Group F is one of the most one-sided groups at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as it features two title contenders and two less fancied sides from the CONCACAF region.
France and Brazil should have an easy time getting out of the group, but they cannot afford to take Jamaica and Panama too lightly. Here is all you need to know about the four sides in this group:
🇫🇷 France
Current FIFA Ranking: #5
World Cup History: 4 previous appearances; best result: Semifinalists (2011)
Major International Trophies: N/A
France have reached the quarterfinals in each of the last three World Cups, so it is only the final hurdles that are eluding them. They will be looking to change that this time around, and seem to have all the pieces in place to be able to do that.
Tactics and Recent Results
There was a fair bit of drama in the French camp during the buildup to this World Cup, as a number of senior players said they would no longer play under then-head coach Corinne Diacre. After an internal investigation, she was sacked and the search for a replacement began.
Hervé Renard was eventually chosen as her successor, probably making him the first person to go to two senior World Cups in the space of about half a year. The squad seems to be united again under him and he knows what it takes to win major tournaments, so France could be a force to reckon with in Australia and New Zealand.
They certainly have the quality in their squad to go toe to toe with the very best teams, having qualified for the World Cup with a perfect record and gotten as far as the semifinals at the last Euros. If they instantly click under Renard, they could go up another gear.
Key Player
Now 33 years old, French captain Wendie Renard will recognize that this could well be the last opportunity for her—and a few other senior squad members—to win the World Cup.
At the club level, she has won everything there is to win with Lyon in mind-blowing quantities. Renard has a whopping 14 French league winner’s medals in her collection to go with eight from the UEFA
EFA
Wendie Renard probably needs a gallery to showcase all the medals she has won with Lyon. (Photo by … [+]
Renard is an imperious center-back who can also pose a regular goal-threat at the other end thanks to her aerial prowess from set-pieces, while her leadership qualities will prove vital for Les Bleues on and off the pitch.
Expectations
Having been drawn in a group with two of the lowest-ranked nations at the World Cup, France are expected to progress to the knockouts without any hiccups.
Then, Renard has spoken of at least improving upon their last two World Cup performances and making it to the final four. If they do get that far, they will surely aim to win it.
🇯🇲 Jamaica
Current FIFA Ranking: #43
World Cup History: 1 previous appearance; 4th in group (2019)
Major International Trophies: N/A
Having made their debut in the last edition, Jamaica will become the first Caribbean nation to make back-to-back appearances at the FIFA World Cup. However, their path to making this return has not been made easy by the lack of support they have received from the federation.
The situation has reached a point where the team have independently have had to set up a fundraiser to pay for their expenses. At the time of writing, it has raised close to $50,000.
Tactics and Recent Results
Jamaica finished an impressive third in the CONCACAF Championship, qualifying for the World Cup in the process. Losses to the U. S. and Canada were hardly surprising, but they should take a lot of confidence from the fact that they beat fellow World Cup participants Haiti and Costa Rica as well as Mexico.
Lorne Donaldson took charge of the team just before that championship, so he achieved an instant success. He mostly favored a 4-3-3 formation, relying on the skill and pace of the forward line to trouble opposition defenses in transition.
Key Player
The most important player for the success of Jamaica’s tactical setup is their center-forward, who just so happens to be their best player by some way.
Khadija Shaw is the most-capped squad member as well as her nation’s all-time top scorer with 55 goals from 38 appearances. She also averaged more than a goal per game for her club side Manchester City this season, finding the back of the net on 31 occasions in 30 outings.
Khadija Shaw doing what she does best: scoring goals. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
The 26-year-old was involved in Jamaica’s first goal at the Women’s World Cup for which she provided the assist, but she failed to get a goal for herself. She will be keen to change that this time around.
Expectations
As was the case in 2019, Jamaica are not really expected to advance to the knockouts having been drawn in a group with two teams in the top eight of the FIFA rankings. The Reggae Girlz can still target a best-ever World Cup result, though, as a third place finish ahead of Panama is very achievable.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Current FIFA Ranking: #8
World Cup History: 8 previous appearances; best result: Runners-up (2007)
Major International Trophies: 8 Copas América (1991, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022)
The other major contenders in Group F are Brazil, who are one of the seven teams to have made it to every iteration of the World Cup so far. They have never won it, so they will be out to change that.
Tactics and Recent Results
World Cup success has alluded two-time Olympic Gold medalist head coach Pia Sundhage, much like Brazil. She took charge soon after the last World Cup and took three years to win her first major trophy in charge of them at the latest Copa América.
The manner in which they won it was very impressive indeed, as they finished the tournament with a perfect record of six wins from six, 20 goals scored and none conceded. They nominally lined up in a 4-4-2 formation in all of their matches, but the players were allowed a fair bit of positional freedom in practice—especially when attacking.
Key Player
Brazil are in a unique situation where their most important player might not start all their matches.
37-year-old Marta is the last one standing of the legendary Brazilian trio comprising her, Formiga and Cristiane. She has announced that this will be her last World Cup, leading her teammates to speak about wanting to win the tournament to cap off her career much like the Argentine men’s team did for Lionel Messi.
With 17 goals, Marta is the World Cup’s all-time top scorer but she will also be aiming to become the first player to score at six different World Cups in Australia. Her very presence on the pitch would be record-setting, though, as she’d become the first person to appear at six different World Cups.
Marta became the first person to score at FIFA different FIFA World Cups last time out. (Photo by … [+]
Expectations
Brazil’s last two World Cup campaigns have been slightly disappointing as they have failed to get past the Round of 16, so they will be keen to at least do better than that this time. Winning the group ahead of France could be important for that, as the runners-up will most likely face Germany in the first knockout round.
The next generation of the Seleção will want to introduce themselves on the world stage with an impressive campaign.
🇵🇦 Panama
Current FIFA Ranking: #52
World Cup History: No previous appearances
Major International Trophies: N/A
Debutantes Panama are the least fancied team in this group, but being there in itself is a resounding success for them.
Tactics and Recent Results
The Canal Girls qualified for this tournament via the inter-confederation playoffs, beating Papua New Guinea and then Paraguay in two tense matches where they did not concede a single goal. Prior to that, they bowed of their group in the CONCACAF Championship with one win.
Ignacio Quintana has been in charge of Panama for the last couple of years, so he has been behind their recent success. His tactics have certainly helped, as his defensive 5-4-1 formation have helped the Canal Girls edge out tight wins in crucial matches. The back line will face much tougher tests at the World Cup.
Key Player
She’s just 23 years old and has only made a couple of appearances for her national team so far, but Riley Tanner could be the most likely goalscorer for Panama at the World Cup.
She was a class above the rest of the players at the inter-confederation playoffs, where she scored this incredible goal.
The Washington Spirit could start to forge a memorable legacy with her national team at this tournament.
Expectations
There should be no pressure whatsoever on Panama at this tournament, so all they should focus on is giving a good account of themselves and enjoying this experience.