Remaining contenders are an intriguing eight
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States’ hold on the Women’s World Cup is over, the Americans’ bid for a third straight title and fifth overall ended by a painful shootout loss in the opening round of knockout play.
Two-time champion Germany failed to advance even that far after finishing third in its group, Canada came up short in the same manner — just two years after a gold medal victory at the Tokyo Olympics — and Brazil and veteran Marta were knocked out before she had a chance to become the first player to score in six editions of the Women’s World Cup.
With such heavyweights eliminated, it has created a wide-open title chase. The eight teams that remain represent some traditional powers, one past World Cup winner and two teams making their debut in the quarterfinals.
England, the European champion, is the betting favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook, but a foolish and violent tackle by Lauren James late in the knockout win over Nigeria led to a red card and means the Lionesses will be without their star forward when they face Colombia. The feisty Superpoderosas are led by 18-year-old star Linda Caicedo as they head into their firstever quarterfinal, which comes just four years after Colombia failed to even qualify for the tournament.
Australia, the co-host with New Zealand, has been to the quarterfinals three times before, but now the Matildas face an experienced opponent: France, which has won 16 of 18 matches in 2023. France’s only defeat? A 1-0 loss to — surprise, surprise — Australia in a friendly a week before the start of the Women’s World Cup.
Spain makes its first appearance in the quarterfinals behind 13 goals scored through its four games. It faces the Netherlands, the team that lost to the U.S. in the 2019 title match. The Dutch failed to qualify for the first six editions of the tournament, but once they made it in, they’ve been among the best. They made it to the knockout round in their 2015 debut, and now they’re hoping for another shot at the title after falling short four years ago in France.
Then there’s Japan, the only team remaining with a Women’s World Cup title. The Japanese won in 2011 by beating the U.S. in the final, and the Americans avenged the loss four years later in a rematch for the title. Japan has rolled to four easy wins so far in this tournament, having conceded only one goal.
The Japanese play Sweden, the team that ended the Americans’ run toward an unprecedented third consecutive title by dealing them their earliest exit ever. The Swedes also have the highest FIFA ranking, at No. 3, among the remaining teams and have been to the semifinals four times before, finishing as runners-up to Germany in 2003 and taking third the other three times (1991, 2011, 2019).
Here’s more on each quarterfinalist:
AUSTRALIA
The Matildas finally got Sam Kerr back onto the field after Australia’s superstar missed all of group play with a thigh injury. She came on in the final 10 minutes of the knockout win over Denmark, where there were more than 75,000 spectators and the Sydney Opera House was lighted in yellow and green, the team colors. Now the pressure is on for the co-hosts to deliver against France on Saturday — and perhaps beyond.
COLOMBIA
At No. 25, Colombia is the lowest-ranked team remaining, but it’s no pushover and has been very physical to get to the quarterfinals. (One week before the tournament, Ireland abandoned a friendly against Colombia after only 20 minutes because of “overly physical” play.) Caicedo is a rising star for Real Madrid, and the teenager dazzles with both her skills on the field and her wide smiles that play to the cameras. A survivor of ovarian cancer, she had two frightening episodes of what the team called exhaustion during the group stage, but Colombia has insisted she is fit to play.
ENGLAND
England is the enigma among the quarterfinalists. The Lionesses are fourth in the FIFA rankings, and the European champions not winning the World Cup with so many challengers already out would be a bit of an upset. England’s play has been inconsistent, though, with a shootout required to get past Nigeria in the round of 16, and the absence of Chelsea forward James against Colombia on Saturday in Sydney is significant. How significant remains to be seen.
FRANCE
Fifth-ranked France slid under the radar early with a scoreless draw against Jamaica in the opening round, but Les Bleus have been a force since then, outscoring their three opponents 12-4. France is coached by Herve Renard, who led Saudi Arabia’s men to a shocking upset of eventual champion Argentina at least year’s World Cup in Qatar.
JAPAN
The Japanese have steamrolled their way into the quarterfinals, blasting past Zambia and Costa Rica, then handing Spain a jarring 4-0 loss to complete group play with the look of an overlooked potential contender. Japan then knocked out Norway, 3-1, to continue its offensive onslaught.
NETHERLANDS
With so many big teams out, the Dutch get another chance to win it all, but they will face Spain in the New Zealand capital of Wellington on Friday without star midfielder Danielle van de Donk. She’s the one who tussled with American captain Lindsey Horan earlier in the tournament, and van de Donk’s yellow card in a 2-0 win over South Africa means she won’t play in the quarterfinal.
SPAIN
After commanding wins against Costa Rica and Zambia, La Roja was stopped cold by Japan in a humbling group play defeat. Spain rebounded with a 5-1 rout of Switzerland to begin knockout play after coach Jorge Vilda made five changes to the lineup that was embarrassed by Japan.
SWEDEN
Sweden versus Japan on Friday at Auckland’s Eden Park in Auckland looks like one of the better pairings of the tournament. The Swedes have played in all nine editions of the Women’s World Cup, and four times they’ve had the title nearly within reach. Sweden lost to Japan in the 2011 semifinals, its third and most recent World Cup meeting with the Japanese. Sweden goalie Zecira Musovic was spectacular against the U.S.; she had 11 saves in the 0-0 draw, helping Sweden advance 5-4 on penalty kicks.