2023 Women's World Cup Group C Preview: Spain's Biggest Star Returns Just in Time

Alexia Putellas is back on the field after an ACL injury, but many of her top teammates won't be joining her as players protest manager Jorge Vilda.

This Women's World Cup group is home to the biggest name in women’s soccer: Spain’s Alexia Putellas. The Barcelona midfielder has won back-to-back Ballon d’Or awards as the world’s best player—and for good reason. Putellas has led Barça to seven league titles. Last year she scored 34 goals in all competitions and was the top scorer in the Champions League. But an ACL injury just before the Euro 2022 kept her out of action for nearly a year, and she now makes her return to a Spain roster that has undergone some upheaval. 

In September the national team dropped 15 players after the Spanish federation said they refused to play under manager Jorge Vilda, whom the players said was affecting their mental and physical health with his coaching methods. Since then, three of the 15 players—Aitana Bonmatí, Ona Batlle and Mariona Caldentey—have returned to play in the World Cup. But even without some of its notable players, Spain has plenty of firepower, as evidenced by its B team’s 2–0 win over the U.S. in October.

After recovering from her ACL injury, Putellas returned to the pitch on April 30 in Barcelona's win over Sporting Huelva.  / IMAGO

• Women’s World Cup Schedule: Group list, streaming information.

Japan, which was the 2011 World Cup champion, will be Spain’s biggest challenger in the group. Led by veteran captain Saki Kumagai, the team hopes to overcome a series of losses to teams in the field (Denmark, Brazil, Spain, England, U.S.) the past few months, including a poor start at the SheBelieves Cup salvaged by only a win over Canada. Costa Rica will be looking for its first World Cup win after earning two points in ’15, while Zambia will make its World Cup debut after having finished third at the ’22 WAFCON.

Projected Group Finish

1. Spain
2. Japan
3. Costa Rica
4. Zambia

Breakout Star

Barbra Banda, Zambia

The 23-year-old striker is the only player to score multiple hat tricks in a single Olympic tournament, which she did in Tokyo. Her international rise was stalled the next summer when she was banned at the 2022 WAFCON after her testosterone level was above that allowed by the Confederation of African Football. Last September, she returned to help Zambia win the ’22 COSAFA Women’s Cup with a tournament-high eight goals. 

Banda scored twice in Zambia's World Cup sendoff game against Germany on July 7, with her team winning 3–2 :: Daniela Porcelli/IMAGO

Wild Card

Spain, Japan and Costa Rica also shared a group at the men’s World Cup last year, with Spain and Japan advancing to the knockout stage (both lost in penalty shootouts). Will their women counterparts do the same this summer?

Game of the Group

Spain vs. Japan, July 31

This matchup will likely determine the group winner, but this pair’s most recent battle resulted in a sluggish 1–0 win for La Roja last November.