Kawasumi was out of the picture since some months (she wasn't called for any of 2019's friendly matches), Ariyoshi was a late cut (a younger FB who can have the same role of covering both sides was chosen from recent U-20 Champion team at her place, Asato Miyagawa). Nagasato is a different story: in late 2016 or early 2017, she asked not to be called to concentrate on her club career, where she was in a somehow unsatisfying phase. It wasn't an actual retirement, more like an agreement between the coach and her to put her NT career on hiatus. At the end of 2018, Nagasato posted on social media some claims that could somehow read like "I feel like I am now in one of the happiest moment of my career and I found again the joy and fun in playing", thus maybe implying that she was ready to come back to NT if needed. Nobody knows what happened behind curtains and if Takakura ever talked with Nagasato after that, but probably Takakura thought that calling Nagasato back at that moment would have disrupted the team as it had been builded in her absence. Nobody actually knows if Nagasato was really available nor if Takakura actually considered her. It's a fact that she never called her again in 2019. I agree that she looks like the best Japanese international in this moment.
27 SUPER FALCONS FOR WORLD CUP FINAL CAMP Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Alaba Jonathan (Bayelsa Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Confluence Queens) Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Ebere (Arna Bjornar, Norway); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Josephine Chukwunonye (Kungsbacka DFF, Sweden); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); Chidinma Okeke (FC Robo) Midfielders: Cecilia Nku (Ferencvaros Torna, Hungary); Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels); Ogonna Chukwudi (Djurgardens IF, Sweden); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons) Forwards: Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Anam Imo (Malmo FC Rosengard, Sweden); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Uchenna Kanu (Southeastern University, USA); Rasheedat Ajibade (Alvadsnes IL, Norway); Francisca Ordega (Shanghai W. FC); Ini-Abasi Umotong (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels), Chinwendu Ihezuo (Henan Huisanhang, China)
No Kyah Simon or Tameka Butt, out of the ones that I would have expected: injuries or technical choice?
New Zealand did a squad announcement video too, quite nice. But the biggest celebs they could get were Dom, Meg & Randell from the radio.
Oh, ok, I wasn't aware! I sometimes miss some of these matrimonial changes! this also means that Panini sticker album correctly guessed a respectable 15 out of 17 players from Australian roster. Edit: by the way, it's a shame Yallop herself hasn't been called into Football Ferns' roster. It would have made for a nice story.
I think Kirsty Yallop retired before this season. She is now in the coaching staff at Klepp. She is pictured far left in the middle row wearing a jacket in this team picture.
Australia: Average age: 26 years, 3 months, 24 days WC newbies: 8 Germany: Average age: 25 years, 10 months, 10 days WC newbies: 14
There's something that bothers me and that's Gössling and Gwinn in the f***ing defense but that was expected Feels like a squad with more depth than the WC2015 roaster although the starting 11 back then was perhaps more powerful
Is there any who has at least played at Olympic Games with team Great Britain? I am aware that it has nothing to do with being newbies at WWC or not, but I am curious.
I think Kim Little was the only one with that 2012 Great Britain team (Dieke was also on that 2012 team but retired after the 2017 Euros). But there are some very experienced players on the Scotland team, like Beattie and Corsie, and a good number on this roster played in the 2017 Euros.
Well, Germany had Nadine Angerer in goal. Also, they had Celia Sasic (Okoyino da Mbabi), the ever-dependable Melanie Behringer, and Anja Mittag. Also, even though she (sadly) didn't play in the World Cup, we think of Germany at that time featuring Nadine Kessler. Now there may be several good younger German players that I'm unfamiliar with but when you think of the players in top European teams, even in the Frauen-Bundesliga, it isn't German names that come to mind first, for example Pernille Harder (Denmark) and Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway)
Brazil roster GK Bárbara Aline Reis Letícia DF Letícia Santos Fabiana Tamires Camila Erika Mônica Kathellen Tayla MF Formiga Thaisa Andressinha Adriana FW Marta Andressa Alves Debinha Ludmilla Geyse Raquel Bia Zaneratto Cristiane
Yes you said it, not having Kessler hurt Germany badly since Leupolz was pretty unexperienced back then although she’ll be important this summer for the Germans. Kessler and Gössling were the best double 6 in the game back then - also not having Alushi hurt Germany, so perhaps they could’ve won but we’ll never know for sure anyway. Perhaps they’d won if Sasic didn’t miss that penalty Frauen-Bundesliga is sadly getting worse every year...
So in the end Cristiane made it, although I seem to remember that she had picked up an injury recently. And it's official that Formiga will play her 6th World Cup (ok, it's not official yet : but it's at least official that she's in the roster). With Formiga, Marta and Cristiane in the roster, I won't wait for @lil_one's calculations to proclaim Brazil's the older roster at the WWC (and let's hope the facts won't deny me! ). Edit: another aged veteran's name should be Erika.