AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand went from Women’s World Cup darlings to the brink of elimination in a five-day span and its shot at advancing into the knockout spherical hinges on its Sunday match in opposition to Switzerland.
Switzerland sits comfortably atop Group A following a win over the Philippines and a draw in opposition to Norway, and something however a loss to New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland would push La Nati by to the subsequent spherical.
New Zealand’s trek is way extra perilous after the Football Ferns misplaced 1-0 to the Philippines, a event newcomer. It was an enormous letdown for New Zealand, which opened the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Norway that captivated its nation.
New Zealand nonetheless has its supporters and stopped the crew bus Saturday after leaving the airport to greet cheering followers. The Football Ferns had motive to have fun because the crew realized defender Michaela Foster, who missed New Zealand’s first two video games, is out there in opposition to Switzerland.
New Zealand and the Philippines are tied for second in Group A headed into Sunday’s video games that decide which two groups advance. The Philippines play Norway on the similar time New Zealand tries to advance to the knockout spherical for the primary time in event historical past.
It’s the fourth assembly between the nations, first since 2014, with New Zealand twice beating the Swiss within the Cyprus Women’s Cup.
Switzerland, which has a clear sheet up to now within the event, is making an attempt to achieve the knockout spherical in its second event look.
NORWAY-PHILIPPINES
There’s each damage and drama within the Norway camp forward of Sunday’s must-win Group A match in opposition to the Philippines, a first-time Women’s World Cup participant that has a shot at advancing into the knockout spherical.
Norway stated on the eve of its match in opposition to the Philippines that star Ada Hegerberg wouldn’t play in opposition to the Philippines with a groin damage; the previous Ballon d’Or winner additionally missed Norway’s final match after strolling off the sphere following warm-ups as a result of she “felt discomfort when sprinting right after the anthems.”
It was Norway, the Twelfth-ranked crew on this planet, that was alleged to have a neater path out of group play. But the Grasshoppers misplaced to co-host New Zealand within the event’s opening sport and a draw with Switzerland has them sitting final within the group.
The frustration boiled over when winger Caroline Graham Hansen had an offended outburst for being dropped from the beginning lineup in opposition to Switzerland.
“I feel I have been stepped on for a whole year – everyone says all the time that we have to stand together as a team and as a nation, but I feel I’ve been on the receiving end,” Graham Hansen seethed. “Nothing comes for free in life, but I thought I had earned a certain amount of respect, but maybe that wasn’t the case.”
Although the Barcelona participant apologized for her feedback the subsequent day, plainly a lot of her teammates are battling their perception that Graham Hansen was not improper to be upset however ought to have dealt with it internally.
Hege Riise, the coach who took over the Norwegian crew final August, has tried to place the matter to relaxation.
“We have worked through it and we will continue to talk together,” Riise stated. “We are always open and receptive to an apology. She has given that and she will give the same to the players. It is accepted.”
Norway should beat the Philippines to have any likelihood to advance out of the group.
The Philippines, in the meantime, surprisingly are tied with New Zealand for second within the group following a shock 1-0 win over the Football Ferns. The victory gave the Philippines three factors, however New Zealand holds the sting within the tiebreaker.
Even so, a victory over Norway for the Forty sixth-ranked crew on this planet may give the sting to the Philippines relying on the outcomes of New Zealand’s sport in opposition to Switzerland.
The two Group A matches are being performed concurrently.
GERMANY-COLOMBIA
Colombia star ahead Linda Caicedo educated together with her crew the day earlier than the showdown with Germany for high spot in Group H.
The 18-year-old most cancers survivor dropped to the bottom this week in a coaching session however seems to be match for the match in Sydney. Caicedo scored in Colombia’s 2-0 win over South Korea in its opening sport.
A win over Germany would assure Colombia a spot within the knockout spherical with a sport to spare; a draw or loss would imply Group H gained’t be settled till the final day of group play on Aug. 3.
Germany, which thumped Morocco 6-0 in its opening match, would advance with a win over the Colombians.
“Colombia has a certain type of passion and they really bring that onto the pitch. I find that quite impressive,” German midfielder Lina Magull stated Saturday although a translator. “It’s just part of how they are and how they play football. That is the difference from European football, where we are more focused on tactical issues, technical concentration. But football is not just one way of playing, and that’s the beauty of this game.”
Colombia has additionally gained a status at this World Cup for bodily play: a tune-up match behind closed doorways in opposition to Ireland earlier than the beginning of the event was referred to as off after 20 minutes when a participant was damage and the Irish complained it was getting out of hand.
Germany options Alexandra Popp, probably the greatest gamers on this planet, and he or she scored twice within the win over Morocco. But the Germans might be with out beginning left again Felicitas Rauch, who injured her knee in coaching.
Germany has superior to the knockout spherical in any respect eight earlier editions of the World Cup, profitable it twice.
SOUTH KOREA-MOROCCO
South Korea and Morocco play Sunday in Adelaide, South Australia state, in a contest between the 2 last-place groups in Group H.
Both groups misplaced their opening matches of the event: South Korea was a 2-0 loser to Colombia, whereas Germany routed Morocco 6-0.
Morocco, one among eight groups making its debut within the event, was extraordinarily overwhelmed by the Germans, and South Korea seems to be a bit extra ready. South Korea misplaced its sport on defensive errors – two of which led to Colombia’s targets. It was South Korea’s fifth consecutive World Cup loss courting to the 2015 event.
Morocco has not solely misplaced six consecutive video games, however the Atlas Lionesses have been held scoreless in that span.
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