FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 schedule, results: France to face Australia after 4-0 victory over Morocco
France’s excitement at booking a World Cup quarter-final against Australia has been tempered by a late injury scare to one of its key weapons.
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FINAL: Colombia 1-0 Jamaica
FINAL: France 4-0 Morocco
French coach Herve Renard says the pressure will be on Australia, as well as his side, in Saturday’s blockbuster World Cup quarter-final.
Speaking after Les Bleus dismantled Morocco 4-0 in Adelaide, Renard told broadcaster M6: : “We are capable of doing it but it won’t be easy, albeit not easy for either team.”
France netted three times in eight minutes during the first half and Eugenie Le Sommer rounded out the scoring with her second goal in the 70th minute.
“We fulfilled our objective. You always want a little bit more, but it’s fine,” Renard said.
France were knocked out in the quarter-finals as hosts in 2019, losing to eventual winners United States.
A win against Australia would allow France to equal its best performance at the World Cup, when it got to the last four in 2011.
“Now we can start thinking about the quarter-final against the host nation,” Renard said.
“We have matched our performance of four years ago, but our objective was to do better than we did in 2011, so we know what we have left to do.”
- AFP
11.10PM: TEARS FLOW FOR MOROCCO
You can understand the emotions flowing for Morocco after their brave run at the World Cup came to an end.
It has been a momentous 12-18 months for football in Morocco though after the country’s men’s team finished fourth in Qatar.
That performance was backed up at this tournament when the world’s No.72 ranked team achieved well beyond expectation by finishing ahead of Germany and reaching the knockout stages.
The tears flow for the Atlas Lionesses at full-time 😢
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 8, 2023
'A memorable occasion. A memorable World Cup. Something Morocco will walk away really, really proud of.'
Morocco, you have our hearts â¤ï¸ðŸ‡²ðŸ‡¦#FIFAWWC#OptusSportpic.twitter.com/O75FdHh6qp
FULLTIME: FRANCE 4 MOROCCO 0
The only concern to come out of that match for France was a late injury concern for Selma Bacha.
The left-sided winger was one of France’s standout players but landed awkwardly and spent much of added time hobbling.
She’ll be a close watch in coming days with a four-day turnaround before the quarter-final against Australia.
Bacha was on crutches after hurting her ankle in the warm-up clash against Australia last month.
#FRA need Selma Bacha in this tournament. She has to be fit.
— Tosin X (@Cosimo_diMedici) August 8, 2023
She makes the team tick in every way.
France it is for the Matildas in the quarter finals.
— .\nthony Vescio (@vesh88) August 8, 2023
Brisbane, bring the noise! Matildas are going to need it!
10.30PM: FRANCE SCORES A FOURTH
Le Sommer nets her second goal and just in case there was any doubt (there wasn’t) France will play the Matildas on Saturday in Brisbane.
The French attacker found space in the box and was unmarked at the back post to head home.
Australia hasn’t conceded in its last two matches against Canada and Denmark but this French attack will be a sterner test of the Matildas’ defensive structure.
10.25PM: FRANCE MAINTAINS ADVANTAGE
France was criticised for its lapses which allowed Panama to score three goals and has almost let Morocco in several times during this half.
The score is still 3-0, but Morocco has been inside its penalty area more in 20 minutes than it managed during most of the first half.
To its credit, Morocco has been much more proactive in this half but lacked the cutting edge to trouble France.
Unless Morocco pulls off one of the great World Cup comebacks, here’s how the quarter-finals will look:
Friday, August 11
Spain (world rank 6) v Netherlands (9)
Japan (11) v Sweden (3)
Saturday August 12
Australia (10) v France (5)
England (4) v Colombia (25)
9.55PM: JAMES’ REGRET OVER NIGERIA STOMP
England star Lauren James has reached out to Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie as she waits to learn her fate over the stomp which rocked the World Cup.
The England star will at least miss the quarter-final against Colombia after being red carded but could yet be ruled out for the rest of the tournament.
On Tuesday night, she replied to a Tweet from Alozie: “All my love and respect to you. I am sorry for what happened. Also, for our England fans and my team-mates, playing with and for you is my greatest honour and I promise to learn from my experience.”
9.25PM: FRANCE SCORES AGAIN
Anyone know what the record margin is in a round of 16 game?
This one came about from an absolute calamity at the back for Morocco.
Diani runs onto a long ball, keeps the pressure on and the ball cannons off her shins as Morocco tries to clear to Le Sommer.
It’s 3-0 after 23 minutes and Tony Gustavsson can start planning to face France.
Minutes later, Bacha hits the side netting as well.
This is a brutal display.
9.22PM: FRANCE DOUBLES THE LEAD
What a finish!
Diani cuts the ball back to Aston Villa midfielder Kenza Dali who curls it first time into the bottom corner.
We’ve only just gone past the 20-minute mark and already it looks like being a long night for Morocco.
9.16PM: FRANCE STRIKE FIRST
France take the initiative in the clash to see who will face the Matildas in the last eight.
Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi was caught in two minds and her indecision allowed an unmarked Kadidiatou Diani head home.
9.10PM: WATCH — WILD SCENES ON AUSSIE BUS
The Matildas have released a video of their post-match bus celebrations after defeating France 2-0 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
Experienced goalkeeper Lydia Williams leads the chanting, which certainly delivers the same type of energy the Matildas have produced in their last two World Cup games.
Check it out below.
Run that back 🔊
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) August 8, 2023
Scenes on the team bus following last night's victory!#Matildas#TilitsDone#FIFAWWCpic.twitter.com/x0lEGVCnJu
8.45PM: FRENCH COACH WARY OF MOROCCO
France coach Herve Renard has warned his team not to take Morocco lightly as they face one of the surprise packages of the Women’s World Cup in the last 16 .
While France’s objective is to win a major women’s title for the first time, Morocco qualified for the last 16 at their debut World Cup against the odds and at the expense of Germany.
There are 67 places between the nations in the FIFA rankings.
The match is also a special occasion for Renard, who managed the Moroccan men’s team for three years and took them to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“I have marvellous memories of my time in Morocco, but let’s focus on the football,” Renard told reporters on the eve of the game.
“Even when we have a kickabout with friends we want to win, and we are here to win and qualify for the next round.
“The important thing is that we respect our opponents and the fact that this is a last-16 tie at a World Cup.
“Morocco are not here by chance. This is a match of the same calibre as our game against Brazil.”
France beat Brazil 2-1 on the way to topping their group, also defeating Panama after being held by Jamaica in their opening game.
Morocco, meanwhile, bounced back from a 6-0 hammering by Germany to beat both South Korea and Colombia and qualify in second place in Group H behind the South Americans.
“We respect them but we are focused on ourselves,” added Renard. “There is a lot of experience in this France team. I am here to guide them as well as I possibly can but I get the feeling that they would do just fine on their own if I were not here.”
8.15PM: COLOMBIA INTO QUARTER-FINALS
Colombia is through to the last eight of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The South Americans defeated Jamaica 1-0 in Melbourne on Tuesday, edging a physical encounter thanks to Catalina Usme’s 51st-minute strike.
Jamaica’s best chance came in the 82nd minute when Drew Spence headed wide from inside the penalty area.
Usme’s goal was the first conceded by Jamaica at the World Cup and although Colombia had most of the territory in the second half in front of a wild crowd, one goal was all that separated the sides.
Colombia will next face England.
And sadly for this blogger, that is also the last of the World Cup action in Melbourne.
6.50PM: COLOMBIAN STAR FELLED BY BRUTAL TACKLE
It’s one thing to not want to give Linda Caicedo any space.
It’s another to do what Drew Spence did earlier.
The Jamaican midfielder was not going to let the Real Madrid star loose in the middle of AAMI Park, wrapping her arm around Caicedo and bringing her to ground in a tackle described as “cynical”.
It earned Spence a yellow card and Caicedo spent at least a minute on the ground wrthing in pain.
The good news for Colombian fans is she’s back on her feet and will play on.
6.15PM: GIELNIK DECLARES KERR CAN’T START
Fringe Matildas striker Emily Gielnik — who was close to being selected in the World Cup squad — says captain Sam Kerr should not start the quarter-final.
Kerr played her first minutes of the tournament in the 2-0 round of 16 victory over Denmark and Gielnik urged Tony Gustavsson to stick with the plan of using his captain as a super sub.
“My personal opinion — and I’ve been out of the bubble now so I don’t know what Tony G’s going to do — I actually think it would be silly if we started Sam again,” she told Optus Sport.
“Right now, you’ve got to look at it from a fitness point of view, she’s just coming back from a calf injury, we got her the minutes that she needs, got her the confidence she needs, they’re building her up for these bigger moments.
“You can’t throw her back in the deep end too quickly, just from an injury point of view and a protective point of view. The players are doing well, they’ve built a great cohesion now and if you’ve got Sam Kerr on the bench, what a weapon to have.
“She’s a great weapon to have but I think just putting her in there straight away, obviously she’d love to, but you’ve just got to think of the outcome.”
5.45PM: STEREOTYPE NIGERIA WON’T COP
Nigerian defender Ashleigh Plumptre has hit out at those who put the success of African nations down to simply being “strong” and “fast”.
The English-born player told Optus Sport after her side went down to the European champions in a penalty shootoutt: “After this game, I am tired of people just saying that African teams are just strong and they’re just fast and count us out of being technical or tactical,” she said.
“We have just pushed England to the very end and I actually think that we had better chance than them...it’s really hard losing. Obviously it was a big moment for me playing England. My goodness, I’m exactly where I need to be.”
She said Nigeria had set a benchmark for future tournaments by qualifying for the round of 16.
5.20PM: JAMAICAN STAR SAYS ‘BUTT IS FINE’ AFTER STOMP
Michelle Alozie says her “butt is fine” and has spoken of her shock as English star Lauren James awaits her punishment for stomping on the Nigerian player.
Goal.com reported Alozie said post-match: “I was a little bit surprised by her reaction to the tackle. I don’t think it was really needed.
“I’m fine, my butt is fine from her stepping on it. I was kind of confused initially. I didn’t understand what was going on at first. There’s no hard feelings, it’s just a game.”
James was initially shown a yellow card before the decision was upgraded to a red after a VAR check.
Several reports on Tuesday suggested James could be rubbed out for the remainder of the tournament as FIFA investigates the incident.
life. pic.twitter.com/3572ug62Ba
— michelle alozie (@alozieee) August 8, 2023
5PM: CUP SURPRISE PACKET’S FIRE SITUATION EXPOSED
They were the surprise packets of the World Cup, beating the Matildas in the group rounds and almost eliminating heavy favourites England on Monday, and Nigeria have painted a distressing picture of the grim financial position of the country’s football program.
Nigeria were defeated 4-2 on penalties by the Lionesses, exiting after dominating play for the 120 minutes of regulation and extra time.
Players were left heartbroken by the result – as much because it halted their push for change as it did end their tournament.
Nigeria’s American-born forward Ifeoma Onumonu lamented the country’s poor training facilities and conditions its stars were forced to play under.
“I’ve seen what (resources) England have access to,” said the forward.
“In Nigeria we don’t have access to much. Our training fields aren’t great. Where we sleep isn’t great. Sometimes we share beds.
“It’s not good enough. In terms of recovery, we don’t have much of any of that. We don’t have access to a gym in camp in Nigeria.
“There’s a lot that needs to be done. Hopefully more people start to talk about it.
“Coming here it’s hard to adjust. We do what we can because we love playing for our country but hopefully they make it easier for us to do our best.
“It’s not good enough. In terms of recovery, we don’t have much of any of that. We don’t have access to a gym in camp in Nigeria.
“There’s a lot that needs to be done. Hopefully more people start to talk about it. Coming here it’s hard to adjust. We do what we can because we love playing for our country but hopefully they make it easier for us to do our best.”
Coach Randy Waldrum is in an ongoing dispute with the Nigerian Football Federation over his salary being unpaid for over a year – before being described as a ‘blabbermouth’ by the country’s communications director.
4.00PM: SHOULD SAM KERR START? HAVE YOUR SAY
Questions about Sam Kerr’s injured calf have been replaced by whether the superstar striker should be starting for Australia in their World Cup quarter-final.
It’s one which has divided the football public in Australia since Kerr returned for her first appearance at this World Cup, playing the final 15 minutes in the 2-0 win over Denmark.
On one hand, Kerr is arguably the best player on the planet. She entered the tournament as the key to the Matildas’ hopes, and hasn’t lost any of her brilliance in the past three weeks.
On the other, Australia have recovered well and built a gameplan that doesn’t revolve around the gun striker.
So where do you stand? Kerr, or no Kerr, in Australia’s starting lineup on Saturday?
3.30PM: ENGLAND FACE ‘HARSH TRUTHS’ AFTER LUCKY ESCAPE
The best teams find a way to win when playing badly, so says the football cliche, but England will surely be out of the Women’s World Cup if there is a repeat of their display against Nigeria.
The European champions got away with one on Monday in Brisbane as they stumbled into the quarter-finals 4-2 on penalties.
Nigeria are ranked 40th in the world to England’s four but they hit the woodwork twice and were clearly the better side, even before Lauren James was sent off in the 87th minute.
It was not like Sarina Wiegman’s players had not been warned. Nigeria had defeated co-hosts Australia 3-2.
Brazil, Germany and Olympic champions Canada were all dumped out in the group phase as lower-ranked teams progressed.
Back-to-back defending champions the United States were then bundled out on penalties by Sweden in the last 16.
That left England as favourites to win the World Cup for the first time but they looked ponderous and devoid of ideas as they clung on for a 0-0 draw against Nigeria to force penalties.
Former England defender Anita Asante said there would be some “hard truths in the changing room”.
“England are very lucky to have progressed to the quarter-finals,” she told the BBC.
“And they definitely need to step up their performances if they want to get all the way to a final.”
2PM: ‘MADNESS’: ENGLAND BREAK SILENCE ON HORROR STAMP INCIDENT
England coach Sarina Wiegman said she aged about 10 years during England’s nail-biting knock out clash with Nigeria which was decided by a penalty shootout.
The Lionesses coach now has to regroup her squad ahead of the quarter-finals where they will be without Lauren James whose petulant brain fade in the second half saw her shown the red card to deliberately stamping on her opponent’s back with her studs.
Wiegman insists the 21-year-old has issued an apology to the player in question and will learn a very tough lesson – particularly if FIFA extends her ban to three matches which would end her World Cup campaign.
“I’ve spoken to her. I actually said [to her], “look, that happens sometimes with human beings,” that they are in such an intense game and such a high-intensity, emotional game, and in a split second she lost her emotions,” Wiegman said.
“Of course she apologised and she felt really, really bad. Absolutely she doesn’t want to hurt anyone.
“This was a moment, it was a split second and it was later in the game, so players also get a little tired, she’s an inexperienced player on this stage and she’s done really well.
“I think in a split second she just lost her emotions. Of course she doesn’t want to hurt anyone, she’s the sweetest person I know.
“Things happen like that, you can’t change it any more, it’s a huge lesson to learn but of course it’s not something she’s done on purpose.
“I don’t know about my heart-rate, I just know I’m ten years older. It was a really intense game.”
James will miss the quarter-finals this weekend and her absence will be felt with the European champions already without Leah Williamson, Beth Mead and Fran Kirby.
England great Gary Linekar compared James’ moment of madness to David Beckham’s kick on Diego Simeone at France 1998.
“The Lionesses down to 10 as Lauren James has a Beckhamesque moment of madness,” he wrote on social media.
12.30PM: MATILDAS’ BIZARRE CAPTAINCY SWITCH-UP EXPLAINED
Steph Catley has been Australia’s captain fantastic this tournament - from her cooly slotted penalty to win the opening against Ireland to her calm leadership in dragging the Matildas back from their shock loss to Nigeria.
So it raised a few eyebrows when Catley handed over the captain’s armband to the returning Sam Kerr when she subbed on against Denmark for her first minutes of the tournament after struggling with a calf injury.
So how did it come about? Well, for starters, Kerr was not a fan of the idea.
“She was shaking her head, saying ‘no, no, no – I don’t want it’,” Catley revealed.
“And I was like ‘please, this is yours. Put it on.’”
Kerr has been in awe of Catley’s leadership throughout the tournament.
“(We) share this role. I know most of the time I wear the captain’s armband but this tournament she’s shown she’s a born leader,” Kerr added.
“And I didn’t think it really needed to come to me but it was a nice gesture by her.”
The return of Kerr certainly caught the attention of the Australian public - and the 75,000 at Stadium Australia on Monday night.
“It was a massive boost for us,” Catley said.
“The crowd were obviously ecstatic when she came on. I’ve not heard it that loud, really, other than when we’ve scored. A lovely moment and we’re just happy to have her back.”
10:25AM WHY WORLD CUP STAR TOLD CAMERAMAN TO F*** OFF
England hero Chloe Kelly was hailed for apparently telling a cameraman to “f*** off” as she protected Nigeria’s goalkeeper after firing the Lionesses to the World Cup quarters.
The 25-year-old Manchester City forward held her nerve to rifle home the winning spot-kick as England beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties in the last-16 clash.
It came after the Lionesses played the entirety of extra-time with a player less after Lauren James was sent-off for stamping on an opponent’s back.
Kelly stepped up to blast the crucial spot kick past Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had enjoyed a stellar performance in goal for the African nation, to spark wild celebrations.
However, she instantly showed her “class” as she raced over to the heartbroken Nnadozie and pushed a camera out of the way as it tried to capture the agony on the keeper’s face following her side’s heartbreaking exit.
Fans were quick to praise the England star on social media for putting a rival’s well being before celebrations.
After the match, Kelly hailed her teammates.
”This team is special, we did it in the Euros, we did it in the Finalissima, we are here again tonight and doing it; we keep pushing forward and there is more to come form this special team,” she said.
“It is amazing, anything that is thrown at us, we show what we are capable of.
”We dig deep, we dig deep as a group, we believe in our ability; first and foremost we believe in what we are being told to do.”
This from Chloe Kelly is class ðŸ‘ðŸ½pic.twitter.com/4dMbIy9JkT
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 7, 2023
One sight that melted my heart
— Dr. Kelechi Anyikude (@KelechiAFC) August 7, 2023
After the game, with Nnadozie in tears, Alex Greenwood, Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton went to console her and circled her preventing the camera from recording her weak moment.
It was touching. The highest level of fair play ðŸ‘ðŸ¾â¤ï¸#fifawwc#ENGNGApic.twitter.com/1cdCvPrYBZ
8:45AM MATILDAS DILEMMA FOR NEXT CLASH
Jamie Pandaram
It’s the question Matildas fans never thought they’d have to ask, but should a fit Sam Kerr be an automatic starter in the quarter-final this weekend?
Coach Tony Gustavsson was giving nothing away following his side’s 2-0 win over Denmark that has sent them into the final eight, despite Kerr’s successful comeback from the calf injury that had kept her sidelined throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Now comes the dilemma, with the Matildas playing outstanding football without their attacking superstar, as the likes of Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler have stepped up to fill her big boots.
While Foord said rival teams will be scared to realise Australia has their main attacking strike weapon back for the finals, Gustavsson could not guarantee Kerr would start in the quarters against the winner of France versus Morocco.
READ TONY GUSTAVSSON”S FULL RESPONSE HERE
7:20AM the SOCCER-WHOS?
A cheeky little dig from former Matilda Amy Harrison aimed at Australia men’s football team as Matildas-mania sweeps the nation.
Fresh faced from calling the match, Harrison spoke to Channel 9 thi s morning about the impact of Sam Kerr returning and how much the team has grown without her.
“The soccer whos?,” she said when asked about the matildas overtaking their male counterparts in terms of popularity.
“No, it feels like that at the moment. The Matildas are absolutely killing it this tournament. I think the best thing about it is that they are growing into the tournament and that is what you need to do in World Cups. So hopefully it continues.
“It was the perfect night. A win obviously the most important thing, but to have Sam come on, get the legs moving, have a few shots on target and you could see the smile on her face, not only from her but every Australian around the code.
”It was 24 hours before they found out that she wasn’t going to play in that opening match, and you could tell it rattled the team, it rattled the nation but I think they’ve shown so much strength and character to build from that.
“Obviously winning that first game, had a bit of a hiccup but I think that hiccup has made them so much stronger and they’ve drawn so much confidence from that and they’ve had to pull together and row the boat in that right direction. So I think it’s been a win-win.”
Australia’s quarter-final opponents will be decided in the France v Morocco clash which is at 9pm tonight.
7AM NIGERIA CRUSHED
Nigerian women’s coach Randy Waldrum said his team was in tears after being knocked out of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in a penalty shoot out against England.
But Waldrum said he “couldn’t be more proud” of the Super Falcons and said the team was certainly deserving of a boost in their FIFA rankings.
“But more importantly, I think we’ve just shown that we’re capable of playing with anybody,” Waldrum said post match.
“ I thought the performance was good. and with a little bit of luck a bounce here I think we could have walked away with the result in the 90 minutes.”
The American said he wanted to stay with the team and take them through to the Olympics next year.
Originally published as FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 schedule, results: France to face Australia after 4-0 victory over Morocco
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