As the Women’s World Cup enters the business stage when the final 16 kicks off on Saturday, the surprises and shocks within the group stage have thrown up some mouth-watering fixtures, beginning with the conflict of former champions Norway and Japan.
There is a way that the expanded 32-team format has improved the event after heavyweights Germany, Canada, Brazil and China have been knocked out whereas minnows like Morocco and Jamaica superior for the primary time.
While Japan got here by way of their group unscathed, Norway misplaced to co-hosts New Zealand within the event opener whereas a public spat threatened to derail their marketing campaign earlier than they finally certified.
“You can see the level of the World Cup is rising, so the women’s game is growing fast,” Norway coach Hege Riise informed reporters.
“Everyone stated it was a straightforward group, we knew it wasn’t as a result of it was a good group for us. Playing the house crew within the first sport and never performing properly was slightly bit devastating for us.
“But after that we got better step-by-step and when we needed a good win we went on to play Philippines and won 6-0. So confidence in the team is rising.”
Riise is not any stranger to Japan having performed membership soccer within the nation within the mid-Nineties and he or she praised how far the Asian facet has come since.
“When I played in Japan, I enjoyed every minute of it. Fantastic country, great players and the national team back then was not as good as they are now,” Riise stated.
“Now, they have developed quite fast and become a strong team.”
Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda praised the teamwork that noticed them hold three clear sheets in three wins to advance.
“Each player is performing their role. They’re not only performing to their own capacity, but they are working as a unit. It’s all about the collective,” he stated.
Underdogs Swiss meet Spain
Switzerland superior with two goalless attracts after a 2-0 win within the opener and coach Inka Grings has burdened on her crew needing to be extra assertive in assault once they play Spain.
“We have really understood that message and we have helped to convey that with videos,” Grings stated.
“Spain has very strong players … We look at them as a compact and strong team.”
Switzerland quietly received Group A with two scoreless attracts and a 2-0 victory over the Philippines, which was enjoying in its first World Cup.
The Swiss have now drawn seven of their final 10 worldwide matches, and on this World Cup, they’re considered one of solely three groups but to concede a purpose. The Swiss protection has been distinctive, however La Nati have by no means superior to the quarterfinals of a serious event.
Switzerland did not qualify for six of the earlier eight World Cups, and did not enter in 1995. The Swiss reached the spherical of 16 in 2015, their solely earlier look within the World Cup.
“We played very well in our group stage and we understand that Spain might be the favorites,” stated Switzerland coach Inka Grings.
Spain, in the meantime, appeared to be a high contender for the title following a 3-0 win over Costa Rica and a 5-0 rout of Zambia. But these two opponents have been among the many lowest-ranked groups within the event, with Zambia a World Cup debutante.
La Roja did not look so ferocious when it bumped into Japan, the Eleventh-ranked crew on the earth. The Japanese struck early and rolled over Spain in a lopsided 4-0 Group C finale.
The loss dropped Spain to second within the group regardless of scoring eight objectives in its first two victories.
Spain was eradicated in group play in 2015, and the knockout spherical in 2019. La Roja is making an attempt to achieve the quarterfinals in its third World Cup look.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
