Les Bleues failed to perform well enough on Sunday as France kicked off the World Cup with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica in Sydney, Australia.
The French Kadidiatou Diani saw her shot hit the crossbar in the last minute of regular time.
On the opposing side, Khadija Shaw received a red card in stoppage time. She will miss the next game of hers.
Diani was stopped by goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer in the first half, before missing a header in the second.
In the second half, Chantelle Swaby managed to deflect a shot where Spencer was beaten.
Fifth in the world, Les Bleues reached the quarter-finals in 2019. The Jamaicans are 43rd.
Jamaica made their World Cup debut four years ago, finishing the tournament winless with a minus 11 differential.
The score adds to similar results since the start of the World Cup. Olympic champions Canada drew 0-0 against Nigeria. Australia needed a penalty to beat Ireland 1-0. The English, queens of the Euro, needed a penalty to win 1-0 against Haiti.
In Saturday’s matches, there will be France-Brazil, as well as Panama-Jamaica.
Stefanie van der Gragt headed in the 13th minute and the Netherlands stayed the course, beating Portugal 1-0.
Van der Gragt headed into the far corner of the net, off a Sherida Spitse corner kick.
The referees studied the sequence for a possible offside, concluding that the goal was good.
This is the earliest goal so far in the tournament.
“It was a key goal,” Van der Gragt said. I am proud of the team. The first game is always important. »
The 30-year-old Van der Gragt plans to retire at the end of the competition.
Portugal didn’t manage a shot until the 82nd minute.
It was raining in Dunedin where the 11,991 spectators were sheltered from the precipitation at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The place has 25,947 seats.
At the 2019 World Cup, the Dutch reached the final before losing 2-0 to the United States.
The Americans will be their next opponents on Thursday. Portugal will then be confronted with Vietnam.
In another rainy match, this time in Wellington, Amanda Ilestedt scored in the 90th minute and Sweden beat South Africa, 2-1.
The South Africans scored the first goal courtesy of Hildah Magaia, three minutes into the second half.
Zecira Musovic had only partially stopped a strike from Thembi Kgatlana, and Magaia took advantage of it.
In the first half of the game, ball control was 71% in favor of Sweden.
Fridolina Rolfo tied the score in the 64th minute and then Ilestedt headed in with a perfect late header from a corner.
“We are very happy,” Ilestedt said. It will give us confidence for the future to have come from behind to win the match. »
South Africa will play again on Friday against Argentina.
On Saturday, the Swedes will face the Italians.
