Australia will attempt to keep away from the host group curse by avoiding elimination within the quarterfinals of the Ladies’s World Cup.
The Matildas have co-hosted this match with New Zealand, however the Soccer Ferns did not advance out of group play. Australia continues to be taking part in and faces France on Saturday in Brisbane, Australia, for a spot within the semifinals.
However match hosts have at all times struggled to make it previous the quarterfinals, beginning with China within the inaugural 1991 match, then Sweden in 1995, Germany in 2011, Canada in 2015 and eventually France in 2019.
France was eradicated by america in entrance of 45,000 spectators in Paris, and the sting carried with Les Blues for fairly awhile.
Other than america, which gained the 1999 match in America, all different World Cup hosts have did not advance previous the quarterfinals.
France can now kick Australia out of its personal match, and French coach Herve Renard stated his gamers are aware of the stress that faces the Matildas.
“We all know precisely what we’re in for,” Renard stated. “The host nation, we all know that that may be an excellent or dangerous factor. That is what the French group went by way of in 2019. It may be massively disappointing because it was for France after they had been knocked out.
“We’re hoping to place Australia by way of precisely what France went by way of after they had been the host nation in 2019.” Australia could have famous person Sam Kerr at full energy after she missed all of group play with a calf damage, and solely performed the ultimate 10 minutes of Australia’s quarterfinal win over Denmark.
The Matildas have additionally been taking part in in entrance of large crowds, together with greater than 75,000 in Sydney for the victory over Denmark.
“I believe that Sydney correctly ramped issues up,” stated defender Alanna Kennedy. “We actually felt the power from the gang.” Added 20-year-old defender Mary Fowler: “It’s superb, particularly as soon as the video games have completed, when you’ll be able to actually see the dimensions of the crowds which have turned as much as watch you.” Australia has by no means superior out of the World Cup quarterfinals in three earlier makes an attempt, so a debut within the semifinals is on the road. Australia beat France simply final month in a 1-0 warmup forward of the match — the one loss Les Blues has suffered whereas successful 16 of 18 matches this 12 months.
France is attempting to keep away from being eradicated within the quarterfinals for the third consecutive World Cup. France was eradicated by Germany in 2015 and america 4 years in the past. A win over Australia would put France into the semifinals for the second time ever, however first time since 2011.
France was a bit underwhelming in its World Cup opener, a scoreless draw towards Jamaica. However the fifth-ranked group on this planet cruised into the quarterfinals by serving to to get rid of Brazil whereas outscoring its opponents 12-4 within the final three video games.
ENGLAND-COLOMBIA
Colombia is the over-achiever of the Ladies’s World Cup and at twenty fifth on this planet, it’s the lowest-ranked group nonetheless taking part in.
However the Superpoderosas are not any fluke and knocked off two-time champion Germany in group play, then beat Jamaica within the knockouts to maneuver into the quarterfinals for the primary time in group historical past.
Solely 4 years in the past, Colombia’s group did not qualify for the World Cup. Colombia additionally missed the match in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
To make it to the semifinals — already they’re the one South American group nonetheless taking part in — the Colombians should beat European champion England at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Will probably be the most important worldwide stage to this point for the Colombians, who’ve captured their residence nation.
“These warriors have us dreaming. Come on Colombia we’re with you,” Colombia males’s star Luis Díaz posted on social media after the ladies’s knockout spherical victory.
The Colombians are led by 18-year-old sensation Linda Caicedo, a wide-smiling rising star for Actual Madrid who has already efficiently battled most cancers. Caicedo was recognized with ovarian most cancers at 15, and he or she’s had well being considerations on this match: she was handled for what Colombia known as exhaustion no less than twice this match, however performed everything of the group’s final two matches.
“What Linda is doing for me and likewise each Colombian participant, she’s our reference, she’s an emblem,” stated Ana Maria Guzman, one other 18-year-old on the Colombian squad. “She’s a participant that has confirmed that goals might be achieved, and it’s important to work for that.” Colombia gained’t be a pushover for England, a group that hasn’t discovered any consistency but on this match however continues to be a FanDuel betting favourite, and gained all three of its group-stage video games.
England was underwhelming in an opening-game win over Haiti, misplaced star participant Keira Walsh towards Denmark, went to a completely new formation towards China, after which misplaced famous person Lauren James to a two-game suspension.
James earned a purple card in England’s knockout spherical win over Nigeria when she violently tackled an opponent, then stepped on her. The motion noticed James kicked out of the sport that England gained on penalty kicks, after which banned for 2 extra matches.
James, who has scored three targets for England within the match, apologized.
“Clearly she’s dissatisfied with what occurred,” England ahead Beth England stated. “It was a break up second, emotional second that occurred. We’ve acquired round her. It’s good that she’s acknowledged that and put her apology out.” England veteran Lucy Bronze stated the group has been examined in a number of methods this match and has responded each time.
“All the pieces that has been thrown at us, we’ve handled and moved ahead,” she stated. “I don’t see many different groups who’ve had that adversity and if that they had, I don’t assume they’ve managed to beat the way in which we’ve. On the similar time, we aren’t pleased with our performances.”