Group Guide
E
Three evenly matched teams and a rank outsider, but debutants Chile will be treated with respect. They are unlikely to win a match, but new Lyon goalkeeper Christiane Endler is quite capable of turning in a performance to earn a goalless draw and imperil the progress of frustrated opponents. Canada, bronze medallists at 2012 and 2016, are efficient and consistent with a tight defence but don’t score many. Hosts Japan hit 27 goals in four warm-up matches but haven’t really been tested for 15 months. The England team on which Great Britain are based usually put away weak sides but struggle against elite ones. Due to the draw, coming second might be better than winning the group.
F An indication of the strides made by the Netherlands is that in spite of winning of Euro 2017 and reaching the 2019 World Cup final, this is their Olympic bow. By contrast Brazil are ever-presents, reaching five semi-finals and winning two silver medals. That pair should progress to the last eight along with China, finalists in the first tournament in 1996, but yet to make the final four since. Making up the group are Zambia, for whom Grace Chanda scored eight goals in qualifying. With Shanghai-based captain Barbra Banda she will be their main attacking threat, but opportunities are likely to be rare. Topping this section is a prize worth winning as it will mean, barring a shock in Group G, avoiding the United States until the final. G By some distance the strongest group at the tournament with two top-five nations and none outside the world’s leading 22-ranked teams. Red-hot favourites United States can be expected to progress to the latter stages, with Sweden – who knocked them out at Rio 2016 en route to the silver medal – expected to join the Stars and Stripes. That leaves the World Cup 2023 joint-hosts Australia and New Zealand scrapping it out to take third place and a potential quarter-final spot. The Matildas are definitely the stronger of the Trans-Tasman rivals, but have dipped in form since the last World Cup and will need Chelsea striker Sam Kerr to be on her game to make further progress.