Zambia will debut at the Women’s World Cup and hope to show they have learnt much from their experience at the Olympic Games in Tokyo two years ago. But they face a difficult challenge in a tough Group C.
GROUP C FIXTURES (times are SAST)
21 July Spain v Costa Rica 09:30
22 July Zambia v Japan 09:00
26 July Japan v Costa Rica 07:00
26 July Spain v Zambia 09:30
31 July Japan v Spain 09:00
31 July Costa Rica v Zambia 09:00
Fifa WOMEN’S RANKINGS
6 – Spain
11 – Japan
36 – Costa Rica
77 – Zambia
GROUP SUMMARY
Zambia face an uphill battle to get out of a group that contains two of the world’s top 11 sides, but their stunning 3-2 friendly win over Germany last week showed their potential for an upset.
Spain and Japan will be expected to advance to the next round, but Zambia will be full of belief that they can spring a surprise in what is their debut on the big stage. They can also take much from their appearance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo two years ago.
“It was a good game for us and good preparation for the World Cup. Germany is a big team and we really pushed to get the win, which was very important for us,” says Barbra Banda, star forward for Zambia who scored twice against the Germans.
“Our aim and target as a team is to get out of the group and maybe go all the way. It’s amazing for our first time here, I think we will have a good experience and exposure. The World Cup is a very huge tournament, we are very happy as a team and want to do well.”
Spain have not had the smoothest build-up to the tournament after a player revolt left them with a shadow national team. Fifteen of their start names refused to play for coach Jorge Vilda and only three have returned.
But they do have star player and twice Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas back from injury on a major boost.
"We've always been looking to solve this conflict and it's practically resolved," said Vilda. "We're focused on the players who are committed."
Japan were World Cup winners in 2011, but have been unable to sustain those heights, though they remain a dangerous team.
They have plenty of potential match-winners but have also suffered from a slow build-up to the tournament, though they did beat Olympic champions Canada 3-0 in February.
“I knew from the start about the (limited) time I had for preparation. I’ve been thinking about what I can do under that restriction,” Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda said.
“We could play matches against really strong opponents, like former Olympic and World Cup winners (Canada and the United States). I sense we managed to make progress while striking a balance between finding areas to improve and achieving success.”
Costa Rica have also had a difficult build-up, they lost five games in a row before a 2-0 win over minnow Haiti. They will be without legend Shirley Cruz, who was controversially left out of the squad.
THE SQUADS
SPAIN
Goalkeepers: Cata Coll (Barcelona), Misa Rodriguez (Real Madrid), Enith Salon (Valencia).
Defenders: Ivana Andres (Real Madrid), Ona Batlle (Manchester United), Olga Carmona (Real Madrid), Laia Codina (Barcelona), Rocio Galvez (Real Madrid), Oihane Hernandez (Athletic Club), Irene Paredes (Barcelona).
Midfielders: Teresa Abelleira (Real Madrid), Aitana Bonmati (Barceona), Irene Guerrero (Levante), Jennifer Hermoso (Pachuca), Maria Perez (Barcelona), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona), Claudia Zornoza (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona), Athenea del Castillo (Real Madrid), Esther Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Eva Navarro (Atletico Madrid), Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona), Alba Redondo (Levante)
COSTA RICA
Goalkeepers: Priscila Tapia (Saprissa FF), Daniela Solera (Sporting FC), Genesis Perez (University of Central Florida).
Defenders: Mariana Benavides (Saprissa FF), Maria Paula Elizondo (Saprissa FF), Valeria del Campo (Monterrey), Fabiola Villalobos (Alajuelense), Maria Paula Coto (Alajuelense), Gabriela Guillen (Alajuelense), Carol Sanchez (Sporting FC)
Midfielders: Katherine Alvarado (Saprissa FF), Mariela Campos (Saprissa FF), Gloriana Villalobos (Saprissa FF), Emilie Valenciano (Libre), Melissa Herrera (Bordeaux), Cristin Granados (Sporting FC), Alexandra Pinell (Alajuelense), Raquel Rodriguez (Portland Thorns), Emilie Valenciano (LDA)
Forwards: Catalina Estrada (Saprissa FF), Priscila Chinchilla (Libre), Carolina Venegas (Libre), Sofia Varela (Libre), Maria Paula Salas (Monterrey)
ZAMBIA
Goalkeepers: Catherine Musonda (Tomiris Turan), Eunice Sakala (Nkwazi), Leticia Lungu (ZESCO United)
Defenders: Esther Banda (BUSA), Margaret Belemu (Shanghai Shengli), Mary Mulenga (Red Arrows), Agness Musase (Green Buffaloes), Lushomo Mweemba (Green Buffaloes), Vast Phiri (ZESCO United), Judith Soko (YASA), Martha Tembo (BIIK Shymkent)
Midfielders: Susan Banda (Red Arrows), Hellen Chanda (BIIK Shymkent), Avell Chitundu (ZESCO United), Evarine Katongo (ZISD), Ireen Lungu (BIIK Shymkent), Mary Wilombe (Red Arrows)
Forwards: Barbra Banda (Shanghai Shengli), Grace Chanda (Madrid CFF), Racheal Kundananji (Madrid CFF), Ochumba Lubanji (Red Arrows), Xiomara Mapepa (Elite Ladies), Hellen Mubanga (Zaragoza)
JAPAN
Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Momoko Tanaka (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Chika Hirao (Albirex Niigata)
Defenders: Risa Shimizu (West Ham), Moeka Minami (Roma), Saki Kumagai (Roma), Shiori Miyake (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Kiko Seike (Urawa Reds), Miyabi Moriya (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Reds), Hana Takahashi (Urawa Reds)
Midfielders: Fuka Nagano (Liverpool), Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai), Hikaru Naomoto (Urawa Reds), Jun Endo (Angel City), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Hina Sugita (Portland Thorns), Honoka Hayashi (West Ham), Aoba Fujino (Tokyo Verdy Beleza)
Forwards: Riko Ueki (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Mina Tanaka (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Maika Hamano (Hammarby), Remina Chiba (JEF United)