Since it’s likely that many American viewers have only seen one of the worst games of the tournament, I thought it might be a public service to catch anyone who’s only watched the US – Vietnam game up on what else else happened in the World Cup. Here’s my account of the five best games of what has been an excellent opening round of play.
Such an account, however, must begin with an acknowledgement of tragedy. On the morning of the tournament’s opening game, not far from Norway’s hotel in Aukland, a shooting at a downtown construction site left two dead (in addition to the shooter) and six others injured, including a responding police officer. Though unrelated to the World Cup, it hung over the evening’s opening game at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Thursday, July 20th. New Zealand 1 – Norway 0
That opening evening saw both host nations winning their opening matches. In the later game, the surprise was not so much Australia’s win–even with star striker, Samantha Kerr, ruled out of the first two matches with a calf injury–as the stout defense put up by the Republic of Ireland. But New Zealand’s victory over a Norway side picked by many to have a strong run in the tournament, was an unexpected and exciting affair.
After an extremely evenly balanced first half, New Zealand’s Jacqui Hand got in behind down the right to put in a cross for towering striker Hannah Wilkinson to put home the game’s only goal. Wilkinson was the game’s star, worrying Norway’s defense all night, while her more famous opposition, Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen, proved quiet.
There was more excitement at the end. At 81′, Tuva Hansen hit the crossbar after being played into the box by Hegerberg. Then, at the end of regulation, New Zealand were awarded a penalty, taken by Ria Percival, that beat keeper Aurora Mikalsen but not the crossbar. It was a deserved victory by New Zealand, who were the better side. Captain Ali Riley’s post-match interview captured this historic moment for the Black Ferns.
Friday, July 21st. Nigeria 0 – Canada 0.
In the first game of the tournament’s second day, Nigeria picked up where New Zealand and Ireland had left off, producing another impressive showing from a decided underdog. Reigning Olympic champions Canada are a contender to win the tournament, but it was Nigeria who looked more threatening for the majority of the first half, led by Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala.
This performance was even more impressive given that one of their most important players, Atlético Madrid’s Rasheedat Adibaje, was one of two players serving a suspension for red cards received in the semifinals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, just over a year ago. In fairness, Canada were missing a critical player of their own in midfielder Jessie Fleming, sidelined with a calf injury.
By the latter stages of the first half, Canada had taken control of the game, and at the start of the second half manager Bev Priestman introduced Cloé Lacasse at right wing. Her impact was immediate, feeding Christine Sinclair in the box, who was fouled by Francisca Ordega to earn a penalty. It was Sinclair’s chance to become the first player, male or female, to score in six World Cups–but Chiamaka Nnadozie saved her attempt.
Canada had another boost with the introduction of Evelyne Viens shortly after the hour mark, allowing Jordyn Huitema to move to the left, where she immediately looked more effective. Even so, Viens’s shot at 66′ off a pass from Huitema was Canada’s first shot on goal from open play, and was saved by Nnadozie. Nonetheless, the game had a compelling back-and-forth energy that belied the numbers.
Canada brought on Sohpie Schmidt and Allysha Chapman in search of the game, while Nigeria turned to Uchenna Kanu. Kanu nearly scored at 80′ with Kailen Sheridan making a brilliant save (and relieving VAR from having to decide whether or not the goal was onside), and Nigeria were hunting the game to close out regulation.
In stoppage time, however, the initiative shifted back to Canada, particularly after teenager Deborah Abiodun received a red card for a tackle on Ashley Lawrence. But Canada couldn’t finish Nigeria off, and there was little doubt as to which team had won this nil-nil draw.
Saturday, July 22nd. Denmark 1 – China 0.
After the United States and Japan defeated Vietnam and Zambia in the first two games of the day, things got more interesting. Group D kicked off with England just about beating an impressive Haiti squad 1-0. The last match of the day, however, was quite possibly the best game of the opening round–understandably, as it was between the most tightly balanced opponents, at least according to FIFA’s pre-tournament rankings.
Though no longer one of the elite nations in women’s football, China seems to be moving in the right direction under current manager, Shui Qingxia, unexpectedly winning the Women’s Asian Cup in February of 2022 and earning ties against Switzerland and Colombia in more recent warm-up matches. They entered the tournament at 13th in FIFA’s rankings, one spot ahead of a Danish side that have beaten Norway, Sweden, and Japan within the calendar year.
Despite being their leading scorer, striker Wang Shan Shan was deployed at center-back, a role she sometimes plays in games where stopping goals is viewed as more important than scoring them. Perhaps more surprisingly, Racing Louisville forward Wang Shuang started the game on the bench. China set up in a 4-4-2, but with left wing Zhang Linyan (one of three Zhang’s on the field) and left back Chen Qiaozhu frequently pushing up a line in conjunction to create a de facto 3-4-3 in attack.
The first half was fairly even in terms of both possession and shots, but China looked more purposeful for the majority of the half. That purpose only increased with the introduction of Wang Shuang at the start of the second half. Yet Denmark also upped their game, as Josefine Hasbo had a series of half chances to start out the half.
In the end, a 90’ Pernille Harder corner was headed in from distance by 87’ substitute Amalie Vansgaard would prove the difference, a stunning finish on its own. But the game wasn’t over yet. In stoppage time, Wang Shuang very nearly equalized with a free kick that Lene Christensen could only push onto the inside of the post. It shot across the line and was somehow cleared away by Simone Boye Sørenson without crossing. It was a stunning end to an electric game.
Sunday, July 23rd. Sweden 2 – South Africa 1.
I confess that this is one of the four first round games I haven’t watched yet (and the only one to which I might circle back); but given that it’s the only game in which both teams scored, I think it’s a safe bet to include in the top five. Sweden dominated possession in the first half, but only managed one shot on goal against a resolute South African side that had chances of their own. Refiloe Jane narrowly missed a 40-yard effort at catching Zećira Mušović off her line; while both Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe looked threatening on the counter.
That threat came good at the start of the second half, when Kgatlana got in down the left. Mušović saved her effort, but an attacking Hildah Magaia bundled in the rebound to put South Africa ahead. Unfortunately, Magaia injured herself in the process, and would eventually have to leave the game around the hour mark.
Rainy conditions had probably favored Nigeria’s somewhat chaotic goal, and the same proved true for Sweden’s equalizer, shortly after the hour mark. Johanna Kaneryd’s cross was over the head of Stina Blackstenius, but bounce on toward the far post where it deflect back across goal and in off of Fridolina Rolfö.
Sweden already had a triple substitution prepared to chase the game, while South Africa replaced a striker with the more defensive Nomvula Kgoale. The final 25′ of the game were a siege, but South Africa very nearly held out. It wasn’t until the final minute of regulation that Amanda Ilestedt headed in a Kosovare Asllani corner to give Sweden a late victory.
France 0 – Jamaica 0.
Later the same day, France opened their tournament against Jamaica, dominating possession in the first half, and leading shots (on goal) by 5(3) to 2(0). Yet the best chance of the half came from a Bunny Shaw free kick from 32 yards out, touched wide by the fingertips of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, surely a contender for save of the tournament.
In stoppage time, France began to really threaten, and Kadidiatou Diani had near misses on either side of the halftime as they carried that advantage into the new half. But they were still level at 66’, when Hervé Renard brought on Kenza Dali and Vicki Bècho to provide fresh legs on both flanks. Almost immediately, Dali fed Diani for another header that was narrowly wide.
Jamaica responded with an attacking double change of their own, but it was all France in the final 20’. Even so, Jamaica defended compactly and effectively. The best of many chances came at the end of regulation. Bècho slipped in down the right and crossed in for Diani, rising between the centerbacks to head across goal. The ball deflected down off the crossbar and then out off the left post.
At the beginning of stoppage time, Shaw went in with a slide tackle to prevent Wendie Renard from clearing the ball up the touchline. Her trailing leg barely caught Renard, but the defender went down like she had been pole-axed. It would have made for a soft yellow card regardless, but especially given the physical intensity allowed in the game already.
In fact, it was Shaw’s second yellow of the game, a sour and quite possibly consequential conclusion to an otherwise fantastic evening for Jamaica. For the remainder of stoppage time, Solai Washington, a 17 year-old high school student from Atlanta, Georgia who had come on in Jamaica’s final round of substitutes, played up top in a 4-4-1.
Stoopid American 