FIFA Women's World Cup 2019 Knock-Out Stages
Brazil, China, Cameroon and Nigeria made it into the knock out phase through the rankings of third placed teams. Extra time was played if the scores were level after 90 minutes during which both teams were allowed to bring on a fourth substitute. During the quarter-finals France suffered a heatwave with record temperatures in excess of 45ºC necessitating time outs to allow the players to take on water.
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Knock-Out Stages
2019 Overview
Round of 16
Germany
Nigeria
Germany 3 Nigeria 0
Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
22 June
Germany powered their way past Nigeria with goals from Popp (20'), Däbritz (27' pen) and Schüller (82').
Norway
Australia
Norway 1 Australia 1 Extra time played.
Norway won 4-1 on penalties.
Allianz Riviera, Nice
22 June
Norway led from the 31st minute but Australia refused to lie down and swarmed forward in search of the equaliser. This came in extraordinary fashion in the 83rd minute when Kellond-Knight's inswinging corner evaded everyone as it flew across the face of the goal before nestling inside the far post. After 30 minutes of extra-time the match came down to penalties and while the Norwegians kept their cool, Australia missed with their first two kicks.
England
Cameroon
England 3 Cameroon 0
Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes
23 June
While England played their patient passing game, moving forward in neat little triangles, Cameroon were fiercely committed and too often ill-disciplined. After Ellen White scored in added time just before the break she was initially flagged for offside but VAR confirmed the goal was good. The Cameroon players completely lost their composure and for a while it appeared they were refusing to continue. There were further vigorous protests when Cameroon had a goal ruled out (correctly) for offside. Alex Greenwood swept home a low corner (58') to make the game safe but Cameroon continued to protest, commit niggling fouls and attempt to intimidate the match officials. In the end, the Chinese referee Qin Liang opted for the diplomatic approach rather than strictly enforcing the rules to prevent even more disgraceful scenes.
France
Brazil
France 2 Brazil 1 (Extra time played)
Stade Océane, Le Havre
23 June
Once again VAR played a critical role in this match, with France having a goal ruled out after the Brazilian goalkeeper was judged to have been fouled. Seven minutes after the break France did take the lead, Gauvin powering home Diani's low cross which Barbara, the Brazilian 'keeper, failed to cut out. Cristiani hit the bar before Thaisa drove the ball in for the equalser (64'). In extra-time Amandine Henry scored the winner with Barbara again at fault.
Spain
United States
Spain 1 United States 2
Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims
24 June
The United States found it tough going against a resilient Spanish team. Rapinoe's opener, a penalty in the seventh minute was wiped out two minutes later by Hermoso after a defensive blunder. The decisive goal also came from another Rapinoe penalty in the 76th minute following a lengthy VAR review.
Sweden
Canada
Sweden 1 Canada 0
Parc des Princes, Paris
24 June
After a dull first half the match came to life with a Swedish counter-attack that culminated in Blackstenius poking the ball past the Canadian 'keeper in the 55th minute. Canada pressed but were let down by their inability to find the final pass that would open the Swedish defence. However, in the 67th minute Canada were awarded a VAR penalty afer the ball struck Asllani's arm but the kick was saved brilliantly by Lindahl. Sweden were also awarded a penalty in the 80th minute but this was cancelled after VAR found a marginal offside in the build up.
Italy
China
Italy 2 China PR 0
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
25 June
These two teams were ranked 15th and 16th in the FIFA rankings so this was expected to be a tight game. Valentina Giacinti set Le Azzure on their way, pouncing on a loose ball in the box (15'). Four minutes after the break Galli scored with a long range shot to give the Italians breathing room. China pushed back hard but could not break through the Italians determined defence.
Netherlands
Japan
Netherlands 2 Japan 1
Roazhon Park,Rennes
25 June
Lieke Martens put the Oranje ahead in the 17th minute, deftly backheeling Spitse's corner in off the far post but Japan struck back just before half-time, Sugasawa playing the ball between two defenders to Hasegawa who lofted it past the goalkeeper. Japan had the better of the second half and were unlucky not to score when Sugita struck the bar. A fierce shot by Momiki was saved superbly by Van Veenendal. In the final moments Miedema shot towards goal and the ball struck Kumagai's arm. Under the new interpretation of the hand ball rule the referee awarded a penalty which Martens converted.
Quarter-Finals
Norway
England
Norway 0 England 3
Stade Océane, Le Havre
27 June
England proved more than equal to the stiffest test of the competition so far. Jill Scott got them off to the perfect start, Bronze accelerating down the right to the goal line and cutting the ball back to White who misjudged her strike before the ball ran on to Scott who improvised a swipe to send it in off the far post. White extended the lead (40'), sweeping the ball home after Parris took it into the box. While England looked solid in defence and always threatening in the attack, the midfield had a worrying tendency to give the ball away. All doubts were, however, brushed aside in the 57th minute when Beth Meade slid a free kick from wide to Lucy Bronze lurking outside the box. Bronze struck the ball home first time with such venom that it passed over the goalkeeper before she had time to react.
France
United States
France 1 United States 2
Parc des Princes, Paris
28 June
Megan Rapinoe was once again the star for the US team, scoring twice. Her first, in the fifth minute came direct from a free-kick a couple of yards outside the left side of the French penalty area. She drove the ball low towards a knot of players none of whom got a touch and it went in at the far post. The second came from open play in the 63rd minute. France, who had looked second best, finally came to life when Renard nodded a floated free-kick home (83') but their attack was too tentative to find an equaliser.
Italy
Netherlands
Italy 0 Netherlands 2
Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes
29 June
The European champions navigated their way past Italy in sweltering conditions. Eventually the Dutch broke through the sturdy Italian defence when Miedema glanced the ball past the goalkeeper from a free kick (70'). Ten minutes later van der Graaft sealed the win with another headed goal following a free kick on the edge of the Italian penalty area.
Germany
Sweden
Germany 1 Sweden 2
Roazhon Park, Rennes
29 June
Sweden came from behind to record their first win against Germany in 24 years. Lona Magull lashed home Germany's goal in the 16th minute but this was cancelled out just six minutes later by a break away goal from Jakobsson. Two minutes after the break Schult in the German goal parried Rolfo's header only for the ball to fall to Blackstenius who blasted it into the roof of the net from close in.
Semi-Finals
England
United States
England 1 United States 2
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon
2 July
England came off second best in a thrilling match filled with drama. Christen Press, in for the injured Rapinoe, put the Americans ahead in the tenth minute. Nine minutes later a sweepiing move split the US defence and ended with Ellen White volleying in from Mead's cross. England's elation did not last, Morgan heading home from a briiliant cross laid on by Horan (31'). While the US players looked fitter and more ruthless, England refused to fold under pressure but suffered some cruel luck in the second half. Ellen White had a goal disallowed after a VAR review found a marginal offside in the build up and in the closing stages Steph Houghton had a penalty saved.
Netherlands
Sweden
Netherlands 1 Sweden 0 (Extra time played)
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon
3 July
After a dull 90 minutes during which two evenly matched sides playing it safe, Jackie Groenen finally broke the deadlock, darting on to the ball after a smart passing move and shooting low past Lindahl.
Third Place Play-Off
England
Sweden
England 1 Sweden 2
Allianz Riviera, Nice
6 July
England's defensive weaknesses were exposed in the first 20-odd minutes during which Sweden built a 2-0 lead. The Lionesses then woke up and played some of the best football of their tournament. In the 31st minute Fran Kirby struck a finely weighted, curling shot that went in off the post. Two minutes later Ellen White controlled the ball with her chest, turned her marker and lashed it home. A VAR review, however, indicated that the ball had bounced off her chest against her arm which, under the new "zero tolerance" approach, was judged to have been handball. For the rest of the game Sweden dropped deep and defied England to get behind their defence.
Final
United States
Netherlands
United States 2 Netherlands 0
Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Lyon
7 July
The Netherlands were clearly the underdogs and their approach was to defend and attempt to score on the break. They denied the US team a shot on target for half-an-hour and as the United States attacked relentlessly the Dutch goalkeeper, Van Veenendaal performed brilliantly to keep them out. After an hour, a misjudged challenge by Van der Gragt led to a penalty via VAR which Megan Rapinoe cooly slotted home. Eight minutes later Rose Lavelle cut in between two defenders and scored with a low shot. The Netherlands never looked like they would come back from that blow and it was the USWNT who bossed the game until the final whistle.
