Spain intends to transform the defeat conceded against Japan as an impulse to qualify, for the first time in its history, in the quarterfinals. The team has never managed to overcome a qualifying round, neither in a World Cup, nor in a Euro Cup. A wall that with the best generation of soccer players in the country’s history should have been knocked down a long time ago. They are not all in New Zealand, it is true, and absences like those of Mapi León in the rear, or Patri Guijarro in midfield, have been very noticeable, especially against the Japanese, when they conceded the worst win (4-0). of the last decade. “The other day we were totally portrayed,” Irene Paredes admitted openly, acting as captain, despite the fact that Jorge Vilda stripped her of the bracelet after the ’15’ conflict. “To wear the bracelet or not, I am not worried at all. When things go wrong it is true that it costs a little more to go out and talk, but you have to show up. And, even if it is not to my liking, I do it without any problem, ”she said.
The red must greatly improve its image in all lines. Rocío Gálvez’s alternative to replace Ivana Andrés’ loss did not work and, surely, Vilda will opt for Laia Codina to accompany Paredes this time, since the Real Madrid defense continues without training with the group.
Switzerland will not be Japan. What’s more, few teams will present a match as competitive as the Nadeshiko did, but they have managed to qualify ahead of Norway, once again, scrubbing the misfortune in a great tournament. The Nordics are not the only disappointment left by the group stage. The Olympic champion, Canada, the historic Brazil, and the two-time world champion, Germany, have said goodbye to the tournament.
The 2023 will be remembered as the World Cup of surprises. Nine of the 16 teams classified for the round of 16 are not among the top ten in the world by ranking. And Portugal was on the brink of eliminating the all-powerful United States. Only the post prevented Ana Capeta from becoming the heroine of all the Portuguese with a missile in added time that crashed into the left post of Alyssa Naeher’s goal.
If Canada, Brazil and Germany are the disappointment of the tournament, Jamaica, South Africa and debutant Morocco have already signed a historic feat for women’s football in their countries. The Atlas lionesses, the 72 in the world, had to wait until the game in Germany was over after their victory over Colombia to confirm a victory that goes far beyond sport. A feat that will inspire a whole generation of women in Morocco. Yasmin Mrabet (Levante Las Planas) and Fatima Gharbi (CE Europe) will face France (Tuesday, 1:00 p.m.).
Jamaica, with the impetus of Bob Marley’s daughter, has gone from dissolving its women’s team in 2016 due to lack of support from its federation, to qualifying for the first time in the top 16. They will face Colombia in the round of 16 (Tuesday, 10am). The Reggae Girlz resisted heroically against a rival of the stature of Brazil and sent the canarinha home in the farewell to Marta Vieira. Sad end for O rainha who, at 37 years old and after playing six World Cups, will not play with the national team again.
The yellow and green colors will continue to live in the tournament in the skin of the Banyana Banyana. The first victory in the history of South Africa in a World Cup could not have come at a better time. They played against Italy for the second ticket to the round of 16 and Thembi Kgatlana worked the miracle with an epic goal in 92. Their crossing in the round of 16 is the most complicated of all the humblest teams. They will have to face the Netherlands (Sunday, 4h). But it does not matter. “We will talk about this for a long time”, “Women’s football is one of the best things that has happened to our country in recent years”, “It will serve as an inspiration for every girl, and why not every boy, in South Africa”, They point from South Africa. Sixteen teams are at stake starting tomorrow, but for many, the victory has already occurred, that of football as the engine of change.