Unprecedented. Dominating. The USA women's team stands on the brink of an achievement that has NEVER been done in the entire sport's history - winning three World Cups in a row. But what if they do? Will this make them the ultimate champions, or will it break the very game they love? This is about more than just a preview of the 2023 World Cup. It's a dive into a potential historical moment, a look at those who dare to challenge the four-time champions, and a journey to uncover the real impact of one nation's reign on the beautiful game.
Meet team USA. A nation that has won exactly half of the World Cups that have ever been held. That is unprecedented domination that spans across different eras and many decades in women’s soccer.
While the rest of the world has caught up in the last few years, with huge improvements across Europe, Asia, South America and even Africa the US still remains the favorites. European champion lionesses, two time champions Germany, and even the host nation with one of the most legendary players of all time might not be able to stop the unstoppable force that is the USWNT.
The USWNT took their bumps and bruises in the runup to the world cup, especially in the 2021 Olympics where they finished third and lost in the group stage 3-0 to longtime rivals Sweden. In 2022 the squad lost three straight matches for the first time in 30 years after poor results against Germany, Spain, and England. In the last few months however the team seems to have gotten right back on track, able to inject new blood like Sophia Smith and Trinity Rodman while building on the legendary core of Alex Morgan and Lindsey Horan. There was one player though whose return to the professional game may just save the USWNT and bolster their chances this summer - Julie Ertz.
The return of Julie Ertz
For an extended period, it seemed the presence of Julie Ertz on the field for this summer's World Cup would remain a distant memory. Reports from the USWNT technical department persistently hinted at granting Ertz the liberty to gradually step back onto the pitch, following the birth of her son, Madden, in the late summer of 2022.
Ertz's last contribution to the USWNT traces back to the 2021 Olympics, having been absent from the NWSL since May 2021 due to a knee injury that marked her final performance for the Chicago Red Stars.
A conspicuous gap of exactly 600 days had elapsed when Ertz received the summons to rejoin the squad in April. Manager Vlatko Andonovski placed an emphasis on Ertz earning her place on the team, a journey that would take root not only in the training grounds but also in the domain of the NWSL, once again.
Having morphed into a free agent in the course of her extended hiatus, Ertz's rights had, fortuitously, been secured by Angel City FC via trade. Ultimately, she chose Los Angeles as her setting for an NWSL resurgence, rapidly reminding spectators of her capacity to wreak havoc through set-pieces, evidenced by her inaugural goal for Angel City.
The unresolved equation of the USWNT midfield has monopolized narratives over the past two years, a quandary that the return of Ertz might help untangle. While Ertz's comeback signals a breath of relief, observers have yet to fully gauge the impact she will have in the tournament, given her limited exposure with the current team.
Nevertheless, Ertz's role at the helm of the USWNT's central midfield infront of the defense makes it easy to appreciate Andonovski's patience for her return. Unflinchingly unafraid to seize or forcefully reclaim the ball defensively and nearly invincible in aerial duels during corner kicks and other set pieces, Ertz has cemented herself as an indispensable asset within the team's ranks.
Her recent club minutes might be few and far between, but a close examination of Ertz's engagements in the league and cup since 2021 illustrates her proficiency in holding the fort in front of the defense as a defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1.
But fielding a player in a World Cup with minimal lead-time is a formidable challenge. Key to Ertz's performance will be her timing and foresight, especially in terms of her passing abilities to set up her teammates. This is an aspect of her game that may require gradual evolution throughout the tournament, a less than ideal scenario but one within the compass of Ertz's capabilities.
With 22 other incredible players around her, Ertz may be the missing link to lifting the trophy for the third time. But who might dethrone the United States?
England
European champions England will have something to say before the end of the tournament, and they may say it quite loudly.
Even without major stars Fran Kirby, Leah Williamson, and Beth Mead due to injury, England will come into this tournament as one of the favorites if USA can’t do it. And if they’re going to do it, they’ll be getting help from forward Chloe Kelly who scored the winning goal in their Euro final.
Mirroring the famed celebratory style of Brandi Chastain, with her sports bra on display and shirt whirling triumphantly overhead, Chloe Kelly's match-winning goal and striking celebration in the 2022 European Championship final engraved her name in the annals of history.
Emerging from an 11-month hiatus after an ACL injury (where have we heard that before?), Kelly marked her return to the pitch in April 2022, with a short six-week window to impress England manager Sarina Wiegman enough to secure a place in the provisional Euro 2022 squad. Her performance did not go unnoticed, with Wiegman leveraging her skills as a tournament-altering super-sub.
Characterized by her former coach Willie Kirk as a blend of "fire and ice", the 25-year-old exhibits an intense competitive streak — even leading to a rare training ground skirmish — yet exudes calm in high-stakes situations, as evidenced by her definitive Finalissima penalty against Brazil in April.
As an electrifying winger, Kelly's unpredictability on the field leaves defenders grasping at straws. With adept skill in both feet, her approach extends beyond direct attack, incorporating artful deception, coordinated play, and strategic movement to her advantage.
One needs only to peruse her chance creation map to discern Kelly's favored zone of attack — deep within enemy territory, skirting the touchline. Predicting her next move might be feasible, but successfully thwarting her advances is another challenge altogether. Since the commencement of the last season, only three WSL players have exceeded Kelly’s impressive average of 4.2 chances created per 90 minutes.
The Manchester City forward attributes her fearlessness on the field to her ACL injury, with her best performances yet to come. Her fluid style, unbounded spirit, creative prowess, and tenacity in overpowering opponents have established her as a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Former Chelsea winger Gemma Davison said “She is the player I would willingly pay to watch week after week.”
England are currently at 4:1 odds to win it all, and will need Kelly to show up in a big way if they’re going to lift the trophy.
Spain
The betting odds tend to be a pretty good indication for a team’s chances - as there is real money riding on these decisions, and the betting markets have put Spain level with England at 4:1.
And if the US received a boost to their chances with the return of Julie Ertz, Spain received a jolt of their own with the return of the mercurial Alexia Putellas. Put simply, she is the best player in the world right now. The 29 year old is the winner of the last two ballon d’ors and is a complete attacker, far outpacing everyone on a relentlessly offensive Barcelona Femeni squad with 34 goals in the 21/22 season.
The only thing is… she is also coming back from an ACL injury suffered just before the 2022 Euros. If she can come back fully healthy, Spain will be a problem, if she’s not quite the same as she once was, things get a bit easier for everyone else. That’s not to say she’s the only talent on the SPanish squad. Stout defenders Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle await anyone who dares enter the box, and classically trained barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati will pull the strings.
And while Germany and France will have their say - I want to highlight a true darkhorse in this race.
Australia
The Matildas. And no, I’m not just picking them because the Ozzies have the best nickname, but because they are a fiercely balanced squad who have beaten big teams, and will play infront of sold out 70,000 person crowds urging them on each time they play. In fact just this April the Matildas beat England 2-0 in England. Yes that same England team that are second favorites to win it all. Sam Kerr will be the goalscorer most are familiar with but she’ll be protected in the back by Ellie Carpenter - a defender that combines incredible speed and stamina, but Kerr will be playing alongside one of the game’s greatest young talents: 20 year old Mary Fowler.
After receiving her first cap for Australia as a 15 year old, Fowler has gone on to score 10 goals in 37 caps.
Fowler exhibits a reassuring ease in controlling the ball, delivering shots with either foot, and making her mark with headers. Comfortably fitting into the role of a pure No 9, she can also tactically shift deeper to complement the style of a striker like Sam Kerr. Her knack for the perfect timing, whether for a late arrival or finding pockets of space around the box's periphery for mid-range shots, has proven fruitful at both youth and senior stages.
Her keen awareness and vision in confined spaces allow her to masterfully manoeuvre away from centre-backs, either to extricate herself from challenging situations or to set up team-mates for goal opportunities.
Even within a team brimming with attacking prowess, Fowler's contribution to Australia is noteworthy. Her collaborative work with Kerr and her individual goal-scoring proficiency add a significant edge to the team, allowing them to rapidly capitalize when pushing opponents to their limits.
A testament to this dynamic partnership is a goal scored in 2022 against Sweden. Here, Australia executed a rapid transition from their defensive area to the attacking third in a swift two-pass movement, facilitated by Katrina Gorry's exceptional distribution.
Kerr exploits the available space, drawing defenders along and constantly checking over her shoulder for Fowler’s supporting run. As Sweden scrambled to regain their defensive structure, Fowler was able to make a late entry at the box's edge, control the ball, and, with a minor assist from a defender's deflection, register a goal to her name.
USWNT good or bad for the game?
The persistent narrative of the global football community 'closing the gap' on the Americans has, for better or worse, always been part of the conversation. Following the USWNT's triumphant home soil victory in 1999, subsequent World Cups seemed to provide some validity to these claims as the US suffered consecutive semi-final losses in 2003 and 2007, suggesting their era of dominance was waning. However, their recent performance, with appearances in three consecutive finals and securing two consecutive titles, has dramatically shifted the narrative.
This period could arguably be considered the golden age of the USWNT. As they approach 2023, the pertinent question is whether they can navigate a generational transition while holding their position at the summit of the football world. Long-standing pillars of the team, Tobin Heath, Becky Sauerbrunn, Carli Lloyd, and Christen Press, who participated in the 2019 tournament, are missing from the 2023 roster. Megan Rapinoe is set to play her final World Cup, having announced her retirement at the conclusion of the 2023 NWSL season. Among the 23 players selected for the 2023 squad, nine have previous World Cup exposure, a figure that increases to 11 if we account for Olympic experience.
So, we're asking if it's good or bad for women's soccer if the USWNT team wins the World Cup for the third time in a row, right? Well, there's two ways to look at it.
On one hand, it's amazing. The USWNT shows how powerful a women's soccer team can be if you put time, money, and hard work into it. Their success tells a great story that can motivate other teams all around the world to push for the same. It can even help convince people to put more money and support into women's soccer globally.
On the flip side, there's a bit of a downside. If the USWNT keeps winning all the time, it might feel like no one else can ever catch up. This might put a bit of a damper on things and make other countries less excited to put effort into their own teams. After all, who wants to play if they feel like they can't win?
Ideally, we'd have lots of different teams winning the World Cup. This would show that it's anyone's game, which would make the tournaments more exciting and encourage more countries to get involved in women's soccer.
So, is the USWNT winning again good or bad? Depends on how you look at it. What's clear though is that we want to see women's soccer grow and get the attention it deserves, no matter who's winning the World Cup.
I think victory for the US will be a good thing to ensure those in Europe keep improving, setting records to beat and mantles to topple keeps football progressing so that's good. Likewise should another country win, team US will then have to find away as notably the rest of the world catches on. There's an old saying 'football is the winner' so either way this comp will 'keep' focus on the fastly improving global women's game.