The Argentina national team, known as the Albiceleste, faces a tough start as it pursues its first win at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023.
Argentina aims to build on recent momentum and deliver its best performance at a Women’s World Cup, with optimism running high after a solid showing in the Copa América. Led by coach unconfirmed in the text, the squad must first navigate a challenging Group G, where progress is not guaranteed and every match counts toward a historic milestone.
In the group phase, Argentina will clash with Sweden, South Africa and Italy. The group presents a genuine test, with Sweden appearing as the early favorite and likely to secure one of the knockout round spots, while the other two rivals bring different styles and challenges to the table.
Argentina’s 2023 World Cup journey: schedule, opponents, results and selection calls
ARGENTINA’S RIVALS IN THE 2023 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP, HOW DO THEY FARE?
Sweden is not only considered the strong favorite in Group G; they are also one of the tournament’s standout sides. Under coach Peter Gerhardsson, Sweden finished third at the 2019 World Cup in France, earned a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and reached the Euro Cup semi-finals in 2022. Their consistency and depth across positions make them a formidable obstacle for Argentina and the rest of the group.
Argentina at the 2023 Women’s World Cup: schedule, group play, fixtures, and selection decisions
On the other hand, South Africa and Italy enter the tournament with mixed results in recent cycles. South Africa, known as Banyana Banyana, clinched the Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022, marking a historic achievement for the nation; however, their World Cup debut in 2019 was difficult, and Tokyo 2020 did not feature their squad. Italy, meanwhile, earned a quarterfinal appearance at the 2019 World Cup and advanced from the Euro 2022 group stage, though they did not participate in the Tokyo Games. These variances add intrigue to Group G as teams aim to advance to the knockout rounds.
If one looks at the FIFA rankings published on June 9, 2023, Sweden sat near the top of the list, with Italy, Argentina and South Africa following in the standings. Rankings provide context, but the on-field performance, tactical setups, and momentum in the lead-up to the tournament drive outcomes in the group stage.
Source: Goal