Women's World Cup 2015: Team of Round 1 of Games

Before we get into the second round of games at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, it’s time to look back and pick out our Team of Round 1.

The tournament has been a fantastic success so far. Viewing figures are up, reported by FIFA, and the football on the pitch has been exciting and entertaining. Hopefully, it’s only just warming up.

Goalkeeper

In goal, we have chosen United States goalkeeper Hope Solo. The 33-year-old made a number of world-class saves to keep her team in a game that opponents Australia started on the front foot.

Sweden are up next for the United States, and the Scandinavian side will want to atone for their opening game draw against Nigeria, so Solo may need to be at her best once again.

Defence

To anchor this team, we have picked Wendie Renard of France and Canada’s Kadeisha Buchanan. In the opening game, the 19-year-old Buchanan was superb, showing maturity beyond her years. She was strong and alert and constantly stopped China from breaking.

England may not have offered France too many problems defensively, but any time Les Bleues were faced with a high ball or a set piece, Renard was imperious. Virtually nothing got passed her, and she showed why she is France’s captain.

France take on the unpredictable Colombians on Saturday knowing that three points will confirm their place in the last 16.

Brazil’s Fabiana makes the cut at right-back. Pushed hard for the spot by Noelle Maritz of Switzerland and Germany’s Leonie Maier, the 25-year-old was constantly pushing down the flank in Brazil’s 2-0 win over South Korea.

She nearly scored what would likely have been one of the goals of the tournament when her shot from distance came off the crossbar in the opening stages.

On the opposite flank is Ali Riley of New Zealand. Her team may have lost 1-0 to the Netherlands, but Riley showed her class both defensively and going forward. Her battle with Manon Melis was engrossing, and Riley may have just edged it on points.

The Football Ferns now have a huge test against Canada, and another defeat would make it very tough for them to progress to the last 16.

Midfield

There was only one choice for defensive midfield. Playing in her record sixth World Cup, 37-year-old Brazilian Formiga wasn’t happy just going through the motions against South Korea. She bossed the game and showed drive and determination to both score and win a penalty for the second.

After being named the best player and top scorer of last year’s Under-20 World Cup, a lot was expected of Asisat Oshoala on her return to Canada—she didn’t disappoint.

Her constant driving runs from the right flank caused Sweden all kinds of problems, and she scored Nigeria’s second goal in the 3-3 draw. Oshoala’s pace, power and energy is going to trouble a lot of teams throughout the tournament.

On the opposite side, it was impossible not to pick USA’s Megan Rapinoe. As her country stuttered to a 3-1 win over Australia, she was superb. Fortuitous to score the first—coming from a deflection—her second, USA’s third, was brilliant.

Advancing down the left, no defenders came to stop her, so she kept pushing forward before drilling a shot into the far corner.

Lots of attention has to be put on the Dutch Triple M attack of Melis, Vivianne Miedema and Lieke Martens, but it was Danielle van de Donk who caught the eye in their Group A opener against New Zealand.

The PSV midfielder was the player who brought all their attacking play together. She provided the ammunition to the front three and showed great strength, vision and control.

Attack

There were a lot of excellent candidates for a spot in the attack: Gaelle Enganamouit scored the first hat-trick by an African player at the Women's World Cup for Cameroon against Ecuador, Isabell Herlovsen grabbed two as Norway beat Thailand and Anja Mittag scored a hat-trick against Ivory Coast.

With the help of De Donk, we have gone for Lieke Martens of the Netherlands. After qualifying via play-off games against Scotland and Italy, the Dutch are playing in their first World Cup.

There would have been lots of nerves, but Martens blasted them all away by curling a wonderful shot beyond Erin Nayler to score her country's first World Cup goal, which was also one of the goals of the round.

Her overall play was excellent too. Her runs, skill on the ball and pace down the wing were a joy to watch.

Alongside Martens, it had to be Germany’s Celia Sasic. In 31 minutes, she scored a World Cup hat-trick—and she could have had more.

She will face a tougher test on Thursday, when Germany face Norway. Both sides are expected to advance, but this will determine which team finishes top of Group B and consequently potentially avoids a clash with France.

Whom did we miss? Who will make an impact in the next set of games? Let us know in the comments section below!