 Eni Aluko has named five players to look out for as the 2023 Women's World Cup gets started across Australia and New Zealand on Thursday. The United States have been crowned champions at the last two tournaments in 2019 and 2015 but former England star Aluko does not feel they are outright favourites this time around and is predicting a 'very competitive' World Cup. Several teams are packed with stars but there are five players in particular that Aluko feels fans should follow – including Zambia's 23-year-old goal machine Barbra Banda – who plays club football in the Chinese Women's Super League. Aluko also picked out Haiti winger Melchie Dumornay, 19, who will face England when the two nations meet in their World Cup Group D opener on Saturday as well as USWNT forward Sophia Smith, who she is tipping for the Golden Boot. 'I'd definitely look out for Barbra Banda – a Zambian player and an incredible footballer,' Aluko, who earned 106 caps for the Lionesses, told Metro.co.uk. 'She scored two hat-tricks at the last Olympics. She's got the whole country on her shoulders and she is literally carrying the team. I think it will be a breakout World Cup for her. 'I would look at someone like Melchie Dumornay from Haiti, they are in England's group and she is a top winger. Very good player. Melchie Dumornay is a 'top winger' who will face England on Saturday (Picture: Getty) 'Obviously Sam Kerr, who we all know. What can she achieve with Australia at her home World Cup? That's a really interesting storyline. 'Keira Walsh is one of my favourite players for England. What's interesting with her now is that teams are setting up tactically to stop her, because she's so good. 'We saw in the friendlies against Brazil and Australia that England couldn't really cope with that. Keira Walsh was named in the Team of the Tournament as England won Euro 2022 (Picture: Getty) 'Hopefully England will learn to s){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Eni Aluko has named five players to look out for as the 2023 Women’s World Cup gets started across Australia and New Zealand on Thursday.
The United States have been crowned champions at the last two tournaments in 2019 and 2015 but former England star Aluko does not feel they are outright favourites this time around and is predicting a ‘very competitive’ World Cup.
Several teams are packed with stars but there are five players in particular that Aluko feels fans should follow – including Zambia’s 23-year-old goal machine Barbra Banda – who plays club football in the Chinese Women’s Super League.
Aluko also picked out Haiti winger Melchie Dumornay, 19, who will face England when the two nations meet in their World Cup Group D opener on Saturday as well as USWNT forward Sophia Smith, who she is tipping for the Golden Boot.