Zac Electrifly

Spain vs Netherlands

In the first Quarterfinals match Spain played the Group E winner Netherlands. This is the first time Spain had reached the Quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 they were eliminated in the Round of 16. Reaching the Quarterfinals had been Spains best ever result at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. This was the second time the Netherlands had reached the Quarterfinals. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 they came in second place after losing in the Final. Making it to the Final was their best ever result at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Spain got a yellow card in the 35′ minute. Spain had a goal called back in the 38′ minute after VAR (review). At halftime the score was tied at 0-0. The Netherlands got a yellow card in the 61′ minute. The Netherlands had a penalty kick overturned after VAR (review) in the 62′ minute. After VAR (review) in the 79′ minute Spain was awarded a penalty kick. #8 Mariona Caldentey scored on the penalty kick. That gave Spain the first goal of the game. The Netherlands tied the game in the 90+1′ minute with a goal from #3 Stefanie van der Gragt. She got the ball behind the defenders and was able to take it into the box and score. The game would go into extra time with the score tied at 1-1. Spain scored in 111′ minute to break the tie. #18 Sama Celeste Paralluelo Ayingono scored the goal. She carried the ball into the box. Made a move to get around her defender and scored. Spain held on to win the game. The final score was 2-1 Spain.

Spain ended up winning a thrilling game. With that result Spain has moved on to the Semifinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. They are playing the winner of the Japan and Sweden game. The Netherlands have been eliminated.

Japan vs Sweden

In the second Quarterfinal match the Group C winner Japan played the Group G winner Sweden. This was Japans fourth ever Quarterfinals game in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the FIFA Women’s World cup 2019 they were eliminated in the Round of 16. Their best ever result was winning the whole tournament in 2011. This was Swedens seventh ever Quarterfinals match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 they came in third place after winning the third place game. Their best ever result was coming in second place in 2003 after losing in the Final.

Sweden took the lead in the 32′ minute with a goal from #13 Amanda Ilestedt. The ball was lobbed into the box on a set piece. The Japan keeper punched the ball but it stayed in the box. Sweden recovered the ball. It bounced around before Amanda Ilestedt was able to put the ball into the back of the net. At halftime the score was 1-0 Sweden. Sweden was awarded a penalty kick in the 49′ minute after VAR (review). #16 Filippa Angeldal scored on the penalty kick to give Sweden a two goal lead. Japan missed a penalty kick in the 76′ minute. Japan got a yellow card in the 79′ minute. Japan scored in the 87′ minute with a goal from #16 Honoka Hayashi. The ball was in the box. It was centered. A Sweden defender blocked the pass but Honoka Hayashi was there to put the ball into the net. The final score was 2-1 Sweden.

This was another entertaining game. Japans late goal would give hope that maybe they could tie it but the second goal never came. The missed penalty kick was the difference maker in this game. With this result Sweden have advanced to the Semifinals. This will be their fifth ever time in the Semifinals at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They will be playing Spain. Japan has been eliminated in the Quarterfinals.

Australia vs France

The Group B winning co-hosts Australia played the Group F winners France. This was Australias fourth ever Quarterfinals match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 they were eliminated in the Round of 16. Their best ever result was making it to the Quarterfinals in 2007, 2011, and 2015. This was Frances fourth ever Quarterfinals match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They had made the Quarterfinals of the last three FIFA Women’s World Cups in a row. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 they were eliminated in the Quarterfinals. Their best ever result was getting fourth place after losing the third place game in 2011.

Neither team scored in the first half. The score was 0-0 going into the second half. No one scored in the second half either. The game went into extra time. Australia got a yellow card in the 92′ minute. France did score in the 100′ minute but the goal was disallowed for a foul. Extra time ended without a goal. The game went into a penalty kick shootout. The shootout was tied at 6-6 when both teams missed on their ninth attempt. On their tenth shot France hit the post. Australia didn’t miss on their final attempt. Cortnee Vine scored to win the game for Australia. The final score was 0(7)-0(6) Australia.

This was a tightly contested game with a lot of shots. It is surprising that neither team was able to break the tie earlier in the game. It is a hard loss for France. Being sent home on a shot that hit the post is tough. With that result Australia has advanced to the Semifinals for the first time. Australia will play England or Colombia in the Semifinals. France has been eliminated in the Quarterfinals for the third FIFA Women’s World Cup in a row.

England vs Colombia

In the final Quarterfinals match the Group D winners England played the Group H winners Colombia. This was Englands sixth ever Quarterfinals match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They have made it to the Quarterfinals in ever FIFA Women’s World Cup they have qualified for. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 they came in fourth place after losing in the third place game. Their best ever result was third place in 2015. This was Colombias first ever Quarterfinals game. They did not qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. They are the only team that made the Quarterfinals who did not qualify in 2019. Reaching the Quarterfinals for this tournament was also their best ever result.

Colombia scored the first goal of the game in the 44′ minute. #10 Leicy Santos scored the goal. A shot from just inside the box barely went in. England responded in the 45+6′ minute with a goal from #11 Lauren Hemp. The ball was lobbed into the box where is bounced around. The Colombia goal keeper tried to get the ball but couldn’t hold on to it. England was able to put the ball into the back of the net. At halftime the score was 1-1. In the 63′ minute England took the lead with a goal from #23 Alessia Russo. The ball was put into the box. She was able to get it first. She took a shot and scored. The final score was 2-1 England.

It was another close match. The difference maker was the goal half way through the second half from England. With that result England advances to the Semifinals for the third FIFA Women’s World Cup in a row. They will play Australia. Colombia 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 Semifinals start Tuesday, August 15, 2023.

Spain will be playing Sweden. This will be Spains first ever Semifinal match in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 They were eliminated in the Round of 16. Making the Semifinals is the best result they have ever had. Spain are the team still remaining that did not win their group. This will be the fifth Semifinals appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup for Sweden. They came in third place in the FIFA women’s World Cup 2019. Their best ever result was second place after losing in the final in 2003.

Spain, Sweden, Australia, and England are the last four remaining teams.

Switzerland, South Africa, Norway, the United states, Denmark, Morocco, Nigeria, and Jamaica have been eliminated in the Round of 16. The Netherlands, Japan, France, and Colombia have been eliminated in the Quarterfinals.

Their are no longer any teams from Group A, Group E, Group F, and Group H in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. There are also no longer any teams from CONCACAF, CONBOL, CAF, or the OFC. All of the remaining teams are from UEFA and the AFC.