FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Soccer

[Ginger Ted]

The Women's World Cup tournament begins today, Thursday 20th July.

8 groups of 4 - top 2 in each group go through.

Group A
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Switzerland

Group B
Australia
Republic of Ireland
Nigeria
Canada

Group C
Spain
Costa Rica
Zambia
Japan

Group D
England
Haiti
Denmark
China

Group E
USA
Vietnam
The Netherlands
Portugal

Group F
France
Jamaica
Brazil
Panama

Group G
Sweden
South Africa
Italy
Argentina

Group H
Germany
Morocco
Columbia
Korea Republic


R16 (Aug 5-8)
Group A winner vs Group C runner-up
Group C winner vs Group A runner-up
Group E winner vs Group G runner-up
Group G winner vs Group E runner-up
Group B winner vs Group D runner-up
Group D winner vs Group B runner-up
Group H winner vs Group F runner-up
Group F winner vs Group H runner-up

Quarter-finals (Aug 11/12)
QF1: Group A winner/Group C runner-up vs Group E winner/Group G runner-up
QF2: Group C winner/Group A runner-up vs Group G winner/Group E runner-up
QF3: Group B winner/Group D runner-up vs Group F winner/Group H runner-up
QF4: Group D winner/Group B runner-up vs Group H winner/Group F runner-up

Semi-finals (Aug 15/16)
SF1: Winner of Quarter Final 1 vs Winner of Quarter Final 2 (8am)
SF2: Winner of Quarter Final 3 vs Winner of Quarter Final 4 (11am)

Third Place Match (Aug 19)
Loser of Semi-final 1 vs Loser of Semi-final 2 (9am)

Final (August 20)
Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Semi-final 2 (11am)

 

[Ginger Ted]

A quick guide to the groups, the numbers are the FIFA ranking of the team. Plus my guess at the likely qualifiers...

Group A
New Zealand 26 Norway 12 Switzerland 20 Philippines 46

NZ have home advantage and a decent looking ranking but I still expect Norway and Switzerland to run away with this group.

NZ's WWC finals record to date - P15 W0 D3 L12. I don't know enough about the Philippines to comment.

Group B
Australia 10 Canada 7 Ireland 22 Nigeria 40

Ireland had some great wins to get here and Nigeria are potentially better than their ranking suggests - despite ongoing rows between them and their own FA over facilities, funding and the governing body's all round indifference.

Australia have home advantage and some great players. Canada are the Olympic Champions. I can't see Ireland or Nigeria stopping them, but it would nice to see them giving them a scare.

Group C
Spain 6 Japan 11 Costa Rica 36 Zambia 77

Zambia surprised lots of people when they came third in the African nations cup last year, they surprised Germany by beating them 3-2 in a friendly last week. Their manager is facing allegations of sexual misconduct though which casts a massive shadow. Costa Rica have had a decent team for years and should arrive well prepared.

Even so, Spain and Japan have to be favourites to go through. Problems between the players and the management mean we won't see Spain's strongest team and they come in without the time together that you'd expect, but they could still be contenders. Japan have been revamping their team, but whether it's ready to win something - we'll have to wait and see.

Group D
England 4 China 14 Denmark 13 Haiti 53

England have struggled to reproduce their form and to score goals since the Euros. Denmark have some top players but don't currently look like a top team. Even so, I think those two will go through.

China could spoil the party of course. Haiti are in a tough group for their first tournament.

Group E
USA 1 Netherlands 9 Portugal 21 Vietnam 32

Vietnam hasn't made a WC before - neither the men's nor the women's team's. First WWC for Portugal as well.

USA and Netherlands to go through, but hopefully unlike in their 2019 group it won't be a walkover for the US.

Group F
France 5 Brazil 8 Jamaica 43 Panama 52

Ok, I admit it, I'm looking forward to seeing Khadija Shaw play for someone who isn't City. I doubt she's enough to get Jamaica through the group stage but she might be enough to give the others a scare. Panama I don't know at all.

France and Brazil to go through.

Group G
Sweden 3 Italy 16 Argentina 28 South Africa 54

Hard to envisage Sweden not making it through the group stage, but this group could be closer than the rankings make it look.

Italy are inconsistent - but so are Argentina and SA. SA won the Women's ANC last year so they're capable of surprising people. Argentina are better prepared than they were back in 2019.

Group H
Germany 2 South Korea 17 Colombia 25 Morocco 72

Germany to go through - they have to be a tournament favourite if they can keep their first choice players fit.

Second place in the group could turn into a battle. Morocco are the lowest ranked team in the tournament but they've got a good manager and made it to the final of the Womens ANC last year. The mix of federations and the fact that in women's football a shift in FA policy or funding can make a difference quickly makes it hard to know how seriously to take the rankings.

I'm going Korea as second qualifier if only on the basis that Ji So-yun has been an annoyingly good player for Chelsea.

 

[Ginger Ted]

New Zealand beat former winners Norway 1-0!

Perfect start to the World Cup - upset from the hosts who have never won a match before.

Hopefully generates some extra interest within New Zealand too.

 

[Ghost]

Both hosts New Zealand and Australia have now won their opening games.

Australia beat Ireland 1-0 in front of a record home crowd of 75,784, whilst playing without their captain Sam Kerr, who has been ruled out through injury for the opening two games.

The World Cup is well and truly underway

 

[Bandit]

Those who refuse to give women's football a chance are already missing out.

An opening match upset with the dual-hosts, who have never before won a match before, beating the former World champs with a brilliant counterattack move.

 

[Boot Cleaner]

Nigeria 0 Canada 0
Philippines 0 Switzerland 2
Spain 3 Costa Rica 0

Costa Rica weren't supposed to be this bad. Their history says they'd be coming in well-prepared and well-organised - good enough for a contest if not a win. But they're lucky it was only 3-0 - it could have been twice that margin, even with the packed box and some decent keeping, the difference between the sides was that much. Of course, Spain might just be really good.

 

[Bandit]

Nigeria 0 Canada 0
Philippines 0 Switzerland 2
Spain 3 Costa Rica 0

Costa Rica weren't supposed to be this bad. Their history says they'd be coming in well-prepared and well-organised - good enough for a contest if not a win. But they're lucky it was only 3-0 - it could have been twice that margin, even with the packed box and some decent keeping, the difference between the sides was that much. Of course, Spain might just be really good.

Very comfortable for Spain. The second half turned into a training session.

 

[Fraser]

Caught a bit of the England game this morning. I expected them to score a barrel load against Haiti but they were disappointing and will need to improve against tougher opposition.

 

[Dylan]

The keepers were the stars of that England v Haiti game. It looks like it will be a tough group to qualify from.

I guess it's good that the minnows are giving a good account of themselves but worrying for England to struggle against the expected weakest team in the group

 

[Ginger Ted]

Watched Portugal v Netherlands this morning.

Not great from Portugal. The Netherlands doing enough to win but there's got to be a question about where the goals will come from - same question mark as against England as well. In the end, another match decided on a set piece.

USA still looks like the best team.