Three Tottenham Women stars pick up points at the FIFA World Cup
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is well and truly underway Down Under and Tottenham Women have already been well represented.
There have been 21 goals scored across 11 games so far at the tournament. Favourites the United States got off to an emphatic winning start, defeating Vietnam 3-0, while Japan recorded the competition’s biggest victory so far, a 5-0 win over Zambia.
England got their campaign started with a 1-0 win over Haiti, thanks to a penalty from midfielder Georgia Stanway, as they look to repeat their heroics from the Summer of 2022, when they clinched the European Championship, inspiring the next generation of women’s players.
Four Tottenham stars have so far been named in matchday squads during the World Cup and although two of those four didn’t make it off the bench, none of the stars of North London were on the losing side.
Ria Percival was involved in New Zealand’s historic first-ever World Cup victory, a 1-0 win over Norway in the tournament’s opening match, although the Spurs star did miss a late penalty.
Shelina Zadorsky was an unused substitute during Canada’s opening game, a stalemate with Nigeria in Group B, with the African side finishing the match with 10 players after a late red card.
Bethany England was named on the bench as England got off to their aforementioned winning start in Group D. England did not get on the pitch during last summer’s European Championship success and will be hoping to get some minutes under her belt in Australia and New Zealand this year.
New Spurs recruit, defender Luana Buhler, started and played the full 90 minutes as her Switzerland side kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win against the Philippines. This would have given supporters the opportunity to get a potential first look at their newest addition.
And her performance would have provided those same supporters with plenty to be excited about. After a season of poor defensive displays, Tottenham Women need some reinforcements, and Buhler definitely showed she is capable.
The 27-year-old was the fourth-highest rated player on the pitch (Sofascore), and the highest in Switzerland’s back-four. She made two clearances, one interception and three tackles as well as winning 100 per cent of her ground duels and one of her four aerial duels.
From a non-defensive perspective, she completed 92 per cent of her passes (92 out of 100), one of those being key, had 108 touches and completed 12 of her 16 attempted long balls.
Overall it has been a positive start to the World Cup for Tottenham’s stars and long may it continue.
In other Tottenham news, Yves Bissouma is beginning to show signs of life under Ange Postecoglou.