Women's World Cup watch: German team announcement goes viral

With less than a month to go until the Women's World Cup begins on 7 June, BBC Sport looks at the biggest stories involving the 24 teams who will be competing in France.

The tournament begins in Paris, with home nations England and Scotland facing each other in their opening group game on Sunday, 9 June, hoping to reach the final in Lyon on 7 July.

You can watch all the matches live coverage across BBC TV, radio and online.

'We play for a nation that doesn't even know our name'

Germany's squad announcement video screenshot
Dzsenifer Marozsan, Alexandra Popp and Melanie Leupolz are among the players featured in Germany's squad video

Germany confirmed their 23-player World Cup squad on Tuesday and their announcement videoexternal-link has gained huge traction on social media for its strong message of female empowerment.

The video, made by sponsor Commerzbank and posted by broadcaster DW Sports, features the players and manager Martina Voss-Tecklenburg highlighting the struggles they have faced in the women's game and the stereotypical comments they receive.

The voiceover includes lines such as "we play for a nation that doesn't even know our name" and "for our first title we were given a tea set".

The video, which has more than 325,000 views, ends with the message: "Don't worry, you don't need to know who we are, you just need to know what we want: to play our own game to our own beat."

Germany, who are two-time World Cup winners and eight-time European champions, are among the favourites in France.

Kerr to lead Matildas in France

Sam Kerr celebrates
Australia striker Sam Kerr is known for her backflip goal celebration

She's a record-breaking goalscorer - and prolific back-flipper - and now striker Sam Kerr has been chosen to lead Australia in France.

The 25-year-old made her international debut as a teenager 10 years ago and will compete at her third World Cup for the Matildas, who are in Group C alongside Italy, Brazil and Jamaica.

Kerr plays for Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League in the USA and Perth Glory in the Australian W-League - and she holds the all-time goal scoring record in both.

She's made a brilliant start to the season in the NWSL, scoring four goals in five games, including two in the Red Stars' 3-1 win over North Carolina Courage on Sunday.

We were even treated to her trademark acrobatic celebration. external-link

From Jamaica captain to university graduate

Khadija "Bunny" Shaw receives her degree

Jamaica captain Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw comes into the World Cup with an added honour.

The 22-year-old forward graduated with a degree in communication studies from the University of Tennessee, where she has been playing college football.

Shaw was named the Guardian's Footballer of the Year in 2018 and helped the Reggae Girlz reach the World Cup for the first time in their history, finishing top-scorer in qualifying.

You can see Jamaica in action when they take on Scotland in a warm-up friendly on Tuesday, 28 May.

Joy and despair for Spain internationals

There were celebrations and commiserations for two of Spain's stars in the Copa de la Reina final on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid went ahead through Spain's Esther Gonzalez, but goals from her international team-mate Nahikari Garcia and Mexico's Kiana Palacios earned Real Sociedad a 2-1 win.

It meant Atletico missed out on the double, after they won the league title the previous weekend.

The Copa de la Reina final was played in front of 17,000 fans at the Nuevo los Carmenes stadium in Granada and a record 2.2 million people watched on Spanish television.

BBC Sport has launched #ChangeTheGame this summer to showcase female athletes in a way they never have been before. Through more live women's sport available to watch across the BBC this summer, complemented by our journalism, we are aiming to turn up the volume on women's sport and alter perceptions. Find out more here.

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