A brand new era of stars has emerged on the Ladies’s World Cup.
Whereas the likes of Brazil’s Marta, Canada’s Christine Sinclair and USA’s Megan Rapinoe have performed within the match for the final time, there’s a wealthy circulation of expertise coming by way of to take their locations.
England ahead Lauren James and Colombia star Linda Caicedo have been among the many brightest skills within the match to this point.
South Korea’s Casey Phair, in the meantime, made historical past by changing into the youngest individual to play at a World Cup when she went on towards Colombia within the group stage, aged 16 years and 26 days. Whereas she solely had a cameo position at this match, she is a reputation to observe sooner or later.
Here is a have a look at the rising stars of the World Cup:
LAUREN JAMES (England)
It has been a match of highs and lows for Chelsea star James.
Having been tipped to be the Lionesses’ breakout star on the World Cup, she began on the bench for his or her opening recreation towards Haiti.
She began the next recreation towards Denmark and scored inside six minutes to earn England a 1-0 win.
James wasn’t completed but. She scored two beautiful objectives and assisted in three others in a 6-1 win towards China. Her side-footed volley is among the objectives of the match to this point and he or she was solely denied a hat-trick when a possible marvel aim was dominated out on VAR evaluate for offside.
However the 21-year-old ahead was despatched off in England’s round-of-16 recreation after receiving a pink card for standing on Nigeria defender Michelle Alozie. She’s going to miss the quarterfinals due to a compulsory minimal one-game ban. The suspension is also prolonged after a evaluate by a FIFA disciplinary committee.
LINDA CAICEDO (Colombia)
Caicedo has lit up the match along with her dazzling footwork and objectives.
Her massive second got here in her nation’s 2-1 win towards Germany within the group phases when beating two gamers within the field and curling a shot into the highest nook.
Caicedo’s performances have helped her staff advance to the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the primary time, with Colombia being the one staff from the Americas left within the match.
However there have additionally been considerations across the well being of the 18-year-old Actual Madrid ahead.
Caicedo, who recovered after being identified with ovarian most cancers at 15, has proven indicators of significant fatigue and exhaustion at occasions in the course of the match. She was seen holding her chest after which dropping to the bottom throughout a observe session. In a gaggle recreation towards Germany, she dropped to her knees behind play earlier than mendacity face down on the grass as staff medical employees went to her assist.
Precautionary medical exams got here again clear, and there have been no apparent indicators of issues in her following two video games towards Morocco and Jamaica.
A baby sensation, who made her senior debut at 14, Caicedo has lived as much as her billing as one of many brightest prospects in soccer at this World Cup and can pose an enormous attacking risk to England within the quarterfinals.
MARY FOWLER (Australia)
Within the absence of star striker Sam Kerr for a lot of the match to this point, Australia has needed to look to others for inspiration.
Step ahead Manchester Metropolis striker Fowler, who has grown into the World Cup and produced arguably her greatest efficiency of the competitors in Australia’s 2-0 win over Denmark to advance to the quarterfinals.
Fowler’s perfectly-weighted go arrange Caitlin Foord’s opening aim within the recreation in Sydney. She was concerned once more as Hayley Raso scored within the second half.
The 20-year-old Fowler was on the right track herself in Australia’s 4-0 win over Olympic champions Canada of their remaining group recreation.
It’s not clear how a lot of a job Fowler will play as soon as Kerr totally recovers from a calf damage she sustained on the eve of the World Cup, however will probably be troublesome for Australia coach Tony Gustavsson to bench her.
SOPHIA SMITH (United States)
It began so nicely for Smith, who’s a part of a brand new era of American stars.
She scored twice in the USA’ opening 3-0 win over Vietnam, however struggled alongside along with her teammates after that.
Smith did not rating once more within the match because the back-to-back defending champions have been eradicated within the spherical of 16 on penalty kicks towards Sweden. To make issues worse, she missed her spot kick within the shootout and was in tears because the People made an early exit.
The 22-year-old Smith can nonetheless return to her peak regardless of failing to reside as much as expectations positioned on her, heading into the match.
The truth that US coach Vlatko Andonovski saved Smith on for all the knockout match towards Sweden, whereas substituting Alex Morgan in additional time, was proof that she is a part of the longer term for the nation.
MELCHIE DUMORNAY (Haiti)
Dumornay was a near-constant risk to England in Haiti’s opening recreation on debut on the World Cup.
Whereas Haiti misplaced 1-0 after a twice-taken Georgia Stanway penalty, the 19-year-old Dumornay repeatedly had the Lionesses on the again foot.
Haiti, ranked 53rd by FIFA, have been eradicated after ending backside of Group D. They misplaced all three video games and have been one in all solely two groups to not rating within the match, together with Vietnam.
However Dumornay, who will play for European powerhouse Lyon subsequent season, seems to be a star within the making.
