Y’all Have Been Sleeping On Women’s Football
A summary of the five days into the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
I absolutely love and support cross-country world cup competitions. They offer double the excitement, double the cultural exchange, and double the entertainment.
Korea and Japan 2002 comes to mind.
Australia and New Zealand are hosting the competition this year, making it a groundbreaking first FIFA Women’s world cup to be hosted by two countries, and in the Southern Hemisphere.
The competition kicked off Thursday, 20th of July, with New Zealand taking full advantage of their home turf and beating Norway 1:0. Even with almost equal strengths, 49% to Norway 51% possession, Wilkinson’ 48th-minute shot was enough to seal the deal for the co-hosts and give them their first-ever win at a women’s world cup.
On the wheels of the victory of their co-hosts, Australia hosted the Republic of Ireland at the Stadium Australia and Catley’ 52nd-minute penalty sealed all three points.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria were no pushovers for their Canadian counterparts, even with only 32% possession. The Canucks could not convert any of the 3 shots on target they made with their 68% possession, even missing a penalty in the 50th-minute.
Bachmann’s 45th-minute goal from the penalty spot fuelled Piubel’s 64th-minute close-range shot to guarantee Switzerland three points against the Phillipines.
Costa Rica’s 19% possession was no match for Spain’s 81% at the Wellington Regional Stadium. An own goal from del Campo gave them a headstart, while neat finishes from Bonmati and Gonzalez completed the margin, all within seven minutes in the first half.
It was no suprise that the United States women’s team beat Vietnam by 3:0 at Eden Park. The suprise was that they only had 66% possession against the debutant side who had no shots on target all through the game. The USWNT has now created a tournament record by winning 13 straight matches at the women’s world cup dating back to 2015.
The Zambian team were no match for Japan, even with their 40% possession. It was such a comfortable win that saw goals until the last kick of the game. There was loads of late drama as Musonda, the Zambian goalkeeper fouled Ueki and was dismissed after a red card in the 97th-minute.
Sakala made her international debut standing in for Musonda, but Ueki’s retaken penalty was good enough to be Japan’s 5th goal of the game.
Haiti as a debutant country showed much promise, with their 25% possesion against a masterful English side, 7 shots and 2 shots on target. In the end, Stanway’s 29th-minute penalty proved the decider for all three points to go to the Lionesses.
Some drama in the 89th-minute saw Vangsgaard’s header pool all three points to Denmark in their game against China at the nib Stadium. With almost equal possession stats, the game was low-key with almost all the toe-curling action coming towards the end.
South Africa shocked football fans by taking an early lead through Magaia against favourites, Sweden, in the 48th-minute. However, a defensive error forces an equalizer in the 65th-minute while Ilestedt made sure the three points went to the Blagult with a 90th-minute header.
Portugal’s defeat to the Nederlands makes it six debutants at this year’s competition losing their first-ever game. This was another game where a well-timed header was the decider, with Van der Gagt’s coming in the 13th minute.
A nil-nil draw between France and Jamaica made it the first time the Raggae Girlz avoided defeat in a world cup match as they’d lost all their group games in 2019.
The 36 fouls conceded and 6 yellow cards shown during the Italy versus Argentina game was a testament to how competitive both teams were. In the end, 33-year-old Girelli’s 87th-minute header was just enough to guarantee Le Azzurre the win.
Two own goals by the Moroccans added to Germany’s advantage as they won 6:0 with goals from Popp, Buhl, Ait, and Schuller. The Atlas Lionesses hardly saw any ball possession and when they did, seemed unsure how to hold onto it. DFB-Frauen knew exactly what to do whenever the ball was in their possesion, and kept finding the net even until the 90th-minute.
Panama completed the list of all eight debutants this year who have all lost their opening game with no goals on the scoresheet. Brazil were on to winning ways with four goals, including a hattrick from Ary Broges and another from Beatriz completing the scoreline.
Borges became the fifth player ever to score a hattrick on her world cup debut.
This brought the goal tally to 32 after 15 games.
With so many goals in the first fixtures, we look forward to much more goals, astounding strikes and shocking twists.
The Women’s World cup was expanded this year to accomodate 32 teams against the 24 from 2019, so we expect double the excitement.
The United States women are defending Champions and favourites to win. But, what are your thoughts? From the games played, who do you think stands a better chance to?
I have enjoyed watching Brazil because of how grounded their midfield and defence looked, but we will find out in the long run, if Marta will finally lift a World Cup trophy as Lionel Messi did with his Argentine side in December 2022.
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