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Tag: Women’s World Cup

  • Netherlands beat Sweden to reach first World Cup final

    The Netherlands reached their first Women’s World Cup final after Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen’s sweet extra-time strike settled their cagey semi-final against Sweden.

    The European champions will face holders the United States in Lyon on Sunday, after Jill Ellis’ side’s win over England.
    The 48,452 fans inside the Stade de Lyon had looked set to endure a nervy penalty shootout, before Groenen’s crisp low shot sunk the Swedes’ hopes of reaching their second final.
    Former Arsenal goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal had earlier kept the Dutch on level terms with three important saves, before Gunners striker Vivianne Miedema’s header was touched on to Sweden’s crossbar at the other end.
    Substitute Shanice van de Sanden’s fierce shot was then tipped wide by Hedvig Lindahl to send the game to extra time and the Dutch eventually found a way through.
    Sweden, who were playing in their fourth semi-final after stunning Germany in the last eight, will now face England in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Nice.
    BBC

  • FIFA WWC: USA beat France to book England semi-final

    FIFA WWC: USA beat France to book England semi-final

    Holders the United States overcame hosts France to book a semi-final date with England at the Women’s World Cup.

    Megan Rapinoe scored a goal in each half for the USA, the first a low free-kick that went in through a crowd of players, the second a side-foot finish.

    France did not manage a single shot on target in the first half but Wendie Renard’s late header gave them hope.

    Les Bleues then had appeals for a penalty waved away after Amel Majri’s cross struck Kelley O’Hara’s arm.

    The United States, who have never failed to reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals, will face Phil Neville’s Lionesses in Lyon on Tuesday (20:00 BST).

    The result also means there will be a Great Britain women’s team at Tokyo 2020 because England are guaranteed to be one of the top three European teams at the World Cup.

  • FIFA WWC: England reach semi-finals with 3-0 win over Norway

    FIFA WWC: England reach semi-finals with 3-0 win over Norway

    England sent out a warning to their rivals as they stormed into the women’s World Cup semi-finals with an impressive 3-0 victory against Norway on Thursday.

    Ellen White scored her fifth goal of the tournament in between Jill Scott’s opener and a Lucy Bronze screamer from the edge of the area.

    Phil Neville’s side has set up a mouthwatering clash with either holders the United States or hosts France.

    England were devastating on their right flank with Bronze and Nikita Parris, who missed a late penalty, tormenting their opponents throughout as Norway suffered physically.

    England got away with some sloppiness in defence but the Lionesses will hope to improve on their third place from 2015.

  • FIFA defends VAR ahead of women’s World Cup quarter-finals

    FIFA defends VAR ahead of women’s World Cup quarter-finals

    FIFA on Wednesday defended its Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review system, saying referees had reached a 98 Percent accuracy rate in decision-making during the group stage of the ongoing women’s World Cup in France.

     

    VAR system has made a controversy-filled debut in the women’s game at World Cup level, baffling players and coaches, and frustrating fans.

    Scotland and Nigeria exited the tournament after their opponents were awarded penalty retakes when VAR ruled their goalkeepers had stepped centimeters off their line.

    When France knocked out Brazil in the last 16, three goals were disallowed following reviews.

    Cameroon’s players were so indignant at the VAR interventions during their match against England that they appeared to stop playing on several occasions.

    A competitive Japan side went out in the last 16 after a controversial penalty decision.

    “VAR cannot be blind, cannot ignore,” said Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of FIFA’s Referees Committee. “If you have a tool that offers you the possibility to check, you have to check.”

    Although it has no power of adjudication, VAR’s viewing ability enables minor infractions — sometimes imperceptible to the human eye, Collina admitted — to impact a game.

    FIFA says that without VAR the group-stage accuracy rate would be a less impressive 92.51 percent and officials have expressed surprise at the anger directed at the system.

    “We can never be perfect. No one player, no one coach is perfect,” Massimo Busacca, Head of FIFA’s Refereeing Department, said on Wednesday. “We are not perfect. What’s the problem?”

    At a similar point in last year’s men’s World Cup – the first time the video replay system was used in the global showpiece event — FIFA celebrated a major controversy-free tournament, thanks in large part to VAR.

    FIFA said 99.3 percent of match-changing plays — those leading to goals, penalties, red cards or instances of mistaken identity — were called correctly in Russia, a number that would have been 95 percent without the observational power of VAR.

    But it has been a different story at the women’s tournament and questions have been raised over the lack of exposure women players have had to the system and the training women referees received before the tournament.

    No women’s leagues have implemented VAR, and referees attended only four FIFA-organized seminars.

    Still, Collina refuted the idea world soccer’s ruling body was still testing the technology.

    “We are not experimenting,” said the Italian who refereed the 2002 men’s World Cup final. “We are simply implementing the laws of the game.”

  • 2019 FIFA WWC: Sweden sink Canada to set up Germany clash

    2019 FIFA WWC: Sweden sink Canada to set up Germany clash

    Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius struck in the second half on Monday in Paris as they won 1-0 against Canada at the FIFA Women’s World Cup to set up a quarter-final against Germany.

    But it was a day of misfortune for the North Americans, who missed a penalty kick in the Round of 16 Match.

    In sweltering conditions at the Parc des Princes, the two teams struggled to register any shots on target in the first half in spite of Canada dominating possession.

    That all changed after the break when the Swedes stepped up a level and they were finally rewarded in the 55th minute when the Canadians lost possession of the ball in midfield.

    Kosovare Asllani played an inch-perfect diagonal ball to striker Blackstenius, who prodded the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe.

    It was her first goal of the tournament and it freed the Swedish team, which almost added a second with a thunderous drive from Fridolina Rolfo in the 61st minute.

    Canada had a chance to get back into the game after 68 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty kick following a lengthy VAR review ruling that Asllani had handled the ball.

    However, veteran Sweden goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl dived to her right to tip Janine Beckie’s spot kick away.

    “If they doubted I could make any penalty saves, that proved them wrong,” Lindahl told reporters. “I had to stretch fully and it worked. It was pure joy. We got a lot more energy because of that.”

    The save appeared to suck the spirit out of the Canadians who struggled to create much beyond a few half chances.

    Asslani almost scored for Sweden five minutes from time as she volleyed in from a corner kick, but her shot was cleared off the line.

    It was the first time Canada had failed to score in a World Cup knockout match and coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller said his young squad would learn from the experience.

    “We have a lot of players with a bright future. They didn’t get their chance, but it’s given them a thicker skin. The way we develop players is important. We have the third youngest squad. So, it’s looking bright,” he said.

    Sweden will now face two-times champions Germany on Saturday in Rennes in a repeat of the 2003 final.

    The Swedes have not beaten the Germans since 1995.

    “What’s happened years ago isn’t interesting. We have to look at how Germany played the last three matches,” Swedish coach Peter Gerhardsson told a news conference.

    “I don’t think it’s relevant to the players, but it will be nice to break that trend.”

  • Marta dedicates landmark goal to gender equality

    Marta dedicates landmark goal to gender equality

    When Brazil forward Marta scored a landmark 16th World Cup goal, she took the opportunity to promote gender equality with a special celebration.

    After netting the opener from the penalty spot in Brazil’s 3-2 defeat by Australia on Thursday, the 33-year-old pointed to her boots, which sported a pink and blue symbol to represent equality.

    Her boot sponsorship deal expired last year and the veteran striker has since refused to sign a new one.

    Martha said brands were not offering deals on a par with male soccer players.

    Marta, a United Nations goodwill ambassador for women and girls in sport, instead opted to highlight the disparity on the international stage.

    The goal made her the first player to score at five different World Cups, while her tally of 16 means she now shares the record for most World Cup goals alongside German Miroslav Klose.

    “It’s one more detail written in the history of women’s football,” she said of the milestone goal. “I am honoured, but there’s more to do at this tournament.”

  • FIFA WWC: China beat South Africa to send Germany, France through

    FIFA WWC: China beat South Africa to send Germany, France through

    China striker Li Ying scored the only goal in a crucial 1-0 victory over South Africa in a women’s World Cup Group B clash at the Parc des Princes on Thursday.

    This result ensures Germany and France progress to the second round.

    Debutants South Africa are now likely out of contention after two defeats, but China face a do-or-die final pool match against Spain on Monday, when they will need victory to progress given their inferior goal difference.

    They might have put themselves in the driving seat had they taken a host of late chances, but as with their opening defeat by Germany, their finishing let them down.

    Germany cannot finish outside the top two in the group, and a point in their final match against South Africa will see them avoid a likely second round match against holders the United States.

    The result also means Group A leaders France are assured of at least a place among the best third-placed teams and seals their passage into the next stage.

    China had the majority of possession in the first half as the South Africans battled to keep hold of the ball, their wayward passing inviting pressure from the Asian side.

    China had gone close before taking the lead as Wang Shuang shot over the crossbar from the edge of the box and the impressive Gu Yasha fired well wide in acres of space.

    It seemed only a matter of time before the breakthrough was made and it came in the 40th minute via Ying, who got a touch to Zhang Rui’s cross from deep to steer the ball past South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart.

    China were an inch away from a second goal before the break as Wang Shanshan rose unopposed at a corner, but her header struck the underside of the bar, with most, but not all, of the ball crossing the line.

    South Africa improved after the break and finally managed a shot on target past the hour mark, but Kholosa Biyana’s long-range effort was easy for China goalkeeper Peng Shimeng to save.

    China looked the fitter team in the closing stages and created a number of opportunities, but could not capitalise to improve their goal difference.

  • [BREAKING] Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons defeat South Korea 2-0

    [BREAKING] Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons defeat South Korea 2-0

    The Super Falcons on Wednesday boosted Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the next round in the ongoing FIFA Women World Cup in France with a 2-0 victory over South Korea.

    The first goal arrived in the first half when South Korean defender Kim Doyeon kicked the ball into her own neat following strong pressing by Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie.

    Barcelona’s striker Asishat Oshoala scored a beautifully taken solo goal in the second half after a counter attack by the team.

    A draw against hosts France in the next game will see Nigeria proceed to the next round.

    Details to follow…..

  • Women’s World Cup: Falcons need to play confidently, says Owolabi

    Felix Owolabi, an ex-international has urged the Super Falcons to ensure that they build the team’s confidence and play confidently in their next match against South Korea at the ongoing 2019 France FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    Felix Owolabi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that the Nigeria national women’s team started their campaign at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup on a disappointing note as they were beaten 3-0 by Norway on Saturday night.

    All three goals by the former world champions were scored in the first half as the Super Falcons failed to get their acts right in the first 45 minutes.

    The team will play against South Korea on June 12.

    Owolabi said: “They lost confidence when things was going `south’, they need to ensure that they build up their confidence level; in football or any other game of life you never say never.

    “They will have to rise above whatever happens on the pitch, and also they should re-strategise and do the needful,’’ the ex-international said.

    The former Green Eagles players told NAN that the team should also have a feasible backup plan in their next match.

    “They got destabilised against Norway, they should have a backup plan that will work for the team should they have to,’’ he said.

  • Women’s World Cup: Cristiane’s hat-trick gives Brazil perfect start

    Women’s World Cup: Cristiane’s hat-trick gives Brazil perfect start

    Brazil’s Cristiane scored a hat-trick as the former finalists sealed a superb 3-0 victory over women’s World Cup debutants, Jamaica, on Sunday to kick off their campaign in style.

    The victory at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble meant Vadao’s side maintained their perfect record in World Cup openers.

    The team had snapped a run of nine straight defeats in the lead-up to the tournament since a 2-1 win over Japan, last July.

    Cristiane started in place of fellow forward, Marta, who was ruled out of the game with a thigh problem.

    She gave Brazil the lead in the 15th minute by meeting Barcelona midfielder, Andressa’s cross from the left with a header past Jamaica’s goalkeeper, Sydney Schneider.

    The South Americans continued to create chances and could have doubled their lead after earning a penalty for handball by Jamaica defender, Allyson Swaby, but Schneider saved Andressa’s tame effort on goal seven minutes before the break.

    Cristiane tucked in her second goal from a tight angle following the restart as Andressa provided the assist again.

    The 34-year-old completed her hat-trick with a powerful free-kick that rattled the underside of the crossbar and landed in.

    Brazil, who are aiming to surpass their best-ever finish in 2007 when they were beaten by Germany in the title clash, take on Australia in Montpellier in their next Group C contest on Thursday.

    Jamaica will play against Italy in Reims on Friday