6 Underdogs Who Could Win Their Groups at the FIFA Women’s World Cup

One of the best stories of France ’19 could be over before it begins. The hosts might have made the same mistake as Nationalelf did last summer.

I have to break a good-faith rule of sports journalism to explain.

Announcers are a crashing boor when they constantly compare and relate a women’s international team to the players’ male counterparts in the same sport. “Well, Bob, that was a great goal by Alex Morgan to win another World Cup for the United States, but did I forget to mention that Morgan’s 12^th cousin Petronella is married to Pontius Picklefeather, a forward who scored 2 goals in 300 games in a Spanish men’s league…”

Yeah, that’s what everyone wants to hear about.

But the plight of the French headed into this World Cup reminds me of the controversy around Germany, manager Joachim Löw, and Leroy Sané headed into last year’s World Cup in Russia. So the French women’s team relates to the German men’s team, not because men’s sports are more important, but because the 2 national squads are going through the same type of ordeal about 12 months apart.

Les Bleues manager Corrine Diacre has left Ligue 1’s leading goal-scorer Marie-Antoinette Katoto off the roster, in what could prove to be a fatal distraction for the Group Stage and beyond.

Diacre has given 100 reasons to the media, hinting that the 20-year-old sensation Katoto is not 100% “focused” and must “decide what she wants.” In reality the coach and the newcomer probably just don’t get along behind the scenes.

It’s the wrong way to handle a controversial new toy for the national brand, as shown by Germany’s miserable performance in Russia once Löw took a decisive stand against including the Man City attacker on his FIFA roster. There were other factors involved in Germany’s woeful 1-2 record in the round-robin. But the stubborn decision impacted the program’s momentum at the worst time.

Coach K, who dealt with massive egos and billionaires (and plenty of hot-shot scorers in their early 20s) while rebuilding Team USA basketball into a dynamo, would tell Diacre that her job is to welcome Katoto and then allow the kid’s teammates to help lay down the law prior to the 3 upcoming Group A games at the Women’s World Cup.

There’s no rule that says you have to play someone all the time just because they’re in your roster of 23. You can discipline or dismiss a talented rookie during the event if things get bad, but to not invite them at all is less rational.

Katoto might get lazy on the pitch, pout in the dressing room, or even buy Imagine Dragons records – that’s all evidence of her being 20 years old. Katato not being on the pitch with Team France is evidence of a skipper putting herself above the team.

By not selecting Katato, the manager has created an alibi, a “what if” proposition, before her squad can even step on the pitch. That puts the World Cup hosts at a psychological disadvantage and could open the door for an upstart like South Korea in Group A.

Interestingly enough, the Koreans will open the Women’s World Cup against France this Friday, potentially bringing the Group A battle to a head as pomp and circumstance still linger in Paris air.

South Korea is far from the only nation that could step into the void and challenge for a round-robin win and an advantageous Round-of-16 seed if France or other favorites falter. Here’s a look at 6 “sleepers” (with odds from Bovada Sportsbook) for France ’19 as hours tick down to the kickoff at Le Parc des Princes.

South Korea (Group A, +1400)

The 14th-ranked team has made tremendous strides following a knock-out stage appearance in 2015.

Head coach Yoon Deok-yeo almost always plays a striker up front, and the Koreans are not one of those “gritty, straight-ahead” national-team underdogs we’re so used to seeing. They’ll take some chances on the pitch.

Ji So-yun is incredibly gifted midfielder for Chelsea, in many ways the heart and soul of the squad. Ji has recently become the country’s all-time leading distaff goal scorer. Meanwhile, Cho So-hyun of West Ham United is a versatile midfielder who could help the squad against favored France on Friday evening (afternoon in the United States).

China (Group B, +1000)

Team China looks to recapture the glory of the 1990s.

The squad’s star, Wang Shuang of Paris Saint-Germain, might make you think of the 1980s, but the forward has scored nearly 30 international goals in her career, and that’s a great way to make sure ev-‘ry-bo-dy has fun to-night…or any night.

She made her maiden appearance on the international stage for the U-17 squad at age 12.

Meanwhile, teammate Wang Shanshan can play forward, midfield, or defense, and led the 2018 Asian Games with 12 goals.

China will face Group B favorite Germany on Saturday.

Italy (Group C, +550)

An upstart Italian squad has had a fantastic performance in qualifiers, losing only a single match en route to making the World Cup for the first time since 1999.

Barbara Bonansea is a star at Juventus, but her club teammate Cristiana Girelli is equally crucial to the recent success of the Italians, notching nearly 30 goals for the national squad since being called up in 2013.

Group C favorite Australia also plays Italy before the smoke clears, on Sunday 6/9. Early games in a tournament are usually good timing for the underdog.

Japan (Group D, +170)

The 8th-ranked Japanese seek the 3rd-consecutive berth in the World Cup final.

Coach Asako Takakura’s team is riding high on confidence despite losses in friendlies to England and France and a recent draw with Germany.

Saki Kumagai is the team’s rock on the back line. She has made over 100 appearances in FIFA and AFC competition and led Japan to the 2018 Asian Cup. Fellow back Aya Sameshima has had a similar career of outstanding play for the national team and could combine to form a stubborn unit in Europe.

Scotland (Group D, +2000)

Scotland has played excellent football under Shelley Kerr, earning a maiden trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Expectations must be tempered, but 20-to-1 group odds indicate respect for the newcomers from analysts far and wide.

Lisa Evans of Arsenal can be anywhere on the pitch for the Scottish, showing the ability to play winger, forward, wing-back, and fullback. She has nearly 20 goals on the international stage since being called up in 2011.

Japan and Scotland will meet on 6/14.

Cameroon (Group E, +10000)

Coming off the squad’s surprise Group Stage glory in 2015, it’s also surprising to see the Cameroonians at 100-to-1 odds to win Group E over Canada and Netherlands.

Ajara Nchout was electric with Norwegian club IL Sandviken this season, tallying 15 goals in 19 appearances. Nchout was a member of the 2012 Olympic and 2015 World Cup teams, so the attacking threat should have no fear of the moment.

Christine Manie, the team’s captain, is another attacker with over 60 appearances for the team. Her game-winning goal in the 2014 Africa Women’s Championship semi-final sent Cameroon to its maiden WWC.