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FIFA unveils Women’s World Player of Year shortlist

Japan forward Nahomi Kawasumi, who played with Seattle Reign FC this year, is on the shortlist for FIFA World Player of the Year. (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)

Japan forward Nahomi Kawasumi, who played with Seattle Reign FC this year, is on the shortlist for FIFA World Player of the Year. (Photo Copyright Patricia Giobetti for The Equalizer)

FIFA unveiled the shortlists for Women’s World Player of the Year and Coach of the Year on Friday, and as usual there are some big names and interesting omissions.

The 10 finalists for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year are: Nadine Angerer (Germany), Veronica Boquete (Spain), Nilla Fischer (Sweden), Nahomi Kawasumi (Japan), Nadine Kessler (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Aya Miyama (Japan), Louisa Necib (France), Lotta Schelin (Sweden) and Abby Wambach (USA).

Notably left off the list is National Women’s Soccer League MVP and Scotland international Kim Little, who many in the league widely hailed as one of the world’s best No. 10s as she easily picked apart defenses. Kawasumi was Little’s teammate this season at Seattle Reign FC.

The list will be narrowed down to three players on Dec. 1, and the winner will be announced on Jan. 12, 2015, at the annual FIFA gala in Zurich, Switzerland. As usual, the captains and coaches of each national team will vote on the award, along with international media members. (Disclaimer: I hold the U.S. media vote. Here’s how I voted last year.)

Angerer, the reigning World Player of the Year, at times struggled through the NWSL season with Portland Thorns FC, accumulating an 8-8-6 record and a 1.364 goals against average. Wambach was injured for over half of the NWSL season, tallying six goals and four assists in 10 games. She has 10 goals this year for the United States.

The 10 finalists for World Coach of the Year are: Philippe Bergeroo (France/France national team), Peter Dedevbo (Nigeria/Nigeria U-20 national team), Laura Harvey (England/Seattle Reign FC), Ralf Kellermann (Germany/VfL Wolfsburg), Maren Meinert (Germany/Germany U-20 national team), Norio Sasaki (Japan/Japan national team), Pia Sundhage (Sweden/Sweden national team), Asako Takemoto Takakura (Japan/Japan U-17 national team), Jorge Vilda (Spain/Spain U-17 national team and U-19 national team), Martina Voss-Tecklenburg (Germany/Switzerland national team).

That list will also be narrowed down to three coaches on Dec. 1, with the winner announced on Jan. 12, 2015.

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