Both the Thais and Chile remain without a point so far, but the competition format – which allows the four best third placed teams to advance alongside the top two sides in each group – adds an air of possibility to their tie at Roazhon Park on Thursday.

Thailand require not only a win but draws in two other relevant matches if they are to pull off the most unlikely of achievements, but Nuengrutai called on her charges to embrace the opportunity, come what may.

The 91st-minute strike didn’t win them the match - Thailand fell to a 5-1 defeat to the world number nine Swedes – but it did provide a moment of unbridled joy for the Southeast Asian side, which had suffered a record 13-0 defeat to the United States in their opening match on Tuesday.

Under pressure to improve following their record 13-0 defeat to the United States on Tuesday, Thailand earned an improved result, and enjoyed a moment to remember thanks to Kanjana Sung-Ngoen’s late goal, but remain on the brink of group stage elimination.

While mathematically still in knockout stage contention, Thailand now require an implausible series of events in their favour, including a thumping win over Chile, to reach the last 16, while Sweden’s win guarantees their progression with a match to spare.

The reigning world champions were roundly expected to defeat the Southeast Asian side, and they lived up to expectations with three early goals, before adding another 10 more in a blistering second half to record the biggest ever World Cup win.

Well beaten, but with their arduous first assignment now behind them, Thailand’s attention now turns to what they hope will be more competitive remaining Group F fixtures against Sweden and Chile.

The prolific 25-year-old was stunning in Australia’s 4-1 win over the Reggae Girlz, scoring two headers in the first-half, before finding the back of the net twice more with her left foot after the break.

In doing so, Kerr not only joined United States forward Alex Morgan, with five goals, on the top of the tournament’s scoring charts but became the first Australian player to score a World Cup hat-trick.

She is also the first player, man or woman, from any AFC nation to hit the back of the net four times in a senior World Cup match.

The Steel Roses survived 23 Spanish shots at goal, with goalkeeper Peng Shimeng turning in a Player of the Match performance to take her side to the Round of 16 with a 0-0 draw against Spain.

With over 40 years of experience in the game, and not having a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve, Jia surprised many - including his star 21-year-old shot-stopper - by showing his emotions after the final whistle.

Yoon Duk-yeo’s side conceded penalties at the beginning of each half, overshadowing a spirited overall display which produced 23 shots at goal to eight, with Yeo Min-ji netting her side’s first goal of the tournament.

Norway’s win takes them through to the knockout stage as Group A runners-up, while France’s 1-0 win over Nigeria in their match, held simultaneously in Rennes, confirmed the hosts as group winners.