Women's World Cup 2015: Pivotal Factors to Decide Group E
Brazil has never won a FIFA Women's World Cup, but the Selecao's path to the knockout stage this summer appears smooth.
In Group E, Brazil will face two newcomers, Spain and Costa Rica, and a South Korea team that has previously made just one World Cup appearance. With the likes of Marta and Cristiane in the squad, and with an expanded field for this tournament in Canada, Brazil should be able to qualify for the knockout round with ease.
But once they reach that point, will the Brazilians experience a familiar fate against one of their old foes?
Keep reading for the pivotal factors in Women's World Cup Group E.
Group E at a Glance
1 of 5
Group E Match Schedule
All times listed are EDT. Match venues are in parentheses.
June 9
Spain vs. Costa Rica, 4 p.m. (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
Brazil vs. South Korea, 7 p.m. (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
June 13
Brazil vs. Spain, 4 p.m. (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
South Korea vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m. (Olympic Stadium, Montreal)
June 17
Costa Rica vs. Brazil, 7 p.m. (Moncton Stadium, Moncton)
South Korea vs. Spain, 7 p.m. (TD Place Stadium, Ottawa)
Group E Teams
Brazil
Qualified as: Copa America Femenina winners
Previous World Cups: Six
Best finish: Runners-up in 2007
FIFA rank: 7
Average age: 26
Formation: 4-2-3-1
South Korea
Qualified as: Fourth-place finishers at AFC Women's Asian Cup
Previous World Cups: 1
Best finish: Group stage in 2003
FIFA rank: 18
Average age: 25
Formation: 4-4-2
Spain
Qualified as: UEFA Group 2 winners
Previous World Cups: None
Best finish: N/A
FIFA rank: 14
Average age: 25
Formation:4-2-3-1
Costa Rica
Qualified as: CONCACAF Women's Championship runners-up
Previous World Cups: None
Best finish: N/A
FIFA rank: 37
Average age: 23
Formation: 4-4-2
Are Brazil More Than Just Marta?
2 of 5
Let's be realistic: Brazil will almost certainly win the group, and with four of the six third-placed teams advancing to the round of 16, progress is all but assured. That means the group stage could be a chance for Brazil to answer a few key questions.
Firstly, can Brazil finally break through against top teams such as Germany and the United States? Secondly, is this more than a one-woman team?
Only time will reveal the answer to the first question, but Brazil's performances in the group stage could be instructive. If the Selecao can dominate opponents, then the omens are good. If not, trouble could lie ahead.
As for the second question, any fan of the women's game knows where this is going.
Marta, Brazil's five-time FIFA World Player of the Year, is as important to her team as Neymar is to Brazil's men's squad. That's according to Brazil coach Vadao, relayed by Gol TV. The 29-year-old forward is, without question, the star of Group E, but even with her prodigious talents, Brazil has never won the Women's World Cup or taken gold at the Olympics.
Many factors have contributed to that, and Brazil did come close in 2007, losing to Germany in the World Cup final. But one key truth about Brazil is that most of the rest of the squad—apart from forward Cristiane (pictured) and midfielder Formiga—are not on Marta's level.
However, Brazil won the 2014 Copa America Femenina without Marta. Winning a continental championship without the team's biggest star will have boosted Brazil's confidence, but there's still the need to beat some of the world's top sides on the world's biggest stage. Unfortunately for Vadao's side, another showdown with the U.S. or Sweden—two of Brazil's old antagonists—likely awaits in the round of 16.
The group stage could be a stroll for the Selecao, but Marta and company will have to be at their best as soon as the knockout stage begins.
Can Spain Mount a Challenge to Brazil?
3 of 5
Spain are newcomers to the Women's World Cup, but La Roja did win the UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship in 2010 and 2011. That means this side has been building to this point, and after winning nine of their 10 games in qualifying, Spain could be ready to challenge Brazil for the top spot in the group.
However, Brazil's attacking players will certainly pose a greater threat than the likes of Romania, Estonia and Macedonia, three of Spain's opponents in UEFA Qualifying Group 2.
Natalia Pablos (pictured), who plays for Arsenal at club level, scored 12 goals in qualifying. Sonia Bermudez added 10 of her own. Midfielder Vero Boquete, according to Soccer America, "may be the best player at the Women's World Cup you've never heard of."
At the other end of the pitch, the defense conceded just twice in 10 qualifiers, but it's likely that Spain's defenders haven't faced a player such as Marta yet. If Spain can find a way to contain Marta and Cristiane, La Roja might have enough firepower to pull off an upset.
Can South Korea Overcome Inexperience?
4 of 5
South Korea have a young and inexperienced team, but that might not necessarily be a bad thing. The Koreans have not qualified for the World Cup at the senior level since 2013, but they finished third at the 2010 U-20 Women's World Cup and won the U-17 World Cup the same year. Five years later, some of those players are making their way to Canada.
Ji So-yun was one of the players on that U-20 team five years ago, and these days, the forward is making a name for herself at the club level with Chelsea in the FA WSL. In 2014, Ji was named FA WSL1 Women's Player of the Year, and in April of this year, she earned the 2014-15 PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year award.
Ji plays in the No. 10 role behind striker Park Eun-sun, a 28-year-old who experienced the 2003 World Cup as a teenager. Without much World Cup experience in the squad, Korea might struggle, but their recent scoreless draw with the United States hints that they could be tough to beat.
Can Shirley Cruz Guide Costa Rica to the Knockout Stage?
5 of 5
Shirley Cruz, a creative midfielder who plays for Paris Saint-Germain at club level, is the standout player for Costa Rica, making their first Women's World Cup appearance. Cruz, who previously played for Lyon, has won the French league six times and the UEFA Women's Champions League twice.
After Cruz, however, the experience level of Costa Rica's squad drops. Midfielder Gloriana Villalobos, who already has 12 caps, is just 15-years-old. Defender Maria Coto is 17. Forward Melissa Herrera, 18, has scored 12 goals in 20 international appearances. Fellow attacker Raquel Rodriguez, a veteran by comparison at the age of 21, has scored 24 times in 37 caps, while Wendy Acosta, 25, has notched 18 strikes in 38 appearances.
With Cruz on the field, Costa Rica will play exciting football, but it remains to be seen whether the Ticas have enough experience on the international stage.
