FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 - Group G: Preview, schedule, and how to watch live action
Group G is home to Sweden, Italy, South Africa, and Argentina. Here's what to expect from these nations at the biggest tournament in women's football.
Football
Group G at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is home to Sweden, South Africa, Italy, and Argentina – all nations to have featured in the tournament in previous years.
Of the quartet, it is Sweden who have come closest to winning the prestigeous football trophy, losing in the final in 2003 and collecting bronze three times. The Italians have fallen short at the quarter-final stages on two previous occasions.
For South Africa and Argentina, however, the 2023 edition presents an opportune time to emerge from the group stages, something neither nation has been able to achieve before.
To keep you fully briefed about the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, here are the key things you need to know about the action unfolding in Group G.
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 18: Manuela Giugliano, Elisa Bartoli, Lucia Di Guglielmo, Valentina Bergamaschi, Elena Linari, Laura Giuliani, and Cristiana Girelli of Italy sing their national anthem prior to the UEFA Women's Euro England 2022 group D match between Italy and Belgium at Manchester City Academy Stadium on July 18, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)
2023 Women's World Cup: Group G Preview
When it comes to the World Cup, Sweden have often been the ‘almost’ team. In eight previous editions of the tournament, they have found themselves finishing in third place three times - narrowly missing out on a chance to contest the final. The one year they did reach the final, in 2003, they were beaten in golden goal extra time by Germany.
They’ll be spurred on by the form that forwards Fridolina Rolfö and Stina Blackstenius hit for their respective clubs last season, as well as being able to call on the reliable Magdalena Eriksson at the back.
After making their maiden World Cup appearance at the 2019 edition of the competition, South Africa return to the world stage for a second consecutive tournament. The team known as Banyana Banyana are the reigning Africa Women Cup of Nations champions, having finally lifted the elusive trophy after finishing continental runners-up in the past four editions.
Though without veteran defender Janine van Wyk, they welcome back Thembi Kgatlana, who spend much of the last year recovering from a knee injury.
The Italians are a side stacked with talent across the pitch but have yet to fully tap into it. The 2022 UEFA European Championships was one of their most disappointing displays to date, crashing out of the group stages in last place with a single point on the board. They scored just two goals - one of which was in a 5-1 thumping at the hands of France, the other a second-half equaliser against fellow strugglers Iceland.
Recent history in this competition fares them well, though, having reached the quarter-finals in France last time out. They will, however, be without long-standing captain Sara Gama who was omitted from their 23-player squad by head coach Milena Bertolini.
Argentina are hoping to better their previous record in this tournament, by emerging from the group stages for what would be the first time. They have appeared in the Women's World Cup three times prior, and while their 2003 and 2007 showings were disappointing, their outing in 2019 showed improvement, picking up two draws and losing narrowly to England.
La Albiceleste will no doubt be inspired by the men’s team, who won the coveted men's trophy in Qatar late last year.
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 10: Aldana Cometti of Argentina celebrates with teammate Estefania Banini after the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group D match between Argentina and Japan at Parc des Princes on June 10, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
2023 Women's World Cup: Group G players to watch
Fridolina Rolfö - Sweden
Since moving to FC Barcelona in 2021, it feels as though Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfö has gone from strength to strength and upped her game immensely. One of the standout performers at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in 2021, Rolfö moved to the Spanish giants and broke new ground in her ability.
A talented forward, she has come to tap into her versatility and hone her craft along the backline, whether that be as a full-back or a wing-back for her club. For country, though, her place has mostly stayed the same as that of an out-and-out attacker and, alongside Arsenal forward Stina Blackstenius, Sweden could create real problems for other nations.
Rolfö is going into the World Cup on the back of a domestic double with Barça, and will be instilled with confidence after scoring the goal that saw the Catalan club complete a remarkable comeback against VfL Wolfsburg to win their second UWCL title last month.
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Fridolina Rolfo of Sweden runs with the ball past Lucy Bronze of England during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 Semi Final match between England and Sweden at Bramall Lane on July 26, 2022 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Refiloe Jane - South Africa
South Africa are a nation on the up in the world of women’s football - and one player leading the charge is midfielder Refiloe Jane. Just last year, the 30-year-old shared the captaincy alongside defender Janine van Wyk as they stormed to their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title after losing the four previous finals.
With Van Wyk unavailable for selection through injury, Refiloe is set to assume the captaincy as South Africa embarks on their second-ever World Cup appearance. “I feel blessed, firstly, to be selected as part of the team. And now I feel honoured and privileged to be named team captain going into the World Cup,” said the Sassuolo midfielder.
To be selected is evidently a privilege within itself, but she will no doubt be spurred on even further to lead Banyana Banyana out in Australia and New Zealand.
MILAN, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 25: Jane Refiloe of AC Milan reacts during the warm up prior to the Women's Serie A match between AC Milan and Sassuolo at Campo Sportivo Vismara on September 25, 2021 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
2023 Women's World Cup: Group G schedule
Here’s how the group stages are shaping up for these four nations (all local times; AEST–UTC+12)…
- 23 July: Sweden vs South Africa, 17:00 KO at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
- 24 July: Italy vs Argentina, 18:00 KO at Eden Park, Auckland
- 28 July: Argentina vs South Africa, 12:00 KO at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dudein
- 29 July: Sweden vs Italy, 19:30 KO at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
- 2 August: Argentina vs Sweden, 19:00 KO at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
- 2 August: South Africa vs Italy, 19:00 at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
You can discover how to watch live and find the full list of confirmed broadcasters so far here.