The FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023 came down to a showdown between co-hosts Australia and fourth-ranked England, as well as Sweden, who upset favorites USA and Japan, and Spain, who reached the quarterfinals and semifinals for the first time at the tournament.
It’s the first time any team has ever won the tournament, with three-time defending champions the United States crashing out in the round of 16 and favorites Japan losing in the quarterfinals.
FIFA No. 10 Australia advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament after playing FIFA No. 5 France to a 0-0 draw for 120 minutes of extra time before winning 7-6 on penalties in the quarterfinals at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia, on Wednesday.
The Socceroos made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time in their history at the tournament, having previously reached the quarterfinals three times in 2007, 2011 and 2015.
France, who finished fourth at the 2011 tournament and reached the quarterfinals in 2015 and 2019, suffered their third consecutive quarterfinal exit.
France pushed hard from the start against Australia, who had the one-sided support of their home crowd.
Both France and Australia had a number of crucial scoring chances, but both goalkeepers made brilliant saves to keep the first half scoreless.
Australia’s top star, Sam Kerr, who first took the field against Denmark in the Round of 16 due to a calf injury, took the field in the 10th minute of the second half wearing the captain’s armband, bringing a roar from the nearly 50,000 fans who packed Brisbane Stadium.
Neither team scored in the second half, sending the game into extra time.
After 120 scoreless minutes of extra time, the game went to penalty kicks.
France missed two shots in the fifth, Selma Bacha and Eve Perisse, and Australia missed two in the eighth, Stephanie Catley and Mackenzie Arnold.
After a clean sweep through the eighth kick, both teams missed their ninth kicks to make it 6-6.
France’s Vicky Bechot missed her tenth kick, while Australia’s Courtney Vine converted cleanly to send the Aussies into the quarterfinals.
■ England beats Colombia to reach third straight quarterfinal…first World Cup title in history
At Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, England (FIFA No. 4) came from behind to beat Colombia (FIFA No. 25) 2-1 and advance to the last four.
After defeating Nigeria on penalties in the Round of 16, the ‘favorites’ were outclassed by Colombia in the quarterfinals.
The Three Lions, who have reached the quarterfinals or better in all six of their previous tournaments, will be looking to win their third consecutive World Cup title, joining Canada in 2015 and France in 2019.
Colombia beat Jamaica in the Round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals, their best-ever finish, but fell to their knees before England.
Colombia took the lead in the 44th minute through Lacey Santos.
In response, England equalized just before halftime when Lauren Hemp distracted the Colombian goalkeeper in a goal area scramble and slotted the ball home with her left foot.카지노사이트
England regained the lead 18 minutes into the second half when Alessia Russo rattled the opposite post with a strong right-footed shot from the right side of the penalty area.