Our Women’s World Cup team of the tournament has some very notable omissions, but that’s hardly surprising given how it went down in Australia and New Zealand.
There are no players from the USA or Germany included, which virtually no one would have predicted before the competition kicked off in July. There isn’t even room for two-time Balon d’Or winner, Alexia Putellas!
The underperformance of some of the biggest nations split the whole thing wide open, with a number of so-called weaker teams making their mark on the world stage.
That means no one team truly dominates our lineup. Champions Spain come the closest, but even then we have only plumped for three of their players.
It was a terrific tournament to follow and watch, but that also made for some tough decisions all around the pitch when putting together our best XI. There will be a few contentious picks here.
Note: we’re not going for formational purity, so please keep that in mind while you’re reading. We’ve gone for a 3-box-3 to squeeze in the 11 best players from the past month. Let us know in the comments below who should have made the cut!
Women’s World Cup 2023 team of the tournament:
GK: Zecira Musovic – Sweden
England’s Mary Earps took the Golden Gloves as Fifa’s best goalkeeper of the tournament, but Zecira Musovic deserved the gong over the Manchester United shot stopper.
The Chelsea star was vital to Sweden getting their third consecutive 3rd-place finish, keeping the most clean sheets of any goalie (4). She also buried a penalty in the shootout win over the US.
???????? pic.twitter.com/DfQJ2RKSfv
— Zećira Mušović (@ZeciraMusovic) August 20, 2023
DEF: Amanda Ilestedt – Sweden
The Arsenal defender was a key part of the competition’s tightest defence, conceding just three goals in seven games. But she was also the Swede’s biggest contributor at the other end of the pitch, scoring four goals.
DEF: Wendie Renard – France
The towering centre-back continues to prove she is one of the best defenders in the game at 33-years-old.
DEF: Alex Greenwood – England
A rock at the heart of England’s defence, Man City’s Greenwood adapted well to England’s move to a back three and they never conceded more than a goal in a single game.
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MID: Jill Roord – Netherlands
The 26-year-old, who swapped Arsenal for Man City in a British record transfer this summer, is one of the most talented midfielders in the game today.
MID: Teresa Abelleira – Spain
A metronomic presence in Spain’s midfield, Abelleira is integral to the team’s tactical approach. The Real Madrid midfielder’s reputation is burgeoning after this past month.
MID: Aitana Bonmati – Spain
It wouldn’t be a team of the tournament without the player of the tournament. Bonmati will be weighed down with gold at this stage, adding the World Cup and Golden Ball to her trophy collection, which already includes the Champions League and Liga F. The Barcelona midfielder will be the favourite for the Balon d’Or this year.
WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIOOOOONS!!!! ???????? SOMOS CAMPEONAS DEL MUNDO!!!!! pic.twitter.com/LvzEGc9AQb
— Aitana Bonmatí Conca (@AitanaBonmati) August 20, 2023
MID: Jennifer Hermoso – Spain
A contender for Player of the Tournament, Hermoso dictated Spain’s play from the middle of the park. Like Bonmati, the 33-year-old made two assists during their run to the final.
FWD: Lauren Hemp – England
Arguably England’s most consistent performer over their seven games, Man City forward Hemp was key to their run to the final. What could have been had her first-half effort against Spain gone in off the woodwork.
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???? What an effort from @lauren__hemp@Lionesses pic.twitter.com/hhngqDiYrR
— UEFA Women's EURO (@WEURO) August 20, 2023
FWD: Mary Fowler – Australia
No Sam Kerr? No problem. Mary Fowler had big shoes to fill after the Chelsea striker was ruled out of Australia’s opening two group games, and subsequently wasn’t fit to start until the semi-final against England. But she more than acquitted herself up front for the Matildas.
FWD: Hinata Miyazawa – Japan
It was a very difficult decision to leave out France attacker Kadidiatou Diani, but we simply could not omit Golden Boot winner Hinata Miyazawa. The Japanese star was the top goalscorer (5) on the team with the most goals (15), and is also the youngest Golden Boot since a certain 21-year-old Marta in 2007. Japan were an absolute delight to watch in this tournament and deserved to go deeper.
The adidas Golden Boot Award goes to Hinata Miyazawa! ???? pic.twitter.com/CS9L904CUF
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 20, 2023
Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 team of the tournament (3-4-3): Musovic; Ilestedt, Renard, Greenwood; Roord, Abelleira, Bonmati, Paralluelo; Hemp, Fowler, Miyazawa.
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as good as Renard was I think Bright and Carter were better than her I think Earps should have made it due to stand-out matches like Haiti and Nigeria and in the final also an honorable mention to Karchaoui and Bronze and Girma very criminal you left out Caicedo cos at 18 what she was doing was mad
Fair shout on Caicedo, we love her! She was our breakout star of the tournament. I’m not as high on Earps as a lot of people, but she had a good World Cup.