Women’s World Cup 2023 Group C: Fixtures, results, standings, squads & full details

IBIZA, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Teresa Abelleira of Spain celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the Women's International friendly match between Spain and China at Palladium Can Misses on April 11, 2023 in Ibiza, Spain. (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
IBIZA, SPAIN - APRIL 11: Teresa Abelleira of Spain celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the Women's International friendly match between Spain and China at Palladium Can Misses on April 11, 2023 in Ibiza, Spain. (Photo by Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Group C in the Women’s World Cup features one of the tournament’s favorites, and an Asian side that has the ability to challenge the best of the best. 

Controversial Jorge Vilda is the leader of Spain, a nation who is yet to make it out of the round of 16 in any World Cup. After the Spanish were knocked out of the European Championship by England in the quarterfinals, many of the players on that team felt that a change at the top was needed. Fifteen individuals back in September made public statements that they do not wish to be picked for the national team going forward if Vilda were to be in charge.

The Spanish responded like most federations do to their women’s teams, going after them. Some players who revolted have accepted a World Cup call-in while others have been left off the side. Barcelona’s Mapi Leon, and Patri Guijarro missed out among others, leaving a massive hole in the team.

Japan, one of the two Top 11 sides in this group aim to return to where it was in 2011. A 90th-minute penalty by Lieke Martens propelled the Netherlands past the Japanese in the round of 16 in the previous tournament back in 2019. With a new coach in Futoshi Ikeda, and nine players under the age of 24, the Asian side is one to watch out for.

Zambia, another club in the midst of a disappointing off the field dispute will be the first landlocked country in Africa to punch a spot in a senior World Cup. First reported by the Guardian, Bruce Mwape has been accused of sexual misconduct. Rumors of misconduct among individuals in the Football Association of Zambia were raised last year, and have been brought up at the most inconvenient of times. Even with that, Zambia miraculously defeated Germany in a World Cup warm up 3-2 in Europe. Barbra Banda scored the winner in stoppage time.

With a fourth place finish in the CONCACAF W-Championship last summer, the Costa Rican women’s national team punched its ticket to its first World Cup since 2015. Las Ticas have yet to win a game on the world stage, and similar to the debutants, this side will feel like it has something to prove.

Women’s World Cup 2023 Group C squads:

Spain

Manager: Jorge Vilda

FIFA World Ranking: 7

Goalkeepers: Misa Rodríguez, Catalina Coll, Enith Salon

Defenders: Ona Batlle, Olga Carmona, Oihane Hernandez, Rocio Galvez, Laia Codina, Ivana Andres, Irene Paredes

Midfielders: Teresa Abelleira, Aitana Bonmatí, Irene Guerrero, Jennifer Hermoso, Alexia Putellas, María Pérez, Claudia Zornoza

Forwards: Mariona Caldentey, Athenea del Castillo, Salma Paralluelo, Alba Redondo, Eva Navarro, Esther González

Costa Rica

Manager: Amelia Valverde

FIFA World Ranking: 36

Goalkeepers: Daniela Solera, Génesis Pérez, Priscilla Tapia

Defenders: Gabriela Guillén, María Paula Elizondo, Carol Sánchez, María Coto, Valeria del Campo, Fabiola Villalobos, Mariana Benavides

Midfielders: Katherine Alvarado, Melissa Herrera, Priscila Chinchilla, Gloriana Villalobos, Emilie Valenciano, Mariela Campos, Cristín Granados, Raquel Rodríguez, Alexandra Pinell, Sheika Scott

Forwards: Catalina Estrada, María Paula Salas, Sofía Varela

Zambia

Manager: Bruce Mwape

FIFA World Ranking: 77

Goalkeepers: Hazel Nali, Catherine Musonda, Eunice Sakala

Defenders: Esther Banda, Margaret Belemu, Mary Mulenga, Agness Musesa, Lushomo Mweemba, Judith Soko, Vast Phiri, Martha Tembo

Midfielders: Hellen Mubanga, Mary Wilombe, Ireen Lungu, Evarine Katongo, Avell Chitundu, Hellen Chanda, Susan Banda

Forwards: Xiomara Mapepa, Ochumba Lubandji, Grace Chanda, Racheal Kundananji, Barbra Banda

Japan

Manager: Futoshi Ikeda

FIFA World Ranking: 11

Goalkeepers: Momoko Tanaka, Ayaka Yamashita, Chika Hirao

Defenders: Kiko Seike, Saki Kumagai, Risa Shimizu, Rion Ishikawa, Moeka Minami, Shiori Miyake, Miyabi Moriya

Midfielders: Jun Endo, Yui Hasegawa, Fuka Nagano, Hana Takahashi, Hinata Miyazawa, Hikaru Naomoto, Hina Sugita, Honoka Hayashi, Aoba Fujino

Forwards: Maika Hamano, Remina Chiba, Riko Ueki, Mina Tanaka

https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC/status/1677905418314457090?s=20

Women’s World Cup 2023 Group C fixtures:

Matchday One:

Spain vs. Costa Rica

Match info: July 21, 2023, 3:30 am EST, Wellington Regional Stadium

Zambia vs. Japan

Match info: July 22, 2023, 3:00 am EST, Waikato Stadium

Matchday Two:

Japan vs. Costa Rica

Match info: July 26, 2023, 1:00 am EST, Dunedin Stadium

Spain vs. Zambia

Match info: July 26, 2023, 3:30 am EST, Eden Park

Matchday Three:

Japan vs. Spain

Match info: July 31, 2023, 3:00 am EST, Wellington Regional Stadium

Costa Rica vs. Zambia

Match info: July 31, 2023, 3:00 am EST, Waikato Stadium

Women’s World Cup 2023 Standings prediction for Group C:  

1. Spain – 7 points

2. Japan – 7 points

3. Costa Rica – 1 points

4. Zambia – 1 points

The Group C winner will play the Group A runners-up while the Group C runners-up will match up against the Group A winner in the knockout stages. (Group A: Norway, New Zealand, Philippines, Switzerland).

Next. 5 Women's World Cup favorites to win it all. dark