On the way to the Women's World Cup: Group C

In Group C at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, representatives of four continents will meet. One of the national teams has already lifted the trophy, but it was 12 years ago. Here you can see the most successful athlete of Asia, as well as debutants from Zambia - they managed to make it to the mundial even without their leader.

Spain

"The Red Furies won Group B in tournament qualifying with a phenomenal goal difference. The Spaniards scored 53 goals in eight games without conceding a single goal. Amayur Sariega, a 22-year-old forward, scored 11 goals.

Before the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, the national team took part in the Nations Cup, but failed in the tournament.

Only one player on the national team represents a non-Spanish championship - 33-year-old Jennifer Hermoso plays for Mexican side Pachuca. Midfielder Alexia Putellas has played the most games for the national team - 102. In 2021 she received the "Golden Ball" and was recognized as the best footballer in the world according to FIFA.

Costa Rica national team

The Costa Rican women will come to the World Cup for only the second time. The first time they participated in the mundial was in 2015, but they failed to qualify from the group. The national team qualified for the CONCACAF Cup, where they reached the semifinals, and in the match for third place with a minimum score lost to Jamaica - 0:1.

Raquel Rodriguez, 29, is the national team's top scorer. In 100 matches she scored 55 goals. It was Rodriguez who authored the first goal of her national team at the World Cup.

Zambia national team

African debutant Zambia made it to the tournament despite the scandals surrounding them. It was all down to the case of team captain Barbara Banda, who had high levels of testosterone in her blood. Banda, 23, played just 10 games for the national team, in which she scored 22 goals.

But even without their captain and leader, the Zambians won the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal against Senegal on penalties and guaranteed themselves a place in their World Cup group.

Striker Grace Chanda has played the most matches for the national team with 28. In 2022, she was ranked among the top three female soccer players on the African continent.

Japan national team

In qualifying, it reached the semifinals of the Asian Cup, where it lost to the future champions - the Chinese national team. Japan's best result at the World Cup was a championship - the first players from the Land of the Rising Sun became the first in 2011.

Defender Saki Kumagai is the only one in the current Japanese national team who won the title in 2011. She also won silver medals at the London Olympics in 2012. In total, she has played 134 matches for the national team. In addition, Kumagai is considered the most successful Asian athlete among both women and men. In July 2023, the soccer player became a player of Italian "Roma", before that played for Bayern Munich.

Group stage schedule:

July 21.

Spain - Costa Rica

July 22

Zambia - Japan

July 26

Japan - Costa Rica

Spain - Zambia

July 31

Japan - Spain

Costa Rica - Zambia