France bounced back from its shock defeat to Colombia by whipping Mexico 5-0 to book its last 16 spot. After not quite whelming against England and Colombia, Louisa Necib, perhaps not entirely 100% in fitness – or attitude – was replaced by Amel Majri against Mexico, who impressed, mirroring Thomis’s wingplay well; similarly Gaetane Thiney was withdrawn for Marie-Laure Delie, who seems to pack more punch.
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And to make things worse Colombia will be making that trip without goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda, who was suspended one game after picking up her second yellow card for clipping England’s Jodie Taylor in the 85th minute Wednesday.
And Williams said: “We had a very exciting first half”.
But it was an earlier group-stage victory over third-ranked France sent Las Cafeteras through to the knockout round at the Women’s World Cup.
“We’re a European team: we like to play against the Germans, the French, the Dutch, the Danes and all the Scandinavian countries, where if you lose the ball you know where they’re going to be, and when you’re defending you’ve got an idea where their players are going to be”.
They’ll have quite a fight.
Colombia will face the United States on Monday night at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. Sepulveda dives low to parry to the angle of the six-yard box where Carney has anticipated the rebound and slots home a shot.
Mexico (0-2-1) finished last in the group.
With reason. Colombia, after all, has been one of the darlings of this 2015 Women’s World Cup.
“We made things hard for ourselves by losing against Colombia”, admitted France coach Philippe Bergeroo of their 2-0 defeat which was one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s 24-year history. However, Colombia pulled off an extraordinary win against France, one of the tournament favourites, and that has thrown the entire group into confusion. The United States will be a tough opponent obviously but much depends on how their underachieving offense plays as well.
Sampson believes his side have the “weapons” to take on Norway, who were World Cup winners in 1995.
That was enough for Les Bleues to top Group F on goal difference ahead of England, which beat Colombia 2-1. In the 2011 World Cup in Germany, they averaged 20 shots per game but had the lowest conversion rate (8.33%) of the teams progressing to the knock-out stages, and also conceded 10, the most in the competition.
That day of glory might be arriving, but there is still some marching to go, up to and even beyond the July 5 final in Vancouver.
The Lionesses advanced with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland to wrap up the group stage. Germany is set to face Sweden on Saturday in the round of 16.
But just as they’re buoyed by an unlikely escape from this World Cup’s “group of death” also featuring the U.S. and Nigeria, the equally daunting test of sudden death looms in the small Canadian city of Moncton on Monday morning (AEST).
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Sampson has spoken of the need to “select the right weapons” against Norway but Steph Houghton retains the utmost faith in the coach’s judgment.
