The World Cup in Australia and New Zealand reaches its closing week. After beginning on July 21 with 32 groups in competition, there are solely 4 left, together with the Spanish, to battle for the title and considered one of them will make historical past as a result of the occasion will crown a brand new world champion.
The USA, champions of the final two editions, misplaced within the spherical of 16 to Sweden, double champions Germany didn’t even make it previous the group stage, and Norway, champions in 1995, was knocked out by 2011 champions Japan, who was the one which survived the longest, additionally saying goodbye to the Swedes within the quarterfinals. Now, Spain, Sweden, Australia and England search to make historical past and we briefly evaluation these 4 closing candidates.
1. Spain. Quantity six within the FIFA world rating. The workforce led by Jorge Vilda has lastly been in a position to break the wall in a significant worldwide competitors and is 2 video games away from profitable a title, one thing that had solely occurred in 1997 within the Eurocup, shedding 2-1 within the semifinals in opposition to Italy. The Spanish workforce is the one one of many 4 that doesn’t have any title at an absolute degree and the one one which has not performed a grand closing, but when they elevate the cup on August 20, they’d obtain a milestone, being the present world champion. of the three feminine classes, and in addition, along with Germany, the one one to have been world champion on the female and male degree. Along with Australia, it’s the solely one of many 4 that has conceded a defeat, the 4-0 in opposition to Japan, but it surely has scored 15 objectives and the one one which has not wanted a penalty shootout.
2. Sweden. Quantity three on this planet rating. The Swedish workforce, Spain’s rival within the semifinals, is the one one of many 4 candidates who is aware of what it’s to play within the World Cup closing, since they did so in 2003, with a defeat in opposition to Germany. In actual fact, it’s the most ‘veteran’ when it comes to penultimate rounds in a World Cup since subsequent Tuesday can be its fifth presence, being eradicated by the Netherlands (2019), Japan (2011) and Norway (1991). Nationwide workforce and soccer with a fantastic custom on this modality, she was continental champion in 1984 and gained the silver medal on the 2016 Olympic Video games in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Tokyo in 2021. Sturdy defensively (nobody has carried out multiple aim) and physique, are highlighting their goalkeeper, Zecira Musovic, and the center-back Amanda Ilestedt has scored 4 objectives.
3. England. Quantity 4 within the FIFA world rating. The England workforce is again within the World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive version and hopes to say the ‘Sarina Wiegmann issue’. The Dutch coach, the one girl to guide one of many 4 semifinalists, may proceed to develop her file and is searching for her fourth consecutive closing as a coach after having performed the 2017 Euro Cup and the 2019 World Cup together with her nation, and that of EURO 2021 already together with his present workforce, which he led to make historical past together with his first main title. England needs to emulate Germany, which was able to being European and world champions, though within the case of the Germans twice (2001-2003 and 2005-2007). It’s the better of the 4 defensively with solely two objectives conceded.
4. Australia. Quantity ten within the FIFA world rating. The ‘Matildas’ wish to make soccer historical past for his or her nation, which has not had such a feat and now they’re nearer after lastly breaking their barrier to achieve their first World Cup semifinals. Champion of Asia in 2010, in Tokyo 2020 she was already a semifinalist and now she’s going to attempt to break the unhealthy luck of the hosts since solely america, in 1999, was in a position to proclaim themselves world champion enjoying at residence. The workforce coached by Tony Gustavsson has gone from much less to extra in a match the place they reached the final day of the group stage getting ready to the abyss. Nevertheless, they’ve been in a position to hold a clear sheet of their final three video games, for a complete of 4 out of 5 after the opener in opposition to the Republic of Eire.
