Every day throughout the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, 20 minutes provides an update on the highlights of the competition. This Saturday, the first two round of 16 delivered a final verdict, while Sakina Karchaoui, the French left side of Moroccan origin, is preparing for a special match on Tuesday.
Is Spain igniting too soon?
Forgotten, the nasty 0-4 defeat against Japan, during the last group day. Spain qualified for the first time for the quarter-finals of a World Cup, crushing Switzerland (5-1), Saturday in Auckland. The excellent Aitana Bonmati signed a double full of talent and can apply for the succession of the “convalescent” Alexia Putellas, who came into play in the 77th minute, for the conquest of the Golden Ball.
Asked about Bonmati, coach Jorge Vilda let go of the horses: “I have the 23 best players in the world, the Spanish team is a team with the 23 best players in the world. The words of the technician will rub shoulders in the quarter-finals with the quality of the Netherlands or South Africa, who meet this Sunday (4 a.m. French time) in Sydney.
Japan the steamroller way
14 goals scored in four games, including five by Hinata Miyazawa, for the moment “pichichi” of this World Cup. The Japanese confirmed in the round of 16 against Norway (3-1), in Wellington, the predispositions shown during the group stage. Admittedly, they cashed their first achievement in this World Cup, with a nice whim from Guro Reiten, for the Scandinavian equalizer. But the 2011 world champions copiously dominated the teammates of Ada Hegerberg, titled in 1995.
The Lyon striker, still diminished by a groin injury, was only able to enter for the last quarter of an hour, without influencing the result. The quarter-final which awaits Japan is particularly promising, since its opponent will be either Sweden or the United States, this Sunday (11 a.m. French time) in Melbourne.
csc passion
In terms of goals against his camp, the Italian Benedetta Orsi had set the bar quite high during the decisive pool match lost against South Africa (2-3). About twenty meters from her cages, the defender had sent a back pass to her goalkeeper who was not expecting it.
But Laia Codina did worse this Saturday, with a similar action, but carried out from the central circle, without looking, while her Barça team-mate Cata Coll, who was celebrating her first selection in the goal of La Roja, was advanced beyond of his penalty area. This ball resulted in the very provisional Swiss equalizer (11th), but Codina perfectly caught up by scoring the 4-1 on a corner, just before the break (45th).
In the other match of the day, there was also a more classic “scc”, at the quarter-hour mark: Japan opened the scoring following a long ball from the left wing, deflected out of reach of her keeper by Norwegian defender Ingrid Egan.
Sakina Karchaoui facing her story
Sport and fate are facetious. Thus the left-back of Les Bleues Sakina Karchaoui will challenge Morocco, the country of her parents, on Tuesday. “We have Morocco in our hearts, we have our whole family there,” confided to The Team his sister Sabrina. “I am French of Moroccan origin, I am proud of my origins, slipped the PSG player. But unfortunately we will have to win, so I don’t wish them the best for this match. For the Karchaouis, this match will inevitably recall the semi-final of the Men’s World Cup, last December in Qatar.