World Cup giants Brazil are out as they failed to beat Jamaica, who go through instead, while South Africa sent Italy home after a bizarre own goal.
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MELBOURNE/NAARM — The end of a football match often sees a juxtaposition of emotions: from soaring ecstasy to deepest despair. When referee Esther Staubli blew her whistle to signal the conclusion of Jamaica’s 0-0 draw with Brazil on Wednesday, a dagger was sent through the spirit of all with Joga Bonito in their hearts.
A country where anything less than a World Cup win is seen as an underachievement (even if that set expectations unfairly high for a women’s team consistently denied investment and opportunity), was eliminated in the group stage of the Women’s World Cup for the first time since 1995. What was supposed to be a tournament that highlighted the start of a new chapter of women’s football in Brazil turned sour.
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— How teams can qualify for the round of 16
And yet on the other side, there was joy. Not just joy, but sheer, unbridled jubilation from the Reggae Girlz. In only their second World Cup, coach Lorne Donaldson’s team reached the Round of 16 for the first time. They had defeated Panama to record their first-ever win at the tournament and held both France and Brazil to draws on their way through.
Jamaica’s playbook for Wednesday was simple: defend. Against France, they retained just 24% of possession and spent 30% of the time in either a mid- or low-block. Against Brazil, they had slightly more of the ball but spent almost 40% of their time in a low-block.
But it worked. By half-time, Brazil had only produced one shot that came even close to being on target: a 39th minute from Tamires that was saved at the near post by Rebecca Spencer. Their best chance of the second half was a chaotic scramble from a corner where players desperately threw themselves in every direction until Debinha sent in a header at Spencer. Joga Bonito kept running into a brick wall.
In the 82nd minute, Bunny Shaw broke and blasted an effort over for the Jamaicans’ first shot, but they didn’t need to win to advance. They needed to stick to the plan, manage the game and, if needed, call upon the dark arts of time-wasting. Winning, or in this case drawing, games like this is a skill and, after demonstrating it with aplomb (twice), the Reggae Girlz deserve their moment.
Brazil veteran Marta, who has played her last World Cup now, had spoken earlier this week of the rise of countries like Jamaica at this tournament, declaring that «the more we work, the harder we work, and the more we dedicate ourselves, the more opportunities we create.» This, she said, «brings brilliance to women’s football.» On this night, Jamaica’s brilliance shone through. — Joey Lynch
USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski dismissed criticism by former player Carli Lloyd after the team’s 0-0 draw against Portugal on Tuesday, calling it «insane» to doubt the players’ drive to win. Lloyd, a two-time World Cup winner who works on as an analyst for Fox Sports, said after the match: «I’m just seeing a very lackluster, uninspiring, taking-it-for-granted [effort].» When asked his response about Lloyd’s comments, Andonovski said: «Everyone is entitled to their opinion, they can say whatever they want, but I just know how this team feels.» The USWNT finished second in Group E behind Netherlands.
Despite VAR disallowing a would-be hat trick, England midfielder Lauren James said her two-goal performance against China was «what dreams are made of.» The Chelsea playmaker (sister to England/Chelsea men’s star Reece James) shifted into the No. 10 role for Sarina Weigman’s side in Tuesday’s 6-1 win, which solidied the top spot in Group D. «[James] feels good, you can tell,» Wiegman said after the game. «She did special things today. Unfortunately that one goal was cancelled. She flows over the pitch.» The Lionesses next take on Nigeria in the round of 16.
Alexis Nunes reports from Auckland as the USWNT advances through the World Cup group stage in underwhelming fashion.
The «survive and advance» mantra, coined by famed college basketball coach Jim Valvano many years ago, implies that the winning team did some things well, but this was a shocking performance for the Americans. Players under no pressure hit passes straight out of bounds. For the night, the U.S. completed just 62.3% of its passes, a shocking number for a team used to owning the ball. Too often, the marking in midfield was nonexistent, and on those occasions when the U.S. did get the ball in front of goal, the finishing was awful.
ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle on how the USWNT looked after surviving that scare against Portugal.
For 20 minutes, France were out of the World Cup. Marta Cox’s wonder goal for Panama after 67 seconds, the quickest goal a France team has ever conceded in a major tournament, meant that Les Bleues were third in the group behind Jamaica and Brazil, who were drawing 0-0 at the time.
But the scare didn’t last long. Goals from Maelle Lakrar, two from Kadidiatou Diani and Lea Le Garrec made sure that France were 4-1 ahead at the break . The quality between the two teams, even with a much-changed France side (they rested Wendie Renard and Eugénie Le Sommer; Grace Geyoro and Selma Bacha came off at half-time; Diani after an hour) was way too big. Panama can cherish their captain’s exceptional free kick forever but they can’t compete with opposition of this calibre right now.
In the end they scored five and held off a short Panama comeback to win 6-3.
