Lauren James, Linda Caicedo and GOAL's Team of the Women's World Cup group stages

When you look at Nigeria's squad, you're immediately drawn to the attack. Asisat Oshoala, Ifeoma Onumonu, Uchenna Kanu and Rasheedat Ajibade are among the players Randy Waldrum can call upon in the final third, but one of the stars of their group stage was at the other end, in goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Four years on from becoming the youngest goalkeeper to keep a Women's World Cup clean sheet, the 22-year-old has experience that belies her years and that certainly helped her as she kept two big clean sheets against Olympic champions Canada and a determined Ireland.

Racking up a save percentage of 83.3 in her first three games, Nnadozie's stand-out moment was the stop she made to deny Christine Sinclair, the greatest goalscorer in the history of international football, from the spot. It gave Nigeria a great foundation to build on in Group B.

Again, Jamaica's star names come in the forward areas, with Manchester City star Bunny Shaw certainly the poster girl for this team, but their defence was the key as they caused one of the shocks of the tournament by knocking out Brazil.

The Reggae Girlz are yet to concede at this World Cup, with a 1-0 win over Panama sandwiched in between goalless stalemates with France and the South American champions, and Tiernny Wiltshire was absolutely solid in the latter two results.

Tasked with keeping some real top talents quiet in her right-back role, Wiltshire won 10 duels, made 10 clearances, won five tackles and both of the aerial battles she competed in across the two games. There haven't been too many outstanding, eye-catching right-backs over the first phase, but there haven't been any more reliable and dependable ones than the 25-year-old.

How often can you say that a centre-back is in the race for the Golden Boot? Amanda Ilestedt certainly is after netting three times from defence in Sweden's first three games.

The first of those was absolutely crucial, her header from Kosovare Asllani's 90th-minute corner saving Sweden's blushes and allowing them to start with a win over South Africa. A few days later, she came to their rescue in a different way, breaking the deadlock from another set-piece just before half-time, the Olympic silver medallists having found Italy tough to break down before that goal.

Ilestedt, who signed for Arsenal this summer, has been important at the other end of the pitch, too, helping Sweden to record two clean sheets as they enter the knockout rounds as just one of three teams to take maximum points in the group stage.

There's no doubt that the U.S. women's national team were poor in the group stage, with their tally of five points the lowest they've ever recorded at a Women's World Cup. That said, Naomi Girma has been excellent for the reigning champions in the heart of defence.

Only conceding once in the first three games, the U.S. were relatively solid at the back despite their struggles, Girma's composure and ability to take control of situations particularly important given the team lost captain and star centre-back Becky Sauerbrunn just before the tournament.

So often what the 23-year-old does can be under-stated and therefore go unnoticed, but it certainly shouldn't. She's already one of the best in the world in her position.

Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how to get the best out of a player that is so versatile, but the system that Japan have set up in for this Women's World Cup has certainly maximised the abilities of Jun Endo.

Operating at left wing-back, the Angel City star has been an absolute menace in attack, her excellent delivery and eye for a pass allowing her to carve out chances at will for the Nadeshiko. She ended the group phase with two assists to her name, as well as a goal. The work Endo does in defence shouldn't be overlooked, either, as it is crucial to making Japan's system successful.

There have been a lot of stand-out players at left-back, or left wing-back, in the tournament so far, with Australia's Steph Catley, the Netherlands' Esmee Brugts and Sweden's Jonna Andersson all deserving of a mention. But Endo has been the pick of the lot.

Spain have some serious stars in their side, especially with Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas in midfield. But it is another player in that area who has been their best performer so far - Teresa Abelleira.

Scorer of an absolute rocket in La Roja's thrashing of Zambia, the 23-year-old is technically excellent and showcased her creative side throughout the group stage, carving out more opportunities for team-mates than any other player in at the tournament.

No player has so far completed more passes in the final third than Abelleira, either, with the Real Madrid star really catching the eye in New Zealand.

Fresh off the back of securing a move to Manchester City for one of the biggest fees the women's game has seen, if Jill Roord has felt any pressure because of that, she's not shown it. The Netherlands midfielder is in the running for the Golden Boot after scoring three times in three games to help the 2019 runners-up top Group E ahead of the U.S., even scoring in the 1-1 draw with the team that beat them in that final four years ago.

Roord brings a lot of grit and determination to the middle of the park, too, which has helped stop Andries Jonker's ambitious and attacking line-ups from being exposed at the back.

The star of the tournament so far, no player has been directly involved in more goals than Lauren James at this Women's World Cup.

After starting England's first game on the bench, James came into the line-up for the clash with Denmark and it was her stunning strike that decided the game. A few days later, she switched from a wide role to that of a No.10 and ran riot against China, scoring twice and setting up three more in a 6-1 victory.

The 21-year-old's dribbling, creativity and ability to execute the spectacular make her a nightmare for defenders and her form has certainly made the Lionesses a much more dangerous proposition, too.

Another of Japan's stand-out players, Hinata Miyazawa was the best player on the pitch when the Nadeshiko stunned Spain in a simply brilliant 4-0 win to close their group stage. Her team played on the counter to oppose La Roja's weaknesses in transition and she didn't hesitate to make the opportunities they created count, scoring from both of her shots on target while also setting up Riko Ueki to net, too.

With her also netting a brace against Zambia, no player has scored more goals at this Women's World Cup than Miyazawa, whose defensive work should also be applauded.

The third and final Japan player to make this team, which is certainly a testament to how well they've done so far in the tournament, Mina Tanaka has shone while spearheading the Nadeshiko's attack.

It was unclear who would be the first-choice striker for the team at the World Cup, but Tanaka got the nod ahead of Riko Ueki and marked the first game of her team's tournament with a goal. She could've had more, too, but for several offside calls.

In the second game against Costa Rica, she showcased her creative side by setting up both of Japan's goals and she came off the bench to net one herself in the thrashing of Spain. She's been superb.

Coming into this tournament, Linda Caicedo was already a star. The 18-year-old was named the Most Valuable Player at last year's Copa America, she spearheaded Colombia's charge to the Under-17 Women's World Cup final and signed for Real Madrid in February. But her performances in Australia have made the teenage forward a bonafide superstar.

Electric in Colombia's 2-0 win over South Korea, scoring a great solo goal, Caicedo took it up another level against Germany, one of the favourites for the title. Her goal to break the deadlock was one of the best we've seen at this tournament as the South American side caused one of the biggest upsets so far.

Every time she gets the ball, Caicedo looks ready to do something special, while her pressing and desire to work hard to benefit the team is a huge asset, too.