Every day throughout the Women’s World Cup, 20 minutes provides an update on the highlights of the competition. This Thursday, honor to the two host countries, of course, who have successfully entered the competition. The first day was also marked by a shootout in Auckland, a city which is to host nine matches of this World Cup.
In fifteen games, New Zealand had never won a World Cup match. It is now done. The Ferns created a surprise by dominating Norway (1-0). A success that they absolutely did not steal. Hannah Wilkinson delivered Eden Park by concluding a school action, with the right foot (48th). The 31-year-old striker’s third World Cup goal, already decisive in snatching a draw against Mexico in 2011 and against China in 2015.
Ria Percival could have definitely taken the shot, but her penalty ended on the bar (90th). No matter: the New Zealanders will have the opportunity to take a giant step towards the round of 16 next Tuesday against the Philippines. And perhaps to beat their brand new attendance record, now 42,137 spectators.
How hard it was! Pushed by the Accor Stadium, filled with 75,784 supporters (a record for a women’s game on Australian soil), the Matildas gritted their teeth to get the three points against Ireland (1-0). Without star Samantha Kerr, hit in the calf and already forfeited for the next match, in a week, against Nigeria, captain Steph Catley opened the scoring from the penalty spot, full of composure (52nd). His team, however, suffered until the end of added time. Megan Connolly’s free kick came to flirt with the skylight (90th + 1) and Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold had to work, put to use on the many opposing corners or by Katie McCabe (90th + 7). The Girls in Green have honored their colors for the first match in the history of Ireland in a Women’s World Cup, but it is Australia who takes control of group B.
The two meetings of the day were preceded by a minute of silence, in tribute to the victims of the shooting which took place in Auckland. A few hours before the opening of the tournament, a man opened fire in the city center, just in front of the hotel of the Norwegian team. The shooter, who was shot, killed two people and injured five (a policeman and four civilians). Some players were woken up by a helicopter and “a large number of emergency vehicles”, explained Norwegian captain Maren Mjelde. On the other hand, coach Hege Riise considered that the incident had “had no impact” on the performance (or rather the poor performance) of his team.
Good news, finally! Injured against Australia on July 14, Selma Bacha showed reassuring signs on Thursday. Victim of a sprained ankle, the Lyonnaise touched the ball and ran without apparent difficulty during the training session. Her participation against Jamaica (Sunday at 12 noon) is not relevant, but Hervé Renard could count on her against Brazil in nine days.
Present at a press conference, Elisa De Almeida was also positive about her condition: “Physically, we worked very well. I had a few glitches in the adductors but I’m 100%, I have no more pain at all. Today, everything is fine, I am ready. » Conclusion just as encouraging from Kadi Diani: « I feel a lot of envy on the part of the players. Those who start, those who do not start, each wants to show, to prove. I think it’s good, maybe we didn’t have that in previous years. There’s just.