(Sydney) The Colombian surprise against the English European champions, Australia by Sam Kerr against France by Hervé Renard, Japan which dreams of a second title and notable absences: the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup , Friday and Saturday in Oceania, promise to be exciting.
Ten days before the final in Sydney on August 20, the first Women’s World Cup organized in the Southern Hemisphere has already marked the history of the event, with a broken attendance record and the unexpected eliminations of several leading nations.
For the first time in nine editions, the Americans are not at the rendezvous of the “top 8”, victims of a fatal penalty shootout against Sweden in the eighth (0-0 after, 5-4 on pens).
Who will get the trophy dropped by the two-time reigning world champions? The likelihood of seeing a new nation crowned “down under” on August 20 is high, as neither Norway (exit in 8th place by Japan) nor Germany (eliminated in pools), former winners, are not included in the tournament.
Only the Japanese, crowned in 2011 in Germany, are candidates for a second world title. After a long slump (round of 16 in 2019, quarter-final at the 2020 Olympics at home), Saki Kumagai’s selection seems to have found the recipe for success, like Hinata Miyazawa, the tournament’s top scorer (five goals ).
The Japanese are the only ones to have won all their matches (penalties excluded) since the start of the tournament.
“I think they showed why this team was the best so far,” admitted Norwegian striker Caroline Graham Hansen, victim of the Japanese in the eighth (3-1).
The last Asian nation in the running faces Sweden, Olympic vice-champion in… Tokyo in 2022, Friday (9:30 a.m.) in Auckland (New Zealand).
Outclassed by the Japanese during the group stage (4-0), Spain is also a candidate for a good run since its impressive round of 16 against Switzerland (5-1).
“Both Japan and Spain are great to watch. The Spaniards are advancing with a real game identity, principles, youth and a depth of bench unique in the competition, “analysis for AFP Nicolas Delépine, French coach of Haiti for this World Cup.
The two nations can meet in the semi-finals, provided that La Roja passes the obstacle of the Netherlands, vice-world champions in title and quarter-finalists of the last Euro.
The other part of the table, in Australia, gives pride of place to the stars.
Local idol, Australian striker Sam Kerr is expected in Brisbane against France on Saturday after suffering a calf injury which deprived her of the entire start of the competition until her entry into contention at the end of the match. against Denmark (2-0) in the round of 16.
The Chelsea striker is a major asset for the host country, which has never done better than a quarter-final in the World Cup.
The only half of Les Bleues dates back to 2011, but it is the objective assumed by the French coach Hervé Renard, whose first experience on a women’s bench seems very promising.
France have benefited from a combination of favorable circumstances, since their victory against Brazil (2-1) on the second day, inheriting Morocco and not the German ogre in the round of 16.
On paper, the most unbalanced quarter opposes Sydney England coach Sarina Wiegman, the last woman in the tournament exercising this position, to the Colombia phenomenon Linda Caicedo, a precocious nugget from Real Madrid (18 years old).
Supported by tens of thousands of admirers in Australia, the “Cafeteras” carry the ambition of all South America and symbolize the tightening of the level of world women’s football. Can their epic continue?
