Inter Milan trio Francesca Durante, Stefanie van der Gragt and Anja Sønstevold will be representing the best of the Nerazzurri at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Italy, the Netherlands and Norway have varying chances of going all the way at the major tournament but no matter how the competition pans out, it will be an even more valuable experience for the Inter trio.
Van der Gragt Hoping To Shine With Netherlands
The Dutch are considered one of the outsiders for the title at this World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after finishing runners-up at the last tournament in 2019.
The Netherlands are 20/1 in the betting on Women’s World Cup to lift the trophy Down Under and Van der Gragt looks like she has an important role to play.
Today’s football odds have the Dutch as the 13/5 second favourites to win Group E, as they find themselves drawn alongside the pre-tournament favourites in the form of the USA.
With Portugal and Vietnam also in this group, the Netherlands should be confident of making it through to the knockout stages.
Inter’s Van der Gragt has over 100 caps for her country and her experience at the back will be valuable for the Leeuwinnen.
Losing to the USA in the last World Cup final will have hurt and will be a motivator for Van der Gragt and her team-mates to try and go one better this time around.
Sønstevold And Norway Can Go Under The Radar
Former world champions Norway don’t seem to be too fancied going into this tournament and that might well suit Inter star Sønstevold and her team-mates in the national side.
Norway won the World Cup back in 1995 and reached the quarter-finals of the last competition in 2019. Former Lillestrøm defender Sønstevold will be hoping to get plenty of minutes at this World Cup and help Norway progress through a group that also includes co-hosts New Zealand, the Philippines and Switzerland.
Meanwhile, in the Italy camp, keeper Durante will be hoping she can get time on the field as the Azzurri look to cause a few upsets Down Under.
The Inter shot-stopper has just one cap for Italy going into the competition and might have to be patient as a backup keeper.
Durante joined the Nerazzurri back in 2021 and has done enough in her time at Inter to earn a coveted place in this Italian World Cup squad.
The first-choice keeper at Inter will be eager to help her country’s cause as they prepare to face the likes of Argentina, South Africa and Sweden in their Group G matches based in New Zealand.
It will be a big ask to progress to the latter stages of the tournament but Italy do have the potential to spring some surprises.
Durante, Van der Gragt and Anja Sønstevold are key figures at Inter and all three will be flying the flag for the Nerazzurri for this highly-anticipated World Cup in the southern hemisphere.