Perennial underachievers France were held 0-0 by Jamaica to make a frustrating start to their FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign yesterday, but Sweden and the Netherlands both won by slender margins.
France have never lifted the World Cup despite the strength of their women’s domestic league and were defied by a battling Jamaica in the Sydney rain in front of nearly 40,000.
Herve Renard’s side, one of the pre-World Cup favorites along with holders the US and England, hit the woodwork late on and had more possession and chances, but Jamaica refused to fold.
Photo:AFP
The Jamaicans only made their Women’s World Cup debut in the previous edition in 2019 and lost all three games, so this point was a precious first in the competition for them.
The only sour note was the dismissal in injury time of star striker Khadija Shaw for a second yellow card. She is to miss their second game of the tournament against Panama as a result.
The Jamaicans nevertheless celebrated wildly at the final whistle and defender Deneisha Blackwood was paraded in the air.
The French dominated the second half, but were ultimately undone by poor finishing and the courage of a side ranked 38 places below them.
Brazil play Panama in the same group today.
In the first match of day four of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Sweden were given a scare by South Africa before winning 2-1.
The third-ranked Swedes fought back from a goal down and conjured up the winner in the 90th minute through Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt, much to the relief of their fans in miserably wet conditions in Wellington.
A goal early in the second half by Hildah Magaia — in which she had a match-ending injury — had given South Africa hope of an upset in front of 18,317 spectators.
That was soon canceled out by Barcelona star Fridolina Rolfo before Ilestedt’s late intervention, heading home from close range for a hard-fought victory.
Italy face Argentina today, also in Group G.
Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson said “nerves and tension” were behind a shaky start to their World Cup campaign.
“It’s OK to be nervous, but you need to have the courage to still make that pass,” Gerhardsson said.
The Dutch, losers 2-0 to the US in the final four years ago, had less trouble against debutants Portugal in city of Dunedin, New Zealand.
Defender Stefanie van der Gragt scored with a powerful header on 13 minutes with what turned out to be the winner.
The Netherlands are to face the US on Thursday in a rematch of their final, with Group E supremacy at stake.
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