1. Kadidiatou Diani – France
Kadidiatou Diani plays as a forward for France and her club team Paris Saint-Germain in France’s Division 1 Féminine. In this World Cup, Diani has proven she willing to play in any position — she played in three against Brazil. France coach Corinne Diacre told FIFA.com, “I just use her where I need to for the team.” Diani may be willing to play anywhere, but she owns the right flank. She charges straight up the line with the ball at her feet. Sometimes she will cut inside, run straight at a defender and take a shot. Other times she’ll break for the corner and launch a pass across the box for one of her teammates to put away. Gavin got on the end of two passes from Diani against Brazil.
Diani has ten goals in five years with the French national team, but none in this World Cup. However, she was a member of the squad that won the 2012 U-17 Women’s World Cup. She scored four goals for France in that tournament and another against New Zealand in the 2014 U-20 World Cup. She has proven she can get a ball into the net. In her conversation with FIFA.com Diani’s coach Diacre summed up what Diani needs to do against the US: “She’s a very valuable player to have around and I think the only thing she needs to do to keep being effective is to score.” So far this season Diani has scored 13 goals for PSG. Maybe playing in front of her home fans in Paris will help Diani finish one against Team USA.