This summer’s Women’s World Cup has been full of drama and entertainment, with several big hitters going out early, and under-established sides making deep runs into the competition. Tournament hosts Australia have certainly made their mark, and the competition on the other side of the bracket with the likes of Sweden, Netherlands and Spain has never been at a higher level. Ahead of the final, we select our Team of the Tournament for the 2023 Women’s World Cup!
GOALKEEPER: Mackenzie Arnold
Embed from Getty ImagesIn selecting the team, the battle between Sweden’s Zećira Mušović and Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold became the most intense. But what’s impressed me more with Mackenzie Arnold than any other keeper at this tournament has been the way she commands her eighteen-yard-box. Mušović has pulled off more stunning saves that you wouldn’t expect her to make, on 3.38 saves per 90. But Arnold’s been a beast at the back for Australia, dealing with every set-piece, every cross, and every piece of danger coming her way.
Embed from Getty ImagesConceding just 0.56 goals per 90 at a World Cup is insane, and a sign of her intelligence and organization at the back. That penalty shootout performance against France was also immensely impressive, and no keeper’s made more than her 2.44 punches + claims per 90 past the knockouts. Credit to Mušović for her exploits, but Mackenzie Arnold has to be the starter in goal.
Substitutes: Zećira Mušović, Mary Earps
RIGHT-BACK: ONA BATLLE
Embed from Getty ImagesOna Batlle has been essential to the Spanish success this summer, fulfilling roles both on the right and left of their defense. More crucially, she’s seemingly found a way to make her presence felt on just about any chance the Spanish create. One assist simply does not do justice to the 1.5 key passes or 1.8 crosses she’s whipped in per 90. The pinpoint accuracy behind her crosses has also been impressive, completing 44% of her wide deliveries leading into the final. The way she makes underlapping and overlapping runs all around her wingers and central midfielders makes Spain so threatening from all angles, and is an essential component to their success.
CENTRE-BACK: AMANDA ILESTEDT
Embed from Getty ImagesAmanda Ilestedt has made history in a way that few would have expected, scoring four goals from centre-back at the 2023 World Cup. Becoming their key threat from the wonderful in-swinging corner-kicks of Jonna Andersson, the 5’10 Ilestedt made herself nearly impossible to mark, and a smart finisher inside the penalty area. But her work on the defensive end remained equally impressive, winning 72.4% of her total duels. For context, only France’s Wendie Renard won a higher percentage (84.6%). No one dribbled past the Swede at the tournament, and she always put herself in the right place to clear the ball out of danger. Remaining a key member of their progression in the process, Amanda Ilestedt is an easily selection at the back.
Substitute: Stefanie van der Gragt
CENTRE-BACK: ALEX GREENWOOD
Embed from Getty ImagesPlaying every single minute of the tournament for the Three Lions, Alex Greenwood‘s been outrageously good with the ball at her feet, just as we expected. She’s been on the ball constantly for her country, creating 1.8 key passes per 90 from her long passing excellence and ability to break lines. Only Georgia Stanway’s created more chances for England (2.2), with Greenwood also holding set-piece responsibilities like many top centre-backs in the women’s game. Winning 71.1% of her defensive duels, Greenwood’s also been critical to England’s ability to keep goals out of the back of the net. Quite possibly England’s best player this summer, Greenwood has to be a lock for the Team of the Tournament.
LEFT BACK: OLGA CARMONA
Embed from Getty ImagesNo other player had a better semi-final or final than Olga Carmona, and that is precisely why she’s earned her place into our Team of the Tournament. Carmona came up clutch with her two goals in two matches when it mattered most, providing constant energy down the left-hand-side for Spain. She participated in all the wonderful overlapping and underlapping down the wings for Vilda’s team, while creating chances from her sublime crossing. Defensively, she also made a positive impact, winning over 60% of her duels and helping Spain keep three clean sheets. This tournament will now be remembered by many for Olga Carmona’s critical goals.
Substitutes: Jun Endo, Esmee Brugts
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD: TERESA ABELLEIRA
Embed from Getty ImagesProbably the most understated member of the Spanish midfield, Teresa Abelleira has been wonderful in that deeper-lying role, perfectly making up for the loss of Patri Guijarro. She’s dictated much of the tempo of their matches alongside Aitana Bonmatí and Ona Batlle. Only Eva Navarro has made more accurate crosses per 90 than Abelleira (3.52), acting as a key threat from deeper areas for Vilda’s team. She’s completed 69% of her long passes at the tournament, with only Roord coming close of players with substantial minutes and long passes to match her. Difficult to dispossess, the Real Madrid player has also posted up substantial numbers in tackles and interceptions despite Spain’s dominance. She’s been an absolute stalwart for Spain in their rest-defense, helping to cover for the high positions of the full-backs, which will be essential in our Team of the Tournament.
Substitute: Elin Rubensson
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: AITANA BONMATI
Embed from Getty ImagesA candidate for Player of the Tournament, Aitana Bonmatí has reminded me massively of vintage David Silva, Andres Iniesta and Xavi all wrapped up in one. Her touch of class and control on the ball has been critical to Spain’s ability to control matches, and she had likely the best individual performance of the entire tournament (only rivalled by Lauren James against China), when she scored 2 goals with 2 assists against Switzerland. Arriving late into the box to compound matters on their crosses, while making herself a rolls-royce in possession, Bonmatí’s impact has been felt all over the pitch.
Substitute: Katrina Gorry
CENTRAL MIDFIELD: JILL ROORD
Embed from Getty ImagesJill Roord was the player we chose to profile from the Netherlands prior to the tournament, and she completely justified that selection with her 4 goals from central midfield. Roord performed that box-to-box role brilliantly, constantly involving herself in all the brilliant link-up with Van de Donk, Martens and Beerensteyn. Much of her involvement in the progression and build-up was more safe and simple, allowing the centre-backs to be more progressive with their passing instead. However, her work rate on the defensive end always proved key in Netherlands’ tight defensive structures. She made 4.5 tackles per 90, bested only by Oihane Hernandez of players to make the quarter finals. That move to Manchester City continues to look like a bargain.
Substitute: Lindsey Horan
RIGHT WING: hinata miyazawa
Embed from Getty ImagesUnless someone like Redondo pulls off an unforgettable night in the final, Hinata Miyazawa will end this tournament as the Golden Boot winner. That’s immensely impressive for a quarter finalist, even more impressive for a 23-year-old relative unknown, and even more impressive for a player who scored just 1 goals in 20 matches of WE League play in 2022-23. Miyazawa’s speed was unmatched at the tournament, allowing her to explode in attacking transitions and always pop up on the end of Jun Endo’s incredible crosses. To then score with 38% of her shots at a rate of 1.34 goals per 90, Miyazawa won’t be playing in Japan for long. After her stunning display, heads will most certainly be turned across the top leagues in women’s football.
Substitutes: Alba Rendondo, Hayley Raso
CENTRE-FORWARD: ALEXANDRA POPP
Embed from Getty ImagesHad Germany made it out of the Group Stages, Alexandra Popp would have been right up there with Miyazawa for the Golden Boot. The German forward became impossible to stop inside the eighteen yard-box, with defenders often having to triple team her just to have any shot of stopping her dominance in the air. The Wolfsburg striker scored 4 goals in 3 matches, an outrageous return of 1.37 goals per 90. Equally impressively, Popp won 67% of her total duels and 79.4% of her aerial duels, both outrageous percentages for a centre-forward, even one of her physical presence. It’s a shame Germany went out at the Group Stages, but she could not have done anything differently for her team.
Substitute: Mary Fowler
LEFT WING: JENNI HERMOSO
Embed from Getty ImagesWe’re aware that Jenni Hermoso is not a left-winger, but she has been a jack of all trades for Spain, playing predominantly as a ’10’ on the left of their midfield three. She’s been another critical component to the Spanish success, scoring 3 goals with 2 assists. Her link-up play with Esther Gonzalez held strong throughout the tournament, and she always played a pivotal role in their principles throughout all phases. It would simply be a mistake to leave her off the team, even if the competition for a natural spot in the side is massive.
Substitute: Lauren James
SPECIAL MENTION: ESMEE BRUGTS
Embed from Getty ImagesBefore Olga Carmona tore up the semi-final & final for Spain, Esmee Brugts certainly deserved her place. In the opening match, I wasn’t fully convinced with Brugts’ ability to cope with pressurized 1v1 situations. But her goal output, crossing from wide areas, and dynamism up and down the left wing turned out to be critical for the Dutch. She probably has the two goals of the tournament to her name, and always made herself involved in the attacking third. But defensively, Brugts also put up big numbers, with 3.3 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per 90. At the age of 20, the future certainly looks bright for Esmee Brugts.
So with that, we turn it over to you! Tell us who makes your to Team of the Tournament below, or on social media @mastermindsite. Thanks for reading and see you soon!
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