NWSL standings (along with the Wave).
Here are Sophia Smith’s thoughts from after the match — and on whether it was a statement win or not.
Question: Thoughts on the match?
Smith: I mean, obviously it feels good to get a win against this team. It’s a big game always. And I know we haven’t gotten a win against them in the regular season in a while. So honestly, it wasn’t the prettiest the whole time, but we grind it out we, got opportunities and at the end of the day, it just good to get the result we want.
Question: For you to get a goal after a few games really, really wanting one. How did it feel for you?
Smith: I felt good. I’ve been kind of just staying level-headed and not overthinking not scoring a goal because at the end of the day, I do feel like I’ve still impacted the game in a lot of different ways. But obviously as a 9, as a goal scorer, I take a lot of pride in helping my team score goals, so not doing that for a little bit, obviously was hard and it was something I had to kind of deal with internally because I didn’t want to negatively affect the team when we were playing well, but to just get a goal and a big game like this, it kind of just like re-lights a fire in me and just makes me feel kind of back to myself.
Question: Your ability to distribute has been something that you’ve shown this year, is that some sort of consolation knowing you’ve been able to contribute in other ways?
Smith: Yeah, I think I will do whatever the game gives to me, if that’s assisting, that’s assisting. I think so far this season, I haven’t been getting the same opportunities as last season and that’s just how teams are playing us. They’re kind of figuring that out. So if I can get wider and assist I’m gonna do that, every single time, because at the end of the day, what’s most important is our team getting the result and however I can help is what I’ll do.
Question: Do you feel this was a statement win?
Smith: I think anytime that we get a clear win and we dominate the game, that’s a statement. But I think this team, that’s the expectation. We’re gonna celebrate this because it’s a big win, but how we played tonight and getting these results, is just the bare minimum that we expect of ourselves. So I think going forward, we expect nothing less than this. I think we’ve had a month of ups and downs and not getting all the results that we want but I think this is a new month, I think we are all just excited to get back to being the team that we know we can be and I truly believe it’s the best team in the league.
Question: Does scoring early like that settle the nerves in a big game?
Smith: Yeah, I think it’s huge. Anytime we can get up early on it just allows us to kind of take a breath and settle into the game and not be super frantic and forcing things. So when you’re up a goal you can kind of play the soccer that you want to play and find a little bit of comfort in the scoreline but also know that 1-0 is a very dangerous, dangerous game to play and the game is not won and we need to continue to create chances and put more away. So once you’re up early on, it’s a good place to be but I think we find that balance of finding comfort in being able to play the soccer want to play while at the same time always wanting a lot more.
Question: It looks like you had just a lot of space that the defenders couldn’t take the ball off of your foot. Was it just you felt a lot of control, or were they giving you a lot of space?
Smith: I think this was just a good game for me. I felt like myself, and knowing myself, I turn, I go at people, I keep the ball, I dribble, I connect and today honestly, for the first time in a while I felt completely 100% like Sophie. And that’s a good feeling to have. Because when I feel like that, I’m really confident and I want the ball and I want to turn and I want to go. I think the defense, they gave us what they gave us, but I think I was just trying to find the spaces that I could and impact the game how I could.
Question: Can you walk us through the goal?
Smith: I think Hina passed it to me and I just faced up, I think kind of side top of the box and saw the opportunity to be one-v-one and I saw an opening where I could just take a shot and I wanted to make sure I went into this game not afraid to take shots. That’s how you score at the end of the day. So I saw an opening and I just ripped it and it went in.
Question: It looked like you were rousing your teammates up, can you share about like what you were trying to convey?
Smith: Yeah, I think we spent too much of this game kind of taking too much time to figure out what we wanted to do when we got the ball. The surface is, it is what it is. So I think when when you play it into someone, the touch might be bobbly and might be this and that. So I was trying to tell people to know what you’re going to do before you get the ball, so that you can play quick, because there were times when we would get it, look up, then decide what we’re doing, our pass gets blocked. So I think I was just kind of like, there needs to be a little bit more urgency in knowing what you want to do with the ball before you get it so that we can keep the ball.
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