The Women's World Cup is now upon us, and like every major sporting tournament, especially Cup competitions, it presents a stage for players to boost their recognition and make a name for themselves. From World Cups, both men and women, to Olympic tournaments, these tournaments all have stories around players stepping up and propelling their country to success.
See also: Who will break out at the 2015 WWC? Groups A-C
While it would be useful to run through each team and point out who their most important players are, what might be a more useful exercise is identifying players who are in a position this year to emerge as stars for their country and do so during this World Cup.
The likes of Christine Sinclair, Abby Wambach, Marta, Lotta Schelin, Simone Laudehr are all well known through the media and to those who follow the women's game, even casually. With a huge audience watching this year's World Cup, both live and on television, there will be names made and remembered for years and decades to come.
With this in mind, below is Prospect Eleven's run down of Groups D-F and the players who are in a position to break out as stars for their national team.
Group D
Morgan Brian
M - United States
DOB: 02-26-1993
As one of the most highly touted prospects within the star-studded US program, Brian was the overall selection by the expansion franchise Houston Dash coming out of University of Virginia. At Virginia, she played in 23 of the team's 24 matches as a freshman in 2011, starting in 22 of those matches, scoring 11 goals and providing 8 assists. She started 13 of 15 matches in her sophomore year in 2012, missing games due representing the US in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup where they won it all. She finished that season with 8 goals and 4 assists, going on to win numerous individual awards including First Team All-ACC and ACC Tournament MVP. As a junior, Brian started 25 games and led the ACC in scoring with 46 points on 16 goals and a league-high 14 assists.
Her play led the team to the national championship, where she was named 2013 Hermann Trophy winner. She repeated the individual honour in 2014, taking home back-to-back Hermann Trophy’s in her senior season. The feat put Brian in elite company, becoming the fifth player to do so and cementing herself alongside players like Mia Hamm and Christine Sinclair.
Internationally, she made her senior debut in a friendly against South Korea and later on that year scored her first senior international goal in a match against Mexico. This is a stacked US national team that has a bitter taste in its mouth after losing Japan on penalty kicks in the 2011 tournament, however having gone under a coaching transition it will be interesting to see how the squad gets rotated. Brian is a player that has proven she can make an impact off the bench and is becoming more accustomed to being a professional, how she fairs on the world stage will be something to watch.
Courtney Dike
F - Nigeria
DOB: 02-05-1995
Nigeria have been by far the most successful African team in Women’s Soccer with players such Onome Ebi and Perpetua Nkwocha. Although there is also some exciting young players that are part of the program including Desire Oparanozie, Asisat Oshoala and Courtney Dike who were part of the U20 team that surprised many and made the final of the 2014 U20 Women’s World Cup last summer.
Oshoala is a prospect who is currently playing in Liverpool, although maybe the most interesting player is Courtney Dike, who grew up playing youth soccer in Oklahoma, is the sister of Bright Dike and currently plays with Oklahoma State in NCAA Division 1. As a freshman, Courtney scored 13 goals and added four assists, while in her past season as a sophomore she didn’t have the same success with only three goals and three assists, but she did manage 21 shots on target in 19 games.
Like her brother, Courtney is a hard player to defend due to her size, strength and speed. She also plays fearlessly, willing to charge a keeper and dive for header, anything she can to put the ball in the net. She is not as fast or technically gifted as some of her teammates, although the pressure she puts on defense gives players like Oshola more room. Nigeria are in a tough group, but will also be a tough team to play and like U20 tournament could surprise a few of the more favored teams.
Kosovare Asllani
M - Sweden
DOB: 07-29-1989
Sweden-born from Kosovo parents, as a young girl was establishing herself as a football prodigy for her soccer technique and fitness. She also scored a large amount goals before signing to Linkopings FC in the top Division in Sweden and had 12 goals in her first 22 games, playing mostly as a forward and the league championship in 2009.
She joined Chicago Red Stars of the WPS in 2010 playing in 13 games and scoring two goals before returning to Linkoping playing more of a midfield role, although was injured and missed the second half of the season. She then joined Kristianstad before being signed by Paris St-Germain for a transfer fee. She has played with Paris St Germain since 2012 scoring 37 goals in 53 games, splitting time from the wing and up front.
Asllani has represented the Swedish National Team since 2008. She’s played in the 2009 Women’s Euro and 2012 London Olympics, but wasn’t picked for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World which drew criticism from people in the game. The natural comparison is with Zlatan Ibrahimovic because of her Balkan background and playing for Sweden and she is a useful striker. However, her best role seems to be on the wing or in the midfield based on her ball control and speed but she is able to score goals including taking shots from distance.
Samantha Kerr
M - Australia
DOB: 09-10-1993
Sister of a well known Australian Rules Football player Daniel Kerr, Samantha burst on the scene of Australian Women soccer making her debut with the Perth Glory at 16 and winning goal of the year with a long range strike. She made her debut with the Australian National Women's Team in 2009 and played in the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup.
After three years with Perth she moved to Sydney FC where she scored nine goals in 12 games in her first W-league season with the Blues. Samatha made herself available for the NWSL and was signed by the Western New York Flash for the 2013-2014 season. Kerr scored six goals in 21 games as Western NY lost in the NWSL final and scored nine goals in 20 games during the 2014 season before being traded to Sky Blue at the end of the 2014 season for a first round pick.
Kerr has played 36 games with the Matildas and scoring seven goals and plays a winger role on the left setting up strikers Heyman, De Vanna, and Gill while potentially scoring herself. Still 21 years of age she looks to be a key player for Australia for many years to come.
GROUP E
Shirley Trana
M - Costa Rica
DOB: 08-28-1985
Becoming a pioneer for Costa Rican women’s soccer, Trana became only the second women to play soccer outside of Costa Rica after her move to French powerhouse Olympique Lyon in January 2006. In her six seasons with the club, she won six league titles, two domestic cups and two UEFA Champions league trophies. In 2012, Trana moved to rivals Paris Saint-Germain, where they finished as runners up in the 2013-14 French Cup.
Internationally, the Costa Rican midfielder first played for the senior side in the 2002 CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup. A knee injury in 2004 forced Trana into a two year layoff, returning to play in the 2006 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Her veteran experience and championship pedigree in the club game, playing with and against some of the world best, will surely give Costa Rica a much needed boost in a group that features South American power Brazil. She is by far the talismanic leader within the national team, a team that will be making its first ever appearance at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Victoria Losada
M - Spain
DOB: 03-05-1991
Victoria, known as Vicky in Spain, started her Soccer career with FC Barcelona as a 15 year old. The club had recently joined the much more famous Men’s side and were relegated in Vicky's first season of 2006-2007, although the club was quickly promoted and she became a key player winning the 2011-12, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 league championship and three Copa de la Reina.
She was also a regular for the Spanish National Team, although the country had a limited schedule until making it to the 2013 Euros where Spain made it to the Quarter-Finals. To improve the competition she joined NWSL team Western New York Flash with two other Spaniards, and she became a key player in the midfield playing 23 games and scoring three goals. She return to Barcelona for the Women’s UEFA Champions League before signing with Arsenal LFC in England.
Vicky plays in the Central Midfield as both a holding midfielder who is willing to tackle and as a player who can join the offense, send in through balls, set up plays and if the opportunity presents itself score goals. She has very good feet and not afraid to dribble and add a technical trick to make space. She can be over aggressive which is not generally seen in the Women’s game which can lead to issues if the referee is whistle happy but overall a great example of a modern day women player developing within the European league system.
Andressa
M - Brazil
DOB: 11-10-1992
In the shadow of the great Brazilian players such as Marta and Cristiane, Andressa has made a name for herself in the Brazilian league with San Jose, representing Brazil including twice at the FIFA U-20 World Cup and recently signed with Boston in the NWSL. In Brazil she won multiple tournaments with her club and was known as best player in the Brazil league and Copa Libertadores
Known for being a speedy winger/fullback who can play either on the left and right side who also has great technical skills and ease on the ball. She’s scored international senior goals against Denmark, China and Sweden twice and also scored three goals in the 2014 Copa America Femenia helping Brazil win the tournament and qualifying for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
Ji So-Yun
M - South Korea
DOB: 02-21-1991
A member of the South Korean National Team since 2006, Ji is the youngest goal scorer in South Korea history scoring a goal for them at 15 years of age. Although she started making a name for herself during the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup scoring eight goals and helping South Korea finish a surprise third-place with Ji winning the award for second best player in the tournament. The 2015 World Cup will be Ji’s first and South Korea have failed to qualify since 2003.
Ji didn’t start her professional until 2011 signing with INAC Kobe in the Indonesian league and playing 48 games with them scoring 21 goals and winning two titles and winning the 2013 Asian Women Footballer of the Year. In 2014 she signed with Chelsea LFC where coach Emma Hayes said “She is one of the best midfielders in the world”. Chelsea lost out on the FA WSL championship on the final day of the season, although Ji won FA-WSL player of the year award. Ji plays a typical attacking midfield role quarterbacking most of South Korea play and can also score goals from a number of ways including via free-kicks.
GROUP F
Arianna Romero
D - Mexico
DOB: 07-29-1992
Born in the United States in Glendale, Arizona, Arianna chose to represent Mexico’s U-20 national football team in 2012 and since has been starting in defense at either center back or fullback for the Mexican National Team, responsible for buildup play and managing the back line. Romero was a soccer prospect in High School and joined Nebraska in NCAA Division One on scholarship.
Romero played 77 games with Nebraska and was named to the NSCAA All-America second team and Big Ten defender of the year as a senior. She was picked in the 2014 NWSL expansion draft by the Houston Dash in the NWSL and played and started 21 games only missing games on international duty. She was traded to the Washington Spirit for the 2015 season.
Eugenie Le Sommer
AM - France
DOB: 04-18–1989
As one of the more decorated players within French football, Le Sommer has won five French league titles, three French Cups and two UEFA Champions league crowns. The clinical finisher hasn’t had a season where she’s scored less than 15 goals and is coming off her best season yet, leading Lyon with 28 goals in 21 games this past season on her way to helping secure the title. She has been equally impressive internationally, debuting for Les Bleues in 2009 and helping the team secure a Cyprus Cup in 2012.
Looking to improve on their fourth place finish in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Le Sommer is part of one of the more lethal attacking units in the tournament, alongside teammates Marie-Laure Delie, Gaëtane Thiney, Élodie Thomis and Louisa Nécib. Along with her goal scoring exploits, the stronger frame and quality ball control makes her a nightmare for defenders to take up good positions and defend her 1v1.
Jodie Taylor
F - England
DOB: 04-17–1986
A career that has spanned between England, Australia, Sweden and the US, Taylor has proven herself as a talented goal scorer as she has progressed through her career. The native of Birkenhead, England has scored double-digit goals in her last three seasons, scoring 10 goals in 10 games on loan with Goteborg in Sweden, 11 goals in 12 games for Sydney FC in Australia and 11 goals in 22 games last season for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
Her goals ratio has seen her have some time within the England squad recently, scoring a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Australia in the Cyprus Cup. She joins an England squad that went a perfect 10 for 10 in qualifying for the 2015 Women’s World Cup, a team that looks to be on a mission to surpass the quarterfinal stage where they’ve exited on its three previous occasions in 1995, 2007 and 2011.
Yoreli Rincon
M - Colombia
DOB: 07-27-1993
Rincon made her debut in Colombian football at only 12-years-old with Tolima, winning the title in 2007. It was known early that Rincon would be a special player when she decided against the collegiate game to pursue a professional career, ultimately passing on a joining the University of Indiana. The Colombian playmaker signed a contract at 18-years-old with Brazilian club XV de Piracicaba after starting in the 2010 U-20 Women’s World Cup as a mere 17-year-old, showing enough technical skill, speed and agility to be dubbed “the next Marta”. The impact on the youth national teams translated to senior level, scoring five goals in the 2010 South American Women’s Championship to help guide the country to its first Women’s World Cup Appearance in 2011.
After her time in Brazil, Rincon signed with Malmo in the Swedish Damallsvenskan. In her season with the club, she was part of a championship side before being released due to economic reasons. Rincon was invited to training camp with the Western New York Flash of the NWSL before ultimately joining the New Jersey Wildcats of the W-League. The experience she has gained in Colombia, Brazil, Sweden, USA and now Italy should serve the Colombian national team very well in the Women’s World Cup, she has shown flashes of brilliance and has a strong right foot.
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