Women’s World Cup final eight is wide open, as sport sees a changing of the guard

Few might have predicted the eight groups nonetheless standing when the Women’s World Cup kicked off three weeks – and extra surprisingly, the groups who’re gone.

In essentially the most wide-open World Cup in historical past, Colombia and France had been the final two groups to clinch quarterfinal berths Tuesday night, becoming a member of Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia and England to shut the curtain on a panoramic first two rounds stuffed with scrumptious twists and turns.

When the event was expanded to 32 groups, there was apprehension about whether or not lower-ranked sides might compete at this degree. But the precise reverse occurred. Concerns about blowouts had been blown out of the water in a altering of the guard.

Japan is the one earlier World Cup champion remaining, having climbed the winners’ podium in 2011.

Gone are four-times champion United States, which was gunning to turn out to be the primary crew to win three in a row, however was despatched spinning out of the event earlier than the semifinals for the primary time in historical past.

Also gone: Two-time champions Germany, 1995 winner Norway, reigning Olympic champion Canada, and Brazil, which has not been ousted within the group stage since 1995.

“Nothing is easy in this tournament,” coach Sarina Wiegman mentioned after England survived a last-16 scare from Nigeria earlier than successful 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.”

At an finish of an period, the elimination of the U.S., Canada and Brazil marked inauspicious World Cup finales for a number of the recreation’s largest trailblazers in Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair and Marta.

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Others such as Colombia’s dazzling teenager Linda Caicedo, Spain’s integral midfield cog Aitana Bonmati and France’s persistently wonderful striker Kadidiatou Diani have stepped into the highlight.

Who will win now’s anyone’s guess.

Japan’s “Nadeshiko” – named for a pink flower that symbolises Japanese magnificence – are on a mission to erase the reminiscence of their last-16 exit 4 years in the past, and are event favourites after trouncing Norway 3-1 within the last-16.

They will take a look at their credentials Friday in opposition to Sweden, who dumped the U.S. out of the event on a decisive penalty shot measured in millimetres.

Spain’s La Roja have already made historical past with their quarterfinal look in three tries. They bounced again from an unpleasant 4-0 loss to Japan to dispatch Switzerland 5-1 within the final 16.

La Roja is in quarterfinal motion Friday in opposition to the Netherlands, who went undefeated within the group stage of their ninth World Cup look, together with a 7-0 win over Vietnam within the event’s most lopsided rating.

Australia’s Matildas have loved a terrific run to the quarters regardless of lacking the crew’s main scorer Sam Kerr. She was a 78th-minute substitute within the host crew’s 2-0 last-16 win over Denmark and can absolutely begin Kerr in what must be an exciting quarter-final in opposition to France on Saturday.

Les Bleues are eager to bury their heartbreaking last-eight elimination 4 years in the past in France, and coach Herve Renard mentioned the strain as hosts might weigh closely on Australia.

“We’re hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went through when they were the host country in 2019,” Renard mentioned after Les Bleues’ 4-0 win over Morocco on Tuesday.

Fourth-ranked England, which is unbeaten in 36 of its final 37 video games, would appear the favorite on Saturday in opposition to Columbia, the lowest-ranked crew within the closing eight at 25, however the Lionesses staggered into the quarters, lucky to stave off a terrific Nigeria crew by way of 120 minutes to win in a shootout.

The Lionesses have extra big-game expertise because the reigning European champion, however Colombia has loved higher fan help than any crew besides Australia. England can even be with out prime scorer Lauren James, who obtained a purple card for a stamp to the again of Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie.