Group D at the upcoming Women’s World Cup presents an intriguing mix of teams with England, Denmark, China and Haiti vying for a spot in the knockout stages.
The Lionesses are heavy favourites to win the group but the battle for second place between Denmark and China promises excitement, while Haiti will be more than willing to disrupt the party at their first ever World Cup appearance.
Here are 90min‘s players to watch from Group D.
Lauren James has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in English football.
Her ability to wreak havoc with her exceptional dribbling skills makes the Chelsea star a player teams should fear in Australia and New Zealand. Her standout displays during England’s recent win at the Arnold Clark Cup earned James its player of the tournament award.
With the unfortunate ACL injury to Beth Mead, James will have a crucial role at the World Cup. Her ability to thrive under pressure at club level with Chelsea should make her well equipped to handle the bright lights of a major international tournament.
Alex Greenwood will head to Australia and New Zealand for her third consecutive World Cup.
She’ll be under much more scrutiny for this one, as she is expected to start in the absence of captain Leah Williamson and Millie Bright at the heart of England’s defence.
The 29-year-old has been a reliable option before when Williamson or Bright have been absent. Her ability to play both centrally and as a left-back means she’ll be a key player for the Lionesses.
Pernille Harder is finally set to make her mark on the global stage at the upcoming World Cup.
Despite her remarkable achievements, the 30-year-old captain and all-time leading scorer for Denmark has yet to showcase her skills against the best, with her side failing to qualify for the last three editions of the tournament.
Harder has been an instrumental player for Chelsea, helping the club clinch three WSL titles and three FA Cups as well as reaching the Champions League final in her debut season. Her performances caught the attention of Bayern Munich, leading to her move to the German club this summer.
Harder’s impact and influence on a game cannot be denied, regardless of the lack of experience she has at a World Cup.
It’s exceptionally rare for a footballer to be deployed as a forward and a centre back and be able to play those roles at a high level.
But for Wang Shanshan, it’s just another day at the office.
China’s World Cup campaign could witness a shift in their usual formation, with head coach Shui Qingxia suggesting the possibility of deploying Wang as a central defender.
With Wang Xiaoxue sidelined due to knee surgery, Shanshan’s defensive skills will be put to the test Group D.
Wang played a crucial role in China’s recent Asian Cup victory, ending a 16-year title drought and earning the tournament’s best player award.
Following the 2019 World Cup, where Wang failed to score, doubts arose about her future with China. However, at 33 she will enter this year’s edition as captain coming off the most productive year of her career.
With an impressive record of 55 goals in 146 appearances for China, she may be able to score a goal or two, even if she’s deployed as a defender.
Melchie Dumornay scored the two goals against Chile in Haiti’s 2-1 victory to qualify for the tournament.
The 19-year-old has broken goalscoring records in the competitive CONCACAF region despite it housing powerhouses like current world champions the U.S. and recent Olympic gold medalists Canada.
Her spacial awareness on the pitch combined with remarkable speed and the agility to change direction effortlessly leaves opposing defences struggling to contain her.
With the capability to excel in multiple positions, Dumornay presents an invaluable asset for Haiti at this upcoming tournament. One that England, Denmark and China would be foolish to underestimate.
