From holders USA to hosts France, Goal ranks the contenders for this summer's big event
Getty10Brazil
In what is Marta's last chance at World Cup glory, Brazil could not be more poorly prepared. After sacking the team's first female coach, Emily Lima, for a string of poor results, they head into the summer having lost their last nine games in succession under returning coach Vadao.
The 62-year-old has favoured a 4-2-4 formation in order to accommodate his plethora of attacking talent, but that often leaves the team at a disadvantage, with players regularly playing out of position.
Performances have been as poor as the results, particularly given the calibre of this squad. Marta will need to be at her very best if she wants to inspire this ageing team to glory and upgrade her 2007 silver medal to a gold in 2019 – but, even then, that might not be enough.
COACH: Vadao
STARPLAYER: Marta
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Goalkeepers: Aline (Tenerife), Barbara (Kindermann), Leticia (Corinthians)
Defenders: Fabiana (Internacional), Leticia Santos (Sand), Tamires (Fortuna Hjorring), Erika (Corinthians), Monica (Corinthians), Kathellen (Bordeaux), Tayla (Benfica).
Midfielders: Andressinha (Portland), Formiga (Paris Saint-Germain), Luana (Jeonbuk), Thaisa (Milan), Camila (Orlando Pride), Andressa Alves (Barcelona).
Forwards: Beatriz (Incheon Steel Red Angels), Cristiane (Sao Paulo), Raquel (Huelva), Debinha (North Carolina Courage), Geyse (Benfica), Ludmila (Atletico Madrid), Marta (Orlando Pride).
AdvertisementGetty9Sweden
Sweden's transformation from a defensive, uninspiring unit to a free-flowing attacking team has been one of the most exciting developments in international football, with Peter Gerhardsson implementing his high-pressing, possession-based game to great effect.
As well as maintaining the experience of stalwarts such as defender Nilla Fischer and midfielder Caroline Seger, the team can boast exciting young talent such as Stina Blackstenius and a Kosovare Asllani back to her best after a difficult few years.
Their tactical flexibility increases their threat going forward, a threat led by the goal-scoring ways of Blackstenius, who already has four goals in seven appearances for Linkoping in 2019. After years of standing still under Pia Sundhage, they can surprise the continent this summer.
COACH: Peter Gerhardsson
STAR PLAYER: Stina Blackstenius
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Goalkeepers: Jennifer Falk (Kopparbergs/Goteborg FC), Hedvig Lindahl (Chelsea), Zecira Musovic (Rosengard)
Defenders: Jonna Andersson (Chelsea), Nathalie Bjorn (FC Rosengard), Magdalena Eriksson (Chelsea), Nilla Fischer (Vfl Wolfsburg e.V.), Hanna Glas (Paris Saint-Germain), Amanda Ilestedt (Turbine Potsdam), Linda Sembrant (Montpellier).
Midfielders: Anna Anvegard (Vaxjo DFF), Kosovare Asllani (Linkopings), Lina Hurtig (Linkopings), Julia Roddar (Kopparbergs/Goteborg), Elin Rubensson (Kopparbergs/Göteborg), Caroline Seger (Rosengard).
Forwards: Stina Blackstenius (Linkopings), Sofia Jakobsson (Montpellier), Madelen Janogy (Pitea), Mimmi Larsson (Linkopings), Fridolina Rolfo (Bayern Munich), Olivia Schough (Djurgardens), Julia Zigiotti Olme (Kopparbergs/Goteborg)
Getty8Canada
Canada's preparation for this summer's World Cup has been successful if unspectacular, with five wins coming from an unbeaten run of eight in 2019, and just one goal conceded. Yet, this is one of the most exciting squads heading to France – with 14 of their 23 players 24 years old or younger.
That youthful exuberance is complemented by a sprinkling of veterans who make up the spine of this team: Stephanie Labbe in between the sticks, Sophie Schmidt in the back three, Desiree Scott protecting that trio and Christine Sinclair leading the line.
This promises to be an incredible tournament for the latter in particular, who is just three goals behind Abby Wambach's world record of 184. With four scored in 2019 already, it seems inevitable that the clinical forward, who turns 36 during the tournament, will finally overtake the former USA striker this summer.
COACH: Kenneth Heiner-Moller
STAR PLAYER: Christine Sinclair
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Goalkeepers: Stephanie Labbe (Courage), Kailen Sheridan (Sky Blue), Sabrina D'Angelo (Vittsjo).
Defenders: Allysha Chapman (Houston Dash), Kadeisha Buchanan (Lyon), Shelina Zadorsky (Orlando Pride), Rebecca Quinn (Paris), Shannon Woeller (Eskilstuna United), Lindsay Agnew (Houston Dash), Jenna Hellstrom (Orebro).
Midfielders: Deanne Rose (Florida Gators), Julia Grosso (University of Texas), Ashley Lawrence (Paris Saint-Germain), Desiree Scott (Utah Royals), Sophie Schmidt (Houston Dash), Jessie Fleming (UCLA).
Forwards: Jayde Riviere (Vancouver Whitecaps), Jordyn Huitema (PSG), Christine Sinclair (Portland Thorns), Gabrielle Carle (Florida State University), Nichelle Prince (Houston Dash), Janine Beckie (Man City), Adriana Leon (West Ham).
Getty7Japan
Winners in 2011 and finalists in 2015, Japan go into this summer's tournament almost unrecognisable from those two sides due to mass retirements, but with a new generation of young talent coming through and a handful of veterans remaining, that's not a bad thing.
Rumi Utsugi and Saki Kumagai bring invaluable top level experience to Asako Takakura's youthful squad, which features just three players over 30 and only six names from the last World Cup, while forward Jun Endo and midfielder Narumi Miura lead the new faces.
It's hard to single out individuals in this incredible team, who retain the technically excellent standards and free-flowing possession-based game of those before them. But former Bayern Munich forward Mana Iwabuchi, named MVP as Japan won the 2018 Asian Cup, has been in stellar form for her country and will be key if they are to continue their fantastic recent World Cup record.
COACH: Asako Takakura
STAR PLAYER: Mana Iwabuchi
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Goalkeepers: Sakiko Ikeda (Urawa Red Diamonds), Ayaka Yamashita (NTV Beleza), Chika Hirao (Albirex Nilgata Ladies).
Defenders: Rumi Utsugi (Reign), Aya Sameshima (Kobe Leonessa), Saki Kumagai (Lyon), Nana Ichise (Vegalta Sendai), Moeka Minami (Urawa Red Diamonds), Asato Miyagawa (NTV Beleza), Shiori Miyake (Kobe Leonessa).
Midfielders: Hina Sugita (Kobe Leonessa), Emi Nakajima (Kobe Leonessa), Mizuho Sakaguchi (NTV Beleza), Riko Ueki (NTV Beleza), Yui Hasegawa (NTV Beleza), Yuka Momiki (NTV Beleza), Narumi Miura (NTV Beleza), Jun Endo (NTV Beleza), Risa Shimizu (NTV Beleza).
Forwards: Mana Iwabuchi (Kobe Leonessa), Yuika Sugasawa (Urawa Red Diamonds), Rikako Kobayashi (NTV Beleza), Kumi Yokoyama (Nagano Parceiro).