Women’s World Cup Preview: Banyana Banyana’s Group

The 2023 Women’s World Cup is less than a week away, and most teams have made their way to Australia and New Zealand for FIFA’s showpiece event. This is the 9th edition of the tournament and will run from 20 July to 20 August. Banyana Banyana have been drawn into Group G, alongside Sweden, Italy, and Argentina. We’ll be closely following the tournament, and as usual, sharing data insights of Banyana and the other African teams throughout the tournament. Here is our preview of Banyana’s Group G.

Team 1: South Africa

World Ranking: 54th

World Cup Appearances: 2nd

Best Finish: Group Stage in 2019

Key Player: Thembi Kgatlana (Racing Louisville), Refiloe Jane (Sassuolo)

Banyana are making their second appearance at the finals, having debuted four years ago at France 2019. They had a rather unpleasant time in Les Pays Des Droits De L’Homme (the land of Human Rights), losing every single game. But even with no points and a -8 goal difference, that wasn’t the worst record (Jamaica lost every game with a -11 goal difference). They face this tournament in different spirits, and not just because the baptism of fire is behind them. They qualified here by winning the 2022 Women’s African Cup of Nations, and so come into this as African champions. Banyana were top scorers at WAFCON but managed just one goal at the 2019WWC. In fact, they had just 4 shots on target at that World Cup and the attack is an area that will need improvement.

1 – South Africa scored with their first-ever shot on target at a Women’s World Cup finals tournament. (OptaJoe)

Team 2: Sweden

World Ranking: 3rd

World Cup Appearances: 9th

Best Finish: Final (2003)

Key Player (s): Fridolina Rolfö (Barcelona), Lina Hurtig (Arsenal)

As a nation, Sweden is highly ranked and has consistently produced the best women’s teams in the world. They are one of seven teams that have played in every single World Cup edition, along USA, Germany, Norway, Brazil, Japan, and Nigeria. However, they have never won the trophy and are now known as a side that is always in the jackpot, but never wins. They are the team that has played the most games in the Women’s World Cup finals without ever winning the Cup (40). Once again, they will carry the burden of having a point to prove, but will likely progress from the Group stages, they’ve only ever failed to do that once. Banyana will have to hit the ground running, as Sweden will be their first opponent on 23 April.

4 – Sweden is unbeaten in the opening game in their last four Women’s World Cups.

Team 3: Argentina

World Ranking: 28th

World Cup Appearances: 4th

Best Finish: Group Stages (2003, 2007, 2019)

Key Player (s): Vanina Correa (Rosario Central), Yamila Rodríguez (Palmeiras)

Argentina will be hoping that the success of their men’s team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup rubs off on them, and they bring home the equivalent women’s title. It has never happened that a nation holds both the Women’s and Men’s World Cups at the same time. La Albiceleste has also never gone past the Group stages in their previous three appearances, so it would be a big ask.

Having said that, there were signs of improvement in their 2019 results compared to their 2003 and 2007 efforts. They won their first-ever points while conceding just four goals – a big improvement from 0 points and 1 goal in each of their first two campaigns. In the end, they narrowly missed out on the knockout stages by goal difference, ranked lowly among other 3rd-place finishers. Scoring some early goals may help their cause.

0 – Argentina have never scored a first-half goal at the Women’s World Cup, and are yet to take the lead in a game at the tournament.

Team 4: Italy

World Ranking: 16th

World Cup Appearances: 4th

Best Finish: Quarter Finals (1991, 2019)

Key Player(s): Cristina Girelli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma)

Like Argentina, Italy are also making their fourth appearance at the Women’s World Cup finals. However, Le Azzurre has traditionally fared better whenever they qualify for the event. Two quarter-final finishes in 1991 and 2019 come on either side of a Group exit in 1999 when they were in what was widely regarded as the ‘Group of Death’. While they had a difficult campaign in the Euros (they exited in the Group Stages without winning a single match), their World Cup qualifying campaign could be a better indicator of what to expect from them. Their nine wins from 10 games included nine clean sheets. Did someone say “Catenaccio”?

Yet, their attack may also be something to keep an eye on. The visual above (from Opta Analyst), shows how six Roma players were leaders in attacking involvements in the recently ended Serie A campaign. Should the crew from the newly crowned Italian champions be chosen and manage to replicate that form, Banyana could have a busy evening come 2 August.

0 – Italy are unbeaten in their opening games at the Women’s World Cup (W2 D1)