August 03, (THEWILL) – As the group stage of the Women’s World Cup comes to a close, the remaining 16 teams are gearing up for a fierce knockout round, where every match could be their last chance to advance in the prestigious tournament.
Several well-known teams, including two-time winners Germany, Olympic champions Canada, Brazil led by World Cup veteran Marta, and co-hosts New Zealand, have already bowed out of the competition earlier than expected. On the other hand, the group stage witnessed some remarkable performances from underdogs, with Nigeria, Colombia, Morocco, Jamaica, and South Africa defying the odds to secure a spot in the last 16.
The excitement continues to build as these resilient teams face off against some of the tournament’s heavyweights. England made a powerful start in the group stage, achieving three consecutive victories and finishing at the top of their group. Their impressive performance earned them a knockout tie against the Super Falcons. It must be clear to them now that their path to clinching their first-ever World Cup crown will not be an easy one.
The knockout stage, set to commence on August 5, will feature some mouth-watering encounters in various locations across New Zealand and Australia. Teams will battle it out on the field, with extra time and penalties standing as deciding factors if the match remains undecided after 90 minutes. The following are the fixtures for the last 16 matches:
August 5
Switzerland vs. Spain – Auckland
Japan vs. Norway – Wellington
August 6
Netherlands vs. South Africa – Sydney
Sweden vs. United States – Melbourne
August 7
Australia vs. Denmark – Sydney
England vs. Nigeria – Brisbane
August 8
France vs. Morocco – Adelaide
Colombia vs. Jamaica – Melbourne
The winning teams will move on to the quarter-finals scheduled for August 11 and 12, with this schedule of games:
August 11
Switzerland/Spain vs. Netherlands/South Africa in Wellington
Japan/Norway vs. Sweden/United States in Auckland
August 12
Australia/Denmark vs. France/Morocco in Brisbane
England/Nigeria vs. Colombia/Jamaica in Sydney
The intense competition will ultimately lead to the semi-finals on August 15 and 16, where the remaining teams will face off in two crucial matches to secure a spot in the final. Three African countries, Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco, are in the knockout stages for the first time in Women’s World Cup history and will be looking to write more history in the coming days.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
