Women's World Cup 2015: Key Matches and Top Players from Group-Stage Schedule
The group stage of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup provides three particularly intriguing matches. Clashes involving the United States, hosts Canada and a talented Brazil team look like key early matches.
They'll also provide a platform for top players such as USA striker Abby Wambach and Brazil's Marta to showcase their considerable talents.
Here's what the schedule looks like for the group stage, per FIFA.com.
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| Date | Fixture | Group | Time (ET/BST) | TV | Live Stream |
| Saturday, 6 June | Canada vs. China | A | 6 p.m./11 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Three | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday, 6 June | New Zealand vs. Netherlands | A | 9 p.m./2 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday, June 7 | Norway vs. Thailand | B | 1 p.m./6 p.m. | FOX, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Sunday, June 7 | Germany vs. Ivory Coast | B | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX, BBC Three | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 8 | Sweden vs. Nigeria | D | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX, BBC Red Button (second half) | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 8 | Cameroon vs. Ecuador | C | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 8 | USA vs. Australia | D | 7:30 p.m./12:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Two | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 8 | Japan vs. Switzerland | C | 10 p.m./3 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 9 | France vs. England | F | 1 p.m./6 p.m. | FOX, BBC Two | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 9 | Colombia vs. Mexico | F | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX, BBC Red Button (second half) | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 9 | Spain vs. Costa Rica | E | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Connected TV | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 9 | Brazil vs. Korea Republic | E | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday, June 11 | Germany vs. Norway | B | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Three | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday, June 11 | China vs. Netherlands | A | 6 p.m./11 p.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday, June 11 | Ivory Coast vs. Thailand | B | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button (second half) | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Thursday, June 11 | Canada vs. New Zealand | A | 9 p.m./2 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Friday, June 12 | Australia vs. Nigeria | D | 5 p.m./10 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Friday, June 12 | Switzerland vs. Ecuador | C | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Friday, June 12 | USA vs. Sweden | D | 8 p.m./1 a.m. | FOX, BBC Two | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Friday, June 12 | Japan vs. Cameroon | C | 10 p.m./3 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday, June 13 | France vs. Colombia | F | 1 p.m./6 p.m. | FOX, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday, June 13 | England vs. Mexico | F | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX, BBC Three | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday, June 13 | Brazil vs. Spain | E | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Saturday, June 13 | Korea Republic vs. Costa Rica | E | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 15 | Thailand vs. Germany | B | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 15 | Ivory Coast vs. Norway | B | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Connected TV | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 15 | Netherlands vs. Canada | A | 7:30 p.m./12:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Two | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Monday, June 15 | China vs. New Zealand | A | 7:30 p.m./12:30 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Ecuador vs. Japan | C | 5 p.m./10 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Three | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Switzerland vs. Cameroon | C | 5 p.m./10 p.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Nigeria vs. USA | D | 8 p.m./1 a.m. | FOX, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Tuesday, June 16 | Australia vs. Sweden | D | 8 p.m./1 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Connected TV | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday, June 17 | England vs. Colombia | F | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX, BBC Three | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday, June 17 | Mexico vs. France | F | 4 p.m./9 p.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday, June 17 | Costa Rica vs. Brazil | E | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 1, BBC Red Button | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
| Wednesday, June 17 | Korea Republic vs. Spain | E | 7 p.m./12 a.m. | FOX Sports 2, BBC Connected TV | BBC iPlayer, FOX Soccer 2 Go, FOX SportsGO |
Sports Illustrated, BBC Sport
Top Players
Jordan Nobbs, Midfielder, England
Jordan Nobbs is one of the brightest young stars at this tournament. She's a highly gifted playmaker who can work wonders between the lines and unlock defences with clever through passes.
Former England international Sue Smith praised the 22-year-old's ability in possession, per BBC Sport: "Jordan is someone who's come into her own over the past year. She's always had potential but now she's starting to live up to it. Good with the ball at her feet and can make things happen."
Nobbs will act as the main provider for a forward line that includes Arsenal team-mate Lianne Sanderson.
Abby Wambach, Striker, USA
Despite her age, 35-year-old Wambach is still pivotal to USA's hopes of finally realising their potential at this tournament. A towering presence up front, Wambach is a major aerial threat.
As she's gotten older, Wambach has become a natural link player. Her flicks and knockdowns in and around the box often release those around her.
Wambach's combination with Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan will determine how far USA goes in this tournament. Wambach is already calling on her team-mates to improve for the matches in Canada.
After a goalless draw with South Korea in their final warm-up match, Wambach stressed the need for the U.S. to be bold, per USA Today's Martin Rogers: "We need to be a team that has no fear. We need to go out there and fly at other teams—that's a team that I think is unbeatable. If we don't...that's a team that I don't know if it gets out of our group."
With this veteran leading the line, playing without fear shouldn't be a problem.
Marta, Forward, Brazil
Classic No. 10 Marta is still the best player in women's football. However, the Brazil star is also still waiting to lift her first World Cup trophy.
The 29-year-old will add her usual flair and scoring touch to a team already amply blessed with attacking talent. Striker Cristiane may find herself receiving plenty of Marta's passes. It's a combination that has to make Brazil one of the favourites.
Nadine Angerer, Goalkeeper, Germany
Germany are the top-ranked women's team in the world, and Nadine Angerer is a major reason why. A formidable and commanding stopper, she's in the mold of modern goalkeepers produced by her country.
That means the 36-year-old isn't afraid to come off the line or play with the ball at her feet. The most capped female player in Germany's history won the Ballon d'Or in 2014 after a string of exceptional big-match performances, per the Independent's James Stronach.
The loss of Nadine Kessler, per Los Angeles Times writer Kevin Baxter, is a blow to the Germans. But if Angerer is in a typically miserly mood at the back, they'll still be the team to beat.
Louisa Necib, Midfielder, France
Louisa Necib enters this tournament with an illustrious reputation. ESPNW.com's Graham Hays describes her as a "gifted player on the left or drifting centrally [who] is considered by some to be the best midfielder in the world."
Necib's wandering movement and general free role makes her the fluid X-factor in a team solid at the back and talented up front. Central defender Wendie Renard and prolific striker Gaetane Thiney are the respective anchor and apex of a dominating spine.
But it will be Necib's vision and classy distribution that will really decide how this talented squad performs.
With so many quality players participating, competition at this World Cup should be more intense than it has been in years. Choosing a winner is no easy task when compelling arguments can be made for at least four nations, with heavyweights Germany, France and Brazil all looking ominously strong.
