2023-08-04 04:00:02
The group stage of this World Cup ended on Thursday with the qualification of the Colombians in first place in their group. A feat that earned them to be among our tops.
The first round delivered its verdict on Thursday August 3, and we now know the identity of the 16 teams qualified for the round of 16, scheduled for Saturday to next Tuesday, with France-Morocco as the culmination. unexpected to end. Until then, the writing of franceinfo: sport distributes the good and the bad points for this first phase.
The tops
England: the rise of the favorites
Captain Leah Williamson as well as offensives Fran Kirby and Beth Mead injured, striker Ellen White retired since the title at the Euro last year… Doubts hovered over England before this World Cup. There was, of course, the timid introduction to Haiti by Melchie Dumornay where the Lionesses were all happy to count the wall Mary Earps in their ranks, then Denmark in the same vein. But the band of Sarina Wiegman has always been convincing on the defensive level.
The festival once morest China to ensure the first place of the group with 9 points taken out of 9 possible has finished dissipating the gray areas. The British have also found a new technical leader in the person of Lauren James, three goals and three assists on the clock. In view of the lack of certainty of the other selections, England asserts itself as one of the real contenders for the world title. This will first go through an eighth once morest Nigeria.
Colombia: in the wake of Linda Caicedo
Even greater Germany was surprised. While we gave the vice-champions of Europe ultra favorites of group H, the Colombian tornado took everything, or almost. Already a scorer in the U17 and U20 World Cup over the last twelve months, the young Linda Caicedo has tripled the bet in Australia from the height of her 18 years. A first achievement once morest South Korea, to complete the success of the coffee makers with the help of the door, and a sweetness from elsewhere to open the scoring once morest the Germans, were enough to capsize the hearts of the entire planet.
Behind the Real Madrid player, the Colombians can rely on a group of warriors, who do not hesitate to give in to the physical challenge and never lower their flag. This is evidenced by the prestigious victory snatched from Germany following the end of added time. Thanks to two high-flying performances, and despite a last defeat once morest Morocco (1-0), Lionel Obadia’s players have risen to first place in their group and will be favorites in the next round once morest another sensation from this Global, Jamaica.
Japan: an almost perfect balance sheet
They arrived relatively in the shadows, but quickly found the light. The Japanese have signed an almost perfect group stage. Three wins, nine points, eleven goals scored, none conceded (one of only three teams in this case with Jamaica and Switzerland). Nothing resisted them, not even the Spaniards, whom they swept away in the shock of the last day for first place (4-0).
Capable of playing the game once morest the low blocks of Zambia and Costa Rica, but also of making their incredible efficiency speak for themselves once morest Spain (five shots on target, four goals), the Japanese delivered complete and remarkable performances. Carried by the top scorer of the group stage, Hinita Miyazawa (four goals), they placed themselves as a favorite not to be dismissed for the final victory.
They might also have been there: the Swedish faultless, the Nigerian surprise, the sense of timing of the South Africans, the Reggae Girlz of Khadija Shaw, the tenacity of the Netherlands, and the first noticed from Morocco.
Les flops
Germany: a historic explosion
This is perhaps the greatest feeling of this group stage. For the first time in its history, Germany will not play in the final phase of a World Cup. The double world champions finished third in an affordable Group H, beaten by Colombia and Morocco. Everything had however started well for the Germans, impressive winners of Morocco for their opening match (6-0).
But then everything went off the rails for the players of Martina Voss-Tecklenburg, beaten by Colombia and its phenomenon Linda Caicedo (2-1), then held in check by the South Korean red lantern (1-1). They were notably weighed down by a glaring lack of efficiency, injuries in several lines and connections that were not always made on the ground. A year following having brushed the roof of Europe in England, the landing is brutal.
Canada: the Olympic champions in disarray
Olympic gold around the neck two summers ago, the Canadians were among the contenders for a final victory, for the last World Cup of legend Christine Sinclair. But the North Americans exploded in full flight in the Group B survey. Arriving in Australia in a tense context, once morest a backdrop of conflict with their federation over issues of financial support and resources, they did not perform at their best. level on the meadow.
With only one victory on the clock and a rout in the last decisive match once morest Australia (a stinging 4-0 conceded), Bev Priestman’s players did not manage to catch the train of the round of 16, preceded by the Matildas and an impressive Nigeria. This is the first time that the reigning Olympic champion has failed to qualify for the finals.
Brazil: failed farewell for Marta
The Brazilians wanted to imitate the Argentines, world champions for Lionel Messi in December 2022 and offer the most beautiful farewell to Marta. At 37, the Auriverde legend, who has never yet won a world title, was playing his sixth and last World Cup, to pass the torch to the new generation, embodied by Ary Borges, sparkling once morest Panama, Geyse, or even Kerolin.
But the plan fell through with the elimination of the Brazilians from the group stage, unheard of since 1995. Although well launched by a big victory once morest Panama, the South American champions have never managed to raise their level of play. Falling once morest the Blues, they were not able to get, once morest the Jamaicans, a victory synonymous with qualification, and Marta said her goodbyes, tears welling up in her eyes.
They might also have been there: the latent crisis among the Norwegians, the United States far from their standards, the missed opportunity for the Italians, New Zealand, the first host country eliminated in pools.
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