79 years after the Vichy regime banned women from playing football, the Women's World Cup is being hosted in France. While there are still people with derogatory attitudes towards women's football in the country, French football has also been a stronghold of the women's game in Europe through Olympique Lyonnais FĂ©minin, who have just won four Champions League titles in a row.
Their star striker, Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg, will not play for Norway as part of her ongoing protest against the NFF for their treatment of women and their attitude toward the women's game.
Current FIFA Rankings have the USA first, Germany 2nd, and England 3rd, with France in 4th. They are followed by Canada in 5th and Australia in 6th. Australia have one to watch in Sam Kerr, all-time top scorer is the NWSL and current Chicago player.
The Netherlands, ranked 8th, are the current holders of the European Cup and are expected to be a threat to the traditional superpowers.
The title-winning Arsenal Women are well represented, including Pauline Peyraud-Magnin called up for France, England players Leah Williamson and Beth Mead (Jordan Nobbs is heartbreakingly unavailable after doing her knee), Scottish players Lisa Evans, Kim Little, and Jennifer Beattie (who just returned to Arsenal from Manchester City), star striker Vivianne Miedema, Danielle van de Donk and Jill Roord for the Dutch, and our new German signing Leonie Maier.
France play the opening game against South Korea on June 7 at 20:00 BST.
