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SYDNEY: Perennial underachievers France had been held 0-0 by Jamaica to make a irritating begin to their Ladies’s World Cup marketing campaign on Sunday, however Sweden and the Netherlands each gained by slender margins. France have by no means lifted the World Cup regardless of the energy of their girls’s home league and had been defied by a battling Jamaica within the Sydney rain in entrance of practically 40,000. Herve Renard’s France, one of many pre-World Cup favorites together with holders america and England, hit the woodwork late on and had extra possession and possibilities, however Jamaica refused to fold.
The Jamaicans solely made their Ladies’s World Cup debut within the earlier version in 2019 and misplaced all three video games, so this level was a treasured first within the competitors for them. “I’d say it’s the primary consequence we now have had thus far, males or girls — I’d put it there,” coach Lorne Donaldson declared. The one bitter word was the dismissal in damage time of star striker Khadija Shaw for a second yellow card. She is going to miss their second recreation of the match towards Panama in consequence. The Jamaicans, ranked 43 on the planet to France’s 5, celebrated wildly on the closing whistle and defender Deneisha Blackwood was paraded within the air.
“You’re taking part in a group like France who’re simply unbelievable. I imply, simply wanting on the rankings, you’d say that consequence on this stage must be primary,” Donaldson mentioned. Brazil play Panama in the identical group on Monday. Nervy Swedes Within the first match of day 4 of the match in Australia and New Zealand, Sweden got a scare by South Africa earlier than profitable 2-1. The third-ranked Swedes fought again from a purpose down and conjured up the winner within the ninetieth minute by Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt, a lot to the reduction of their followers in miserably moist situations in Wellington.
A purpose early within the second half by Hildah Magaia — through which she suffered a match-ending damage — had given South Africa hope of an upset in entrance of 18,317 spectators. However that was quickly cancelled out by Barcelona star Fridolina Rolfo earlier than Ilestedt’s late intervention, heading dwelling from shut vary for a hard-fought victory. Italy face Argentina on Monday, additionally in Group G. Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson mentioned “nerves and pressure” had been behind a shaky begin to their World Cup marketing campaign. “It’s OK to be nervous however it’s essential to have the braveness to nonetheless make that cross,” Gerhardsson mentioned. The Dutch, losers 2-0 to america within the closing 4 years in the past, had much less bother towards debutants Portugal within the New Zealand metropolis of Dunedin.
Defender Stefanie van der Gragt scored with a strong header on 13 minutes with what turned out to be the winner. The Netherlands now face america on Thursday in a rematch of their closing, with Group E supremacy at stake. Sunday’s match in Dunedin, performed in entrance of a crowd of practically 12,000, noticed the Dutch have extra of the ball however Portugal threatening on the break. Portugal’s first shot of the sport lastly arrived within the final 10 minutes however the Dutch had been in the end pretty snug winners. Evacuated Two-times former champions Germany enter the fray on Monday after they face World Cup debutants Morocco. Germany are one other of the favorites to win the match however their coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg warned that ladies’s soccer has by no means been extra aggressive.
“All of the video games are tight, girls’s soccer groups have come ever nearer,” the previous worldwide participant mentioned on the eve of her group’s opening match. “All of the nations coming right here aren’t solely proud to be on the World Cup however they completely have the standard to play right here and to pose issues.” Co-hosts New Zealand return to motion on Tuesday to start the second spherical of group matches. The New Zealand group needed to be evacuated on Saturday after a hearth at their resort in Auckland. Defender CJ Bott referred to as it “not preferrred” and “not a scenario anybody needs to be in”. “We went down the hearth exits,” she mentioned. “One was a bit smoky however the majority of us received down the opposite exit.” – AFP
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