Women’s World Cup 2023: Lionesses possible route to final as Germany and USA lie in wait

After European glory on home soil last summer, England turn their attention to the Women’s World Cup and their latest bid for silverware.

Sarina Wiegman’s side arrive in Australia without a number of key stars though, with European Championship top scorer Beth Mead and captain Leah Williamson both ruled out with ACL injuries. Fran Kirby also misses out after undergoing surgery on a knee problem.

The Lionesses must find a way to cope with those absences and put behind them some slightly stumbling form, after a defeat to Australia and an uneventful draw with Portugal in their send-off fixture.

If England are to lift the World Cup trophy for the first time, they will likely have to come through an incredibly difficult run of fixtures in the knockout stages.

Group stage

England vs Haiti (July 22 - 10:30am, Lang Park, Brisbane, ITV)

England vs Denmark (July 28 - 9:30am, Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, BBC)

England vs China (August 1 - 12pm, Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, ITV)

The Lionesses should be confident of topping Group D, with an opening clash against Haiti as comfortable a start the tournament as they could have wished for.

Denmark have plenty of quality themselves and will be eyeing the knockout stages with Pernille Harder leading the line, but England should have enough to get past them and then seal top spot against China in their final group-stage encounter.

Last-16

England vs Canada (August 7 - 8:30am, Lang Park, Brisbane)

Now the guesswork begins.

Should England top their group, they will face the runners-up from Group B, which features Australia, Canada, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland.

It looks to be a straight fight between Australia and Canada for top spot, with the Matildas potentially benefitting from home support to get the job done.

That would leave England facing Canada, the reigning Olympic champions in the last-16 who are managed by former England assistant Bev Priestman.

Sarina Wiegman’s side could face the Olympic champions in the last-16 (AFP via Getty Images)

Quarter-final

England vs Germany (August 12 - 11:30am, Stadium Australia, Sydney)

Come through that and things will likely get really difficult for the Lionesses.

Germany appear the most obvious quarter-final opponents, assuming they get past either Brazil or France in the last-16.

England beat the Germans at Wembley to win the Euros last summer and revenge will certainly be on the mind for Alexandra Popp and her team-mates, who look well capable of going all the way this summer.

Semi-final

England vs Australia (August 16 - 11am, Stadium Australia, Sydney)

Come through that and England will have their eyes firmly on the World Cup trophy.

They might have to take down co-hosts Australia to reach the final though, and the Matildas would go into that match full of confidence.

Victory over England in April ended the Lionesses’ long unbeaten run under Wiegman - a rematch in Sydney would be a very special occasion.

The Lionesses were beaten at home by Australia in April (Getty Images)

Final

England vs USA (August 20 - 11am, Stadium Australia, Sydney)

Canada, Germany and Australia seen off in the knockout stages, leaving just the small matter of the USA in the final.

The tournament favourites are looking to win the World Cup for a third time in a row, having beaten England in the last-four on their way to winning in France four years ago.

A final against the USA would be the ultimate test of the Lionesses’ credentials.