Month: June 2019

Women’s World Cupdate: Semis Are Set

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Saturday, June 29th

One final day of quarterfinal action at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup provided plenty of fireworks and gave us our final two sides to complete the semifinal picture. At a boiling Stade du Hainaut, the Netherlands powered their way past an exhausted Italy side to reach their first ever Women’s World Cup semifinal. Later in the day, Sweden finally found the answer to Germany’s stalwart defense, and pulled off the upset to set up a meeting with the Netherlands in Lyon.

Italy 0-2 Netherlands

Two sides who already made so much history at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup were looking to make even more on Saturday. Due to the knockout format, only one side could leave Valenciennes happy, and it was the Netherlands who emerged victorious with a 2-0 victory over fellow European side Italy.

With temperatures soaring above 90 degrees, it was going to be a war of attrition between the squads to see who could survive long enough to advance. In the end, it was a superior Netherlands side taking the win, but Italy did not make it easy on them throughout the match.

Through the first 45 minutes of action, the Italy defense held the Netherlands off the scoreboard, but their offense wasted a few prime chances, allowing the Dutch to escape the first half in a scoreless draw. That all changed in the latter stages of the second half when the fresher Dutch legs just wore a tired Italy team into the ground. Vivianne Miedema gave her side the lead in the 70th minute, then Stefanie van der Gragt put the game away ten minutes later. Italy put up a valiant effort, but the talent and fitness of the Netherlands prevailed in the end.

With the win, the Netherlands advance to their first ever Women’s World Cup semifinal where they will face Sweden on Wednesday. For Italy, it is a bitter end to a historic tournament that gives them much to build on for the future.

Goals

  • Vivianne Miedema | NED (70′)
  • Stefanie van der Gragt | NED (80′)

Highlights

Germany v. Sweden

Through four games in France, Germany appeared to be the best side in the tournament, winning all for contests while allowing no goals to the opposition. In the opening 15 minutes against Sweden, it looked to be more of the same, until Sweden flipped the script and pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament with a 2-1 victory.

Germany were relentless in the early going and were rewarded for their dominant play with one of the finest goals you will see at any level of the game. Lina Magull nearly botched a great pass that put her alone against the keeper, but she gathered herself and blasted home a half-volley shot with a scissor kick to give Germany the 1-0 lead.

It appeared as if Germany were in complete command, but everything came unraveled just six minutes after Magull put them in front. Sofia Jakobsson ran under a long ball from a teammate, broke through the German back line, then neatly deposited it into the back of the net to even the score and record the first goal against Germany in this tournament.

Halftime came and went with the score tied, but just three minutes out of the break, things went from bad to worse for the Germans. Off a terrific save by the German keeper Almuth Schult, Stina Blackstenius was in the right place at the right time to collect the rebound and hammer it home to give Sweden a 2-1 lead in the second half.

That goal from Blackstenius turned out to be enough, as Sweden locked down on defense and held on for the victory and a semifinal showdown with the Netherlands in Lyon. The victory also erased a 24 year losing streak against Germany in major tournament play.

Goals

  • Lina Magull | GER (16′)
  • Sofia Jakobsson | SWE (22′)
  • Stina Blackstenius | SWE (48′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

The final day of quarterfinal play at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup provided us with plenty of moments to talk about from scissor kicks, to historic headers, and a goal that finally cracked a flawless Germany defense.

Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)

Vivianne Miedema is only 22 years old and already the leading scoring in Netherlands history. Her goal on Saturday not only added to her total, but sent the Dutch to their first Women’s World Cup semifinal birth in the nation’s history.

Lina Magull (Germany)

Not exactly the picture perfect first touch from Magull off a brilliant pass, but she more than made up for it with a dazzling scissor kick goal that put Germany in front early and rewarded them for a dominating start against Sweden.

Sofia Jakobsson (Sweden)

This was just an overall brilliant team goal from start to finish for Sweden. Jakobsson will get the accolades for her finish, but the long ball from teammate Linda Sembrandt that sprung her free was world class as well.

Bracket Update

Here’s a quick look at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup knockout bracket with the final two quarterfinal matches now complete.

D-P8n3FUIAME_AI.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

With the Netherlands and Sweden winning on Saturday, the semifinal matches are now set. England and the United States meet on Tuesday with the Netherlands and Sweden set to square off on Wednesday. Both matches will take place at Stade de Lyon in Lyon, France.

Semifinal Outlook

July 2nd: England v. United States

July 3rd: Netherlands v. Germany/Sweden

As we have done for both the Round of 16 and the Quarterfinals to this point, we will run a special preview of the Semifinals before action kicks off on Tuesday in Lyon. We’ll discuss all the teams, preview the matches, and tell you what to watch out for as the remaining four sides battle it out for a spot in the Women’s World Cup Final.

Here’s What’s Next: Tuesday, July 2nd

Semifinal action at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins on Tuesday with the first of the two matches taking place at the Stade de Lyon. Both semifinal matches and the Final will take place in Lyon, with the Third Place Match heading a little farther south to Nice.

It will be the United States and England getting the semifinal round underway in a match between two long standing rivals, at least from a political standpoint. The rivalry from a soccer standpoint carries much less history, but it should be a great match nonetheless between two of the best sides in the world.

England v. United States

England bulldozed its way past Norway in the quarterfinals while the United States scraped by France in a nailbiter. Now the two will meet on the pitch in Lyon in the first of two semifinal matches. The winner moves on to the Women’s World Cup Final back in Lyon while the loser is relegated to the Third Place Match in Nice. This is a matchup between two of the top three ranked teams in the world so there is sure to be fireworks. One other thing to watch out for, the top three goal scorers at the tournament will be on the pitch with Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Ellen White all expected to play.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade de Lyon (Lyon)
  • How to Watch: FOX

You can watch all these matches live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-29 at 4.46.45 PM.png
via FIFA.com

As the tournament enters the final week of play, the Golden Ball is still up for grabs. It looks to be a three player race between Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Ellen White, but there are still a lot of talented scorers left that could spoil the party with a good showing. All remaining players are guaranteed at least two more matches with the Third Place Match now in play.

Not shown on this list are Netherlands leading scorer Vivianne Miedema who sits in 12th with three goals, and Sweden’s leading scorer Kosovare Asllani in 17th on two goals.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Advertisement

Women’s World Cupdate: Rapinoe Shines in Paris

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Friday, June 28th

All the hype and all the waiting for France and the United States was worth it as the two nations turned in a match we will not soon forget. Megan Rapinoe bagged another brace and Crystal Dunn turned in the performance of her career and right back to send the United States through to the semifinals and keep their dreams of a World Cup repeat alive.

France 1-2 United States

With all the hype surrounding the match, you could have forgiven France and the United States if they didn’t live up the everyone’s lofty expectations when they met on Friday in Paris. Instead, arguably the two best sides at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup delivered a match for ages at the historic Parc de Princes.

Once again the United States started fast, taking an early lead in the fifth minute when Megan Rapinoe sent a free kick towards goal that somehow snuck through everyone and past the France goalkeeper for a 1-0 USA lead. In all five of their games at this tournament, the United States has scored within the opening 12 minutes in every one.

D-K-tfjU4AErd_y.png
via @brfootball

Trailing just five minutes into a match is never ideal, but France settled quickly and found their game as the first half went along. For the most part, France looked the better side and controlled the bulk of possession. It appeared a goal was imminent, but for as much pressure as they were creating, nothing was materializing.

A lead is a lead, but that 1-0 lead looked very shaky and the United States seemed to know it. They came out guns blazing in the second half but were unable to find a second goal for some cushion. In the 65th minute, the breakthrough arrived and it was Megan Rapinoe once again finishing off a terrific counter attacking goal for a 2-0 lead.

Just when it looked like the United States could breath easy, France struck back to cut the lead in half and setup an intense final ten minutes. Off a set piece, France defender Wendie Renard was left unmarked in the box and headed home a ball to make the score 2-1 in the 81st minute.

Needing to just see the game out to advance, the United States defense locked down through the last moments and held France at bay. When the final whistle blew, the score line read 2-1 and the United States booked their spot in the semifinals where they will face England on Tuesday.

Goals

  • Megan Rapinoe | USA (5′, 65′)
  • Wendie Renard | FRA (81′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

It was supposed to be the match of the tournament before the team even arrived in France and it lived up to all the hype. Often time these affairs turn out to be underwhelming or duds altogether, but that was not the case between France and the United States who provided plenty of fireworks on Friday.

Megan Rapinoe (United States)

It was another double dose of goals for Megan Rapinoe on Friday against France and it was just enough to send the United States through to the semifinals. We may never know how her first goal made it through the swarm of bodies in front, but her second was a class finish to a great team passing play.

Crystal Dunn (United States)

One of the biggest questions coming into the match and into this tournament as a whole was Crystal Dunn’s play at right back. Dunn is not a defender by trade, but that’s where head coach Jill Ellis has been deploying her. Dunn’s performance against France may go down as the best showing on her career.

Wendie Renard (France)

As the rock of the France back line Wendie Renard was going to do everything in her power to make sure her side did not go down without a fight. Just when it looked like the United States was sailing into the semifinals, Renard headed home her fourth goal of the tournament to make things interesting.

Bracket Update

A look at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup bracket as it stands after Friday’s quarterfinal match.

D-LUqJzUEAAzz8f.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

Halfway through the quarterfinal round at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and we have our first semifinal matchup set in stone. England and the United States will meet in Lyon on Tuesday with a spot in the World Cup Final on the line.

Semifinal Outlook

July 2nd: England v. United States

July 3rd: Italy/Netherlands v. Germany/Sweden

Here’s What’s Next: Saturday, June 29th

Two teams have booked their places in the semifinals of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and now it’s time to find out who will be joining them in Lyon. This is the only day of the quarterfinal round with two matches on the schedule, meaning we will know the second semifinal matchup by day’s end. First up, Italy and Netherlands do battle in a match of dark horses, then Germany meets Sweden for the final semifinal spot.

Italy v. Netherlands

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.21.09 PM

It’s already been a historic tournament for both Italy and the Netherlands to this point, but only one can make even more with a victory and a spot in the semifinals. Italy has been solid on defense and found an explosive offense to go with it, while the Netherlands has used some timely scoring to keep the wins coming. On paper, the Netherlands will be the favorite, but if Italy can get a lead that defense can wear you down over the course of a game.

  • Time: 9:00 AM
  • Location: Stade de Hainaut (Valenciennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Germany v. Sweden

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.22.13 PM

Germany have been the most impressive team at the Women’s World Cup so far, but their schedule hasn’t exactly been filled with heavyweights. That’s not their fault though, they can only play who they matchup against, and so far they have beaten all challengers. What sticks out amongst all their success, is how they have done it without midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan for most of the tournament. That play will need to continue with a stingy and opportunistic Sweden side waiting in the quarterfinals.

  • Time: 12:30 PM
  • Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-28 at 8.21.03 PM.png
via FIFA.com

No goals from Alex Morgan but a brace from Megan Rapinoe means she joins Morgan and Ellen White on five goals apiece. This means the three top scorers at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will all be on the same pitch when England and the United States meet in the semifinals.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Women’s World Cupdate: England Prevail

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Thursday, June 27th

A lackluster showing against Cameroon was quickly wiped from memory for England, securing a second straight semifinal trip with a dominating 3-0 victory over Norway on Thursday in Le Havre.

Jill Scott opened the scoring early, Ellen White doubled the lead before half, then Lucy Bronze put an exclamation point on the match with a laser strike that all but sealed the win for the Lionesses. Now they sit and wait for France and the United States to battle it out for the right to meet them for a semifinal showdown in Lyon next week.

Norway 0-3 England

For as unconvincing as England looked in their Round of 16 match against Cameroon, they looked every bit the team everyone thought they could be in a 3-0 drubbing of Norway on Thursday to advance to a second straight World Cup semifinals.

England wasted little time getting on the scoresheet, taking a 1-0 lead in just the third minute of action. Ellen White whiffed her shot attempt off a pass from Lucy Bronze, but the ball trickled through to Jill Scott who made the most of her opportunity and clanged a shot home off the far post to put the Lionesses in front.

With the early lead, England could smell blood and went for the throat. Ellen White hit the post on a volley in the 29th minute, but would not be denied a second time just ten minutes later. White went on a great run and set herself up in front of goal for an easy tap in to push the England lead to 2-0 before halftime. With the goal, White moved into a tie for first place in the Golden Boot race with Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr.

Coming into the tournament, England right back Lucy Bronze received high praise from her manager Phil Neville and the rest of the soccer world. On Thursday, Bronze showed exactly why the heavy praise was well earned. Bronze assisted on the opening goal by Scott, then added her own tally which may go down as the goal of the tournament when it’s all said and done. Her strike pushed the England advantage to 3-0, more than enough to send the Lionesses into the semifinals.

Goals

  • Jill Scott | ENG (3′)
  • Ellen White | ENG (40′)
  • Lucy Bronze | ENG (57′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

When there is only one game on the schedule, it can be difficult to pick out a set of top plays from the day. Luckily for us, Lucy Bronze of England and Ingrid Hjelmseth of Norway gave us something to remember from an otherwise lopsided affair.

Lucy Bronze (England)

You won’t see a ball hit much cleaner than Lucy Bronze hits this strike to put England up 3-0 over Norway in their quarterfinal match. Perfect set piece, perfect shot, perfect result for England who advance to the semifinals.

Ingrid Hjelmseth (Norway)

It mattered little to the end result, but Norway goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth never quit regardless of what the scoreline said. She came up with a big penalty stop on Nikita Parris late to give herself something to hang her hat on, on an otherwise bleak day.

Bracket Update

A look at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup bracket as it stands after Thursday’s quarterfinal match.

D-GM6qBUcAAhmPt.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

England become the first squad to book a spot in the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Norway. They now sit and wait to see who they will play on July 2nd in Lyon, either France or the United States. We won’t have any clarity on the right side of the bracket until Saturday when the last two quarterfinals matches take place.

Semifinal Outlook

July 2nd: England v. France/United States

July 3rd: Italy/Netherlands v. Germany/Sweden

Here’s What’s Next: Friday, June 28th

It has finally arrived. The match everyone has been waiting for is now upon us, as host nation France and the United States meet in Paris for a spot in the semifinals and a date with England in Lyon. Simply put, this has been the most highly anticipated match for some time, and now the wait is over. Famed Parc de Princes is the site for what many believe may be the match that determines who wins the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

France v. United States

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.22.51 PM

This was the matchup everyone has been waiting for since the bracket was revealed many months ago. If everything played out as expected, France and the United States were on a collision course for a meeting in the quarterfinals, a match that could very well decided who wins the tournament. What makes it even better is both sides are playing their best soccer entering this match, even if they weren’t overly convincing in the Round of 16. Everything has fallen perfectly into place for this matchup, now it’s just up to the two teams to make it all worthwhile.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Parc de Princes (Paris)
  • How to Watch: FOX

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-27 at 7.14.08 PM.png
via FIFA.com

Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr have some company atop the Golden Boot standings following Thursday’s action. Ellen White scored her fifth goal of the tournament, moving her into a tie for the top spot and she very nearly could have had a few more. It was also White’s sixth career Women’s World Cup goal, the most ever by a Lionesses player.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Women’s World Cup: Quarterfinal Preview

It was a wild Round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. From the first match taking penalties to decide, to the last match needing a last minute penalty kick to send the eighth and final team through to the Quarterfinal round in France, it was a chaotic and unpredictable spectacle. Of the 16 squads that entered the knockout stages, only right now remain in contention to lift the trophy in Lyon in 11 days.

With the initial field of 24 teams now whittled down to just eight, the cream is starting to rise to the top and everyone believes they have a shot at winning the title. Of the eight teams left standing, seven hail from the European continent, with the United States being the only outlier of the bunch. This round will be highlighted by the France/United States matchup on Friday, but all four matches should provide some fireworks and possibly even a few surprises to keep everyone watching on the edge of their seat.

The Teams

D9_VtomVUAQimWg.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

 

Eight teams compromise the Quarterfinal field at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Here’s a quick look at how they all got to this point and who is waiting for them as they prepare to play for a spot in the Semifinals in Lyon.

England

England moved through Group D with relative ease then bounced Cameroon in what was a much more even contest than the score line may show. Cameroon was able to exploit some vulnerable spots in the Lionesses lineup that should sound some alarm bells around the England camp. It won’t get any easier as the opponents get tougher.

How they got here: def. Cameroon 3-0 in Round of 16.

Next up: Norway

France

It’s been about as good a start to the tournament as the host nation could have hoped for, even if they did get everything they could handle against Brazil. For the most part, France have looked the part of contender even if some cracks have been showing. All that matters is win and advance and that was enough to make it here.

How they got here: def. Brazil 2-1 in extra time in Round of 16.

Next up: United States

Germany

If you were ranking the remaining teams based on how they have looked through four games, Germany would likely be at the very top. They have yet to surrender a goal this tournament while scoring nine. Nigeria was not an easy out in the Round of 16, but the Germans made it look easy.

How they got here: def. Nigeria 3-0 in Round of 16.

Next up: Sweden

Italy

Perhaps the cinderella team of the tournament to this point, Italy is making the most of its first trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 20 years. It’s not like they are getting lucky either, they advanced out of a tough group that featured Brazil and Australia, then defeated a strong China side in the Round of 16. Everything from here on out is just more history.

How they got here: def. China 2-0 in Round of 16.

Next up: Netherlands

Netherlands

Entering France as the reigning European champions, the Netherlands were a popular dark horse pick, but they appear to be shedding that layer after winning Group C then knocking out a strong Japan side. Like their quarterfinal opponent Italy, more history awaits to be made.

How they got here: def. Japan 2-1 in Round of 16.

Next up: Italy

Norway

It’s really too bad Norway doesn’t have Ada Hegerberg at their disposal for this tournament, because if they did, they might be the favorites at this point. Even without Hegerberg, Norway has looked like a contender in every game they have played. Maybe they can learn some lessons from Cameroon and expose some weaknesses England showed in the Round of 16.

How they got here: def. Australia 4-1 in penalties in Round of 16.

Next up: England

Sweden

Defense is the name of the game for Sweden and it worked perfectly in their Round of 16 victory over Canada. Once they found a breakthrough in the second half on the counter attack, they let their defense do the rest and booked a spot in the quarterfinals. If they want to keep playing, they may need a little more from their offense against the Germans.

How they got here: def. Canada 1-0 in Round of 16.

Next up: Germany

United States

It wasn’t pretty, but the United States survived a tough test against Spain to keep their hopes of a repeat World Cup title alive. After a dominating group stage performance, many questions are being asked about the overall strength of this squad following the close call with Spain. Those questions will be answered on Friday.

How they got here: def. Spain 2-1 in Round of 16.

Next up: France

The Bracket

A look at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup bracket as it stands heading into the Quarterfinal round.

D973-9XUEAEX45A
via @FOXSoccer

Eight teams enter but only four will survive and advance to the semifinals in Lyon next week. At this point in the tournament, all the team remaining are quality squads which should make for some must watch action coming out of France over the next three days.

Quarterfinal Matches

 

Four matches over three days will help determine which four national sides will advance to Lyon for the semifinals next week. All the action will begin when Norway and England take the field on Thursday to get our next stage of play underway in France.

Here’s a short breakdown of the four matches that make up the quarterfinals schedule at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Norway v. England

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.21.46 PM.png
via dugout.com

England will enter as the favorites in this match, but Norway has looked the part of a true contender every time they have stepped on the field in France. Cameroon exposed some vulnerabilities in this England squad, and those exposed areas just happen to play for Norway’s strengths. If it wasn’t for the next match on the schedule, this would be the match to watch in the quarterfinals.

  • Date: Friday, June 27th
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Océane (Le Havre)
  • How to Watch: FOX

Prediction: Norway 2, England 1 (Norway wins in extra time)

France v. United States

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.22.51 PM.png
via dugout.com

This was the matchup everyone has been waiting for since the bracket was revealed many months ago. If everything played out as expected, France and the United States were on a collision course for a meeting in the quarterfinals, a match that could very well decided who wins the tournament. What makes it even better is both sides are playing their best soccer entering this match, even if they weren’t overly convincing in the Round of 16. Everything has fallen perfectly into place for this matchup, now it’s just up to the two teams to make it all worthwhile.

  • Date: Saturday, June 28th
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Parc de Princes (Paris)
  • How to Watch: FOX

Prediction: United States 4, France 2

Italy v. Netherlands

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.21.09 PM.png
via dugout.com

It’s already been a historic tournament for both Italy and the Netherlands to this point, but only one can make even more with a victory and a spot in the semifinals. Italy has been solid on defense and found an explosive offense to go with it, while the Netherlands has used some timely scoring to keep the wins coming. On paper, the Netherlands will be the favorite, but if Italy can get a lead that defense can wear you down over the course of a game.

  • Date: Saturday, June 29th
  • Time: 9:00 AM
  • Location: Stade de Hainaut (Valenciennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: Netherlands 2, Italy 2 (Netherlands win on penalties)

Germany v. Sweden

Screen Shot 2019-06-26 at 11.22.13 PM.png
via dugout.com

Germany have been the most impressive team at the Women’s World Cup so far, but their schedule hasn’t exactly been filled with heavyweights. That’s not their fault though, they can only play who they matchup against, and so far they have beaten all challengers. What sticks out amongst all their success, is how they have done it without midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan for most of the tournament. That play will need to continue with a stingy and opportunistic Sweden side waiting in the quarterfinals.

  • Date: Saturday, June 29th
  • Time: 12:30 PM
  • Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: Germany 2, Sweden 0

That completes just a very brief look at the four matches that will compromise the Quarterfinal stage at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Check back everyday for our daily recaps of the action of previews of what’s on tap.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-25 at 6.11.26 PM
via FIFA.com

Seven of the top ten leading scorers at this FIFA Women’s World Cup are still alive in the competition meaning this race is still wide open. Alex Morgan still leads with her five goals, all from her opening match.

Once the Quarterfinals begin on Thursday, we will continuing with our daily World Cupdates recapping the previous day of action along with a preview of what’s still to come as the tournament marches forward. Make sure you are checking back with us everyday to keep up to date on the latest news from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Women’s World Cupdate: European Delight

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Tuesday, June 25th

There are eight spots in the Quarterfinal round at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and after Tuesday’s results, seven of those eight spots will be occupied by a European side. Italy and the Netherlands both made some more history in their respective matches, each winning their first ever knockout game at a Women’s World Cup. In the opening match, Italy dominated China on the way to a 2-0 victory while the Netherlands needed a 90th minute penalty to move past Japan. The two sides will meet now meet in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

Italy 2-0 China

Italy’s cinderella run at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will continue for at least one more game after the Azzurri scored early, then clamped down defensively for a 2-0 victory over China in the Round of 16.

Valentina Giacinti opened the scoring in the 15th minute, just moments having a goal taken away because of offsides. Giacinti started the play with a great tackle to take the ball away from the defender, then capped off the play by scoring after China was unable to clear the ball away from danger. China pushed back looking for a tying goal but were denied at every opportunity by the Italian defense or goalkeeper.

Shortly after the halftime break, the Italy lead was doubled when substitute Aurora Galli hit a hot low and hard that the goalkeeper could not reach. That was more than Italy needed in the end, keeping China off the board the rest of the way and sealing a spot in the quarterfinals.

With the victory, Italy claims its first knockout victory in Women’s World Cup history and move on to face fellow first time knockout winner Netherlands in the quarterfinals on Saturday. For China, this will be the first time they do not qualify for the quarterfinals in a tournament they have played in.

Goals

  • Valentina Giacinti | ITA (15′)
  • Aurora Galli | ITA (49′)

Highlights

Netherlands 2-1 Japan

At some point, a dark horse is no longer a dark horse and we are rapidly approaching that territory with the Netherlands after they advanced to the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory over two-time World Cup finalist Japan.

Lieke Martens is no stranger to making history at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and she added to that legacy on Tuesday. Back in 2015, Martens scored the first Dutch goal in Women’s World Cup history in their debut tournament. Fast forward four years and Martens in making more history, scoring a brace against Japan to send her side into the next round.

Martens opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a clever back heel deflection off a corner kick that nutmegged a Japanese defender in front and rolled across the line far post to give the Netherlands and early lead. Just before the half, Japan answered back with a goal of their own to bring the game back level. Yui Hasegawa finished off a beautiful team play with a clever chip over the goalkeeper to tie the game.

After Japan missed several chances to take the lead late in the second half, the Netherlands were awarded a penalty after a Japan handball in the box. It was Martens stepping up and coming through from the spot to send the Netherlands back in front and into the next round with her second goal of the match.

The Netherlands joined Italy in winning its first ever Women’s World Cup knockout match on Tuesday, and now they will face-off in the quarterfinals on Saturday. After back-to-back Women’s World Cup Final appearances, Japan sees its run end in the Round of 16.

Goals

  • Lieke Martens | NED (17′, 90′ PEN)
  • Yui Hasegawa | JPN (43′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

Another day of big plays brought the Round of 16 to a close and helped push Italy and the Netherlands to the quarterfinals with their first ever knockout victories at a Women’s World Cup.

Laura Giuliani (Italy)

It was a rather convincing performance for Italy in its victory over China, but who knows how things could have played out had Laura Giuliani not been able to get her hand on this shot to keep Italy in front in the first half.

Aurora Galli (Italy)

In the two games she has started in France, Aurora Galli has no goals. In the two games where she has come on as a substitute, Galli has scored three goals. Her strike on Tuesday was brilliant, but might only be her second best goal of the tournament after her strike against Jamaica in the group stage.

Lieke Martens (Netherlands)

Lieke Martens scored a brace on Tuesday, but it was her first goal that stands out. Off a corner kick, Martens flicks a back heel shot towards goal that nutmegs a Japanese defender and rolls in at the far post for an early Dutch lead.

Bracket Update

Tuesday brings an end to the Round of 16 and our quarterfinal matchups at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup are set. European squads claim seven of the eight available spots, with the United States being the only exception.

D973-9XUEAEX45A.jpg

Quarterfinals Outlook

June 27th: Norway v. England

June 28th: France v. United States

June 29th: Italy/China v. Netherlands/Japan

June 29th: Germany v. Sweden

Those are the four matches that will make up the Quarterfinal round of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We will have a full preview on Thursday morning detailing all the matches and teams for the Quarterfinal round in France.

Here’s What’s Next: Thursday, June 27th

Round of 16 play is now in the books and our quarterfinal matchups are set. Eight teams survived, but before they can begin play in the quarterfinals, the tournament will take a day off on Wednesday before action resumes on Thursday with Norway taking on England with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Norway (2A) v. England (1D)

It’s always fun when a favorite meets a true dark horse contender this late in the tournament because that usually means both sides are playing their best soccer at the right time. That’s the scenario we have between England and Norway as they prepare to meet in the first quarterfinal match of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. England found a way past a physical Cameroon side while Norway needed a penalty shootout to make it here. Norway likes to go on the attack while England prefers to hit back on the counter. This should be an entertaining match to open up the next round of play in France.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Océane (Le Havre)
  • How to Watch: FOX

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-25 at 6.11.26 PM.png
via FIFA.com

Aurora Galli joins Italy teammate Cristiana Girelli in the Top 10 with her goal against China on Tuesday. After the Round of 16, seven players in the Golden Boot Top 10 will play in the quarterfinals.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Women’s World Cupdate: Still Defending

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Monday, June 24th

Both Group F representatives in the Round of 16 were in action on Monday and both squads came away with well earned victories to advance to the quarterfinals. Defending champion the United States defeated Spain courtesy two penalty kicks while Sweden used a timely goal and a big penalty save to move past Canada.

Spain 1-2 United States

In their toughest test to date at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, defending champion United States used a pair of Megan Rapinoe penalty kicks to power past Spain and set up a quarterfinal clash with host France on Friday.

It was another fast start for the United States, drawing a penalty in the opening five minutes then going in front when Rapinoe scored the first of her two goals from the spot in the seventh minute. That lead was short lived however, as Spain answered just two minutes later. A bad pass from the goalkeeper led to a turnover in a dangerous area and Jennifer Hermoso didn’t miss from just outside the box to bring the match back even.

That score line stayed in tact for another 60+ minutes of play, but not for lack of effort on the United States part. They controlled the possession and created the best looks at goal, they just could not convert on their chances. That changed when the United States was awarded a second penalty that turned into Rapinoe’s second goal and a 2-1 lead. After battling through another 20 minutes of play with added time, the defending champs held on and booked a spot in the quarterfinals.

Goals

  • Megan Rapinoe | USA (7′ PEN, 75′ PEN)
  • Jennifer Hermoso | ESP (9′)

Highlights

Sweden 1-0 Canada

Defense was the name of the game between Sweden and Canada for a majority of their match before the game began to open up a bit in the second half. The match remained scoreless through the entire first half and ten minutes of the second before Sweden found a breakthrough.

Kosovare Asllani placed a pass into space where Stina Blackstenius got to it just in time to beat a Canadian defender and the goalkeeper to punch it into the back of the net for a 1-0 Sweden lead. Just over 10 minutes later, Canada had a golden opportunity to event he score when they were awarded a penalty for handball. Janine Beckie stepped up to take the penalty but her shot was turned aside by a diving Hedvig Lindahl to keep Sweden on top.

That turned out to be the last significant chance Canada had on goal as Sweden closed out the victory for a spot in the quarterfinals against Germany.

Goals

  • Stina Blackstenius | SWE (55′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

Only four goals on Monday but at this stage of the tournament they’re all significant. We didn’t put them all in but Jennifer Hermoso and Megan Rapinoe provided some fireworks while Hedvig Lindahl came up huge for Sweden.

Jennifer Hermoso (Spain)

It was a sloppy play by the United States, but credit Hermoso for keeping her cool and firing a perfect shot into the far corner to bring Spain back level just two minutes after falling behind early.

Megan Rapinoe (United States)

Great teams find a way to win even when they aren’t playing their best and that was the case for the United States on Monday. They needed two Megan Rapinoe penalties to advance, with the second being the game winner.

Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden)

Canada had the perfect opportunity to tie their match against Sweden in the second half, but Swedish goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl had other plans. Lindahl guessed correctly and made the match saving stop on Janine Beckie’s penalty.

Bracket Update

Three of the four quarterfinal matches are now set with the United States and Sweden claiming victory on Monday. All that’s left is to find out which two sides will make up the fourth and final quarterfinal match.

D92u0XoUYAAhaY5.jpg

Quarterfinals Outlook

June 27th: Norway v. England

June 28th: France v. United States

June 29th: Italy/China v. Netherlands/Japan

June 29th: Germany v. Sweden

Here’s What’s Next: Tuesday, June 25th

After Tuesday we will know the full quarterfinals field, but first the games need to be played to determine the final two teams advancing to the next round. Italy and China square off in the day’s opening match to be followed by a showdown between the Netherlands and Japan later in the day.

Italy (1C) v. China (3B)

Italy returned to the Women’s World Cup for the first time in 20 years and subsequently won Group C that included the likes of Brazil and Australia. They already had high expectations entering the tournament, now they have to be believe they can make a serious run. In their way stands China who acquitted themselves well in a tough Group B. Italy can fill the net but also play a strong defense while China hasn’t been an offensive powerhouse but only surrendered one goal in three group games. This could be another match that needs more than 90 minutes to determine a winner.

  • Time: 12:00 PM
  • Location: Stade de la Mosson (Montpelier)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Netherlands (1E) v. Japan (2B)

Pre-tournament dark horse Netherlands showed everyone the hype was deserved with a clean sweep of group matches to win Group E over Canada. That hype train will now follow them into the Round of 16 where they will face 2011 champion and 2015 runner-up Japan with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Japan came into France with dreams of another title, but falling to England in group play means they face a tough road ahead if they hope to return home with another trophy.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-24 at 9.07.29 PM.png
via FIFA.com

Jennifer Hermoso jumps back into the Top 10 with her goal on Monday but her tournament came to an end with Spain’s loss. Megan Rapinoe joins teammate Carli Lloyd on three goals, two behind Alex Morgan and Sam Kerr.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Women’s World Cupdate: Hosts Prevail in Extra Time

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Sunday, June 23rd

Sunday’s action at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup featured a pair of matches that had similar amounts of drama even if the score lines didn’t reflect that. In the first match, England took advantage of two crucial VAR decisions that swung their way to defeat Cameroon and move onto the quarterfinals. Later in the day, Brazil gave host nation France everything it could handle in their match, but in the end, the home side prevailed in extra time to join the quarterfinals party.

England 3-0 Cameroon

Based on the scoreline, you might think this was a clean and easy victory for England but that was not the case. VAR once again reared its head and played a significant role in determining the outcome of the contest, but in the end, the better side did prevail as England move onto the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Cameroon.

England benefited from an early mistake from the Cameroon goalkeeper who illegally picked up a back pass from her teammate that resulted in an indirect free kick for England. Captain Steph Houghton crushed the shot lower corner for a 1-0 Lionesses advantage. In first half injury time England struck again to double their lead just before the halftime break. Ellen White continued her torrid play at this Women’s World Cup, finishing off a beautiful feed that was originally ruled offsides, but overturned by VAR for a 2-0 Lionesses advantage.

Cameroon looked to cut the deficit in half early in the second half of play but another VAR review determined that the play leading to the goal was offsides and wiped out the goal. Minutes later, it was a 3-0 England lead when Alex Greenwood hammered home a pass from a corner kick to seal a spot for the Lionesses in the quarterfinals.

This is a third straight quarters appearance for England, and they will look to make it consecutive semifinal trips when they face Norway on Thursday. This marks the end of the road for Cameroon, who exits the tournament after a second straight Round of 16 showing.

Goals

  • Steph Houghton | ENG (14′)
  • Ellen White | ENG (45’+4′)
  • Alex Greenwood | ENG (58′)

Highlights

France 2-1 Brazil (Extra Time)

On the opening day of knockout play at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Norway and Australia needed extra time to decide a winner. Then on the second day, France and Brazil needed an extra 30 minutes to figure out which side was advancing. The only difference was France and Brazil sorted out the mess in the overtime period unlike Norway and Australia who needed penalty kicks. In the end, it was host side France scoring the winning goal in the 107th minute to defeat Brazil 2-1 and advance to the quarterfinals.

Neither side could break the ice in the first half, but just seven minutes into the second half, Valeria Gauvin put France on the board, finishing off a cross in front of goal. Brazil answered back just over 10 minutes later when Thaisa was left along in the box where she beat the French goalkeeper to bring the game level.

That wrapped up the scoring for regular time and the sides headed to extra time to determine who was moving on. Brazil had a golden chance in the 105th minute but the ball was cleared away off the line. Two minutes later, France captain Amandine Henry got on the end of a free kick and directed the ball into the net to put France into the quarterfinals with a 2-1 victory.

This marks a third straight quarter finals appearance for France, where they will meet either Spain on the United States on Friday. For Brazil, it’s another disappointing end to a Women’s World Cup and likely the end of the line for soccer legend Marta on the international stage.

Goals

  • Valeria Gauvin | FRA (52′)
  • Thaisa | BRA (63′)
  • Amandine Henry | FRA (107′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

A trio of goals and a game saving shot block make up our list of best plays from Sunday’s Round of 16 action at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

Steph Houghton (England)

You don’t often see indirect free kicks in soccer, but when they occur it is often an exciting moment. England captain Steph Houghton made the most of her attempt, blasting home a shot that proved to be the game winner early in the first half.

Alex Greenwood (England)

Perfect pass, perfect run, and the perfect shot all added up to create this outstanding third goal from Alex Greenwood that put the cherry on top of a 3-0 England victory on Sunday.

Griedge Mbock Bathy (France)

This result could have been a whole lot different for Fance if not for the defensive heroics of Bathy at the end of the first half of extra time. Her block on Debinha kept the score level long enough for our next top moment to play out.

Amandine Henry (France)

A perfect free kick into the box and France captain Amandine Henry timed her run perfectly to get on the end of the ball and score the goal that sent the host nation into the next round.

Bracket Update

England defeats Cameroon to set up a meeting with Norway in the quarterfinals on Thursday. Host nation France sneaks past Brazil in extra time to qualify for the quarterfinals for a third straight tournament. They await their opponent from the Spain/United States match taking place on Monday.

D9xwJhrU4AAZGE6.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

Quarterfinals Outlook

June 27th: Norway v. England

June 28th: France v. Spain/United States

June 29th: Germany v. Canada/Sweden

Here’s What’s Next: Monday, June 24th

We are halfway through the Round of 16 after Sunday’s matches, now it’s on to Monday with another pair of matches on the schedule. First up, the United States continues its title defense against Spain, then underdogs Sweden and Canada face-off to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Spain (2B) v. United States (1F)

It was business as usual for the United States in group play, but now it starts to get a little more serious. At this stage, you cannot afford even a single bad game, especially against a team of quality like Spain who are in the knockouts for the first time in their history. Good news for the Americans is they are battle tested and bring plenty of knockout experience into this match. Spain will be looking to attack on the counter, so an early goal for the Americans will put Spain on the back foot where they will become more vulnerable to attack as the game drags on.

  • Time: 12:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Auguste-Delaune (Reims)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Sweden (2F) v. Canada (2E)

Two sides that had a more than respectable showing in the group stage will now meet up with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Sweden was always destined to finish second in Group F while Canada looked like the slight favorite to win Group E but fell to the Netherlands on Matchday 3. This match is truly a toss up between two sides who could cause havoc in a potential meeting with Germany in the next round.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Parc de Princes (Paris)
  • How to Watch: FS1

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-23 at 10.23.21 PM.png

Alex Morgan still holds the top spot as she prepares to play on Monday, but England forward Ellen White continues her ascent up the standings with another tally on Sunday against Cameroon.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Women’s World Cupdate: Norway Needs Penalties

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Saturday, June 22nd

After a thrilling two weeks of group stage play at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, it was time for the real contenders to show themselves as the knockout round kicked off with a pair of Round of 16 matches. Heavily favored Germany easily dispatched Nigeria, but Norway needed extra time and penalty kicks to fend off Australia for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Germany 3-0 Nigeria

Another ho-hum performance from Germany resulted in an easy victory over an overmatched Nigeria squad in their Round of 16 matchup on Saturday. Germany were the heavy favorites heading into the match and proved quickly they had the superior talent on their side.

Alexandra Popp and Sara Daebritz scored within seven minutes of each other to give Germany more than enough cushion even before halftime. Lea Schueller added a third goal late in the match to put a final stamp on the dominating performance. On the defensive side, Germany were just as impressive, recording another clean sheet to keep their perfect record intact through four games.

Germany looked impressive once again, but the road will only get tougher from here on out. Next up, they will face either Canada or Sweden in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Nigeria made great strides in this tournament they can look to build on for the future.

Goals

  • Alexandra Popp | GER (20′)
  • Sara Daebritz | GER (27′ PEN)
  • Lea Schueller | GER (82′)

Highlights

Norway 1-1 Australia (Norway wins on penalties 4-1)

On of the best Round of 16 matches on paper lived up the hype on Saturday, with Norway and Australia needing penalty kicks to decide a winner. For most of the match, Norway played on the front foot and seemed the better team, but Australia kept fighting and pushed the game all the way through extra time and into penalties.

Isabell Herlovsen opened the scoring for Norway, finishing off a beautiful through ball that set her free one-on-one with the goalkeeper. That lead was almost enough for Norway, but in the 83rd minute, Elise Kellond-Knight deflected a corner kick into the netting to bring the game level and force extra time.

In the extra time frame, Norway was given another advantage when Australia went down to 10 players after a red card. Even up a player, Norway could not find a go ahead goal and the game had to be settled on penalties. Norway converted all four of its penalty kicks while Australia struggled and only converted a single attempt. By a 4-1 penalty decision, Norway won the game and earned a spot in the quarterfinals.

Securely in the next round, Norway can relax on Sunday and watch the match between England and Cameroon to see who they will face next. Australia will surely be disappointed with the result, but leave France with high hopes for 2023.

Goals

  • Isabell Herlovsen | NOR (31′)
  • Elise Kellond-Knight | AUS (83′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

Four teams played but only two advanced to the quarterfinals. Luckily, for the losers, winning isn’t a requirement to be featured in our best plays of the day.

Isabell Herlovsen (Norway)

The real beauty of this play is the through ball by Karina Saevik, but Isabell Herlovsen does a good job to get open and finish the play to make sure the pass was not a wasted opportunity.

Lea Scheuller (Germany)

This was a flat out gift from the Nigeria defense but credit to Lea Scheuller who didn’t hesitate for a second and crushed this shot far post on her first touch after receiving the turnover at her feet.

Lydia Williams (Australia)

Australia went down to 10 players in extra time after a red card, but goalkeeper Lydia Williams did everything in her power to force a penalty shootout with a couple high level saves, but none were better than this.

Bracket Update

Germany and Norway advance to the quarterfinals with victories in their respective Round of 16 matches. Now they sit back and wait to find out who they will face when they return to action in the next round.

D9spFHXUEAAJw6v.jpg

Quarterfinals Outlook

June 27th: Norway v. England/Cameroon

June 29th: Germany v. Canada/Sweden

Here’s What’s Next: Sunday, June 23rd

If Saturday was any indication, then we are in for a treat as the knockout rounds move forward. Action resumes on Sunday with another pair of matches in the Round of 16. England look to keep marching towards a first ever Women’s World Cup title while host France is back on the pitch against an aging but still talented Brazil side.

England (1D) v. Cameroon (3E)

England comfortably reached this stage with three group wins while Cameroon needed an injury time goal against New Zealand to qualify. This is a historic second straight trip to the knockouts for Cameroon but they will be running into a Lionesses side that is playing at the top of their game. Unless Cameroon can get ahead early and force England into mistakes, this should be a lopsided affair.

  • Time: 11:30 AM
  • Location: Stade du Hainaut (Valenciennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

France (1A) v. Brazil (3C)

When the groups and bracket were revealed, this was never going to an easy match for France, assuming they won Group A. Brazil, Italy, and Australia were all crammed into Group C and all three were going to be outs for France. Brazil may not be the force it was in past years, but they still won two group matches and only finished third because of a second tiebreaker. France will be favorites, but Brazil is by no means any pushover.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Océane (Le Havre)
  • How to Watch: FOX

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Standings

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-23 at 1.14.41 AM.png

Sam Kerr came very close to moving past Alex Morgan for the top spot, but she couldn’t convert chances and her tournament comes to an end with five goals. Sara Daebritz of Germany jumps into the Top 10 with her penalty goal against Nigeria.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.

Women’s World Cup: Round of 16 Preview

Two weeks and 36 matches later, we have finally made it to the knockout stages of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. What started as 24 teams has been whittled down to the last 16, who will compete for a spot in the quarterfinals. Action from France resumes on Saturday with a pair of games, a trend that will continue through Tuesday. When the dust settles, eight teams will remain standing for a shot at winning the Women’s World Cup in Lyon.

Before the action kicks off, read our in depth overview of the teams and matches that will make of the Round of 16.

The Teams

D9kjIQTUcAEly9G.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

Let’s begin our Round of 16 preview with a glance at the teams who will be taking part. Teams are listed in the order in which they finished in their respective groups.

Group A

France: Playing as host can bring a lot of pressure, but it was no problem for France in group stage play as they swept through all three matches, taking home all nine points available. They crushed South Korea in the opener then faced tougher tests against Norway and Nigeria but found a way to win which is what good teams often do.

Norway: Defeated Nigeria and South Korea as expected and put together a strong showing against France even in a loss. They will face a stiff test against Australia in the Round of 16, but should they advance, will be a formidable foe in the quarters. It is really too bad they don’t have Ada Hegerberg at their disposal for this tournament.

Nigeria: Did not fair well against Norway but defeated South Korea and did just enough to advance to the knockout stages. Took France to the very end, losing on a controversial VAR ruling that gave the French a re-kick on a missed penalty. Got the help they needed on the final day of group play to move on as a third place team.

Group B

Germany: Another pre-tournament favorite to sent a message with three wins in three attempts in group play. Lost superstar midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan due to a toe injury but only kept getting better. They didn’t pour in the goals early, sneaking by China and Spain with identical 1-0 scorelines. Offense broke out against South Africa and they still have yet to allow a goal in France.

Spain: It’s already been a historic World Cup for Spain, defeating South Africa to win their first ever Women’s World Cup match then advancing to the knockout round for the first time. A loss to Germany in the second match was a bit of a setback but they looked like a confident team. A draw with China sent them through to the Round of 16 as Group B runner-up.

China: This may not be the China of old, but they are still a formidable foe and can defend very well. They only allowed one goal in the group stage that came in a 1-0 loss to Germany. On the opposite end, the offense is still missing, scoring just one goal in the group stage. That goal came in a 1-0 defeat over South Africa. Their draw against Spain was enough to send them through, although Spain looked like the much stronger side.

Group C

Italy: Perhaps the biggest surprise of the group stage was Italy’s performance, topping a highly competitive Group C. Wins over Australia and Jamaica put the Italians in a good spot to win the group and they did just that even with a loss in the final group match against Brazil. Both the offense and defense have been clicking on all cylinders and Italy looks like a sudden dark horse threat to make some more noise.

Australia: It wasn’t looking good for Australia after losing to Italy in their first match, then it looked even worse when they fell behind Brazil 2-0 in match two. Then came the furious comeback that saw them score three unanswered goals to defeat Brazil and they have been rolling ever since. A 4-1 victory over Jamaica was just enough to push them past Brazil for second in Group C.

Brazil: This is the second Women’s World Cup that utilizes the third place advancement system and Brazil is the first team to ever finish in third place with six point. Wins over Jamaica and Italy helped them get here, but a blown lead against Australia prevented them from possibly winning the group outright. They still have talent all over the field, but a showdown with France could be their undoing.

Group D

England: It’s been a ho-hum tournament thus far for the Lionesses, taking all three group games for the first time in history. Wins over Scotland and Argentina set up a showdown with Japan for the Group D title and they delivered a strong performance to prevail with the victory. They now sit in the top quarter of the bracket, meaning they avoid one of France or the United States until the semifinals.

Japan: A draw with Argentina in the opening match set off warning signs around this Japan squad, but they bounced back and defeated Scotland in the second match to right the ship. They looked good at times against England but could not convert any of their chances. That result meant they settled for second place and a meeting with the Netherlands.

Group E

Netherlands: Sexy dark horse pick before the tournament, now a rapidly filling bandwagon as the Dutch rolled through Group E with three wins and all nine points. A late goal pushed them past New Zealand then they a much more clinical performance gave them an easy win over Cameroon. They wrapped up Group E in the final match, defeating Canada 2-1 to seal the deal.

Canada: In what could be the last Women’s World Cup for Christine Sinclair, Canada looked like a real threat with two stellar performances against Cameroon and New Zealand, but it all fell apart against the Netherlands. Sinclair scored her 182nd career international goal against the Dutch, but her team was not good enough to pull out the victory. They get a favorable matchup against Sweden in the Round of 16, but Germany likely awaits in the quarters.

Cameroon: It took until the very last kick of group stage play, but Cameroon found a way to beat New Zealand and book their spot in the Round of 16 for the second straight tournament. They only got the single win after losses to Canada and the Netherlands, but it was enough to put them into the Round of 16 for a meeting with England.

Group F

United States: Three matches, three wins, 18 goals scored, and winning Group F. You could not have drawn up a better start to this Women’s World Cup for the defending champions, but now it starts to get serious. Sweden was the only real test for the United States in Group F and they passed with flying colors. Now onto the knockouts where Spain awaits.

Sweden: All hope of winning Group F for Sweden came down to beating the United States but it was not meant to be. They still put in a solid overall showing, especially against weaker opponents Chile and Thailand. Two wins was more than enough for a second place finish and a very winnable match with Canada in the Round of 16.

Those are you 16 teams who will be playing in the Round of 16 beginning today at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Each one is well deserving of its place in the knockout stages, but unfortunately for eight of them, this will be the end of the line.

The Bracket

A look at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup bracket as it stands heading into the Round of 16.

D9iIp13VUAAlbjy
via @FOXSoccer

Round of 16 Matches

A quick preview of all eight matches making up the Round of 16. Matches will be played between Saturday and Tuesday with winners advancing to play in the quarterfinals late next week.

These are win or go home scenarios from here on out, draws are not an acceptable result. If a match is tied after 90 minutes, the teams will play two 15 minute halves of extra time. If the game remains tied after extra time, it will go to a penalty shootout to determine a winner.

Germany (1B) v. Nigeria (3A)

Nigeria waited until the dying minutes of the final group stage matches to learn if they would even qualify for the Round of 16. Much to their excitement, Chile won but not by enough and Nigeria were rewarded for their waiting with a match against Germany. It should be an easy win for Germany, but beware, Nigeria gave fellow favorite France a serious fight in their match on Monday.

  • Date: Saturday, June 32nd
  • Time: 11:30 AM
  • Location: Stade des Alpes (Grenoble)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: Germany 3, Nigeria 0

Norway (2A) v. Australia (2C)

Two pre-tournament dark horses meet here in the Round of 16 where only one can move on to the quarterfinals. Norway and Australia both recorded solid showings in group play and look like they could be a threat in the knockouts. Of all the matches in the Round of 16, this may be near the top of the list to watch.

  • Date: Saturday, June 22nd
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade de Nice (Nice)
  • How to Watch: FOX

Prediction: Australia 3, Norway 2

England (1D) v. Cameroon (3E)

England comfortably reached this stage with three group wins while Cameroon needed an injury time goal against New Zealand to qualify. This is a historic second straight trip to the knockouts for Cameroon but they will be running into a Lionesses side that is playing at the top of their game. Unless Cameroon can get ahead early and force England into mistakes, this should be a lopsided affair.

  • Date: Sunday, June 23rd
  • Time: 11:30 AM
  • Location: Stade du Hainaut (Valenciennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: England 3, Cameroon 1

France (1A) v. Brazil (3C)

When the groups and bracket were revealed, this was never going to an easy match for France, assuming they won Group A. Brazil, Italy, and Australia were all crammed into Group C and all three were going to be outs for France. Brazil may not be the force it was in past years, but they still won two group matches and only finished third because of a second tiebreaker. France will be favorites, but Brazil is by no means any pushover.

  • Date: Sunday, June 23rd
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Océane (Le Havre)
  • How to Watch: FOX

Prediction: France 2, Brazil 1

Spain (2B) v. United States (1F)

It was business as usual for the United States in group play, but now it starts to get a little more serious. At this stage, you cannot afford even a single bad game, especially against a team of quality like Spain who are in the knockouts for the first time in their history. Good news for the Americans is they are battle tested and bring plenty of knockout experience into this match. Spain will be looking to attack on the counter, so an early goal for the Americans will put Spain on the back foot where they will become more vulnerable to attack as the game drags on.

  • Date: Monday, June 24th
  • Time: 12:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Auguste-Delaune (Reims)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: United States 3, Spain 0

Sweden (2F) v. Canada (2E)

Two sides that had a more than respectable showing in the group stage will now meet up with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Sweden was always destined to finish second in Group F while Canada looked like the slight favorite to win Group E but fell to the Netherlands on Matchday 3. This match is truly a toss up between two sides who could cause havoc in a potential meeting with Germany in the next round.

  • Date: Monday, June 24th
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Parc de Princes (Paris)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: Canada 1, Sweden 1 (Canada wins on penalties)

Italy (1C) v. China (3B)

Italy returned to the Women’s World Cup for the first time in 20 years and subsequently won Group C that included the likes of Brazil and Australia. They already had high expectations entering the tournament, now they have to be believe they can make a serious run. In their way stands China who acquitted themselves well in a tough Group B. Italy can fill the net but also play a strong defense while China hasn’t been an offensive powerhouse but only surrendered one goal in three group games. This could be another match that needs more than 90 minutes to determine a winner.

  • Date: Tuesday, June 25th
  • Time: 12:00 PM
  • Location: Stade de la Mosson (Montpelier)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: Italy 2, China 1 (Italy wins in extra time)

Netherlands (1E) v. Japan (2B)

Pre-tournament dark horse Netherlands showed everyone the hype was deserved with a clean sweep of group matches to win Group E over Canada. That hype train will now follow them into the Round of 16 where they will face 2011 champion and 2015 runner-up Japan with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. Japan came into France with dreams of another title, but falling to England in group play means they face a tough road ahead if they hope to return home with another trophy.

  • Date: Tuesday, June 25th
  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)
  • How to Watch: FS1

Prediction: Netherlands 2, Japan 1

That completes our overview of the eight matches that will compromise the Round of 16 stage at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The eight teams who emerge victorious will move onto the quarterfinals stage scheduled to begin on Thursday.

Golden Boot Outlook

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-20 at 8.35.49 PM

Perhaps unsurprisingly, all ten of the players who currently make up the Top 10 of the Golden Boot standings will be taking part in the Round of 16 beginning Saturday. The only question mark entering the round may be United States striker and co-goal scoring leader Alex Morgan, who suffered a knock against Sweden on Thursday.

Once the Round of 16 begins on Saturday, we will continuing with our daily Cupdates recapping the previous day of action along with a preview of what’s still to come as the tournament marches forward. Make sure you are checking back with us everyday to keep up to date on the latest news from the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Women’s World Cupdate: Group Stage Drama

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Thursday, June 20th

What a fantastic way to wrap up group stage action at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup with games being decided in the last minutes of action to determine who moves on and who goes home. Cameroon needed an injury time winner to beat New Zealand and advance as a third place team. On the flip side, Chile recorded its first ever Women’s World Cup victory but missed out on the Round of 16 because of a missed penalty in the final moments.

In the group deciding matches from Thursday, the Netherlands scored a pair in the second half to claim victory over Canada and take the top spot in Group E. In Group F, the United States got the best of Sweden to wrap up a perfect group slate and win their group for a record tying seventh time.

Cameroon 2-1 New Zealand

It looked like Cameroon was going miss out on a chance to advance to the Round of 16 after an own goal in the 80th minute brought New Zealand level, but they never stopped fighting, and on the final kick of the game Ajara Nchout made a dazzling play to get away from the defender and score her second goal of the match to put Cameroon into the Round of 16.

Cameroon were the better team for most of the match and took the lead for the first time in the 57th minute, but the own goal brought the game back even and it looked like Cameroon was going to crash out of the Women’s World Cup. That was until Nchout made her presence felt once again and called match with a stunning solo goal.

With the victory, Cameroon grabbed a third place spot in Group E and will have a few days off to rest before taking on Group D winner England. For New Zealand, they are eliminated, leaving France with no point and their only goal for coming off an own goal.

Goals

  • Ajara Nchout | CAM (57′, 90’+5′)
  • Aurelle Awona | NZL (80′ OG)

Highlights

Netherlands 2-1 Canada

In the first of the two group deciding matches of the day, the Netherlands and Canada went head-to-head to determine who would come out on top of Group E. It was all even through the first half of play, but the Netherlands were able to break through with a pair of goals in the second half to defeat Canada 2-1 and win the group.

Anouk Dekker put the Dutch on top in the 54th minute, but her opening strike was answered just four minutes later when Christine Sinclair scored her 182nd career international goal to give her side a chance at victory. Dutch substitute Lineth Beerensteyn put the Netherlands ahead for good five minutes after coming on.

When the final whistle sounded, Group E was settled with the Netherlands on top and Canada sliding into second place. Both advance to the Round of 16 with the Netherlands facing off against Group D runner up Japan and Canada taking on Group F runner up Sweden.

Goals

  • Anouk Dekker | NED (54′)
  • Christine Sinclair | CAN (60′)
  • Lineth Beerensteyn | NED (75′)

Highlights

Sweden 0-2 United States

For the United States, its first two matches of group stage play were simply tune ups for what was considered to be their real first test in Sweden. A friendly rivalry has developed over the year between the two sides, and this time it was the Americans taking home the victory and exacting some revenge for their 2016 Summer Olympics encounter.

The United States wasted no time getting on the board, scoring in just the third minute of action. Off a corner from Megan Rapinoe, Sam Mewis was able to deflect the ball towards goal where Lindsey Horan was in position to poke it home. Sweden had some chances on goal but they were few and far between the quality was lacking. Eventually, the United States put the game away early in the second half when a Tobin Heath shot deflected off Sweden defender Jonna Andersson and past the keeper for an own goal.

If Sweden was supposed to be a test for the United States then it’s safe to say they passed with flying colors. They were the more dominant team all match long and deserved the result. The Group F title goes to the United States, giving them a record tying seven overall group wins. They will face Spain in the Round of 16. Sweden slides safely into second place with a date against Canada in the next round.

Goals

  • Lindsey Horan | USA (3′)
  • Jonna Andersson | USA (50′ OG)

Highlights

Thailand 0-2 Chile

Coming into this match, both sides knew what they needed to do to advance, it was just more feasible for Chile. With a -5 goal differential entering the match, Chile had to defeat Thailand by a three goal margin or more. They came within a crossbar of doing exactly that.

Chile had chances all match long, especially in the first half where they just could not convert to get that precious opening goal. Three minutes into the second half they found an unconventional way to break through. A shot came off the far post and ricocheted directly back into the Thailand goalie whom it bounced off of and into the net. It was Chile’s first goal of the game and first ever Women’s World Cup goal. As time continued to tick away, Chile scored their second off a clever header by Maria Urrutia. Needing just one more goal to advance, Chile were awarded a penalty with five minutes left, but the shot was ripped off the crossbar and cleared away.

It was the last good chance Chile had on goal before the final whistle blew and ended the contest. Chile recorded its first ever victory in a Women’s World Cup, but were eliminated based on goal differential with Nigeria. Thailand exit its second World Cup with no points, but a lot of positives to build upon.

Goals

  • Waraporn Boonsing | CHI (48′ OG)
  • Maria Jose Urrutia | CHI (80′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

Ajara Nchout (Cameroon)

It’s always special to score a goal when playing for you country, but that feeling must be multiplied ten times when you score one as massive as Ajara Nchout did for Cameroon on Thursday.

Erin Nayler (New Zealand)

New Zealand was hanging on for dear life against Cameroon in the second half, already trialing 1-0. Needing a win to advance, Erin Nayler gave her side some life with a trio of fantastic stops to keep the Cameroon lead at only one.

Maria Urrutia (Chile)

Heading the ball is commonplace in soccer but it is a lot more difficult than some make it seem. Maria Urrutia got just enough of her head on thi pass to redirect into the goal and put Chile on the brink of advancing.

Group Update

Matchday 3 is in the books which means the group stage has come to a close at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. It was Group E and Group F rounding out group play with four matches on Thursday. Here’s how it all shook out when the final whistles sounded.

Screen Shot 2019-06-20 at 8.02.34 PM.png

The Netherlands knocks off Canada to claim the top spot in Group E. Canada slides into second and Cameroon takes third place and spot in the Round of 16. New Zealand is eliminated.

Screen Shot 2019-06-20 at 8.02.43 PM.png

As many predicted, it’s the United States coming out on top in Group F with Sweden settling for second place. Chile takes third in its first ever Women’s World Cup appearance but falls agonizingly short of advancing. Thailand comes in last.

Advancing to knockout rounds: France (A), Norway (A), Nigeria (A), Germany (B), Spain (B), China (B), Italy (C), Australia (C), Brazil (C), England (D), Japan (D), Netherlands (E), Canada (E), Cameroon (E), United States (F), Sweden (F)

Third Place Standings

Here’s a quick look at the final third place standings:

Screen Shot 2019-06-20 at 8.04.15 PM.png

Cameroon and Nigeria grab the final two third place spots to advance to the Round of 16. Chile and Argentina come close but ultimately miss out and exit the tournament.

Round of 16 Brief

There will be a full Round of 16 preview going up on Saturday morning before the matches get underway, but here’s a quick look at how the knockout round bracket shapes up for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

D9iIp13VUAAlbjy.jpg
via @FOXSoccer

Here’s What’s Next: Saturday, June 22nd

Friday marks the first day off at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament started two weeks ago. It’s only a brief break, with matches resuming on Saturday featuring a pair of Round of 16 games to begin the knockout stages of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Germany (1B) v. Nigeria (3A)

Nigeria waited until the dying minutes of the final group stage matches to learn if they would even qualify for the Round of 16. Much to their excitement, Chile won but not by enough and Nigeria were rewarded for their waiting with a match against Germany. It should be an easy win for Germany, but beware, Nigeria gave fellow favorite France a serious fight in their match on Monday.

  • Time: 11:30 AM
  • Location: Stade des Alpes (Grenoble)
  • How to Watch: FOX

Norway (2A) v. Australia (2C)

Two pre-tournament dark horses meet here in the Round of 16 and only one can move on to the quarterfinals. Norway and Australia both recorded solid showings in group play and look like they could be a threat in the knockouts. Of all the matches in the Round of 16, this may be near the top of the list to watch.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade de Nice (Nice)
  • How to Watch: FOX

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Golden Boot Standings

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-20 at 8.35.49 PM.png
via FIFA.com

Everything mostly looks the same after Thursday’s matches. Only difference is Lindsey Horan rejoining the Top 10 with her goal against Sweden.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.