Zac Electrifly

Colombia vs Jamaica

Colombia played Jamaica. Colombia won Group H. Jamaica came in second place in Group F. This was Colombias second ever Round of 16 match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They did not qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. Their best ever result was making it to the Round of 16 in 2015 and now 2023. This was Jamaicas first ever Round of 16 match in their second ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. They were eliminated in the group stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. Their best ever result has been making it to the Round of 16 in this years FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Jamaica received a yellow card in the 41′ minute. Jamaica got another yellow card in the 45+1′ minute. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first half. At halftime the score was tied at 0-0. Colombia took the lead in the 51′ minute with a goal from #11 Cataline Usme. The ball was crossed into the box. She got the ball and was able to score. Colombia got a yellow card in the 70′ minute. The final score was 1-0 Colombia.

The early goal in the second half made all the difference. This was a close and tight game. It was hard fought for. With this result Colombia advance to the Quarterfinals. This is the first time they have made it past the Round of 16. They will take on England in the Quarterfinals. Jamaica has been eliminated.

France vs Morocco

In the final Round of 16 game, France took on Morocco. France won Group F. Morocco come in second in Group H. This was the fourth ever Round of 16 match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup for France. They were eliminated in the Quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. Their best ever result was fourth place in 2011 (they lost the third place game). This was Moroccos first ever Round of 16 match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Again this is their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup. That means that reaching the Round of 16 is the best result they have ever had.

France took the lead with the games opening goal in the 15′ minute scored by #11 Kadidatou Diani. The ball was crossed to the center of the box from inside the box towards the baseline. Kadidatou Diani then headed it in. France scored their second goal in the 20′ minute with a goal from #15 Kenza Dali. The ball was passed to her in the box. She had plenty of time and space to get a shot off. Her shot found the back of the net. France scored again in the 23′ minute with a goal from #9 Eugenie Le Sommer. She got the ball in the box after Morocco failed to clear the ball. She had time and space to shoot and score. That goal finished off a wild seven minute stretch where France scored three goals. At halftime the score was 3-0 France. Morocco got a yellow card in the 57′ minute. #9 Eugenie Le Sommer scored again for France in the 70′ minute. The ball was crossed into the box where once again the French player was left wide open and easily headed the ball in the net. The final score was 4-0 France.

France won this game early on. The seven minute stretch where they scored three times really put the game out of the reach of Morocco. Morocco basically didn’t have a chance when they let France score at will for almost ten minutes. Morocco wasn’t challenging France inside their box. They were giving up the ball in their own box. They let France have all the time and space they wanted in their own box. In the end France outplayed Morocco and was playing on a whole different level. France had fifteen shots and seventy five percent of the possession and kept Morocco to a single shot. With that result France advances to the Quarterfinals. This is the fourth time and fourth time in a row that they have reached the Quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They will play Australia in the Quarterfinals. Morocco has been eliminated.

Switzerland won Group A. Australia won Group B. Japan won Group C. England won Group D. The Netherlands won Group E. France won Group F. Sweden won Group G. Colombia won Group H.

Japan, Spain, England, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Colombia, Australia, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United States, Denmark, South Africa, France, Jamaica, and Morocco advanced to the Round of 16.

Costa Rica, Zambia, the Republic of Ireland, Vietnam, Panama, New Zealand, the Philippines, Canada, Portugal, China, Haiti, Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Germany, and the Korea Republic were eliminated in the group stage.

The Round of 16 finished with only one upset. Spain beating the Group A winners Switzerland was the only upset but it wasn’t much of an upset as Spain was expected to win. The higher seeded teams won the other seven match. Spain is the only team that did not win their group to be in the Quarterfinals. The Round of 16 saw six games where at least one team did not score. All six of those games where in a row. Two of those games which where back to back saw neither team score. Only two games went to a penalty kick shootout. Overall there has been forty two games where at least one team has not scored. The longest streak where at least one did not score is at ten games in a row. The current streak is at six games in a row. There have been nine games where both teams did not score.

The Quarterfinals start Thursday, August 10, 2023.

Spain, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, England, Australia, Colombia, and France are on to the Quarterfinals.

Switzerland, South Africa, Norway, the United states, Denmark, Morocco, Nigeria, and Jamaica have been eliminated in the Round of 16.

Spain is playing the Netherlands, Japan is playing Sweden. Australia is playing France. England is playing Colombia.