The initial phase of the Cup exposes the new order of women’s football – 03/08/2023 – Sport

With the freedom of someone who had nothing to lose, French coach Reynald Pedros shrugged off the question of how he would face the challenge of qualifying for the Women’s World Cup.

“You always have to consider the possibility of magic at the Cup,” he replied.

Morocco, his team, debuting in the tournament, had lost 6-0 in the first round against two-time champion Germany, one of the favorites for a new title.

A little over a week later, the Moroccans qualified for the round of 16, this Thursday (3), by defeating Colombia by 1-0. The Germans, after drawing 1-1 with South Korea, were by the way.

A few minutes after Brazil’s elimination against Jamaica, Marta found that there is a new order in women’s football.

“Things don’t happen overnight. We are seeing teams here that came to the World Cup and took seven, eight, ten, today they play on an equal footing with the big ones. This shows that women’s football is growing, it shows that women’s football is a profitable product, which is a pleasure to watch”, said the number 10 shirt who, aged 37, played in her last World Cup.

The tournament hosted by Australia and New Zealand is open to surprises. In the final, a team that has never made it this far is guaranteed.

In the configuration of the knockout stages, all the teams that won in the past are on one side of the bracket: Japan (winner in 2011) faces Norway (1995). Whoever passes, will take the fourth United States (1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019) or Sweden (Monday in 2003).

The match between Norway and Japan will be the second time that two former winners play in the first knockout stage of the tournament. It hasn’t happened since 2003, when the same Norway faced the United States.

Among the teams that reached the decision in the past, the Netherlands (runner-up in 2019) will face South Africa. The next opponent will be Spain or Switzerland.

It’s an opportunity for England, Nigeria, Australia, Denmark, France, Morocco, Colombia and Jamaica, who are on the other side of the key and have never been finalists.

“In 2019 [quando disputaram a primeira vez o torneio], we did not expect to be in the World Cup. The selection was new and it was a scare to get there. We were very young and we were happy. Now we didn’t think we were just going to come here and that’s fine. From the first day the thought was to qualify in the group, no matter how much they told us it was impossible”, said Lorne Donaldson, coach of Jamaica.

The selection, which has virtual crowdfunding to fill gaps left by the lack of support from the country’s federation, did not concede a goal in any of the three group stage matches. The 0-0 draw with Brazil took him to the knockout stage in his second participation in the competition.

Jamaica went from losing their three games in 2019 to being one of the surprises at the World Cup.

In a Cup that changes the scenario of women’s football, the three African teams qualified. Among the South Americans, Brazil and Argentina (the only ones to have won the Copa America title) returned home early. Only Colombia got the vacancy.

“They’ve already shown that nothing can stop them if they get their heads around what’s possible and play for each other,” said South African coach Desire Ellis ahead of the prospect of playing the Netherlands.

The zebras went to the round of 16, leaving behind opponents who, before arriving in Australia and New Zealand, were among the candidates to keep the trophy or were considered more traditional. Nigeria advanced and eliminated Canada, Olympic champion in 2021. Jamaica made Brazil leave the competition. Morocco was ahead of Germany, and South Africa eliminated Italy.

Even some that didn’t go through the initial phase had a lot to celebrate. Panama, who had never played in the World Cup but scored three goals in France.

“I wish my mother was here because her biggest dream was to see her daughter playing in the World Cup,” said Panamanian midfielder Marta Cox, scorer of a great free-kick against the Europeans.

As with the men’s, the women’s also saw an increase in the number of selections. In the first tournament, in 1991, there were 12. This year, for the first time, there are 32.

22 years ago, 62% of the teams that went to the knockout stages (at the time, the quarterfinals), were European. This year, with 16 qualified for the round of 16, 50% are from the Old Continent.

The percentage by region has not changed significantly in relation to the last World Cups, except for the Africans, who had never placed three teams in the knockout stage (see list below). The balance of forces changed in the countries that advanced.

When South America, for example, had selections in the knockout stages, it was almost never more than one (the exception happened in 2015) and it was always Brazil. That has changed now. Who advanced was Colombia.

Since the expansion in the number of teams and the creation of the round of 16, in 2015, Concacaf (which brings together North, Central America and the Caribbean) has had two qualifiers. Used to be the United States and Canada. This time the Jamaicans join the North Americans.

Qualified for the knockout stages of the Cup by continent

1991 – 8 countries
Europe: 5
Asia: 2
CONCACAF: 1

1995 – 8
Europe: 5
Asia: 2
CONCACAF: 1

1999 – 8
Europe: 4
Asia: 1
South America: 1
Africa: 1
CONCACAF: 1

2003 – 8
Europe: 4
CONCACAF: 2
Asia: 1
South America: 1

2007 – 8
Europe: 3
Asia: 2
South America: 1
North/Central America: 1
Oceania: 1

2011 – 8
Europe: 4
Asia: 1
South America: 1
CONCACAF: 1
Oceania: 1

2015 – 16 selections
Europe: 7
Asia: 3
South America: 2
CONCACAF: 2
Africa: 1
Oceania: 1

2019 – 16
Europe: 8
Asia: 2
Africa: 2
CONCACAF: 2
South America: 1
Oceania: 1

2023 – 16
Europe: 8
Africa: 3
Asia: 1
CONCACAF: 2
South America: 1
Oceania: 1