Women's World Cup 2015: Power Ranking Attackers for All Quarterfinal Teams
The quarterfinals of the 2015 Women's World Cup begin on Friday, and with it comes the customary increase in pressure surrounding the remaining teams. As desperation becomes the most commonly traded currency on the pitch, which of the remaining teams is most capable of producing a game-changing moment in front of goal?
It can be a challenge ranking women's soccer performances. We don't have the opportunity to watch their clubs play every week, and a fair share of women's soccer lists on the internet revolve around a disappointing focal point.
So we've done it for you.
Ranked from least dangerous to most potent, over the next eight slides we'll reveal the remaining attacking threats in the Women's World Cup.
How the teams were ranked
While World Cup performance up to this point was factored, so too were performances in other major tournaments during the current cycle. Four matches is too small of a sample size, especially given the wide disparity of talent.
Substantial weight was given to teams with transcendent attacking players. With pressure mounting, teams will need to rely on their stars to pull a result from nowhere.
The most vital factor was whether or not it can be reasonably expected that a team's attackers could make plays and score goals in a World Cup Final. Scoring against Ivory Coast in the group stage is one thing, but doing it against the United States is another entirely.
Without further delay, here are how the eight remaining teams stack up in terms of attacking prowess.
8. China
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Of the eight teams remaining in the tournament, China’s appearance is the quarterfinals is the most surprising. Ranked 16th in the world heading into the World Cup, China hasn't had this kind of success in a major tournament since the 2008 Olympics, where they also reached the quarterfinals.
With Yang Li missing out due to injury, China’s squad is lacking a reliable goal scorer. Midfielder Ma Jun’s 15 international goals lead China’s roster, but she’s only managed 22 minutes thus far in the tournament.
Shanshan Wang has taken up the No. 9 duties in China’s 4-2-3-1 formation, providing two goals for The Steel Roses.
Through four matches, China has managed to produce four goals, just enough to get by. Despite producing a stunning corner-kick routine against Cameroon, China will look to do most of its damage by getting in behind the center backs on the counterattack against the United States.
7. England
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It’s a challenge not to drudge up the same tired cliches used for England’s men’s team when describing the Three Lionesses. They’re a supremely talented soccer team that just seems to lack the kind of individual brilliance of the world’s best players.
England has scored six goals over their past three matches—two apiece—and has created opportunities for more. The squad put 10 shots on frame against Mexico and another six against Colombia.
Still, its performances against Norway in the round of 16 and France in the group stage are plenty revealing. It took a wonder strike from right back Lucy Bronze to send the club through to the quarterfinals, and France limited England to just one shot on target.
The strike trio of Fran Kirby, Toni Duggan and Eniola Aluko has managed just one goal in the tournament. Will they have anything for host Canada in the quarterfinals?
6. Australia
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If the Australians have proved anything in this tournament, it’s that they aren’t afraid of anyone. After giving the United States all it could handle in the first half of their opener, the Aussies drew with Sweden (ranked No. 5 in the world) to advance from Group D and topped Brazil (No. 7 in the world) in the round of 16.
Despite modest production—the squad's tallied five goals in the tournament and is last among the remaining teams in terms of total shots—Australia ranks above China and England for two important reasons.
First, the Matildas are as good as any team remaining at transitioning from defense to offense, remaining a constant threat on the counterattack.
Second, they possess a true game-changer in 21-year old winger Samantha Kerr. While she has yet to make World Cup headlines for anything but being the victim of a cheap shot, Kerr has done plenty of damage on this continent in recent years, finishing tied for fifth in goals scored during the 2014 NWSL season.
As the United States found out in conceding its only goal of the tournament, if you switch off against Australia, they will hurt you.
5. Japan
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The defending World Champions and the 2012 Olympic silver medalists are nothing short of amazing.
Over the last three matches, they’ve put a total of eight shots on target. Five of those shots resulted in goals.
Japan is technically sound and patient on the ball. At times the players seem to have a telepathic understanding of each other, and with their endless flicks and dummies they must be maddening to defend against.
While Japan's recent resume speaks for itself, there are concerns about its ability to make another run through to the finals. The team lost the possession battle against both Switzerland and the Netherlands and has had a difficult time hitting the target at times.
Perhaps the bigger question is whether or not Japan has a match winner in the squad. Homare Sawa, though a marvel, is now 36 years old. Wide players Aya Miyama and Nahomi Kawasumi were both on the 2014 FIFA World Female Player of the Year shortlist, but neither has imposed her will on the tournament yet.
4. Canada
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Canada’s presence this high in the rankings has nothing to do with its World Cup performance to date and everything to do with captain Christine Sinclair.
Despite advancing to the quarterfinals, this hasn’t been the prettiest tournament for the hosts.
Through four matches, Canada has scored only four goals. It had 59 percent of the possession against New Zealand but couldn’t come up with a goal. The squad managed just one goal against China—from a penalty—despite controlling 62 percent of the possession.
Still, the team has Sinclair.
The 5’9” striker has 154 goals in 227 international appearances for Canada. She’s tallied eight goals over four World Cups and has added eight more in two trips to the Olympics. As she proved with a hat trick against the United States in 2012, she’s completely unplayable when she’s on.
Sinclair has not been at her best thus far in the World Cup, but if anyone can carry a team to a win on home soil, it’s her.
3. Germany
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We’re really just splitting hairs when it comes to the top three teams in this ranking. Truth be told, Germany, ranked No. 1 in the world according to FIFA, might even have the top resume of the remaining trio.
The Germans lead the World Cup with 19 goals scored—eight more than second-place Switzerland. Their 52 shots on goal is twice that of joint-second-place Norway and Cameroon. Anja Mittag and Celia Sasic lead the race for the Golden Boot with five goals apiece.
Although reigning FIFA Women’s Player of the Year, midfielder Nadine Kessler, missed the World Cup with injury, Germany also boasts the previous year's winner, goalkeeper Nadine Angerer.
So why aren’t the Germans placed higher on this list?
This group hasn’t been a model of consistency over the past four years.
With their loss to Japan in the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup, the Germans failed to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, which takes the top three European finishers from the previous World Cup. Then they bounced back to win the 2013 UEFA Women’s Championship—scoring only six goals in six matches in the process.
Will Germany’s newfound potency in front of goal hold up against France?
2. United States
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It’s a testament to both its attacking talent and how much the team has struggled in the World Cup that the United States is ranked second on this list.
Thanks to a difficult group and shoddy midfield play, the United States is only tied for sixth in goals scored and tied for seventh in shots on target through four World Cup matches.
Still, the depth of the United States' attack is unmatched. Abby Wambach is tied for second all-time in World Cup goals with 14, and Alex Morgan has done nothing but score important goals in her career.
Beyond them, backups Sydney Leroux and Christen Press are good enough to play for any other team in the world.
Even though the team's lacking quality in midfield, it’s not unreasonable to suggest the United States’ World Cup hopes rest on the fitness of Wambach and Morgan. Wambach, now 35, has yet to make her customary impact on a match. Morgan, meanwhile, appears to be just rounding into form after recovering from a knee injury.
The strike partners have the ability to torment opposing defenses without support, something the United States will rely on heavily in the coming matches.
1. France
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France’s position atop this ranking is very simple. It has Eugenie Le Sommer, and it's the only team in the world that can say that.
Over the last 12 months, Le Sommer has become the singular attacking talent in women’s soccer. She scored 38 goals in 31 appearances for Lyon this past season and has added 12 goals in 18 international appearances, including three thus far in the World Cup.
Le Sommer’s connection with Louisa Necib is well known, but it’s the chemistry she’s developed with Elodie Thomis and Marie-Laure Delie that has stood out for France in the World Cup.
As a team, France sits tied for third with nine goals and solo third with 68 total shots in the tournament. France hasn't created as much as Germany, but it's faced tougher competition.
If France is going to advance to the Finals, it'll need to beat Germany in the quarterfinals and (likely) the United States in the semifinals, a daunting task. The squad will need to rely on Le Sommer and her attacking quartet to unlock two top defensive units.
