Round 1 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup is nearly in the books. Thus our #ShePlaysWWC eyes turn towards round 2. In this report we’ll cover: injuries and suspensions and key round 2 match ups to keep and eye out for.
Injuries and Suspensions
As expected with any major tournament injury reports coming out from camps are cagey to say the least. Keep an eye out for the following players who may be carrying some niggles into round 2.
Red card suspensions will come into play this round with three red cards already in the tournament. Yellow cards may impact player selection as two in two matches will result in a suspension for round 3. Yellow cards are wiped at the conclusion of the quarter-finals.
| Player | Country | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Kerr | Australia | OUT | Calf |
| Khadija Shaw | Jamaica | OUT | Red Card |
| Catherine Musonda | Zambia | OUT | Red Card |
| Deborah Abiodun | Nigeria | OUT | Red Card |
| Selma Bacha | France | Returning | Ankle |
| Elisa De Almeida | France | Returning | Calf |
| Tameka Yallop | Australia | Returning | Hamstring |
| Jessie Fleming | Canada | Returning | Calf |
| Wendie Renard | France | Unknown | Calf |
| Lena Oberdorf | Germany | Unknown | Thigh |
| Marina Hegering | Germany | Unknown | Ankle |
| Sjoeke Nüsken | Germany | Unknown | Knee |
| Lineth Beerensteyn | Netherlands | Unknown | Leg |
| Louise Quinn | Ireland | Unknown | Lower leg |
Round 2 Matches to Watch
Match ups Group C could prove fruitful for Japanese and Spanish players. However, keep in mind the coaches may use these matches as a rest day before they face off in round 3.
USA v Netherlands is a repeat of the 2019 final, expect both squads to start their strongest line ups.
Group F’s France v Brazil could be the decisive match in determining who tops the group. France will be hoping to be bolstered by the return of preferred winger Selma Bacha.