Group C: Sensational Japan cruise to top spot

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

Group C: Sensational Japan cruise to top spot

Wellington: Japan will face Norway in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 after a stunning 4-0 victory over Spain at Wellington Regional Stadium on Monday saw them finish top of Group C.

In a hugely impressive display of counter-attacking football, Futoshi Ikeda’s Japan were three up by half-time as a Hinata Miyazawa double either side of Riko Ueki’s deflected goal had the 2011 champions in full control at the interval.

Substitute Mina Tanaka made it four in the final 10 minutes as Japan put the icing on the cake of a performance that will live long in the memory as they topped the standings with three wins from three while Spain progressed to the next round as runners-up.

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Preview - Group D: China PR v England

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group D: China PR v England

Adelaide: China PR coach Shui Qingxia has refused to be drawn on whether she will include Wang Shuang in her starting line-up for Tuesday’s decisive clash with England at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Shui is without Zhang Rui following the playmaker’s first-half red card in the 1-0 win over Haiti at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday, with Wang coming off the bench to score the winner from the penalty spot that kept China PR’s hope of a place in the knockout rounds alive.

Preview - Group E: Vietnam v Netherlands

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

Preview - Group E: Vietnam v Netherlands

Dunedin: Vietnam are aiming to bid farewell to the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 with a fighting performance against the Netherlands on Tuesday. 

The tournament debutants hopes were dashed after two defeats in Group E but head coach Mai Duc Chung said the entire squad has promised their best at the Dunedin Stadium. 

Stajcic: Philippines have made their mark

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

Stajcic: Philippines have made their mark

Auckland: The Philippines' FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 journey ended on Sunday but there was, said head coach Alen Stajcic, no reason for despair. 

The Filipinas' journey concluded after a 6-0 defeat to Norway at Eden Park but Stajcic said what his players had achieved in their debut campaign was nothing short of incredible. 

We let ourselves down, says Korea Republic's Bell

Mon, 31 Jul, 2023

We let ourselves down, says Korea Republic's Bell

Adelaide: Korea Republic head coach Colin Bell labelled Sunday’s 1-0 loss to tournament debutants Morocco in Adelaide among the worst experiences of his career as the Taeguk Ladies's FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 suffered a near fatal blow.

The defeat at Hindmarsh Stadium came as Ibtissam Jraidi’s sixth minute header earned the north Africans their first win at a FIFA Women’s World Cup and, coupled with their 2-0 loss against Colombia earlier in Group H, means the Koreans were all but dashed.