Women’s World Cup final eight is wide open, as sport sees a changing of the guard

SYDNEY – Few could have predicted the eight teams still standing when the Women’s World Cup kicked off three weeks ago and, more surprisingly, the teams who are gone.

In the most wide open World Cup in history, Colombia and France were the last two teams to clinch quarter-final berths on Tuesday, joining Spain, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Australia and England to close the curtain on a breathtaking first two rounds full of delicious twists and turns.

When the tournament was expanded to 32 teams, there was apprehension around whether lower-ranked sides could compete at this level. But the exact opposite happened. Concerns about romps were blown out of the water in a changing of the guard.

Japan, winners in 2011, are the only previous World Cup champions left in the competition.

Gone are four-time champions United States,

who were gunning to become the first team to win three in a row, but were sent packing before the semi-finals for the first time.

Also out are two-time champions Germany, 1995 winners Norway, reigning Olympic champions Canada

and Brazil,

who had not been ousted in the group stage since 1995.

“Nothing is easy in this tournament,” coach Sarina Wiegman said, after European champions England survived a last-16 scare from Nigeria.

“That’s very exciting because we see the women’s game has improved so much. You saw in the group stage, many games were equal, and it’s not that the expected teams have won all the time.”

In an end of an era, the elimination of the US, Canada and Brazil marked inauspicious World Cup finales for some of the game’s biggest trailblazers in Megan Rapinoe, Christine Sinclair and Marta.

Others such as Colombia’s dazzling teenager Linda Caicedo, Spain’s integral midfield cog Aitana Bonmati and France’s consistently excellent striker Kadidiatou Diani have stepped into the spotlight.

Who will win now is anybody’s guess.

Japan are on a mission to erase the memory of their last-16 exit four years ago, and are the favourites after trouncing Norway 3-1 in the last 16.

The Nadeshiko – named after a pink flower that symbolises Japanese beauty – will test their credentials on Friday against Sweden, who dumped the Americans out of the tournament on a decisive penalty shot measured in millimetres.

Spain’s La Roja have already made history with their first quarter-final appearance in three tries. They bounced back from

an ugly 4-0 loss to Japan

to dispatch Switzerland 5-1 in the last 16.

The Spaniards are in action on Friday

against the Netherlands,

who went undefeated in the group stage of their ninth World Cup appearance, including a 7-0 win over Vietnam in the tournament’s most lopsided score.

Australia’s Matildas have enjoyed a terrific run despite missing their leading scorer Sam Kerr. She was a substitute in the hosts’

2-0 last-16 win over Denmark

and will surely start in what should be a thrilling quarter-final against France on Saturday.

Les Bleues are keen to bury their heartbreaking last-eight elimination four years ago in France, and coach Herve Renard said the pressure as hosts could weigh heavily on Australia.

“We’re hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went through when they were the host country in 2019,” Renard said, after his side’s 4-0 win over Morocco on Tuesday.

Fourth-ranked England, who are unbeaten in 36 of their last 37 games, would seem the favourites on Saturday against Colombia, the lowest-ranked team remaining at 25. But the Lionesses staggered into the quarter-finals, fortunate to stave off a Nigeria team through 120 minutes before

winning on penalties.

Wiegman’s side have more big-game experience as European champions, but Colombia have enjoyed better fan support than any team except Australia.

England will also be without top scorer Lauren James, who received a red card for a stamp on Nigeria’s Michelle Alozie. REUTERS