As the group stage of Tokyo Olympics women’s football is winding to an end. Some teams have already booked their place in the quarter-finals. While others will be waiting for the last matchday of the group stage to book their place in the quarter-finals.
GROUP E: Group of Caginess
Right before kick-off Canada and Great Britain were the clear favorites to win their fixtures. The only thing they clearly won was the possession. Chile and Japan played with an urgency and more precision than their opening match. They gave Canada and Great Britain a good game and only lost by a goal each.
Japan 0 – 1 Great Britain
Japan Squad
Starting XI – Ayaka Yamashita (GK), Risa Shimizu, Saki Kumagai, Moeka Minami, Hina Sugita, Emi Nakajima, Mina Tanaka, Yuzuho Shiokoshi, Yui Hasegawa, Asato Miyagawa, Honoka Hayashi
Used Substitutes –Jun Endo, Yuka Momiki, Narumi Muira, Mana Iwabuchi
Unused Substitutes – Saori Takarada, Sakiko Ikeda, Yuika Sugasawa
Great Britain Squad
Starting XI – Ellie Roebuck (GK), Lucy Bronze, Demi Stokes, Keira Walsh, Steph Houghton, Sophie Ingle, Nikita Parris, Kim Little, Ellen White, Lauren Hemp, Leah Williamson
Used Substitutes – Jill Scott, Ella Toone, Millie Bright, Caroline Weir, Rachel Daly, Georgia Stanway
Unused Substitutes – Carly Telford, Millie Bright, Niamh Charles
Canada 2 – 1 Chile
Canada Squad
Starting XI – Kailen Sheridan (GK), Kadeisha Buchanan, Shelina Zadorsky, Ashley Lawrence, Desiree Scott, Christine Sinclair, Nichelle Prince, Janine Beckie, Jessie Fleming, Julia Grosso, Jayde Riviere
Used Substitutes – Quinn, Deanne Rose
Unused Substitutes –Vanessa Gilles, Adriana Leon, Evelyne Viens, Gabrielle Carle, Erin McLeod
Chile Squad
Starting XI – Tiane Endler (GK), Carla Guerrero, Francisca Lara, Karen Araya, Maria Urrutia, Yanara Aedo, Yessenia Lopez, Daniela Pardo, Daniela Zamora, Camila Saez, Rosario Balmaceda
Used Substitutes – Yenny Acuna, Javiera Grez
Unused Substitutes – Fernanda Ramirez, Natalia Campos, Javiera Toro, Nayadet Opazo, Fernanda Pinilla
| Position | Country | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Great Britain | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | |
| Canada | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| Japan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 1 | |
| Chile | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
GROUP F: Group of draws
This group was satisfied in sharing points amongst themselves. Everybody got a point as the two fixtures in the group ended in a draw. With a high scoring game in both fixtures in games that could have been won by Japan and Netherlands. Late drama for Netherlands and Zambia to take consolation points in their fixtures.
China 4 – 4 Zambia
China Squad
Starting XI – Shimeng Peng (GK), Mengwen Li, Qingtong Li, Xin Zhang, Shuang Wang, Siwen Miao, Shanshan Wang, Lina Yang, Xiaoxue Wang, Guiping Luo, Man Yang
Used Substitutes – Jing Liu, Wurigumula, Yuyi Xiao
Unused Substitutes – Yuping Lin, Yu Zhu, Yan Wang, Yanwen Wang,
Zambia Squad
Starting XI – Hazel Nali (GK), Lushomo Mweemba, Esther Siamfuko, Mary Wilombe, Grace Chanda, Barbra Banda, Avell Chitundu, Ireen Lungu, Ochumba Lubandji, Agness Musase, Racheal Kundananji
Used Substitutes – Hellen Mubanga, Martha Tembo, Margaret Belemu
Unused Substitutes – Catherine Musonda, Anita Mulenga, Evarine Katongo, Esther Mukwasa
Netherlands 3 – 3 Brazil
Netherlands Squad
Starting XI – Sari van Veenendaal (GK), Stefanie van der Gragt, Aniek Nouwen, Lynn Wilms, Jill Roord, Shanice van de Sanden, Vivianne Miedema, Danielle van de Donk, Lieke Martens, Jackie Groenen, Dominque Janssen
Used Substitutes – Victoria Pelova, Lineth Beerensteyn
Unused Substitutes – Sisca Folkertsma, Lize Kop, Merel van Dongen, Renate Jansen, van Es Kika
Brazil Squad
Starting XI – Barbara (GK), Erika, Rafaelle, Tamires, Duda, Formiga, Debinha, Marta Silva, Bruna Benites, Beatriz, Andressinha
Used Substitutes – Angelina, Geyse, Ludmila, Andressa
Unused Substitutes – Poliana, Jucinara, Leticia
| Position | Country | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 4 | |
| Brazil | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
| China | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 1 | |
| Zambia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 14 | -7 | 1 |
GROUP G
Sweden 4 – 2 Australia
This fixture certainly provided entertainment, with a brace from both sides and a saved penalty by Hedvi Lindahl. Another impressive performance from the Swedes to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics. After their win over USWNT, more people have been keeping their eyes on Sweden. Sam Kerr the Chelsea and Australian striker tried till the very last whistle to keep the game within her team’s reach. At the end, Sweden was collectively more determined and kept dictating the flow of the game.
Sweden Squad
Starting XI – Hedvig Lindahl (GK), Jonna Andersson, Hanna Glas, Magdalena Ericsson, Lina Hurtig, Kosovare Asllani, Sofia Jakobsson, Amanda Ilestedt, Filippa Angeldal, Caroline Seger, Fridolina Rolfo
Used Substitutes – Hanna Bennison, Madelen Janogy, Olivia Schough, Stina Blackstenius, Nathalie Bjorn
Unused Substitutes – Emma Kullberg, Jennifer Falk
Australia Squad
Starting XI – Lydia Williams (GK), Sam Kerr, Clare Polkinghorne, Aivi Luik, Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Emily Van Egmond, Ellie Carpenter, Tameka Yallop, Hayley Raso, Kyah Simon
Used Substitutes – Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Gielnik
Unused Substitutes – Chloe Logarzo, Teagan Micah, Laura Brock
New Zealand 1 – 6 United States
After the loss to Sweden in the opening games of the Olympics, USWNT had a must-win fixture. Their coach Vlatko made a huge adjustment to the starting line-ups. Megan Rapinoe was back in the starting line-up and Alex Morgan was benched. Although USWNT had a convincing victory in this fixture, they did not play with the fluidity we have seen over the years. USWNT have still not made a convincing argument of why they should be the clear favourites of this tournament. New Zealand played till the last whistle and matched USWNT strength for strength. Perhaps they were undone by nerves of facing the champions but they put the game out of their reach through their own mistakes by conceding two own goals.
New Zealand Squad
Starting XI – Anna Leat (GK), Ria Percival, Daisy Cleverley, CJ Bott, Meikayla Moore, Ali Riley, Abby Erceg, Olivia Chance, Betsy Hassett, Katie Bowen, Hannah Wilkinson
Used Substitutes – Gabi Rennie, Paige Satchell, Annalie Longo
Unused Substitutes – Annalie Longo, Erin Nayler, Marisa Van der Meer, Anna Green
United States Squad
Starting XI – Alyssa Naeher (GK), Crystal Dunn, Julie Ertz, Emily Sonnett, Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, Carli Lloyd, Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle, Abby Dahlkemper
Used Substitutes – Christen Press, Sam Mewis, Alex Morgan, Macario Catarina, Casey Krueger
Unused Substitutes – Jane Campbell, Becky Sauerbrunn
| Position | Country | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Sweden | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | |
| United States | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 | |
| New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
GOALS TABLE
| Player | Goal | Country |
| Vivianne Miedema | 6 | Netherlands |
| Barbra Banda | 6 | Zambia |
| Wang Shuang | 4 | China |
| Sam Kerr | 3 | Australia |
| Marta Silva | 3 | Brazil |
| Ellen White | 3 | Great Britain |
| Debinha Oliveira | 2 | Brazil |
| Lieke Martens | 2 | Netherlands |
| Janine Beckie | 2 | Canada |
| Fridolina Rolfo | 2 | Sweden |
| Lina Hurtig | 2 | Sweden |
| Stina Blackstenius | 2 | Sweden |
| Tameka Yallop | 1 | Australia |
| Andressa Silva | 1 | Brazil |
| Beatriz Joao | 1 | Brazil |
| Ludmilla | 1 | Brazil |
| Christine Sinclair | 1 | Canada |
| Araya Karen | 1 | Chile |
| Mana Iwabuchi | 1 | Japan |
| Dominique Janssen | 1 | Netherlands |
| Jill Roord | 1 | Netherlands |
| Lineth Beerensteyn | 1 | Netherlands |
| Shanice Van de Sanden | 1 | Netherlands |
| Victoria Pelova | 1 | Netherlands |
| Betsy Hassett | 1 | New Zealand |
| Gabi Rennie | 1 | New Zealand |
| Kundananji Racheal | 1 | Zambia |
| Alex Morgan | 1 | United States |
| Christen Press | 1 | United States |
| Lindsey Horan | 1 | United States |
| Rose Lavelle | 1 | United States |
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Main Image Credits- Embed from Getty Images
