Women's Soccer

BRISBANE — Captain Wendie Renard's header seven minutes from time earned France a dramatic 2-1 win over Brazil at Brisbane's Lang Park on Saturday as Herve Renard's side picked up their first win in Group F of the Women's World Cup.

The defender met Selma Bacha's corner with a firm downward header that bounced back up off the turf and beyond goalkeeper Leticia to give the French all three points after opening their campaign with a 0-0 draw against Jamaica last Sunday.

WONDERFUL WENDIE

SYDNEY — England's hopes of winning the Women's World Cup suffered a blow on Friday when Keira Walsh was taken off the pitch on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious knee injury during their win over Denmark.

The 26-year-old holding midfielder, who was an integral part of the England team that won the Euros last year, crumpled to the turf at Sydney Football Stadium without contact in the 38th minute and immediately called for medical assistance.

The USWNT vs. Netherlands World Cup group stage match on Wednesday night was a fascinating midfield battle that epitomized the old cliché of it being "a game of two halves."

In the opening 45, the Dutch diced the Americans apart with a precision so masterful that it resembled ease. In reality, it's very difficult to turn the USWNT's finely tuned press against themselves, but the Netherlands were a Clockwork Oranje with clever movement, one-touch play and numerical superiority.

BRISBANE - Nigeria produced the first major shock of the Women's World Cup as they stunned Australia 3-2 on Thursday to leave the co-hosts' tournament hopes on thin ice and home fans reeling.

Asisat Oshoala volleyed into an open goal in the 72nd minute to seal a deserved win for the Africans after Uchenna Kanu cancelled out Emily van Egmond's opener on the cusp of halftime and Osinachi Ohale nudged Nigeria ahead after the break.

Netherlands’ women’s head coach Andries Jonker asked “what is left of the USWNT’s superiority” in soccer prior to his side’s 1-1 draw with the U.S on Thursday (Wednesday in the States).

It was an incredibly bold statement from Jonker who then failed to beat the team he said had lost its superiority. 

Netherlands' Head Coach Andries Jonker had some fighting words ahead of today's match against the USWNT pic.twitter.com/I1xvEdBb7e

The Republic of Ireland's Women’s World Cup journey is all but over as a 2-1 defeat to Canada on Wednesday eliminated the Irish from the competition.

The 2023 edition of the tournament was the first time Ireland had qualified. Despite losing the first two games, The Girls in Green still got admirable results. A 1-0 loss to hosts Australia and a 2-1 defeat to the 2020 Olympic gold medalists Canada is nothing to be ashamed of.

Ireland’s big World Cup moment has to be the Katie McCabe goal vs Canada. The Irish opened Wednesday’s game with a stunning goal from their captain.

It's Tuesday morning in the United States and every nation at the Women's World Cup has completed one match. Group A, the Group of Life, went ahead and completed their second games in the early hours so that makes our Power Rankings a little clearer, but this is how things stand in our eyes after just a taste of the tournament.  

2023 Women's World Cup Power Rankings

#32. Zambia 

The U.S. women's national team is in a position to win a record third straight World Cup because every player who steps on the field is expected to meet the high standards of their predecessors.

Sophia Smith is the latest example of a potential legend in the making, following in the footsteps of players such as Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach and current teammate Alex Morgan.