AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — France star Wendie Renard was injured in her first look of this Women’s World Cup and her standing is now in query for an essential match in opposition to Brazil.
Renard was injured throughout France’s underwhelming 0-0 draw in opposition to Jamaica, and though she performed the whole 90 minutes within the opener, she was believed to be damage in second-half stoppage time in a sort out that earned Khadija Shaw a second yellow card of the sport.
The France captain skilled along with her squad forward of Saturday’s match in Brisbane, but when she will be able to’t play, Les Bleues could possibly be in huge bother in Group F.
“Our hope is that everything goes well because we need her,” France coach Herve Renard stated Friday evening. “We are not sure tonight 100%. Our trainings are quite intense and we will have to see how things happen once we face the match.”
Brazil romped to a 4-0 win over Panama in its opener behind a hat trick from Ary Borges and are holding robust because the group leaders.
France, which is ranked No. 5 on the planet, had few good scoring probabilities in opposition to the Forty third-ranked Jamaicans. But Herve Renard was pragmatic in regards to the workforce’s challenges.
“There are lots of people, lots of teams that start with the fanfare and are not there come the final, and others are maybe slow to get out of the starting blocks,” he stated.
A loss to Brazil may probably result in France’s elimination after the group stage, one thing the French have averted since 2003. France didn’t qualify in 2007, however superior out of its group within the final three World Cups.
The French are undefeated in opposition to Brazil in 11 matches, with six victories and 5 attracts.
Brazil, which is ranked eighth on the planet, can be assured a spot within the knockout spherical with a victory Saturday. Brazil has superior to the knockout stage within the final six Women’s World Cups, however has by no means received the trophy.
Brazil performed within the 2007 ultimate however misplaced 2-0 to champions Germany.
Brazil star Marta, enjoying in her sixth and ultimate World Cup, is attempting to make historical past as the primary participant – male or feminine – to attain in six tournaments. She’s already the all-time main scorer within the Women’s World Cup with 17 targets.
She got here off the bench in opposition to Panama.
SWEDEN-ITALY
The third-ranked workforce on the planet opened the Women’s World Cup with a monstrous scare when Sweden wanted a aim within the ninetieth minute for a 2-1 win over South Africa.
The Swedes subsequent play a Group G match in opposition to Italy on Saturday in Wellington and this sport needs to be even harder than Sweden’s first opponent. Italy beat Argentina to open the match, however wanted a aim within the 87th minute to safe its 1-0 victory.
Sweden defender Jonna Andersson expects Italy, ranked sixteenth, to be a totally completely different opponent than the South African squad that troubled the Swedes.
“South Africa was really strong in the counter-attacks with fast strikers, and now we’re going to face Italy, that’s maybe a more technically good team and they maybe press a little bit higher in defense,” stated Andersson, who insisted Sweden by no means panicked when South Africa struck first.
“We as a team are so strong and I could feel that we had the feeling and the trust in the team that we could change the momentum and change the game,” she stated. “And finally, we scored two goals and we won the game. So I think we had a good feeling even if they scored the first goal, (we had) the feeling that we could change it and that we could win.”
Sweden has needed to overcome some accidents as Fridolina Rolfo has been recovering from a knee damage, after which was ailing forward of the South Africa match. Although she scored the equalizer within the opening match, she was substituted halfway via the second half.
Amanda Ilestedt performed the whole match and scored the game-winner regardless of a thigh damage, however fellow defender Linda Sembrant didn’t play. Sweden star participant Caroline Seger has been affected by calf accidents and got here off the bench in opposition to South Africa.
Italy is wholesome and options 16-year-old Giulia Dragoni, who’s nicknamed “Little Messi.” She’s been lauded for her passing and talent to remain out of bother on the sector.
She stated she’s able to take Italy via the group stage, regardless of her younger age.
“I don’t feel any pressure because I know my value,” she stated. “People know me. I’m very confident and patient.”
PANAMA-JAMAICA
Jamaica scored its first competitors level in Women’s World Cup historical past when it performed France to a scoreless attract its opening Group F sport. Now the Reggae Girlz play Panama with an opportunity of gathering their first win within the world match.
Panama, considered one of eight groups enjoying within the Women’s World Cup for the primary time, misplaced its opening match 4-0 to Brazil.
Panama remains to be attempting to determine its identification after reeling off 10 wins in 14 video games, solely to lose its subsequent three matches by a mixed rating of 16-0 in opposition to superior expertise.
Las Canaleras will drop out of competition for spot within the knockout spherical in the event that they lose to Jamaica within the Saturday sport scheduled to be performed in Perth, Western Australia state.
Jamaica performed above its stage in opposition to France and didn’t concede a aim even when it was all the way down to 10 gamers following Khadija Shaw’s late purple card.
Shaw, the main scorer for Jamaica, will miss the sport due to the purple card in opposition to France. Jamaica may transfer Cheyne Matthews into the entrance two.
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