Knockout spherical opens at Women’s World Cup with Japanese vs Norway, unproven Swiss faces Spain

AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Brazil and Canada are out. Same for Italy and Germany, all powerhouse groups already eradicated from the Women’s World Cup following surprising upsets in group play.

The United States, in the meantime, hardly seems to be as dominant because it did in profitable the final two consecutive titles.

The spherical of 16 begins Saturday in what’s now a wide-open World Cup with loads of underdogs nonetheless in competition. Morocco, ranked 72nd on the earth and within the event for the primary time, used an unbelievable upset over Colombia to advance.

South Africa made it by to the spherical of 16 for the primary time in its historical past, and identical for Jamaica, which wanted a GoFundMe marketing campaign to afford the journey to the event. Nigeria is thru for the primary time since 1999, whereas Colombia and its 18-year-old star Linda Caicedo made it to the spherical of 16 for the second time in group historical past and simply 4 years after it didn’t qualify for the event.

There are loads of heavyweights nonetheless in play, however one can be eradicated Sunday when the top-ranked United States performs third-ranked Sweden. Australia, England, Denmark, France, 2019 runner-up the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland all superior, and Japan simply may be the brand new favourite after scoring 11 targets in three group-stage wins.

The knockout spherical kicks off Saturday when Switzerland performs Spain in Auckland, and Norway faces Japan within the New Zealand capital of Wellington.

PHOTOS: Knockout spherical opens at Women’s World Cup with Japanese vs Norway, unproven Swiss faces Spain

SWITZERLAND-SPAIN

Switzerland quietly received Group A with two scoreless attracts and a 2-0 victory over the Philippines, which was enjoying in its first World Cup.

The Swiss have now drawn seven of their final 10 worldwide matches, and on this World Cup, they’re one in all solely three groups but to concede a objective. The Swiss protection has been distinctive, however La Nati have by no means superior to the quarterfinals of a serious event.

Switzerland didn’t qualify for six of the earlier eight World Cups, and didn’t enter in 1995. The Swiss reached the spherical of 16 in 2015, their solely earlier look within the World Cup.

“We played very well in our group stage and we understand that Spain might be the favorites,” stated Switzerland coach Inka Grings.

Spain, in the meantime, a high contender for the title following a 3-0 win over Costa Rica and a 5-0 rout of Zambia. But these two opponents had been among the many lowest-ranked groups within the event, with Zambia a World Cup debutante.

La Roja didn’t look so ferocious when it bumped into Japan, the Eleventh-ranked group on the earth. The Japanese struck early and rolled over Spain in a lopsided 4-0 Group C finale.

The loss dropped Spain to second within the group regardless of scoring eight targets in its first two victories.

Spain was eradicated in group play in 2015, and the knockout spherical in 2019. La Roja is attempting to succeed in the quarterfinals in its third World Cup look.

JAPAN-NORWAY

Japan seemed awfully sturdy in a three-game sweep of Group C, and now faces Norway, which was second in Group A regardless of enjoying a lot of the first spherical with out star ahead Ada Hegerberg.

Hegerberg skilled together with her teammates in Wellington on Friday however hasn’t performed in additional than two weeks, in Norway’s tournament-opening loss to New Zealand. She was listed within the beginning lineup forward of Norway’s sport in opposition to Switzerland solely to be a game-time scratch with a groin harm.

She didn’t play the finale in opposition to the the Philippines, and alternative Sophie Roman Haug scored a hat trick.

Norway coach Hege Riise wouldn’t verify Hegerberg’s enjoying standing in opposition to Japan.

“She’s been following the medical plan and been successful in every step of that plan,” Riise stated. “So we are going to see her in coaching (Friday) and see how how she reacts to that, just like the final step earlier than the sport.

“And we prepare for Ada to play or come in,” he stated, noting that having two sturdy selections at ahead is “luxury for me as a coach.”

Japan, in the meantime, sailed by group play with 11 targets over its three video games. The Japanese have but to concede a objective this event.

“Our team is more confident, that is sure,” coach Futoshi Ikeda stated. “But this is the knockout stage, and we only have one chance to win. So our mindset has to change accordingly.”

Japanese midfielder Yui Hasegawa sounded as assured as her coach described.