FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 schedule, results, New Zealand knocked out of home tournament
One of the two FIFA Women’s World Cup hosts have been knocked out of the tournament early. Can the Matildas avoid the same fate?
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10PM: Colombia scored a 97th-minute winner through a Manuela Vanegas header to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Germany and stand on the cusp of the Women’s World Cup last 16 on Sunday.
Skipper Alexandra Popp thought she had rescued a point for Germany as she held her nerve to score from the spot on 89 minutes.
But in an incredible finish to a pulsating clash, Vanegas popped up deep into stoppage time for all three points with a close-range header.
It came after Linda Caicedo scored one of the goals of the tournament in front of 40,000 fans in Sydney near the start of the second half, but that was just the beginning of the drama.
Their victory left Colombia top of Group H with a perfect six points. Germany and Morocco have three each and all to play for.
South Korea are still just about alive on zero points.
8PM: KIWIS KNOCKED OUT OF HOME WORLD CUP
Norway ran riot to qualify for the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup on Sunday, a 6-0 demolition of the Philippines taking them through and eliminating co-hosts New Zealand, who drew 0-0 with Switzerland.
The Swiss needed just a point against New Zealand in Dunedin to ensure progress to the knockout phase and a second successive goalless draw allowed them to finish top of Group A.
The Football Ferns, who beat Norway in their opening game to record a historic first ever World Cup win, will not go any further in their home tournament.
The Philippines, who themselves marked their World Cup debut with a famous win against New Zealand, are out too after a heavy defeat in a game they finished with 10 players.
New Zealand had the better of the first half with a string of chances, the pick of which saw forward Jacqui Hand rattle the post on 24 minutes.
As Norway chalked up the goals in Auckland, the New Zealanders upped the intensity knowing only a win would be good enough to advance.
The atmosphere among the sell-out crowd grew more heated as both teams pushed for a goal and New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson might have won it with a header from a corner in added time that went wide.
Many of the New Zealand players were in tears as their run ended.
5PM: MOROCCO CREATES TWO WORLD CUP FIRSTS
Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab during a Women’s World Cup game when she sported the Muslim headscarf in Morocco’s historic 1-0 victory over South Korea on Sunday.
World governing body FIFA lifted its ban on footballers wearing the hijab nearly a decade ago, after previous concerns over player safety.
The 25-year-old defender Benzina, who plays her club football in Morocco, ran out against South Korea in Adelaide to write her name in the history books.
Benzina shared social media posts in the lead-up to the World Cup about wearing a hijab, but has not spoken to the media in Australia and New Zealand about it.
She told broadcaster Al Jazeera recently it would be a proud moment. “Lots of work was done over many years, and thank God it had a positive result,” she said.
“We hope to play at a high level and honour Moroccans.” Several other sports have lifted hijab bans in recent years including basketball, but it is still not allowed during official football matches in France.
The Moroccan women, coached by Frenchman Reynald Pedros, are at their first Women’s World Cup on the back of a historic runners-up finish at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
1.50PM: FRENCH COACH ERUPTS IN FIERY WC MELTDOWN
French coach Herve Renard was left fuming late in his side’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Brazil, and was seen ‘fighting’ with rival coaches after the game.
Captain Wendie Renard, no relation to the coach, headed in a late winner as France kickstarted their Women’s World Cup campaign with a win that put them top of the group.
After a lacklustre 0-0 with Jamaica in their opening game, France defied the Brazilian team and most of the 49,378 crowd to secure three vital points ahead of their final group match against tournament debutants Panama.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, France controlled much of the game and took the lead in the 17th minute through veteran striker Eugenie Le Sommer with her 90th goal in 191 appearances.
Brazil hit back in the second half through Debinha, but the 33-year-old defender Renard appeared at the back post to head in an 83rd-minute winner from a corner.
But it was in the tense final moments that Herve Renard exploded in the technical area, as the match went deep into injury time due to late stoppages.
Renard was seen angrily pointing at his watch and had to be restrained by his own support staff as he engaged in a war of words with Brazilian officials.
Herve Renard and a Brazil male coach had some words when that free-kick was awarded late in injury-time, leading to a yellow card for the French manager. They shook hands after the whistle but one was still screaming pic.twitter.com/laVfRf4etf
— Isobel Cootes (@isobelcootes) July 29, 2023
Former Socceroo, and Optus Sport commentator, Scott McDonald revealed there had been ‘fighting’ after the match.
“The tables are now turned, they’re top of table now. Look, there was fighting in the technical area after the game...” he said.
However Renard said he was always confident France would bounce back from the draw against Jamaica.
“In their preparation they were focused and really concentrating on the match, so I knew they would get back on track,” he said of his side.
“Sometimes it’s good to get off to a shaky start at a tournament like this as it makes you more determined.
“Our objective is still to finish on top of the group so we need to keep this mindset for our next game.”
11.00AM: KERR TRAINS AHEAD OF CRUCIAL FIXTURE
Sam Kerr remains on target to feature in the Matildas’ crunch FIFA Women’s World Cup clash against Canada on Monday night after training for a second successive day with the rest of Australia’s squad.
Superstar striker Kerr is yet to play during the tournament because of a calf injury she suffered the day before Australia’s 1-0 win over Ireland in Sydney on July 20.
However, with the Matildas’ now in what’s virtually a do-or-die situation following their shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria in Brisbane last Thursday night, Kerr has declared herself available for selection.
The Matildas’ captain donned her boots on Saturday for the first time since suffering the injury, and again laced them up on Sunday at the Matildas’ Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre training base.
Kerr seemed relaxed as she laughed and joked with teammates during the session’s warm-up period, which was all the media was permitted to watch before the Australian squad completed its training behind closed doors.
A win over Canada will guarantee the Matildas a berth in the round-of-16.
However, should the Canadians - who twice beat the Matildas on Australian soil last year – win, the tournament co-hosts will need a huge, and unlikely favour, from the already eliminated Ireland in its match against Nigeria, to avoid the embarrassment of failing to reach the tournament’s knockout stages.
“I’m sure me and the girls will be out there doing whatever we can to make them (Australia’s supporters) proud,” Kerr said.
10AM: THE TEAMS ALREADY THROUGH TO KNOCKOUT ROUNDS
Sweden secured passage through to the round of 16 with their thumping 5-0 win over Italy last night.
They join Spain and Japan as the teams who have qualified for the knockout stages with one pool match left to play.
Germany can join them with a win over Columbia in Sydney tonight.
Die Nationalelf and the USWNT are the only two teams in the tournament’s history to successfully progress past the group stage at every edition of the Cup.
They’ll go in as strong favourites over Columbia, who would progress if they can create the upset with a win over the Germans, having begun their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Korea.
Japan and Spain will fight for top spot when they meet each other tomorrow evening, having both won their matches over Zambia and Costa Rica.
They will face off against the top two teams from Group A, which has become one of the most tightly contested pools, with each team - including co-hosts New Zealand still a chance to progress to the next round.
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