2015 Women's World Cup: Projected Winners and Stars to Watch from Every Group

Canada opens its doors to the 2015 Women's World Cup tomorrow with the hosts taking on China in Edmonton.

With the world being treated to two fantastic international tournaments in the 2011 World Cup and the 2012 Olympics in London, it is only fair to expect that this edition of one of sports' greatest tournaments won't disappoint.

With the women's game continuing to develop and grow in quality, Canada will see some of the best players and the biggest rivalries play out on its soil.

Team	World Rank
Canada	8
China PR	16
New Zealand	17
Netherlands	12

Who wins: Canada

The hosts will be looking to build off their best ever international result, a bronze medal in the 2012 London Olympics. With a potent attack paired with plenty of strength, the Canadians should roll out of this group fairly unscathed. Captain Christine Sinclair has been here before, and her presence will be a calming voice for a fairly young side.

Their main test will be from sixth-ranked Netherlands, but Canada's ability to control the pace and physicality of the game will result in Dutch downfall.

Player to watch: Vivianne Miedema, Netherlands

Miedema has been a goal machine for the Netherlands during their World Cup qualifying. In 13 games, she has recorded 16 goals including three hat-tricks, leading all scorers in European qualifying.

Team	World Rank
Germany	1
Ivory Coast	67
Norway	11
Thailand	29

Who wins: Germany

The world's top-ranked team will have a pretty simple time getting through Group B. Of the four teams, they are the only one ranked within the top 10. However, they will have to embark upon this World Cup without their best player and Ballon d'Or-winner Nadine Kessler.

They won all 10 of their games in qualifying and scored 62 goals in the process. The two-time winners are a well-oiled unit and will be difficult to stop.

Player to watch: Dzsenifer Marozsan, Germany

A playmaking machine, Marozsan is the engine of Germany's attack. The midfielder has an eye to pick out a pass, recording 12 assists on top of eight goals in qualifying.

Team	World Rank
Japan	4
Switzerland	19
Cameroon	53
Ecuador	48

Who wins: Japan

The defending world champions headline a group of inexperience. Switzerland, Cameroon and Ecuador are all making their first appearance in the Women's World Cup.

Switzerland, ranked 19th in the world, will be Japan's biggest challenge, but Japan should have no problem getting past them. Too much experience, too much power. Japan breeze through.

Player to watch: Homare Sawa, Japan

Homare Sawa, the star of the 2011 World Cup, is now 36 years old. While she is clearly the heart and soul of the Japanese team, her play will be indicative of how far her side will go after the group stage.

Team	World Rank
USA	2
Australia	10
Sweden	5
Nigeria	33

Who wins: USA

Every player who has donned the red, white and blue has had 1999 drilled into their heads. A tough group will provide an early challenge for the United States, but this team has a ton of talent and plenty of grit.

Their bout against Sweden will be a measuring stick to see how far they go. The Swedes' Lotta Schelin will be tough to stop up front—she scored 12 goals in qualifying—but the United States' defense is a far more difficult one to crack.

Player to watch: Alex Morgan, USA

As reported by the Seattle Times, Morgan rejoined the U.S. women's national team on Wednesday after she suffered a bone bruise. 

Secondary scoring will be extremely important with all sides honing in on Ballon d'Or runner-up Abby Wambach. Morgan will have to be aggressive in finding the open space and relieving pressure off her strike partner.

Team	World Rank
Brazil	7
Korea Republic	18
Spain	14
Costa Rica	37

Who wins: Brazil

One of the most dangerous sides in the world, the fluency of Brazil has not yet attained a Women's World Cup. Their best chance came in 2007 when they finished second to Germany.

Brazil still contain a high-powered offense with two of the game's best strikers in Marta and Cristiane, who won't have a problem tearing through Group E.

Player to watch: Marta, Brazil

At 29 years old, Marta has already won the World Player of the Year award five times and is bringing a bevy of experience into her prime years.

If Brazil are to win their first World Cup, they will look to their most famous women's player ever to get them to the Promised Land.

Team	World Rank
France	3
England	6
Colombia	28
Mexico	25

Who wins: France

The millennium-long rivalry between the French and English continues with this instalment's conflict happening in the Women's World Cup. France has had England's number the past two times they have faced off in major tournaments. They defeated the Three Lions on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup and decisively in the group stage at Euro 2013.

France have been dominant as of late, most notably in a 14-0 thrashing of Bulgaria in qualifying. Les Bleus have been rising through the ranks of world soccer and will take the opportunity to show that their No. 3 world ranking is no joke.

Player to watch: Louisa Necib, France 

The 28-year old has yet to score in a World Cup, but this will be Necib's coming-out party. The midfielder is gifted in possession and has the ability to score from long range.

Her attacking mentality will give France's forwards added support as Necib will be the one most likely to dictate the attack. Expect for her to have a big tournament.

*Stats courtesy of FIFA.com