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Women’s World Cup 2019 Team of the Tournament

By Kevin Parvizi

PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 28: Kadidiatou DIani of France in action during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 28: Kadidiatou DIani of France in action during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 28: Amel Majri of France in action during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 28: Amel Majri of France in action during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France Quarter Final match between France and USA at Parc des Princes on June 28, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images) /

LB Amel Majri, France

It feels wrong leaving Crystal Dunn off of the proverbial “first team”, but Amel Majri gets the nod for her attacking prowess. While Dunn was undeniably the best defensive left back in this year’s tournament, her end product (zero goals or assists) just wasn’t on Majri’s level. It’s important to note that the United States needed Dunn to defend more, given their strengths in attack.

Majri is the best left back in the world right now, because she fits the mold perfectly. Nowadays, left backs have to be more attacking-minded than ever, and the understanding Majri shares with veteran left winger Eugenie Le Sommer is downright telepathic.

As an attacking left back, Majri’s positioning is perfect, and she never cedes her defensive duties either. Despite going head-to-head against some of the best right wingers in the world, Majri could never be singled out as shirking on her defense.

Her statistics as a passer were quite remarkable, too. Majri never put in fewer than nine crosses in a single game during this year’s World Cup, and she even sent in 12 crosses, including the winning assist in extra time off of a perfect indirect free kick, in an MVP-level performance against Brazil.

Few players are as fun to watch as Majri, whose dribbling ability and intelligent passing make her the standard at a position she, like Dunn, didn’t originally play.

Honorable Mentions: Crystal Dunn (US), Allysha Chapman (Canada)

CB Abby Dahlkemper, United States

Yet another North Carolina Courage star who stood out at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, Abby Dahlkemper was the stalwart of an elite United States defense. She rarely made any mistakes, providing excellent cover while doing her usual work to support her team’s vaunted attack. Nobody – not even Wendie Renard or Steph Houghton – is better at launching an inch-perfect, defense-splitting long ball.

Several dangerous chances were set up by one of these passes from Dahlkemper, including the winning penalty against Spain. There’s a case to be made that a defender like Dunn, Dahlkemper, or Julie Ertz was the champion’s unsung hero, and Dahlkemper solidified herself as a world-class center back this year.

CB Sara Gama, Italy

There are so many excellent players on Italy who won’t feature on this list, such as Aurora Galli or Barbara Bonansea. But Italy had a number of stars who helped this team earn a trip to the quarterfinals, and nobody shined brighter than Sara Gama. Italy had one of the most cohesive defenses in the tournament, and most of that credit goes to Gama’s leadership.

She was a rock at the back, intelligently cutting out and clearing danger before it could develop. Gama is one of the world’s best markers, and the Juventus standout deserves more praise for her play. There’s a chance she’s the best player at her position.

Honorable Mentions: Nilla Fischer (Sweden), Mapi Leon (Spain), Griedge Mbock Bathy (France), Maren Mjelde (Norway), Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada), Steph Houghton (England)

RB Lucy Bronze, England

Was there ever any doubt that Lucy Bronze would be the starting right back in the “Team of the Tournament”? She is the consensus best player at the position, and while, sorry Phil Neville, she isn’t the best player in the world, she isn’t too far off. Bronze makes everything look so effortless at right back, and she is also a world-class midfielder when her positional responsibilities are shifted.

As her wondergoal against Norway showed, Bronze’s technical ability is impeccable, and it is only surpassed by her leadership in defense. Neville would often task Bronze with carrying the ball out of the back against top teams like the United States, and, more often than not, Bronze would have the beating of the high-press. Her chemistry with right winger Nikita Parris was quite the sight to behold.

Honorable Mentions: Kelley O’Hara (US), Ashley Lawrence (Canada), Desiree van Lunteren (Netherlands), Marion Torrent (France), Marta Corredera (Spain), Hanna Glas (Sweden)