CANADA BYPASSES TOUGH OPPONENTS ON ROAD TO GLORY
U.S., France battle it out on the other side, but two-time champion Germany awaits
The opening round of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup is in the books, having featured its share of excitement, spectacular moments and controversy.
There are 16 teams left in the tournament going into the knockout stage, with winners moving on to the next round.
Canada clinched a spot in the second round with consecutive wins to open the tournament. It was the first time in Canadian World Cup history that it has won its opening two games. It’s also the first time it has advanced to the second round in a World Cup hosted in Europe.
Canada will play Sweden at the Parc des Prince in Paris on Monday with the winner moving on to the quarter-final. The bad news for Canada is that it must face Germany in the next round if it advances. The good news? The United States, France, Brazil, England and Australia are on the other side of the draw. Here’s how the round of 16 breaks down:
GERMANY VS. NIGERIA, SATURDAY IN GRENOBLE
With typical efficiency, Germany cruised through Group B, winning all three matches and scoring six goals in the process. The two-time World Cup champions had to work to get past China and Spain 1-0, but then hammered South Africa 4-0 after having already qualified for the second round. Nigeria, meanwhile, made it through despite losses to Norway and France. Its 2-0 win over South Korea was good enough to see it through, thanks to Chile missing a last-second penalty against Thailand on Thursday, which would have seen the Chileans go through instead.
NORWAY VS. AUSTRALIA, SATURDAY IN NICE
Norway won two of its three group-stage games, losing in controversial fashion to host France after a Var-awarded penalty. Norway looked good in a 3-0 win over Nigeria and was fortunate against South Korea, with Canadian referee Mariesoleil Beaudoin awarding them two penalties in a 2-1 win. Australia finished second in Group C, bouncing back from a loss to Italy with wins over Brazil and Jamaica.
ENGLAND VS. CAMEROON, SUNDAY IN VALENCIENNES
England won Group D with three consecutive wins. It defeated Scotland 2-1, Argentina 1-0 and Japan 2-0. England could be considered a contender for the title, but is in a bracket with the United States and France, one of which it would have to beat to get to the final. Cameroon finished third in Group E behind Canada and advanced with a dramatic 2-1 win over New Zealand, scoring the winning goal five minutes into second-half extra time.
FRANCE VS. BRAZIL, SUNDAY IN LE HAVRE
France won all three games and topped Group A, but had plenty of help from VAR and a couple of extremely controversial calls in its favour. There is a lot of pressure on France to succeed in this tournament, and a date with the United States likely awaits if it gets past Brazil. The Brazilians are still by far the best team in South America. Despite winning two of three games, Brazil finished third in Group C behind Italy and Australia.
SPAIN VS. UNITED STATES, MONDAY IN REIMS
The United States beat up on Thailand in its opening game, running up the score and then mocking its opponents with elaborate goal celebrations, which did not come across well in the rest of the world. The Americans toned it down in wins against Chile and Sweden, but are still the clear-cut favourites to repeat as champions. Spain beat South Africa, lost to Germany and drew with China to get through to the second round.
SWEDEN VS. CANADA, MONDAY IN PARIS
Canada qualified for the second round with wins against Cameroon and New Zealand. It then had a 10-game unbeaten streak snapped with a loss to the Netherlands. It’s the first time Canada has advanced at a World Cup tournament in Europe. Sweden swept past Chile and Thailand before resting a bunch of starters in a 2-0 loss against the United States.
ITALY VS. CHINA, TUESDAY IN MONTPELLIER
Italy has looked good in the tournament with wins against Australia and Jamaica and did enough to win the group despite a loss to Brazil. Italy is competing in the World Cup for the first time since 1999. China finished third in Group B behind Germany and Spain with a win, loss and draw. China has not made it past the quarter-final since losing the final to the United States in the 1999 World Cup.
NETHERLANDS VS. JAPAN, TUESDAY IN RENNES
Netherlands won all three group games, but you wouldn’t know it the way it is being hammered by the press at home for not being dominant enough. The Dutch defeated Canada 2-1 to win Group E and drew the 2011 champion and 2015 finalist Japan in the second round. The Netherlands is competing in its second World Cup and was eliminated in the second round four years ago in Canada. Japan is not the same powerhouse it was eight years ago, but is still dangerous. Japan finished second in Group D to England, losing 2-0 to the Brits on Wednesday.