PSG Women stars prepare for World Cup
Twelve Paris Saint-Germain players, who will be taking part in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 from Thursday 20 July to Sunday 20 August in Australia and New Zealand, took part in their respective national team's preparatory matches. Here's a round-up.
CONSTANCE PICAUD / ESTELLE CASCARINO / ELISA DE ALMEIDA / SAKINA KARCHAOUI / LAURINA FAZER / GRACE GEYORO - FRANCE
The French women's team of Constance Picaud, Estelle Cascarino, Elisa De Almeida, Sakina Karchaoui, Laurina Fazer and Grace Geyoro played two friendly matches in the build-up to the World Cup. Firstly, Les Bleues beat the Republic of Ireland 3-0 on Thursday 6 July at Dublin's Tallaght Stadium, a match in which Cascarino, Karchaoui and Geyoro started, while De Almeida appeared on the pitch on the hour-mark. Eight days later at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium, Hervé Renard's side lost 1-0 to Australia, a match in which De Almeida, Karchaoui and Geyoro started, with the former making way for Cascarino at half-time.
VIOLA CALLIGARIS / RAMONA BACHMANN - SWITZERLAND
The Swiss women's team, led by Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramona Bachmann and the capital club's latest recruit Viola Calligaris, also had two friendly matches on the menu before the World Cup finals, both of which ended in draws. The first was a 3-3 draw with Zambia on Friday 30 June at Biel's Tissot Arena, with Bachmann playing the entire match and providing an assist for the opening goal, while Calligaris took part in the first half. A second 0-0 draw, with Morocco five days later at Winterthur's Stadion Schützenwiese, saw Bachmann playing the first 83 minutes.
JACKIE GROENEN / LIEKE MARTENS - NETHERLANDS
The Dutch women's team of Jackie Groenen and Lieke Martens from Paris took part in a friendly before the World Cup. The Oranje Leeuwinnen won 5-0 against Belgium on Sunday 2 July at the Parkstad Limburg Stadion in Kerkrade, a match which the two Rouge et Bleus started. Martens opened the scoring and then provided the assist for the Netherlands' third goal, before making way for her replacement late on.
AMALIE VANGSGAARD - DENMARK
Paris Saint-Germain striker Amalie Vangsgaard's Danish women's team also had a friendly on the programme ahead of the World Cup. The Rod-Hvides lost 2-0 to Spain on Wednesday 5 July at the Gladsaxe Stadion in Gladsaxe. The Parisian was not start on the team sheet.
ANA VITORIA - BRAZIL
Ana Vitoria's Brazilian women's team took part in a friendly match before heading to Australia. The Seleção Feminina defeated Chile 4-0 on Sunday 2 July at the Arena BRB Mané Garrincha in Brasilia, a match in which the new Les Rouge et Bleu star played the first hour. After travelling to the host country, Pia Sundhage's players took part in an unofficial 3 x 30-minute match against China on Thursday 13 July, winning 3-0 at the Royal Pines Resort Gold Coast in Benowa.