At the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Banyana Banyana will have a stern test on their hands as they look to progress to the tournament's knockout stage for the first time in their history! However, it will not be an easy task for the reigning African champions as they will come up against Argentina, Italy and one of the competition favourites, Sweden, in Group G. Soccer Laduma international journalist Kamogelo Motecwane caught up with two of the high-profile players South Africa will be coming up against at the global showpiece in Juventus stars Linda Sembrant of Sweden and Lisa Boattin of Italy. We hear the duo's thoughts ahead of facing Africa's champions, Refiloe Jane, as well as on their World Cup aspirations.
Kamogelo Motecwane: Good afternoon, Linda and Lisa. It's a pleasure to speak to you both today.
Linda Sembrant Lisa Boattin: Hello. Pleasure to speak to you too.
KM: Having won the Scudetto on so many occasions with Juventus, is the next step to win the UEFA Women's Champions League? If so, what do you think it will take to achieve that?
LB: Sure. The Champions League is a dream, and we hope we can get better so we can compete with the best teams. It is very difficult to win. We have to try, but it's difficult.
LS: We feel like every year we're taking steps (to win it). Last year, we had a very good run in the Champions League, when we made it to the quarterfinals, and you could feel like the team and the players grew a lot from that and gained more experience of how it is to play in Europe, to meet the best players, so I think that was also really important. This year, like you said, we had a tough group. We did quite well in the group, but we didn't manage to progress. It's so important that the team is growing because this is a club that always wants to win, always wants to progress, so you can feel that we want to take the steps to get better so we can compete with the best teams.
KM: Lisa, you have just inked a new three-year deal with Juventus and have been at the club since its inception. Was there perhaps a temptation to move abroad?
LB: I don't really like to talk about the transfer market a lot. I think, in this moment, the best thing for me was to re-sign, because I am happy here. I believe in this team, I believe in this club. We started a project at the club and hopefully we can continue in this way.
KM: You have both played against Refiloe Jane, who has played for AC Milan and now Sassuolo, and is the captain of South Africa. What do you think of her as a player in the Serie A Femminile?
LS: Yes, I played against her during my first year here, when she was playing in Milan. That year she was doing really, really well, and that was the first time I saw her more and also played against her. Impressive player, and I can imagine that she would really be important for South Africa this summer. What we hear about her is that she is a great person, a good person, so that's really nice.
LB: Yes, I remember the season she did very well at Milan, and yeah, she is a good player.
KM: Linda, having played against Banyana Banyana at previous Olympic Games (in 2012 and 2016), what were your initial impressions of playing against South Africa at these tournaments?
LS: Yes, we came up against South Africa at the 2012 Olympics. I think maybe we won with just one goal – maybe you know this better than me – and then also in Brazil at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and it was also a tight game, like 1-0 or something. They are a good team. Individually really strong, physically really strong, it is hard to play against them. They have some experience now from tournaments, so I am looking forward to meeting them again this summer, but yes, a good team.
KM: Lisa, having won the Serie A Femminile Player of the Year award in 2022, do you aspire to win the Ballon d'Or? What do you think it will take for you to achieve that?
LB: Yes, last season I was able to win the trophy for best player. It was an amazing year for me and for my team. I want to also thank my team because it is because of them that I am able to win the trophy. The Ballon d'Or is something incredible and it is the dream to win the Ballon d'Or. I will keep going, and will play with my teammates, so hopefully one day I can achieve this dream.
KM: What are your overall thoughts on South Africa going to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, especially going into the tournament as Africa Cup of Nations winners?
LS: They are obviously doing really well, winning the Africa Cup of Nations, and I think they will go there with confidence. I guess they have had a good season in the bag and, like I said before, they are always a tough team to play against.
LB: I agree. It will surely be a hard match because they are a strong team, very physical and for us (Italy), it will be the first time we play against South Africa. We are four teams in the group, all good teams, but it will not be easy against any of them.
KM: Linda, with so many of Juventus players being in the Italy squad, do you think you might have an advantage with how to get the better of them at the FIFA World Cup with Sweden?
LS: Yes, of course, I will tell my team everything (laughs). I mean, in the Italian national team there are nine or 10 players from Juventus, so I know what they're good at, what are some of the things we can take advantage of. They are good players and it will be a tough game, but it will be really fun actually to meet almost half my team and play against them. It will be a special moment, for sure.
KM: You will obviously be playing for different countries at the World Cup. What are your aspirations going into the tournament with your respective nations?
LS: For me, it will be history because this time it will be my fourth (World Cup), so it's amazing any time in your career to play for your country at these big tournaments. So, it's really something special. I think for us, Sweden, as a team, we've never made it the whole way and that is a dream we have, but I must also say that today I think it's even harder to win something because of how the football is today. It's so much better now, so many more countries because the development is becoming so much faster everywhere. So, I'll say it's become a lot harder because there are so many other countries that can also go for the medals.
LB: The World Cup is the best competition to play in. I think that we are lucky and proud to play for our national teams. The last one I played in, I was very young and hopefully at this one I will play a bigger part in my team's success.
KM: Thank you for your time and all the best to the both of you, Linda and Lisa, going forward!
LS: Cheers.
LB: Thank you.
