1. Vicky Losada – Spain/Barcelona – 61 Caps / 13 goals
Still one of the most underrated players in women’s football this isn’t to say people don’t see the talent she has but she doesn’t get the mentions she deserves when talking about the best. The UEFA Women’s Champions League finalist this season with Barcelona saw her captain her side to end up runners up. Vicky has spent most of her career with Barcelona, spanning from 2004 coming through the youth but luckily for me, she had a spell for Arsenal where I first got to see her play in 2015-2016 where she made 25 appearances. Losada started her international career in 2010 and also is the current captain of Catalonia.
A lot of 2015-2016 was spent going to see Vicky Losada play which was always a pleasure. A dynamic midfielder who doesn’t give up any battle a real throwback on the pitch. Not only can she battle to win the ball back but can pick a pass and also hammer the ball home as well. While she was in England she was instrumental in Arsenal winning the Continental Cup and the Women’s FA Cup in the short time she was there winning the Supporters player of the year in 2016. She also scored Spain’s first ever World Cup goal against Costa Rico.
Losada will be a huge part of Spain’s campaign as a lot of people see them as the Tournaments Dark Horse.
2. Turid Knaak – Germany/SGS Essen – 7 Caps / 1 Goal
Turid is one of the best players I’ve ever watch play live a two month spell at Arsenal made me follow her career to Germany to see her play and sit with a smile with a huge smile on my face as she enters her first World Cup, she was in the running for the last World Cup when she broke her Fibula and Tibia which took away two years for her but for Bayer Leverkusen and SGS Essen she has fought her way back to make her debut and find herself in the squad for France. Genuinely one of the nicest people in football as a whole. Turid has played her way through the ranks of Germany from U15’s all the way to the Senior squad.
She is an attacking midfielder but likes to cut in and trouble the keeper as well. She is a player that could change any game at the drop of a hat with the ball at her feet she can leave any defence for dead. Season upon season Turid seems to surpass what she has achieved the season before as she grows and becomes a mainstay in the SGS Essen team and Germany squad.
3. Inessa Kaagman – Netherlands/Everton – 3 Caps / 0 Goals
At the tender age of 23 years old and already achieved so much in the Netherlands as a player for Ajax for 5 years between 2013-2018 with over 100 appearances for the Dutch giants. Another player that has made her way up through the youth stages of the national team which included her winning the U19 Championship in Norway. She has made the move to Everton last season and as I predicted she has won over their fan base in a short time with 19 appearances and 4 goals. Another player that took me abroad to see football in a different country.
Kaagman always seems to be smiling but is all business on the pitch between whistles. I also think Everton haven’t seen the best of her yet as seeing her for Ajax, her passing is pinpoint as she can hit a target from a mile away, her tackling is fierce to win the ball back. Inessa over a set piece will always spell danger whether she shoots or crosses as I’ve seen her score some cracking goals for Netherlands and Ajax. Inessa international debut came in January this year and has 3 Caps to her name but this will very quickly get a higher number.
4. Fridolina Rolfo – Sweden/Wolfsburg – 34 Caps / 8 Goals
Fridolina’s breakthrough into the Swedish National team came while she was playing for Linkopings FC in 2014. After two years at Linkopings FC and making 50 appearances she moved onto Bayer Munich making 37 appearances and scoring 16 goals. Her Champions League debut saw her bag a hattrick for Linkopings FC against Liverpool.
She is a pacey striker that can run the wings when needed to but knows where the goal is when she gets it on to her left foot, powerful on and off the ball that will no doubt be a huge part of Sweden’s campaign. She has recently made the move to Wolfsburg where she will no doubt improve as a player as her career continues. Fridolina was a Silver Medalist with Sweden in 2016 in Rio. She also won the U19’s Championship for Sweden in 2012. Before playing for Munich and Linkopings she had spells at Jitex and Tolo IF.
5. Beth Mead – England/Arsenal – 13 Caps / 5 Goals
Even back when I saw Beth play for Sunderland against Aston Villa she always was so dangerous In front of goal but now when you see her playing for Arsenal and England she is such a complete player. Beth has worked her way up from England’s U15 all the way through the age groups many would argue she had to wait longer than deserved to make her senior debut has taken this chance with both hands and for me is England’s biggest threat in the competition.
Mead played for Sunderland during 2011-2017 making 78 appearances and scoring 77 goals which is an incredible record before moving to Arsenal in 2017 making 40 appearances and scoring 16 goals, but stats don’t always tell you the full story as she has changed her role and excelled at it. She is a player that will not only score but get you many assists during a campaign. Beth was part of the England team that won the She Believes Cup in 2019.
