Women's World Cup final eight is wide open, as sport sees a changing of
the guard
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[August 09, 2023]
By Lori Ewing
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Few could have predicted the eight teams still
standing when the Women's World Cup kicked off three weeks - and
more surprisingly, the teams who are gone.
In the most wide open World Cup in history, Colombia and France were
the last two teams to clinch quarter-final berths Tuesday evening,
joining Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia and England
to close the curtain on a breathtaking first two rounds full of
delicious twists and turns.
When the tournament was expanded to 32 teams, there was apprehension
around whether lower-ranked sides could compete at this level. But
the exact opposite happened. Concerns about blowouts were blown out
of the water in a changing of the guard.
Japan are the only previous World Cup champions remaining, having
climbed the winners' podium in 2011.
Gone are four-times champions United States, who were gunning to
become the first team to win three in a row, but were sent spinning
out of the tournament before the semi-finals for the first time in
history.
Also gone: Two-time champions Germany, 1995 winners Norway, reigning
Olympic champions Canada, and Brazil, who had not been ousted in the
group stage since 1995.
"Nothing is easy in this tournament," coach Sarina Wiegman said
after England survived a last-16 scare from Nigeria before winning
in a shootout.
"That's very exciting because we see the women's game has improved
so much. You saw in the group stage, many games were equal, and it's
not that the expected teams have won all the time."
In an end of an era, the elimination of the U.S., Canada and Brazil
marked inauspicious World Cup finales for some of the game's biggest
trailblazers in Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair and Marta.
Others such as Colombia's dazzling teenager Linda Caicedo, Spain's
integral midfield cog Aitana Bonmati and France's consistently
excellent striker Kadidiatou Diani have stepped into the spotlight.
Who will win now is anybody's guess.
Japan's "Nadeshiko" - named for a pink flower that symbolizes
Japanese beauty - are on a mission to erase the memory of their
last-16 exit four years ago, and are tournament favorites after
trouncing Norway 3-1 in the last-16.
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Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup
Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Netherlands Training - Martin
Luckie Park, Wellington, New Zealand - August 7, 2023 Netherlands'
Jill Roord with teammates during training REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
They will test their credentials Friday against
Sweden, who dumped the U.S. out of the tournament on a decisive
penalty shot measured in millimeters.
Spain's La Roja have already made history with their quarter-final
appearance in three tries. They bounced back from an ugly 4-0 loss
to Japan to dispatch Switzerland 5-1 in the last 16.
La Roja are in quarter-final action Friday against the Netherlands,
who went undefeated in the group stage of their ninth World Cup
appearance, including a 7-0 win over Vietnam in the tournament's
most lopsided score.
Australia's Matildas have enjoyed a terrific run to the quarters
despite missing the team's leading scorer Sam Kerr. She was a
78th-minute substitute in the host team's 2-0 last-16 win over
Denmark and will surely start Kerr in what should be a thrilling
quarter-final against France on Saturday.
Les Bleues are keen to bury their heartbreaking last-eight
elimination four years ago in France, and coach Herve Renard said
the pressure as hosts could weigh heavily on Australia.
"We're hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went
through when they were the host country in 2019," Renard said after
Les Bleues' 4-0 win over Morocco on Tuesday.
Fourth-ranked England, who are unbeaten in 36 of their last 37
games, would seem the favorite on Saturday against Columbia, the
lowest-ranked team in the final eight at 25, but the Lionesses
staggered into the quarters, fortunate to stave off a terrific
Nigeria team through 120 minutes to win in a shootout.
The Lionesses have more big-game experience as reigning European
champions, but Colombia have enjoyed better fan support than any
team except Australia. England will also be without top scorer
Lauren James, who received a red card for a stamp to the back of
Nigeria's Michelle Alozie.
(Reporting by Lori Ewing; Editing by Michael Perry)
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