da cassino： As the tournament's knockout stages prepare to begin, GOAL picks out the winners and losers from a group phase full of surprises
da casino： Shocks, drama, firsts – the 2023 Women's World Cup group stages had it all and, to make it all the more exciting, it feels like we are still nowhere near knowing who is going to lift the trophy in Sydney on August 20. Several favourites have underwhelmed, some have even crashed out, while the underdog stories have continued to unfold.
It means that we're set for a thrilling set of knockout fixtures, with some giants of the game meeting much earlier than expected for what are set to be mouth-watering encounters with plenty at stake.
But before we look ahead to what is set to be a thrilling set of knockout fixtures, GOAL picks out the winners and losers from the group stages…
GettyLOSER: Vlatko Andonovski
The United States women's national team has never recorded a lower points tally in the group stages of a Women's World Cup than it did this year, raising serious questions of head coach Vlatko Andonovski. His starting line-ups and substitutions have been criticised throughout the group stages, and without the results to back the decisions up, that noise has only grown louder and louder.
A much tougher path has now emerged through the knockout stages for the USWNT, starting with a Sweden side in the last 16 that has real pedigree on the big stage and emerged 3-0 victors when the two teams met at the Olympics two years ago. The pressure, and the scrutiny, is about to get even bigger.
AdvertisementGettyWINNER: Lauren James
The star of the tournament so far, Lauren James had to wait patiently for her chance to shine at a major tournament. After coming to the fore with Manchester United in England's second-tier as a 16-year-old, many would've expected her to have been starring for her country sooner rather than later.
But a couple of years of niggling injuries meant she didn't make her Lionesses debut until she was 20 – and she's spent the last 12 months making up for lost time. While taking her game to the next level at Chelsea, she's translated that form onto the international stage to stake a real claim for a starting role at this World Cup.
After not starting England's first game, James came into the line-up for the clash with Denmark and proved to be the match-winner – but it was the third outing that she really made her mark on this tournament. The Lionesses ran out 6-1 winners against China, with James directly involved in five of the goals – her two goals truly exceptional. She's been the player of the group stages, no doubt.
Getty ImagesLOSER: Germany
The biggest shock in the history of the Women's World Cup. That's what Germany's group-stage exit was. Facing a South Korea side in their final match that were all-but-mathematically out, the two-time champions were caught cold from kick-off and then looked incredibly lost for ideas as they tried to get the win they needed to progress.
Defeat to Colombia in their second match was shocking, but they were still in control of their destiny. It was incredible that they failed to get the job done. Instead, the South American side progressed in top spot and debutantes Morocco, who lost 6-0 to Germany in their first game, also went through.
Big questions will now be asked of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, who renewed her contract just a few months ago to run until 2025. There were injury absences, sure, but this squad was still a very strong one and it's certainly fair to question whether the system Germany set up in best masked their lack of defensive depth.
That analysis is now for Voss-Tecklenburg, her staff, her players and the German Football Association, as they ponder what on earth to do after this stunning elimination.
GettyWINNER: Japan
Have Japan been the most impressive team of the group stage? It's hard to argue otherwise. Futoshi Ikeda has got his team set up in a 3-5-2 formation (sound familiar?) that is getting the best out of his players, particularly Jun Endo, the Angel City star who has thrived at left wing-back.
The Nadeshiko are dominating the ball and playing the attractive football that they have long been associated with, that which helped them become world champions in 2011 and reach the Women's World Cup final four years later. They're doing it all while being clinical and clever, too.
Going into the top-of-the-table decider with Spain, Ikeda knew his team wouldn't have the lion's share of possession against the creators of tiki-taka and opted to change his team and his tactics to catch them out in transition instead. It worked a treat, resulting in an incredible 4-0 victory that asserted them as a serious force in this tournament.