Category: Women’s World Cup

Photo Courtesy of Jamie Smed

USWNT Removes All Doubt With Their Win Over France

The United States have never lost in a World Cup quarterfinal and France has never won a World Cup quarterfinal. Despite their very different histories this game was thought of as Le Grand Match and quite frankly the best game of the tournament.

The number one team in the world would be the presumed favorites, but a questionable defense at times and barely beating Spain in their previous match had people wondering if the UWSNT could beat an impressive French side. With the home crowd behind them and a desire to win a game they never have France had all the tools to take down the 2015 Women’s World Cup Champion.

The game started quick, favoring the United States’ style of play. USA had their first shot on goal in the first minute of play and would only have to wait four more minutes for their first shot to find the back of the net. The United States was awarded a free kick just outside the box. Megan Rapinoe took the free kick and played a low ball into the box right in front of the US attackers. None of Rapinoe’s teammates would get to the ball, but it did not matter. Rapinoe’s ball in was enough and was able to bounce into the goal.

The rest of the first half would be back and forth showing an evenly matched game. Anytime either side looked like they were going to score their defense would step up many times sacrificing their bodies to keep the ball out of the net. The USA led 1-0 going into halftime.

The second half would start out quick as well but this time France was on the attack early and often. But France could not capialize on those chances. A big reason France could not score a goal was due to the play of US defender, Crystal Dunn. She had been criticized for being too much of an attacking defender and being lost out of position. Her critics were silenced after this game. Dunn was able to keep the lethal forward, Kadidiatou Diani, of France at bay and off the scoresheet.

If you have followed the USA at all then you have heard people talking about them having the best front line with Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath. The trio was able to live up to their status and were perfectly in-sync for the United States’ second goal of the game.

Morgan threaded a ball through to an on-running Heath. Using her space, Heath took the ball into their offensive box and passed the ball diagonally back across goal. Rapinoe was running into the box unmarked and slotted the ball to the far right side of the goal.

Despite being down 2-0, France did not let up and continued to pressure the United States’ defense. With just ten minutes left in the game the USA faithfuls could feel their team was going to walk away with the shutout and the win. However, France was awarded a free kick just outside their offensive box. Gaëtane Thiney played a lofted ball and found Wendie Renard, the tallest player on the field who headed the ball easily into goal. The United States looked lost on the free kick and left Renard unmarked.

Despite the defensive mishap the United States would settle in for the remainder of the game and give France no real chance to find an equalizer. The United States would go onto win 2-1. France is knocked out of the tournament despite a good showing at the World Cup, but continue to struggle in the big games.

This game fully lived up to expectations and felt like a close match for all 90 minutes. Head Coach for the UWSNT, Jill Ellis called the game “the most intense match” she has been a part of. Alex Morgan added that she thought the game was everything fans wanted, “It did live up to expectations. I’m happy to say that. We lived through a couple of storms during the match. I think we finished things off really well at the end. We did well. We knew there would be tough times and adversity, but we faced it straight on and we’re moving on. We’re so happy about it.”

It is unknown if any of the remaining games will be as exciting as this one. It probably deserved to be a final, but so often the best teams do not even get to face off and to have that at least happen deserves to be celebrated.

England who defeated Norway yesterday 3-0 now know they will play the United States for their semifinal matchup. That game will take place on July 2nd at 3:00 pm ET on FOX.

The remaining quartefinal games will be played tomorrow with the Netherlands and Italy playing at 9:00 am ET on FS1 and Germany taking on Sweden at 12:30 pm ET on FS1.

Phot Courtesy of EL Loko

England Advances to the Semifinals With a Commanding Win

Before the match even started it looked like England advancing to the semifinals would be questionable. England’s coach, Phil Neville, said that starters Steph Houghton and Millie Bright were doubtful for their game against Norway. Houghton was recovering from a tough tackle and Bright had come down with a virus. Also, starter Lucy Bronze was feeling ill and missing training sessions for the Lionesses. They were a game time decision and in the end Neville thought they were fit enough as all three started the game. But how their injuries and illnesses would affect them was still in question.

Facing a quality opponent in Norway and having their struggles coming into the match, a commanding start to the game would be key for England. And they did just that.

In only the second minute of play, Lucy Bronze, who showed no signs of an illness, took the ball to the end-line and crossed it into the box. Initially, Ellen White of England whiffed at the ball, but luckily a trailing Jill Scott took the opportunity and slid the ball into the lower left corner of the goal. The goal was scored in just two minutes and seven seconds into the game, the fastest goal in England’s World Cup history.

The rest of the first half was all England, who dominated the game and kept creating scoring chances. England could not get their second goal of the game however until the 40th minute. Bronze once again dribbled the ball up the right side of the field this time crossing an early ball into Nikita Parris. Defenders became swarming Parris who saw an open White in front of the net. Parris passed the ball to White, who did not whiff at this chance and instead tapped the ball into goal. England would take the 2-0 lead into halftime.

The second half would be much of the same. England controlling the game and Norway being dominated on both ends of the field. Norway who had looked impressive up until this game just could not get anything going. Their top forward, Caroline Graham Hansen, had poor touches and looked hesitant in front of goal. And England kept finding holes in Norway’s defense.

England would add to their 2-0 lead in the 57th minute. They were awarded a free kick just outside the box on the lower right side. Instead of crossing the ball into the box like a typical free kick from that spot, Beth Mead passed the ball to the top of the box where a wide open Lucy Bronze sat waiting. She hit an absolute one-touch rocket into the top of the net.

England was far from perfect in this game with their back-line falling apart on numerous occasions, but Norway could just not capitalize. One instance where the England goalkeeper, Karen Bardsley, misplayed a ball leaving the goal open for Lisa-Marie Utland, but a last minute slide from Houghton sustained the shutout.

Even with the uneven scoreline England did not let up in their attack. They were once again given a free kick in the offensive half. This time they chose to cross the ball into the box. Houghton jumped up for the ball, but Maria Thorisdottir shoved Houghton in the back pushing her to the ground. The push was bad enough that the referee awarded a penalty kick.

Parris stepped up to take the penalty hoping to improve her 1/2 conversion rate so far at the World Cup. She hit the ball hard but high, giving Ingrid Hjelmseth a chance to save it. Hjelmseth was able to knock the ball wide and give Norway one bright spot to take away from this match.

England would go onto win this game 3-0 earning their fourth shutout of the tournament. They are headed back to the semifinals for second straight World Cup. But this time around they are hoping to get one game further and play for the championship and not third place.

England will play the winner of France vs the United States on July 2nd. But regardless who England plays they are relishing their win now and unfazed by who will line up against them. When asked about their semifinal game Neville expressed the team’s confidence with, “We’re not bothered who we play. We want to play both of them [USA or France]. We’re going to go to Lyon, the atmosphere and the occasion will be incredible. My players have proven tonight the bigger the occasion, they better they are.”

France and the United States face-off tomorrow at 3:00 pm ET on FOX.

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Department of State

Quarterfinals Are Much More Than USA vs France

The game everyone is talking about for the World Cup is France vs the United States. People cannot believe the number one ranked team and the number four ranked team would be playing each other in a quarterfinal matchup. This game feels like it deserves to be a final, but the structure of the World Cup does their knockout rounds based on group finishes not world rankings.

The winner of the France vs. the United States may very well go onto win the World Cup, but there are way too many games left and quite frankly quality teams in the other quarterfinalists. There are plenty of story lines and angles the other six teams have created and to focus the majority of coverage on just France and the United States would do them a disservice.

We’re going to take a closer look at the other three quarterfinal games and hopefully you will be just as excited to watch them as you are France vs the United States.

England vs Norway

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The first game of the quarterfinals will take place between England and Norway. England, ranked third in the world and last World Cups’ third place finisher, was a not a surprise to advance to the final eight teams. Norway ranked just 12th in the world and having to beat the fifth ranked Australia to get the quarterfinals is a bit of a surprise.

England returned 12 players from their 2015 squad, but only seven of their starters from their third place victory returned. They also had to adjust to a new coach in Phil Neville who was named in January of last year amid controversy. But the Lionesses have proven that is all behind them and they are wanting to get one game further and play for a World Cup title.

They cruised through the group stage earning all nine points confirming they were a top team. Their impressive wins over Japan, Scotland and Argentina were almost washed away by a rocky showing against Cameroon in the Round of 16.

England was bailed out multiple times by Cameroon miscues and had goals practically handed to them. Their three goals were scored from an indirect free kick inside the box, a penalty kick and a corner kick. Not being able to score in the run of play questions England’s ability to finish when goals will come few and far between as they face tougher opponents. England also gave Cameroon opportunities to score, but offside and their inability to finish kept them off the scoresheet.

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Norway is going to be more of a test for England. They’re the 1991 World Cup Champions and 2000 Olympic gold medalists but have not had much success since then. People thought they would not be able to make a deep run at this tournament without the help of Ada Hegerberg, the best player in the world who is boycotting the Norway National team. But like England, Norway is choosing to put controversy behind them. They finished second in their group behind France. Their only loss was to France but it was just 2-1 with France getting the go ahead goal from a penalty kick.

Their second place finish meant playing Australia in the round of 16. Australia had under-performed in the group stage, but it was believed they would get going in the knockout round and live up to their sixth world ranking.

But Norway showed grit and pushed Australia as far as they could go. The game went to a penalty shootout with Norway not missing a single kick. Australia was playing a player down after a red card and looked defeated. Norway gained confidence as the match went on and proved they were the superior side.

It’s unknown if England and Norway will go to a penalty shootout of their own, but if so Norway has the upper hand and the continued chip on their shoulder to prove they belong and perhaps hoist the World Cup trophy after a 28 year drought.

Italy vs The Netherlands

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The game of firsts, the first time both teams have played in a quarterfinal in a World Cup and the first time these teams have ever played each other at a World Cup. Italy has been deemed the Cinderella story of the tournament while the Netherlands are seen as a finalist at the World Cup.

Italy is the lowest ranked team left in the tournament at 15. They had not been to a World Cup since 1999, but they were one of the first teams to qualify out of Europe. No matter how a team qualifies the World Cup is its own entity and tends to favor those with experience in the tournament. And then there’s the exception to the rule —Italy.

The Azzurre shockingly won Group C over top teams Australia and Brazil. Perhaps the most impressive thing about them is not that they have won, but how they have won. They play fluid soccer, often called pretty soccer. They play with passion and confidence, proud to represent their country at new heights.

Their first Knockout Round matchup was against China PR, a team who had committed the most fouls in the tournament. The constant stoppage of play from the fouls was thought to be an issue for Italy’s game-plan, but the team was unwavered. They settled into the game and posted their second shutout of the tournament. The Italians have only given up two goals at the World Cup, a statistic proving their defense is a staple for their team.

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On the other-side there is arguably the best offensive power in the world, with the Dutch forwards. The Netherlands have scored eight goals so far and will be looking to stretch the Italian back line. Holland was able to earn first place in Group E earning all nine points, with the most notable victory over Canada.

Even with eight goals the Dutch still seem to have more in them and looks like their offense is not always in sync. They were able to get the early lead against Japan in their first game in the Knockout Round. Japan was able to fight back and tie the game up 1-1 before halftime. The second half was mainly full of possession for Japan leaving the Dutch with limited opportunities to score and questioning whether they would advance. But it does not matter how many chances you get, all that matters is converting them. Japan could not convert them thanks large in part to goalkeeper, Sari Van Veenendaal. Late in the game the Netherlands were awarded a penalty and they seized the chance and are now in the quarterfinals. If the Netherlands are to advance past Italy then their offense will have to live up to its full potential.

Whichever team wins, the result will be emotional and have a a team reach the semifinal for the first time. When the game is done, you’ll undoubtedly want to stay tuned to see the winner’s reaction.

Germany vs Sweden

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The final game of the quarterfinal matchup has two of the more prominent European teams as of late. Both teams ranked inside the top ten will undoubtedly bring an exciting match.

Germany is the second ranked team in the world, but has not been receiving the same recognition as some. They have been quietly making their way through the tournament with a business-like demeanor. Germany won their Group without conceding a single goal. They continued their shutout streak into the Round of 16 when they faced Nigeria. They won in commanding style beating Nigeria 3-0.

All of Germany’s wins have felt commanding which shows they are a powerhouse. But it also means they have not had too much diversity and Spain was their highest ranked opponent at 13. Their biggest obstacle has been the injury to their star player, Dzsenifer Marozsan. Germany said she was out for the group stage and whether she can play in the quarterfinals is unknown. Even with the injury, they have not been tested in games which begs the question how will Germany do when they are tested by an even better opponent?

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That quality opponent might just be in their next game against Sweden. The ninth ranked team in the world and the second place finisher in Group F, Sweden has also quietly made their way through the World Cup. They won their first two games easily and then knowing they were already through to the Knockout Round, they took the chance to rest players in their matchup against the USA. Some critiqued the decision, but it seemed to payoff in their game against Canada.

Canada was assumed the favorite with their higher ranking. The game was evenly played and would be 0-0 for the majority of the game. But Sweden waited it out patiently and was able to score a goal. Canada looked to tie the game back up with a second half penalty but Hedvig Lindahl, the Sweden goalkeeper, made the save of the tournament denying Canada a goal.

Sweden and Germany have quietly made the quarterfinals, but their game might just be the best matchup showing a back and forth game. Expect this game to be anything but quiet.

The matchups are set and they start tomorrow to see who will advance to the semifinals.

  • Norway vs England: June 27th at 3:00 pm ET on FOX
  • France vs the United States: June 28th at 3:00 pm ET on FOX
  • Italy vs the Netherlands: June 29th at 9:00 am ET on FS1
  • Germany vs Sweden: June 29th at 12:30 pm ET on FS1
Photo Courtesy of ThreeCharlie

The Quarterfinals Are Set With Historic New Comers

Before this World Cup neither the Netherlands nor Italy had advanced past the first game in the knockout round. That was until today when both teams were able to win their games and advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

Italy had not been to a Women’s World Cup since 1999. That 20 year drought would make it seem that Italy was just happy to be back and a team not thought of as a top team in the world. But their first place finish in Group C over favorites Australia and Brazil proved they are a team that opponents need to be concerned about.

Even with a successful group play campaign they still had to defeat a talented China team. China who is the most penalized team with fouls was going to disrupt the play of a very fluid Italian team. Early on in the game it seemed like China was able to get the best of Italy and control the pace. But a little bit of patience and weathering the storm benefited Italy.

A tough defense was hard for the Italians to break through but a persistent Valentina Giacinti for Italy was able to get the offense going. She created a turnover in China’s defensive half and then crossed the ball in for her teammates to score. The ball kept getting knocked around and eventually rolled back to Giacinti in the middle of the box. She went fearlessly at the ball and launched it into the net.

China was able to create a few chances of their own throughout the game, but Italy’s high level defense proved to be too much. Italy has only conceded two goals all tournament and both have been off penalty kicks.

Italy was able to double their lead and give themselves some breathing room. In the 49th minute of play Italy caused China to turn the ball over again in their defensive half. This time Italy passed the ball just one time to a wide open Aurora Galli at the top of the box. She shot the ball into the lower left corner of the goal giving Italy the 2-0 lead.

The lead would be enough to propel Italy into the quarterfinals and celebrate a feat they have never conquered before. A few of the players were understandably emotional after the game. And some of that can be attributed to not only their historic run on the field, but the history they are making with equality in Italy.

When asked about the impact the team is having on soccer and in Italy Milena Bertolini, the head coach, mentioned the players playing for a purpose and wanting to change Italian culture. She said, “I really believe that this Italian women’s side has allowed the women’s game to break new ground back home. We can see that from the viewing figures, from what we’re seeing in the press, and from all the messages of those back home who are writing to us… This team with what they’re producing on the pitch they are able to break down some of those prejudices and barriers and they are enacting change and that is the mission that the girls feel they have in France.”

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The Netherlands were able to create some history of their own by beating Japan 2-1. Japan had been in the World Cup final for the past two tournaments and actually beat the Netherlands in 2015. They are the second youngest team at the World Cup this year and their inexperience was not enough to beat a tough Dutch side.

The Netherlands were able to get on the scoresheet first with their goal in the 17th minute. They had lined up for a corner kick with Sherida Spitse taking it on the left side. She played a ball right to the corner of the 6-yard box where Lieke Martens was positioned perfectly. Martens had a beautiful finish hitting the ball with her back heel and nutmegging a Japanese defender scoring an impressive goal.

Before the first half was over Japan was able to to convert a goal of their own. Known for their buildup and great tactical passes Japan was able to score from short quick passes. Mana Iwabuchi sent a through ball to Yui Hasegawa who then chipped the ball into the net tying the game up.

Japan appeared to dominate play in the second half and possessed the ball the majority of the time. But possession does not always dictate who wins and Japan not being able to finish in the final third was their downfall.

The game was nearing its end still tied at 1-1 and fans were thinking this game was going to extra time, it felt like the game deserved to go to extra time. However, while Saki Kumagai was trying to block a shot in Japan’s defensive box her arm got in the way and a penalty was issued for the Netherlands in the 89th minute. Lieke Martens stepped to take the penalty and earn herself a brace for the game. She kicked the ball into the right corner of the goal while the Japanese goalie dove the other way. The goal would put the game out of reach for Japan and allow the Netherlands to advance.

Even though the Netherlands have made the quarterfinals for the first time in their history the team is still a favorite to make the finals. When asked about the historic run Martens commented, “The history that we have made, we are really proud of that, but we’re not done yet here. We’re really looking forward to the next game and we hope we can surprise more.”

The Netherlands next game will be against Italy and whoever wins that game will make more history with their first trip to the semifinals. With both of these teams qualifying seven of the eight teams in the quarterfinals are from Europe with the lone non-European team being the United States.

Italy and the Netherlands will play Saturday at 9:00 am ET on FS1.

Photo Courtesy of Noah Salzman

Today’s WWC Games Produced Drama and Question Marks

Today proved to be a low scoring day with just four goals and only eight shots on goal between both of the matchups. But the limited goals also meant two tight games and intense moments up until the final play.

It opened up with a game between the United States and Spain. Many people believed Spain would be outmatched and outplayed by the number one team in the world. But Spain kept up with the United States and even exploited some of the holes in the United States’ defense.

There was no surprise however, in the US scoring in the first 15 minutes which they have done in all four of their World Cup games so far. In the 8th minute of play Tobin Heath was weaving with the ball in the box when she was fouled by Mapi León of Spain. The foul was harsh enough to warrant a penalty and Megan Rapinoe stepped up to take it. The Spanish goalkeeper dove to her left but Rapinoe went to the other side for the easy goal.

Spain would not hang their heads and instead capitalized on a United States miscue just two minutes after the US scored. Alyssa Naeher, the US goalkeeper, played a ball from a free kick to Becky Sauerbrunn. The ball was deep in the United States defensive half when Sauerbrunn received it and she immediately felt pressure from Spain. The pressure proved to be too much for the veteran defender and she turned the ball over to Lucía García. With Naeher well off her line García played the ball to Jenni Hermoso who hooked the ball into the top right corner of the net. Only 10 minutes into the game and it was already 1-1.

Fans were stunned with what had transpired and figured they were in for a high scoring game. However they would have to wait until the 75th minute to see another goal. Rose Lavelle for the United States was dribbling in Spain’s defensive box. Virginia Torrecilla briefly tapped Lavelle’s leg and she fell to the ground. The referee awarded a penalty, but may felt it was the wrong call and a pretty weak penalty. Some people couldn’t even tell if Torrecilla touched Lavelle before she fell. Regardless of what fans thought the United States were given the penalty and once again Rapinoe went up to take it. She shot the ball to the same exact side and got the same exact result as the first penalty giving the US a 2-1 lead.

The result would stand and the US are through to the quarterfinals. The game was not the United States best game, but the result is all that matters even if the defense looked shaky at times and the fact they had no goals at the run of play is concerning. If they are to get to the semifinals they will have to defeat a very impressive French team. France did beat the US back in January 3-1 and the loss created plenty of speculation about the quality of the US defense. Today’s game against Spain further reiterated these concerns and produces question marks about whether the United States can go far in the World Cup. The US will face off against France on Friday at 3 pm ET on FOX.

The USA France matchup has been the talk of the tournament ever since the groups were selected back in December. When Rapinoe was asked about the upcoming game she seems to be just as excited as the fans and expects the game of the tournament to take place.

The second game of the day between Sweden and Canada saw just one goal in the 55th minute. A great ball from Kosovare Asllani was played just inside the 18-yeard box to Stina Blackstenius who made a sliding kick that knocked the ball into the goal.

The game itself did not create too many chances for either team and defense was the word of the game. The lone goal from Sweden did give Canada a sense of urgency to score. Their best opportunity came in the form of a penalty kick in the 69th minute. Christine Sinclair who has the second most goals all time in international competition would have been assumed as the player to take the penalty for Canada. But Janine Beckie stepped to the spot and sent a well hit ball into the lower left corner. It seemed like it had enough pace to earn a goal, but Sweden’s goalkeeper, Hedvig Lindahl made the diving save.

1-0 would stand as the final score sending Sweden into the quarterfinals and Canada with another underwhelming World Cup showing. Despite being one of the top ranked teams Canada has never made it past the quarterfinals.

Five out of the six teams to make it to the quarterfinals are from Europe meaning at least one all Europe game will take place. With Sweden advancing that all European game was set. Sweden will continue their World Cup journey when they face Germany on Saturday at 12:30 pm ET on FS1.

Photo Courtesy of Agência Brasil Fotografias

Day Two of the Knockout Round Proves to be More Exciting Than the First

Can there be a game recap without the mention of VAR? It seems unlikely in this year’s Women’s World Cup. The first day of the knockout round proved to be exciting, but day two may have outmatched it.

The first game of the day had England going against Cameroon, many people believed Cameroon did not stand much of a chance since England is a favorite to make the semifinals. The game got chippy early when Yvonne Leuko of Cameroon was given a yellow card in just the 4th minute of play due to a harsh foul. Scoring also started early for England. They were able to capitalize on a Cameroon miscue that had a defender tap the ball back to the goalkeeper inside the box. All the goalkeeper had to was clear the ball out with her foot, but instead she picked the ball up forcing the referee to award France an indirect free kick just outside the 6-yard box. England easily converted with Stephanie Houghton burying the ball into the far right side of the goal.

England was able to get their second goal of the game right before half time. Originally it was ruled offside, but thanks to VAR the call was overturned and England went up 2-0. The decision did not go over well with the Cameroon side who felt the goal was unjust. They began arguing with the referee and eventually had a team huddle mid-match, a very unusual sight for a soccer game. Cameroon eventually went back to playing the game and went into halftime down 2-0.

Cameroon, looking to start the second half on a better foot seemed to get a goal in the 48th minute. However, the goal was disallowed after, you guessed it, VAR ruled Cameroon was offside. The call was too much for Cameroon who were irate and felt cheated by the call. It seemed like nothing was going Cameroon’s way.

Cameroon would end the game without a goal and England would add another goal to win 3-0. The scoreline ended up not being the biggest story from the game rather it was how Cameroon handled themselves throughout the match. There were mixed opinions on whether Cameroon crossed the line with their arguing and even arrant fouls during the match. Others felt their reactions were warranted and unfair opinions were given to Cameroon.

No one was more vocal against Cameroon than England’s head coach, Phil Neville. He could not believe what he had watched and thought the game was a disgrace to women’s soccer.

On the other side there was the Cameroon coach, Alain Djeumfa, who claimed there were injustices in the game. He thought the referee got calls wrong saying, “There was a miscarriage of justice… the referee makes mistakes and ultimately the referee made a lot of mistakes tonight.”

Despite all of the controversy in the game England was able to come out victorious and will face Norway in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 3 pm ET on FOX.

As fans tried to collect themselves after the first game France and Brazil created their own drama for the second game of the day. And within the first 25 minutes of the game VAR played a large role in a controversial goal opportunity.

In the 23rd minute of play France was on the attack and sent a dangerous ball into the box. There was a handful of players going up for the ball including Brazilian goalkeeper, Bárbara, who collided with Valérie Gauvin of France. Despite the collision Gauvin got a piece of the ball and was able to score for France. As the two players received treatment for possible injuries the referee went to VAR to see if the goal would stand. After looking at the play the referee deemed Bárbara had possession of the ball until Gauvin knocked it loose meaning the goal was null and void. The call was very hard to accept and seemed like France had been given the wrong call.

Luckily for France, they were able to get the go ahead goal and this time without any VAR needed. They would have to wait until the 52nd minute, but in true just fashion Gauvin was able to right the wrong and score the goal off a sliding shot in the box.

Brazil would earn a goal of their own that at first had been signaled no good due to offside. This time VAR seemed to get the call right since the player in question was not a part of the play and in soccer offside can only be called if the player is directly involved.

The 1-1 tie would carry over from the regulation 90 minutes and give the knockout round it’s second game of extra time. The momentum from Brazil’s goal seemed to carry over and almost give Brazil the go ahead goal in the 104th minute. But France could breathe a sigh of relief after Mbock Bathy made a sliding kick to keep the ball out of the net.

That was Brazil’s only real chance at a goal in extra time. The home crowd for France seemed to propel the team and give them that extra edge over their opponent. Brazil could feel France was taking over the game so they tried to break up the flow of the play with fouls all throughout extra time. Most of the fouls were in neutral areas but one proved to be costly.

France was awarded a free kick on the right side just outside their offensive box. Amel Majri crossed the ball from the free kick position right to Amandine Henry who one touched the ball into the goal as she fell to the ground. The goal would stand and so would the 2-1 score giving France the victory.

The exit for Brazil could mean the last time Brazilian players Formiga, Cristiane and most notably Marta, the six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, could play at a World Cup. The trio has never won a major tournament. An emotional post match Marta pleaded with young Brazilian females to work hard so they can “Cry in the beginning so you can smile in the end.” A nod to the discrimination that females in Brazil still face when playing soccer.

The host nation, France, moves on and joins the likes of Norway, Germany and England in the quarterfinals. Half of the field is set for the final eight and all of them are European showing the dominance of soccer in the continent.

The remaining spots could go to all European countries but the United States and Canada will hope to advance after their games tomorrow facing Spain and Sweden respectively. The United States and Spain will play at 12:00 pm ET followed by Canada vs Sweden at 3:00 pm ET both on FS1.

Photo Courtesy of Sven Mandel

First Day of the Knockout Round Does Not Disappoint

The group games proved to be exciting and create some surprise endings. But narrowing the field of teams down to 16 has only increased the level of competition.

Germany and Nigeria were the first to play in the Knockout Round this year. Nigeria was the last team to move on and they were given the task of trying to beat the 2nd ranked team in the world. Both teams looked dangerous early with chances on goal. But it was Germany’s pressure that had them take the lead. Germany was awarded a corner, their 5th corner at that time in the match. They had been doing short corners, but this time they decided to utilize Alexandra Popp’s height. They crossed the ball right to her head and she knocked it in giving Germany the 1-0 lead in the 20th minute.

Germany would double their lead just seven minutes later after they were awarded a penalty kick following a VAR review. Sara Daebritz shot the ball into the lower right corner just out of reach of the Nigerian goalkeeper. The game would settle down and Nigeria would get a few chances of their own, but nothing solidified for them. Germany looked like the superior side most of the game. They added an insurance goal to their lead in 82nd minute. Some poor passing by the Nigerian defenders caused a turnover just outside their 18-yard box. Lea Schüller collected the ball and sent a one time shot into the back of the net.

The 3-0 scoreline would be the final. Despite losing this game the head coach for Nigeria, Thomas Dennerby, described their play at the World as, “Showed that Nigeria as a team has improved a lot. We are of course not satisfied with going out… We still improved the team and to play games like this is extremely important for the future.” He kept emphasizing the need for them to keep playing games in the FIFA window and push for them to improve outside the World Cup. Hopefully Nigeria’s federation can see the same need as the coach and push to have funding and support.

Germany will play the winner of Sweden vs Canada which takes place on Monday at 3 pm ET.

The second game of the day had a much closer scoreline and drama throughout. Australia nearly scored in the first 30 seconds of the game, but Sam Kerr shot the ball just wide of the net. There were various chances for both teams, but Norway finally got the first goal of the game in the 31st minute. A through ball just out of reach of the Australian defender fell perfectly to Isabell Herlovsen who shot the ball after one touch into the right side of the goal.

Australia felt like they were going to get their equalizer either from the run of play or a penalty kick. Initially the referee awarded a penalty late in the first half but the referee overturned it. There were Australian players on the ground multiple times inside their offensive box where they felt a penalty should be awarded, but the referee did not issue one.

The Matildas would find their goal in the 83rd minute from Elie Kellond-Knight. She took a corner kick right into goal with a nice curving ball.

The evenly matched game rightfully went into extra time where the drama and suspense would continue. In the 104th minute of play Lisa-Marie Utland of Norway was heading to goal with just Alanna Kennedy of Australia to beat. Kennedy bodied Utland and took her down. The referee saw the foul as a goal stopping foul and gave Kennedy a red card. Kennedy pleaded her case, but after VAR reviewed the play, it was confirmed she had to be sent off. With the entire second half of extra time to still be played Australia knew getting to a penalty shootout down a player was going to be a challenge.

Australia held their own, anchored by their goalkeeper, Lydia Williams, who made save after save to keep her team alive. They held on just long enough to get the game to a penalty shootout. Norway elected to go first and Caroline Graham Hansen easily scored her penalty. Kerr came up to take the first one for Australia, their captain and best offensive player. She soared the ball over the goal. Momentum immediately swung towards Norway who would not miss a single penalty meanwhile Australia only converted one of their three. Norway would win 1-1 with a 4-1 penalty advantage.

The ending felt similar to the 2016 Rio Olympics when Australia lost to Brazil in the quarter finals in a penalty kick shootout. Kennedy who was sent off with a red in today’s game was the player who missed the final penalty in 2016.

The heartbreak of Australia was met with jubilation from Norway.

Embed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

After the game Kerr expressed her frustrations describing the game as “Obviously disappointing we’re out. We’d hoped to come much further, but we’ll learn from it and we’ll come back.” The early exit topped off a surprising second place finish in their group. The Matildas will look to regroup and focus on qualifying for the 2020 Olympics.

Norway advances and will play the winner of England vs Cameroon that is played tomorrow at 11:30 am ET. Norway may face another game that ends in penalties and they will look to their composure and confidence they had in this game should the time come again.

Group F Preview

The narrative that keeps getting talked about is once again the United States and Sweden are in the same group.  The two heavyweights are getting plenty of attention, but Chile and Thailand will also try and make their mark in Group F.

 

Click on the country names below to see all the players on each team

Chile, Sweden, Thailand, United States

CHILE

 

Overview

Chile is excited to be at their first World Cup in program history.  They are ranked 39th and hoping to change their luck in 2019. They have not won a game yet this year and have a 0-6-2 record, but they have played stiff competition over the course of those games.  They have played Garmany and the Netherlands which can only help Chile improve. There aren’t overwhelming high expectations for this team, but undoubtedly these 23 players will relish the chance to represent their country on the world stage.

 

Key Players

The captain of Chile, Claudia Endler, currently plays for the French club, Paris Saint-Germain.  She splits time in goal with another keeper, but for her to play at an elite club is tremendous for Chile. Their home country does not currently have a full professional league so many players on the squad do not have the luxury of Endler’s club experience.  Chile will definitely rely on her skill sets to keep games close. In order for Chile to do well not only will they need to stop goals but they will need to produce some of their own. They will look to Maria Jose Rojas. She is one of the more experienced players having played 43 matches and been able to score 11 times for her country.  Rojas was the one who scored in Chile’s game against Uruguay that kept them alive and able to still play in France this summer. Chile will need her to score plenty more.

 

Prediction

Chile getting to the World Cup is great for their federation and a step forward for them to get a full professional league.  They will use this as momentum for the future but what about right now? They will compete and make teams earn every goal against them.  Chile could get the third spot but it will most likely not be the third spot that goes on to the knockout round.

 

 

SWEDEN

 

Overview

Coming off of winning the 2016 Olympic silver medal, Sweden looked to be rising, yet they have fallen in the rankings.  They are now ranked 9th in the world and have a pretty average record this year of 3-3-1. Two of those losses were one to Canada and one to Germany which are by all accounts formidable opponents.  However, their wins were against opponents not of Germany or Canada’s caliber.  Sweden has a mix of players with quite a bit of experience and then field players who have less than 10 caps. Whether they can all gel together will tell how Sweden does this summer.

 

Key Players

One of their best players of all time Lotta Schelin has retired with 88 goals forcing Sweden to look for goals elsewhere.  One of those players could be Stina Blackstenius, who was a key member of why Sweden qualified. She scored three goals in just seven games.  Her youth is evident in her quickness and power that is matched with a strong shot. A player that balances the play of Blackstenius is Caroline Seger.  She has 193 caps 27 goals to her name. She is their captain and veteran the youngsters will turn to when times get rocky.

 

Prediction

Sweden will be able to get out of the group. They may have knocked the United States out of the 2016 Olympics but the US has seemed to makes steps forward when Sweden has seemed stagnant.  Sweden will get the two spot in the group which means playing Canada or the Netherlands in the first round of knockout play. Either will be too much for Sweden to handle and they will exit in the round of 16.

 

To see the schedule of the World Cup click: Matches

 

THAILAND

 

Overview

Four years ago Thailand was at the World Cup for the first time and got a third place finish in their group and even earned their first World Cup victory.  The 34th ranked team will look to build upon what they did last World Cup. They will need to do a lot better than they have in recent fixtures having a 1-5-0 record for 2019.  Thailand is susceptible to letting in goals having conceded 22 goals in their six games. But they are fast and efficient enough to score off of counter attacks. However, they may have a hard time scoring enough goals that the teams in their group also score.

 

Key Players

Thailand will need to score plenty of goals if they want to advance to the knockout round.  They will look to Kanjana Sungngeon. She was key to both times Thailand has qualified for the World Cup.  In 2015 she scored twice against Vietnam and then was Thailand's leading goal scorer enroute to 2019 qualification.  In total she has scored 16 goals in 56 matches. Another key player for Thailand is Orathai Srimanee. She is the midfielder that scored twice in Thailand’s first World Cup win.  She has proven she can score when it matters most and can play on the outside or in the middle making her dangerous for opponents.

 

Prediction

Thailand will battle with Chile to earn the third place.  Whether the third place team in Group F could move onto to the round of 16 will come down to goal differential.  If Thailand can limit the damage and makes sure to score goals off of counters than Thailand has a chance.

 

 

UNITED STATES

 

Overview

The number one country in the world and the defending World Cup champions has understandably high expectations this summer.  They have had an impressive 2019 campaign with a 7-1-2 record. Their lone loss was to France by a score of 3-1. Many people thought this was cause for concern and that the United States was not prepared for the World Cup.  They have been critiqued for their lackluster of a defense and injuries that have caused an ever changing starting 11. But at the end of the day they are the top team in the world with arguably the best players in the world on their team.  Their biggest struggle will be if they can use all of the players correctly.

 

Key Players

While the United State’s defense has been called into question their three starting forwards are the best in the world and playing high level soccer coming into the tournament.  Tobin Heath is the creative forward who has no problem taking the ball endline nutmegging a defender and then setting up another player for a goal. Her desire to take defenders on has gotten her in trouble in the past but lately she has been serving up balls left and right to teammates.  The person who is on the end of many of Heath’s passes is Alex Morgan. She has speed and a knack for getting behind defenses. Her 101 goals in 163 matches speak for themselves. Not to be outdone by her counterparts is Megan Rapinoe. She is a key distributor especially on set pieces. Rapinoe is the mix of Heath and Morgan, some skill of Heath and ability to get behind defenses like Morgan.  Expect plenty of goals and assists from this frontline.

 

Prediction

The United States winning this group will be slightly challenging with Sweden but they should be able to earn the top spot at the end of group play.  Their first opponent in the knockout stage will most likely be China PR who the United States will be able to overpower and wear out. Their quarterfinal matchup will be more of a challenge since it would be a matchup with hosts, France.  The two squared off earlier in the year with France winning on US soil.  France broke down the United State’s defense and created the perfect storm to wreak havoc. The United States also has historically taken a while to get going and their slow build up to playing their best soccer will not be beneficial against France so early in the tournament.  France will most likely knock the United States out in the quarterfinals if the US does not make changes.

Group D Preview

Group D has two powerhouses with England and Japan and two unknowns with Argentina and Scotland.  Unsure how this group will truly unfold will make for some exciting matchups and help settle the debate of experience vs youth.

 

Click on the country names below to see all the players on each team

Argentina, England, Japan, Scotland

 

ARGENTINA

 

Overview

At their first World Cup since 2007 Argentina comes into the tournament ranked 37th, one of the lower ranked teams.  They’ve had a lackluster start to 2019 with a 1-3 record beating Uruguay who just so happened to be the one team they faced who isn’t at the World Cup this year.  Argentina is on the rise as a program, but many of their players are still not full time professionals meaning they don’t have the same support or ability to train like the top countries do.  Argentina has never made it past group play and unless they can get more support this year may not be their year either.

 

Key Players

The captain and playmaker for Argentina, Estefania Banini, is the best player on Argentina’s team.  She has performed well at all the clubs she has played on including Chilean team Colo-Colo, United States NWSL team the Washington Spirit, and now Levante in the Spain.  Argentina plays a lot less games then a lot of other national teams so Banini’s nine goals for her team may not seem impressive, but when she has only played 33 matches she becomes more impressive.  Eliana Stabile played well for Argentina in the campaign to qualify for the World Cup. She scored two goals and had one assist in their playoffs against Panama. Not to mention she is a defender who you can tell likes to get forward and be a two way player for her team.

 

Prediction

Argentina does not have the experience as a team that many others have in the tournament.  No one on the team has more than 37 caps showing how little Argentina plays together. Argentina will look to build from this World Cup and be able to see what their program could be one day.  They will have a very hard time getting out of the group stage.

 

ENGLAND

 

Overview

The third place finishers of the 2015 World Cup are hoping to get one step further and play for the World Cup final.  Their recent play seems to suggest it is very possible. They are currently ranked 3rd in the world and 2019 has seen them amass a 5-1-1 record so far.  They won the SheBelieves Cup which had the United States, Brazil, and group D foes Japan. They beat both Brazil and Japan and tied the United States. England is rising and peaking at what seems to be just the right time.

 

Key Players

England is a stacked team and picking a few key players is difficult. Do you want hardnose defenders who can also score goals? Well England has Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze. Or do you value veteran midfielders with a flare for the creative?  Insert Karen Carney and Jill Scott, two of the most capped players on the squad. Perhaps you like forwards who excel at the club and country level picking up accolades? Then you would have Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris who both have 12 international goals in under 35 matches and two of the top scorers in the FAWSL.  Quite frankly England is stacked and will be tough to beat this summer.

 

Prediction

Saying England gets the top spot out of Group D would not be a stretch.  Their toughest opponent will be Japan who they beat 3-0 earlier this year and was the team who beat them in the semifinals in the 2015 World Cup so they’ll look for payback this year.  Depending on how things shakeout in other groups England could face New Zealand who they lost 1-0 this year, but they’ll better tuned up for the knockout round and beat New Zealand. The quarterfinals could mean playing Norway, but all of England's weapons will be too much for Norway.  That could setup a France vs England matchup, a rivalry match with final implications. France being at home could prove too much for England or they could be in their first World Cup final. Either way England will be at the World Cup till the very end.

 

To see the schedule of the World Cup click: Matches

 

JAPAN

 

Overview

The 2011 World Cup Champions and the 2015 runner up, Japan has a nice resume.  However, recent play and the label of a young rebuild may cause this resume to become outdated.  They are the 7th best team in the world so they are no slouch but in 2019 they have posted a 1-2-3 record.  Every team they’ve played are at the World Cup this year which is a tough schedule, but that record is not of a team who you would think would make it far in the tournament.  Japan is a question mark no doubt, but they also weren't supposed to make the 2011 World Cup Final and certainly not win the whole thing. Underestimating Japan might just be what propels them this summer.

 

Key Players

Japan still has players on their team who helped them win the 2011 World Cup and they might not be as old as you think.  Two important players from 2011 are Mana Iwabuchi and Saki Kumagai. Iwabuchi is just 26 years old with 61 caps and 20 goals. She was named the MVP of the 2018 Asian Cup that Japan won. Iwabuchi is able to perform well in high pressure situations and there may be a few this year.  Kumagai is the captain and anchor in the back for Japan. She famously made the winning penalty in 2011 in the World Cup final. When she isn't playing for Japan she is playing for the European powerhouse Olympique Lyon and has won three UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.

 

Prediction

Japan has typically done well with teams they are supposed to beat on paper, they do not succumb to the upset.  However, their play against top teams like England has been questionable. They will most likely lose to England in group play and have the two spot.  Unfortunately, second place means playing either the Netherlands or Canada in the first game of the knockout round. Both high level teams ranked above Japan will be able to beat them.

 

 

SCOTLAND

 

Overview

Scotland’s first trip to the World Cup will be this year.  A big feat considering Europe is the most complete continent top to bottom of national teams.  Scotland is ranked 20th and has a 2019 record of 4-3-1 that doesn’t really tell how well Scotland will do in the tournament.  They started the year with the three losses to Norway, Iceland, and Canada but have not lost since beating Chile, Brazil, and Jamaica.  If anything Scotland falls in the middle ground between the top teams and the teams closer to the bottom. This uncertainty makes Scotland very dangerous and an uncertainty.

 

Key Players

Kim Little is considered one of the top players in the world earning MVP in the NWSL in the United States in 2014, BBC footballer of the year in 2016.  She scored crucial goals for Scotland en route to qualifying. She is an attacking midfielder who finds holes in defenses. She has 53 goals in 133 caps.  Little will be the most important player for Scotland this World Cup and beyond. Jenny Beattie will try and help Little out since she has 22 goals in 124 appearances.  She scores even though she is mainly used as a defender but can also play as a midfielder and if need be a forward. Beattie has played for top clubs Manchester City and Arsenal and excelled with both.  Beattie is efficient at both sides of the pitch.

 

Prediction

Scotland will have first match jitters especially since their first game is against England.  Japan and England will be able to outplay them, but if Scotland can keep it close and beat Argentina they could get the third spot in the group and make the knockout round.  The best chance for a debutante team to advance is Scotland. But their third place finish could mean playing and probably losing to France in the round of 16.

Group C Preview

A debutante, giants of the past, a rising power, and a team who has had a 20 year hiatus from the World Cup make up Group C.  There are plenty of question marks surrounding this group, but we’ll try to unravel it all in this preview.

 

Click on the country names below to see all the players on each team

Australia, Brazil, Italy, Jamaica

AUSTRALIA

 

Overview

There are high expectation for the number 6 ranked team in the world.  Many people think Australia can go far in this World Cup and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them in the final when it’s all said and done.  In 2019 they have posted a 3-2-0 record with wins over New Zealand 2-0 and South Korea 4-1. But their losses may be more indicative of how they will do against the top teams in this tournament.  They lost to the United States 5-3 and on the 1st of June they were shutout by the Netherlands 3-0. The Matildas are still getting used to a coach they just got in February 2019 who has new roles and new schemes for the team.  The team will need to adjust fast and hope their recent losses help them improve instead of showing what is to come.

 

Key Players

When you talk about Australia the first person people talk about is Samantha Kerr.  Her electric gameplay, ability to get past defenders, and not to mention her shot accuracy all provide plenty of things to talk about.  She is the team’s captain and they will live and die by her play. It should be noted that Kerr has scored plenty of times for her country but no goals have come in her three World Cup appearances.  Another Matilda the Aussies will be looking to is Caitlin Foord. She is listed as a forward, but has the diversity in her game to play any position. Her and Kerr will be up top for their team, but look for them to change places and roles throughout the game trying and most of the time succeeding in confusing defenses.

 

Prediction

Australia will still be getting their feet under them in the group play, but be able to come out as the top team.  Brazil will provide the biggest challenge but injuries and a young, fresh Matildas team will be able to beat them.  If Australia can gain the top seed it will allow them to play the three seed from Group B.  They will be able to handle whoever they play, but the quarterfinals will be more of a difficult task. They could face Canada, the Netherlands, or even Japan. All of those teams will be hard for the Matildas to beat.  They will likely exit the tournament in the quarterfinals.

 

BRAZIL

Overview

A usual contender in top tournaments, Brazil has turned into a team on the outside looking in. They are ranked 10th in the world but have lost all five of their 2019 games.  The topic surrounding Brazil is their age. They have eight players all over the age of 30, some would argue that is experience and that is key to winning a World Cup title. But age has caught up to some of them including former player of the year, Marta, who is out for their first group play game and her status for the rest of the tournament is unknown.  Brazil without Marta is hard to imagine and something Brazil faithfuls are not looking forward to.

 

Key Players

Even if she has limited minutes, Marta is a key player for Brazil.  They run their entire offense through her and she can still create scoring chances almost out of thin air.  Marta is so key to this team that her missing a game or two means Brazil has to completely change their game plan, how many players have that impression on a team? A player that has defined father time, Formiga is at her record setting 7th World Cup.  She has been able to elude injuries in her career, never missing a major tournament since she has been with the team all the way back to 1991.

Prediction

Brazil is going into group play banged up and they will probably leave the group the same way.  Brazil has known for a while that Marta was questionable which means they had time to implement a game plan, one that we will see how effective it can be.  Brazil will get out of the group, they will allow limited goals, they will just struggle to score them.  If they can gather themselves fast enough and Marta can become available then they can earn 2nd place in the group.  Unfortunately, that means they could have a meeting with Norway who has been impressive as of late and a broken Brazil will not be able to get past them. Brazil will continue their drought of no World Cup championships.

 

To see the schedule of the World Cup click: Matches

 

ITALY

 

Overview

For the first time in 20 years Italy is back in the World Cup.  They are ranked 15th in the world and have had an impressive 7-1-1 to their 2019 campaign.  But of their 2019 opponents only Chile and Thailand are in the World Cup and neither are in the top portion of teams in the world.  Their highest rank opponent this year was Korea DPR at 11 and Italy lost to them on penalty kicks at the Cyprus Cup. Italy is a question mark with how they will do in the World Cup this year, but that might just play to their favor.

 

Key Players

Italy is arguably one of the nations who has benefitted from more competitive and investments to their homegrown Series A league.  Barbara Bonansea plays for Juventus and Valentina Giacinti plays for AC Milan. Both have contributed greatly for their club teams.  Bonansea has averaged 15 goals over the last five seasons and won four league titles in six years. She also had three goals and six assists in Italy’s eight qualifying games.  The equally impressive GIacinti scored a league high 21 goals last season in the A league and six goals for Italy in her career. Italy will rely heavily on these two to get their offense going.

 

Prediction

They will not get one of the two top spots in the group but hey have the ability to get 3rd in the group.  If they can keep Australia and Brazil at bay giving up minimum goals then they have a chance at escaping the group.  But with how tough this group is, it is unlikely Italy will advance out of the group.

 

 

JAMAICA

 

Overview

Jamaica shows that it doesn’t matter how low you are ranked, that you didn’t even have a national team in 2014, or the fact that you have never made it to a World Cup before, qualifying is still possible.  They are lowest ranked team at the World Cup at 53 and they have started 2019 with a 3-1-1 record. They were able to beat Chile twice this calendar year winning 1-0 and 3-2 and their lone loss was to Scotland with just a 3-2 score.  Jamaica is proud and excited to be at the World Cup, but that does not mean they are just going to stand around and let teams pour on the goals. They are going to play proud, exciting soccer whether people expect them to do it or not.

 

Key Players

Never making the tournament means Jamaica does not have a teammate on the team to look to instead they get to figure it out together.  No one on the team is above the age of 27 and they have two teenagers on their team and the youngest player on their team might just be the most important.  17 year old Jody Brown would be a bright young star for any federation. She was named the top young player at the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship and Jamaica’s top scorer of the tournament.  Jamaica is captained by the 21 year old Konya Plummer. She is the key to their back line, a strong center back that commands the team. Her team will look to her for guidance throughout the tournament.

 

Prediction

Most people don’t expect much from Jamaica.  It’s hard to tell how they will do, historically debutantes use their first World Cup as a learning curve.   But Jamaica keeps proving people wrong and has no problem carrying the title of underdog. If you want a Cinderella story then here is your team.  They will have a difficult time escaping the group.