In the summer, 32 of the top women’s national soccer teams will convene in Australia and New Zealand to compete in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Holders the United States start as the 3/1 favourites to win the tournament with bet365 Sport, with England, the new European and Finalissima Champions after their penalties victory win over Brazil yesterday a close 7/2 second favourites.
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We will be bringing you more on this huge event from the southern hemisphere later in the year, but to start the countdown to the action, we are bringing you our women’s best XI in the world of stars who could shine at this tournament in three months’ time.
So let’s begin by naming our formation, which we have opted to go with a 4-3-3 formation with the midfield playing more narrowly with one holding midfielder and two more attack minded midfielders.
For each position, we are going to give you the winner, plus a runner up and third place option
Women’s World Best XI – 2023
Goalkeeper – Christiane Endler (Lyon & Chile)
Runners Up – Mary Earps (Man Utd & England, Merle Frohms (Wolfsburg & Germany)
Perhaps the first truly great women’s goalkeeper in history, Endler shone at the World Cup for Chile a few years back, commanding the box and helping a somewhat ordinary Chile team do much better than expected. A big move to Europe followed where she has continued to excel playing a key role for Lyon in their Champions League win last year. Despite being 31 years of age, she is still the best in the world with Earps and Frohms now closing the gap to her.
Right Back – Lucy Bronze (Barcelona & England)
Runners Up – Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea & Sweden),Ashley Lawrence (PSG & Canada)
The modern full back is a key player in the women’s game and nobody plays the role better than Lucy Bronze. The much travelled right full back is a veteran for England but is still, when fit, arguably the first name on the team sheet. Eriksson and Lawrence provide very solid alternatives but at her best, there’s still nobody close to Bronze for the right back role.
Left Back – Fridolina Rolfo (Barcelona & Sweden)
Runners Up – Selma Hacha (Lyon & France),Sakina Karchaoui (PSG & France)
The two French left backs can count themselves unlucky on missing out on a spot in the team as they have both had great seasons, but Rolfo has blossomed since signing for Barcelona where she forms part of a women’s football super team with a number of players that make this World’s Best XI. Blessed with a stunning left foot, Rolfo’s defensive skills are now allied to a great attacking presence when moving forward.
Centre Backs (2) – Wendie Renard (Lyon & France), Leah Williamson (Arsenal & England)
Runners Up (4) – Mapi Leon (Barcelona & Spain), Millie Bright (Chelsea & England), Irene Paredes (Barcelona & Spain), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave & USA)
The tall and languid Wendie Renard gets into the team due to her class, quality and goal threat, while Leah Williamson makes the second centre back spot thanks to her outstanding quality on the ball and leadership qualities. With a number of players pushing hard for a spot in the team, this is a position of quality in the women’s game nowadays.
Anchor Midfielder – Lena Oberdorf (Wolfsburg & Germany)
Runners Up – Keira Walsh (Barcelona & England), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona & Spain)
Lena Oberdorf has emerged as an outstanding holding midfielder for Wolfsburg and Germany and is now rated by her peers as the best in the world in that position just ahead of the Barcelona pair of Keira Walsh and Patri Guijarro.
Attacking Midfielders (2) – Alexia Putellas & Aitana Bonmati (both Barcelona & Spain)
Runners Up (4) – Lina Magull (Bayern Munich & Germany),Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich & England), Lindsey Horan (Lyon & USA), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign & USA)
There are a lot of options for the two attacking midfielders but Putellas and Bonmati as a duo probably both deserve those spots in the team. They have shone for Spain and Barcelona respectively and with Putellas making her comeback from injury in the past couple of weeks, it would be great for Spain to have these two superstars at the heart of their midfield.
Right Wing – Catarina Macario (Lyon & USA)
Runners Up – Kadadidiatou Diana (PSG & France),Fran Kirby (Chelsea & England)
She may have been injured for a while, but Cataraina Macario is making her return to full fitness in the next couple of weeks, just in time for the tournament and if she is at her best then she will be a huge weapon for the talented United States team.
Left Wing – Ada Hegerberg (Lyon & Norway)
Runners Up – Lauren Hemp (Man City & England), Sophia Smith (Portland & USA)
Lyon’s Champions League superstar Ada Hegerberg just edges out Hemp and Smith to take er place in this team. The veteran Norwegian superstar is the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League and how she plays will dictate how well Norway do in the tournament in the summer.
Centre Forward – Sam Kerr (Chelsea & Australia)
Runners Up – Alexandra Popp (Wolfsburg & Germany), Marie Katoto (PSG & France)
Chelsea’s star striker who recently notched up her 50th WPL goal for her club edges out Germany’s excellent Alex Popp and the fantastic Marie Katoto of France for the top spot here. Kerr’s outstanding goalscoring record for club and country make her arguably the biggest threat in front of goal at the World Cup this summer/.
Honorary Mentions
There are a number of players that would have made at least the runners up and likely a spot in the first team had they been fit enough to play at the World Cup this year and they include England’s right winger Beth Mead and the Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema.
Also set to miss out is Pernille Harder of Chelsea & Denmark.
Other Players to Watch
Alongside these players there are also a number of other players to watch in the tournament including:
- Sara Dabritz (MC – Lyon & Germany)
- Rachel Daly (DL or AC – Aston Villa & England)
- Kosovare Asllani (AML – Milan & Sweden)
- Jill Roord (MC – Wolfsburg & Netherlands)
- Svenja Huth (AC – Wolfsburg & Germany)
- Erin Cuthbert (MC – Chelsea & Scotland)
- Kim Little (MC – Arsenal & Scotland)
- Ella Toone (AMC – Man Utd & England)
- Caroline Weir (AMC – Real Madrid & Scotland)
- Guro Reiten (MC – Chelsea & Norway)
- Stina Blackstenius (AML – Arsenal & Sweden)
- Trinity Rodman (AC – Washington Spirit & USA)
- Alex Morgan (AC – San Diefo Wave & USA)
- Delphine Cascarino (AMR – Lyon & France)
- Debinha (AC – North Carolina Courage & Brazil)
- Geyse (AC – Barcelona & Brazil)
- Linda Caicedo (AC – Deportivo Cali & Colombia)
- Chloe Kelly (AC – Man City & England)
- Melchie Dumornay (AC – Stade de Reims & Haiti)
