Twelve nations are on the point of compete within the girls’s soccer match on the 2024 Olympics in Paris, with Canada stepping into as reigning champions from three years in the past.
The group stage begins on 25 July, with the gold medal match scheduled simply over two weeks afterward 10 August, making it extra intense than most main worldwide competitions.
France will likely be internet hosting a few of the greatest gamers on the earth, and 90min has hand picked the highest 5 to look at from the Barclays Girls’s Tremendous League…
WSL membership: Man Utd
Full-back Jayde Riviere signed her first skilled contract when she joined Manchester United in January 2023.
However the 23-year-old has already tasted success on the Olympics, after being a part of Canada’s gold medal-winning squad in 2021. She’s additionally represented her nation at two completely different FIFA World Cups.
Nevertheless, Riviere struggled with a string of minor accidents for a lot of early 2024, ruling her out of the CONCACAF W Gold Cup in February. However, having returned to health at membership degree, Riviere obtained the decision for the Olympics.
Regardless of a stop-start few months at United, she shouldn’t be underestimated. At full health, Riviere is a drive to be reckoned with, and can little doubt be essential as Canada goal to defend their title.
WSL membership: Arsenal
Arsenal confirmed the arrival of Mariona Caldentey earlier this summer season, after she had spent the earlier years at Barcelona.
Caldentey has a capability to play as a ahead and an attacking midfielder, which means she is a persistent menace for any opponent. The 28-year-old has an immense means to interrupt down any backline, and with 114 targets beneath her belt for the Catalan facet, it is nearly a provided that she’ll hit the again of the web representing Spain on this match.
This would be the first time that Arsenal followers will actually get their eyes on the brand new signing, who’s going to be carrying pink and white subsequent season within the WSL. Spain are going to be hungry for extra success after being topped champions of the World Cup final summer season in Australia.
WSL membership: Chelsea
Ahead Sandy Baltimore has been hailed as one of many most enjoyable signings of the summer season switch window within the WSL, having joined Chelsea on a long-term contract after leaving Paris-Saint Germain.
The 24-year-old has spent most of her profession on the French membership, making her first-team debut at simply 15, and went on to make greater than 150 appearances throughout all competitions.
Baltimore already has loads of worldwide expertise beneath her belt too, taking part in 28 occasions for France. There isn’t any doubt that she will likely be keen to make use of the Olympics as her alternative to make a press release to her nation, in addition to Chelsea, that she is a fierce competitor.
WSL membership: Man Metropolis
Mary Fowler predominantly performs as a ahead however is flexible and might transfer again into midfield when required.
The Australian penned a take care of Manchester Metropolis in 2022, after leaving French membership Montpellier, the place she spent most of her youth. Though she spent so much her first season on the bench, she was nominated for the Greatest FIFA Girls’s Participant the next yr after a vastly spectacular World Cup on house soild, and later obtained extra sport time at membership lebel.
This summer season marks Fowler’s second time on the Olympics and she or he already has over 50 worldwide caps for the Matildas, regardless of being solely 21-years-old. After extra expertise within the WSL, and on a world stage, Fowler is ready to be a staple function for the Matidas in France.
WSL membership: Chelsea
Chelsea responded to Sam Kerr’s ACL damage in January by spending huge on Mayra Ramirez, who went on to attain 5 occasions for the Blues earlier than the season was out – together with twice within the remaining day demolition of Manchester United.
When she first joined Chelsea, the striker had made 30 appearances for Colombia, and was pivotal in serving to them to succeed in the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, the place they have been crushed by runners-up England.
Ramirez has been praised for her tenacity, energy and willingness to do no matter it takes to win, one thing that Colombia will likely be reassured to know they have going into the Olympics.
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