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SheBelieves: one week to go

Updated: Apr 7, 2020

England will be defending their title when the SheBelieves cup kicks off in one week, on Thursday 5 March.


The Lionesses pipped the USA to the post in last year’s competition.


What is the SheBelieves Cup?

The SheBelieves Cup is an annual competition held in the United States. It began in 2016, Inspired by the USWNT players, the SheBelieves campaign was launched in the run-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 but has since grown to aim to “inspire, encourage and empower people to accomplish their goals”.


(Image: SheBelieves)

Who competes?

For the first three years, the competition involved England, France and Germany alongside the hosts.


For the 2019 competition, Brazil and Japan replaced Germany and France. Brazil - last year’s losers - will be replaced by Spain for this year’s tournament.

 

Who are the favourites to win?

The USA won the 2019 Women’s World Cup so will enter SheBelieves as favourites. They beat England in the semi-final last summer. They are also highest in the FIFA Women's World Rankings.


  • USA are first

  • England are sixth

  • Japan are tenth

  • Spain are thirteenth


The Lionesses last faced Spain in a friendly in April 2019 and won 2-1. Their most recent match against Japan was also a victory, winning 2-0 in the group stages of the 2019 Women’s World Cup.


This tournament will mark the USA’s first meetings with England and Spain since the World Cup. They played both countries in the knockout rounds in France, defeating Spain in the Round of 16 and England in the Semifinal, both by 2-1 scores.


Who to watch

England vs USA should be the highlight of the competition. Despite the World Cup winners defeating the Lionesses in their last meeting, it was a close game. Ballon d’Or winner, Megan Rapinoe will come up against second-placed Lucy Bronze.


Bronze v Rapinoe: International honours

Lucy Bronze:

  • PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year: 2013–14

  • England Player of the Year: 2015, 2019

  • FA WSL 1 Players' Player of the Year: 2016

  • MCWFC Player of the Season: 2016

  • FIFA FIFPro Women's World11: 2017, 2019

  • BBC Women's Footballer of the Year: 2018

  • FIFA Women's World Cup Silver Ball: 2019

  • UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award: 2018–19

  • IFFHS Women's World Team: 2017, 2018, 2019

  • Globe Soccer Awards Best Women's Player of the Year: 2019

  • Ballon d'Or, runner-up: 2019

  • The Best FIFA Women's Player, third place: 2019

Megan Rapinoe:

  • Algarve Cup MVP: 2013

  • NWSL Player of the Week: x5

  • NWSL Second XI: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019

  • NWSL Best XI: 2018

  • IFFHS World's Best Woman Playmaker: 2019

  • IFFHS Women's World Team: 2019

  • The Best FIFA Women's Player: 2019

  • FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2019

  • FIFA Women's World Cup Golden Boot: 2019

  • FIFPro World XI: 2019

  • FIFA Women's World Cup Final Player of the Match: 2019

  • Ballon d'Or Féminin: 2019

 

When are the matches?

5/3/20 Spain vs. Japan

5/3/20 USA vs. England

8/3/20 Japan vs. England

8/3/20 USA vs. Spain

11/3/20 England vs. Spain

11/3/20 USA vs. Japan

 

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