The United States' hold on the Women's World Cup is over, and two-time champion Germany also exited the tournament. Olympic gold medalist Canada was bounced, and Marta and her Brazil team were knocked out before she had a chance to become the first player to score in six World Cups.
Yes, the heavyweights of women's soccer have all been eliminated, and yes, it has created a wide-open World Cup.
The eight teams that advanced to the quarterfinals represent some traditional powers, one previous World Cup winner and two teams making their debut in the final eight.
England, the European champion, is the betting favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook. But a foolish and violent tackle by Lauren James late in England's knockout win over Nigeria means the Lionesses will be without the star forward when they face Colombia. The Superpoderosas are feisty and were led by 18-year-old star Linda Caicedo into their first quarterfinals just four years after Colombia failed to even qualify for the tournament.
Australia, the co-host, has been to the quarterfinals three times previously, but now faces an experienced France team that has won 16 of 18 matches in 2023. France's only loss? A 1-0 defeat to — surprise, surprise — Australia in a friendly a week before the start of the 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 United States in the 2019 finale. The Dutch failed to qualify for the first six editions of the World Cup, but once they made it in, they've been among the best. The Netherlands made it to the knockout round in its 2015 debut and the championship game four years ago, and now is hoping for a second shot at the title.
And finally, Japan, the only team remaining to have a World Cup title. The Japanese last won the championship all the way back in 2011 — they beat the U.S. — and the Americans avenged the loss four years later when Japan wound up runner-up. Japan has rolled to four easy wins so far in this tournament and has conceded only one goal.
The Japanese play Sweden, the team that ended America's run toward an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title. Sweden, which dealt the United States its earliest exit in tournament history, has been to the semifinals three different times, including in 2019.
The third-ranked Swedes are the top-rated team by FIFA still in this World Cup, and Sweden is a three-time tournament bronze medalist. Sweden was runner-up to Germany in 2003.
A look at the final eight teams still playing in the wide-open Women's World Cup:
SWEDEN
Sweden plays Japan on Friday at Eden Park in Auckland in one of the better pairings of the tournament.
The Swedes have played in all nine editions of the 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 United States; she had 11 saves in the 0-0 draw, helping Sweden advance 5-4 on penalty kicks.
JAPAN
Japan is the only team remaining with a World Cup title and the Japanese have steamrolled their way into the quarterfinals.
Japan blasted past Zambia and Costa Rica, then handed Spain a jarring 4-0 loss. That win over a strong Spain squad made Japan a quiet contender. Japan then knocked off Norway 3-1 to continue its offensive onslaught.
NETHERLANDS
With so many big teams out, this is the Netherlands' chance to finally close out a World Cu p title. But the Dutch play Spain in the New Zealand capital of Wellington without star midfielder Danielle van de Donk.
She's the one who tussled with American captain Lindsey Horan earlier in the tournament, and her yellow card in the Netherlands' 2-0 win over South Africa means she won't play in the quarterfinal.
SPAIN
Spain was commanding in wins over Costa Rica and Zambia, but then was stopped cold by Japan in a humbling group play defeat.
La Roja rebounded with a 5-1 rout of Switzerland in the knockout round. Spain coach Jorge Vilda made five changes to the the lineup that was embarrassed by Japan, and two of the moves were the players' World Cup debuts.
Aitana Bonmati stepped up and scored twice in the Spain bounceback.
AUSTRALIA
Australia finally got Sam Kerr back onto the field after the Matildas' superstar missed all of group play with a thigh injury. She only came on in the final 10 minutes of Australia's quarterfinal win over Denmark, but she was supposed to be the star of the tournament.
More than 75,000 spectators attended the Matildas' quarterfinal victory and the Sydney Opera House was alit in the yellow and green team colors. The pressure is on for the co-hosts to deliver.
FRANCE
France slid under the early radar with a scoreless draw against Jamaica in the opening round, but Le Bleus have been a force since. The fifth-ranked team has cruised into the quarterfinals. France helped knock off Brazil and Marta, and has outscored its opponents 12-4 in the three games since.
France is coached by Herve Renard, who led Saudi Arabia to a shocking upset of eventual champion Argentina and Lionel Messi at least year's men's World Cup.
ENGLAND
England is the enigma. The European champion not winning the World Cup with so many challengers already out would be a bit of an upset.
The Lionesses are fourth in the FIFA rankings, right behind Sweden, but haven't had consistent play. They won a penalty shootout against Nigeria to advance to the quarterfinals.
But they also lost James, who was given a red card for a violent tackle late in the Nigeria game. The Chelsea forward is out at least against Colombia on Saturday in Sydney.
COLOMBIA
Colombia is new to this big stage and at 25th is the lowest-ranked team still playing in the tournament.
But Colombia is no pushover and has been very physical to get to the quarterfinals four years after failing to even qualify for the World Cup. The competition knows to expect a bruising match — one week before the tournament, Ireland abandoned a friendly against Colombia after only 20 minutes because of “overly physical" play.
Colombia is led by Caicedo, a rising star for Real Madrid, and the teenager dazzles on the field and also with her wide smiles that play to the cameras. Caicedo has had health issues; she battled ovarian cancer when she was 15, and during group play had at least two frightening episodes with what Colombia has called exhaustion. The team has insisted Caicedo is fit.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup
© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
14 Comments
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Yubaru
Good luck to the Samurai women of Japan!
Fighto!
All the best to all 8 remaining teams! Dare I say, we will be in for even more surprises! It's been a great WC so far, and the 7 biggest games to come.
Haven't heard of them.
Good luck to Nadeshiko Japan, however. Keep up that attack and they'll take a power of stopping!
Yubaru
Only because you dont want to acknowledge that women of Japan have the samurai blood in their veins too.
They have more than proven themselves to be the better of the two national soccer teams in Japan, and they deserve to be called the Japanese "Blue Samurai" Women's National Soccer Team.
They EARNED the respect. What have the men accomplished by comparison? Take off your blinders and open your eyes to the world around you!
sunfunbun
It wasn't a violent tackle by James, she stepped on Alozie's back, like an idiotic chump.
Fighto!
@ Yubaru - fair points. Japan ladies to now be called the Blue Samurai.
I now unilaterally declare the England women's team shall be known as The Three Lions, and the Australian women's team The Socceroos.
TrevorPeace
It's been an incredible tournament thus far. I don't have a favourite, I just love watching the games, in spite of the fact that most of them have started in the very early hours of the morning here in Canada (as in 12:30AM or 2AM). But, that's the way it is. What's in store for us as fans will be memorable, to say the least. Wish them all luck because they all deserve it.
Game on!!
Fighto!
I agree - it was frustration leading to stupidity. Nothing malicious there, and it would be a crying shame IMO if James has to sit out the rest of the tournament.
Peter14
Australia's sporting colors are green and gold. Not yellow!
The pressure is off Australia who have already made the quarter finals which is what they were expected to reach. Having made good on expectations its all gravy from here on.
There is no reason Australia cant go "all the way" having beaten the sixth ranked team Canada 4-0, 13th ranked team Denmark 2-0, and having recently beaten France in a warm up 1-0 they will have no fear of France, will be urged on by almost the entire stadium and all of the nation.
The pressure is all on the higher ranked France who are expected to out perform the hosts.
On paper France is favorite to win, but at this stage anything is possible.
Go Matilda's, go all the way!
Good luck to every team and keep enjoying this outstanding world cup.
quercetum
Even the U.S. team is Anti-American. They don’t seem to like their country at all.
Don’t Americans respect their flag and national anthem? Why do they all look so angry when their song is being played?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Some people like to use the limelight to grandstand. You'll note exactly none of them defect, least of all to your hero dictatorships.
bass4funk
Most Americans do respect their country, but a large majority don't like or respect the current admin pushing a woke overly-progressive agenda. The US from here on will recover and hopefully go back to the days of Hamm and Hope women that were deeply patriotic and loved their country with every fiber of their being.
Yubaru
We arent going back to WW2 era ya know! Maybe you are too young to remember but American's have been protesting inequality from the podium of sports for well over 50 years. Read your history, and educate yourself about the inequalities of well over 1/4 population of America faced daily back then! If you dont acknowledge it, you truly are choosing to be ignorant of your own history.
You are just being "woke" to the realization of it now. There is nothing inherently wrong with being "woke", as it means being AWARE. Sadly too many radicals have bastardized the meaning for their own purposes and agenda.
Truly if you aren't "woke", you have your head in the sand!
Yubaru
You obviously dont know the history of how the name came about, and it wasn't all that popular back 12 years ago either, but got forced on the people by the powers that be.
The rest of what you wrote is meaningless.
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
The quality of the remaining teams in the Round of 8 is an indication that women football World Cup 2027 and beyond may go for 48 teams instead of the current 32. FIFA will surely look into the matter.