Women’s World Cup Daily: Philippines stun hosts New Zealand

The 2023 Women’s World Cup is in full swing, and these day by day recordsdata gives you the most recent reporting from across the event in addition to betting traces, what-to-watch-for info and greatest reads. Check in with ESPN all through the event as we deliver you the most recent from Australia and New Zealand.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — It’s at all times spectacular how a soccer crowd can create a wall of noise; how followers can discover the fitting frequency to make it sound such as you’ve caught your head right into a speaker. That’s what it was like, sitting in Wellington Regional Stadium — fondly known as the “Cake Tin” by locals — when Philippines midfielder Sarina Bolden powered a header at Victoria Esson, just for the New Zealand goalkeeper to fumble it over the road. Beyond easy cheers, it was an eruption of adulation to match New Zealand’s volcanic heritage.

The successful aim was a chilly, arduous comedown for the event hosts, who had performed with a freedom afforded to underdogs towards Norway, earlier than struggling for fluency as favourites towards a debuting nation on Tuesday. Statistically the higher crew and ranked 20 locations above their opponents, New Zealand’s sport reeked of frustration as they sparred with a cussed Philippines aspect and challenges from either side received rather less pleasant.

The Ferns got here shut, first when Hannah Wilkinson’s header ended up on the roof of the web, then when Jacqui Hand’s low strike pinged off the upright and into Oliva McDaniels’ palms. With every assault, these pesky noise ranges mounted and, reasonably than being drowned out by their Filipino counterparts, it was the house help that reverberated across the Cake Tin.

Again, there was completely pandemonium because the ball hit the again of internet due to Hand’s header, however with the stadium nonetheless going wild, it was dominated out by VAR for a marginal offside. In the 93rd minute, substitute Grace Jale thought she had scored, just for McDaniels to tip her shot around the put up and hand the Philippines an historic win. — Sophie Lawson.

– Women’s World Cup: Landing web page | Schedule | Rosters | News

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A primary-ever World Cup win in your first-ever World Cup is pretty much as good a motive to have a good time as any — and have a good time the Philippines did after gorgeous New Zealand on house soil. While their supporters have been naturally outnumbered at Wellington Regional Stadium, they have been nonetheless represented by a couple of thousand followers on the match owing to the 80,000-strong Filipino inhabitants throughout New Zealand. They introduced many of the environment earlier than the sport, wearing vibrant colors, banging drums and signing, they usually actually weren’t going anyplace after Bolden’s aim.

Twenty minutes after the sport had ended, they have been nonetheless lining the entrance row of the bottom, the gamers making their method slowly across the pitch earlier than lastly, maybe even reluctantly, heading down the tunnel. The squad, made up of gamers plying their commerce in Brazil, Sweden, the United States and Australia, amongst different international locations, joined palms and bowed down in entrance of their adoring public in each nook of the stadium.

They will not be capable to celebration too arduous, although. Next up is Norway they usually have a real an opportunity of creating the spherical of 16 now. — Sam Marsden.

News of the day

• There have been unusual scenes as Norway’s Hegerberg was withdrawn from the squad minutes earlier than kickoff after she suffered a groin harm within the warm-up forward of the sport towards Switzerland. The national team doctor confirmed on social media that the 28-year-old star had to get replaced, with Hegerberg within the prematch huddle however then heading straight down the tunnel.

• United States ladies’s nationwide soccer crew ahead Alex Morgan mentioned she and her worldwide teammates want “a little more patience” in assault to succeed in their full potential on the 2023 Women’s World Cup. The U.S. claimed a 3-0 victory over an organized and disciplined Vietnam aspect within the event opener for each groups. But there’s a sense that the Americans ought to have received by a much bigger margin provided that they’d a 28-0 benefit in photographs, although simply seven of these have been on course.

• Zambia’s information convention to preview Wednesday’s World Cup match towards Spain was ended early attributable to persistent questions about an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct towards the crew’s coach, Bruce Mwape. After the FIFA media officer vetoed one query, Mwape did reply to 1 journalist who requested if it will be for the nice of the crew if he stepped apart to permit them to focus solely on the soccer.

  “What environment affecting the team in particular?” he mentioned. “What are you talking about? I would like to know because there is no way I can retire without reason. Maybe your reason is because what you are reading from the media or from the press, but the truth of the matter should actually come out, not just on rumours.”

  Further questions have been shut down by each the FIFA and Zambia press officers, with the previous then ending the information convention early, leaving a number of journalists with no query.

Today in USWNT camp

play

Alyssa Thompson on studying from Morgan and Rapinoe

Alyssa Thompson shares ideas on Sophia Smith and being mentored by Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe.

It’s been mentioned that an idle thoughts is the satan’s workshop, and that appears to be the method of the USWNT. On the floor, there appears to be no scarcity of crew actions. There is coaching, in fact, however there are additionally conferences on teamwide, small-group and private ranges. There’s video to look at as properly, be it concerning the U.S. or upcoming opponents. If that looks like there’s not a lot free time, it is a dynamic that the gamers count on.

“I think people realize we’re not here on vacation,” mentioned defender Crystal Dunn. “We’re here to get a job done. We’re here to work and be at our absolute best for this tournament.”

There is a few wiggle room inside the crew’s schedule, although, even because the definition of downtime can turn into blurry and infrequently be within the eye of the beholder. Some gamers’ concepts of enjoyable do not precisely sound like, properly, enjoyable.

“There’s downtime within the structure,” ahead Lynn Williams defined. “We are so lucky to have so many recovery modalities, and there’s allotted time if you want to take advantage of that. There’s also treatment time if you want to take advantage of that. But if you don’t, and you feel like you need to go walk around or you feel like you need to see your family, there’s time for that. So it is structured in some ways, but there’s a good chunk of time that you can fill with whatever you feel like you need to do to be your best self.”

Jeff Carlisle studies on how the USWNT are managing their downtime in between video games.

Sights and sounds

SYDNEY — South Korea ahead Casey Phair made historical past by changing into the youngest participant to make their World Cup debut, at 16 years and 26 days previous, in addition to the primary mixed-heritage participant to characterize Korea.

Coming on within the 78th minute within the 2-0 defeat to Colombia, the U.S.-born Phair made her presence felt with various massive challenges as she labored tirelessly to try to get Korea again into the sport. But it was one other teenager, Colombia’s 18-year-old Linda Caicedo, who stole the present as she scored on her World Cup debut.

“I think today didn’t really go as we planned, the results didn’t come out as well as we hoped, but I really enjoyed playing for my first time and I’m really happy to be the youngest player at a World Cup,” Phair mentioned after the match. “I’m really proud and really honoured to be the first mixed player for the Korean Federation also and I really think that I appreciate the opportunity I was given and I’m very honoured.”

In the tip, nevertheless, it was heartbreak for Phair & Co., and euphoria for Colombia as they secured simply their second-ever win at a World Cup. Expected to be a cagey affair, with either side eager for not less than a degree to assist get out of a good Group H, it was as an alternative a fiery encounter with either side completely happy to deliver physicality to the sport and Colombia reaping the rewards of fixed attacking stress.

Catalina Usme’s Thirtieth-minute penalty had the Colombia-heavy crowd cheering, earlier than fellow midfielder Caicedo grew to become the Tenth-youngest World Cup aim scorer when she dribbled 42 meters so as to add the aspect’s second minutes later.

While Korea had their probabilities to get on the scoreboard, they have been unable to transform their 5 makes an attempt at aim and as an alternative have been compelled to face up to wave after wave of Colombian assaults. — Brittany Mitchell.

All to play for in Group A

Norway’s World Cup marketing campaign is poised on a knife-edge after they performed out a 0-0 draw towards Switzerland. The crew have not scored in both of the primary two matches, nevertheless it might have been a unique story if not for some chaos proper earlier than the match began.

Star striker Hegerberg warmed up along with her teammates, was current within the crew picture, and stood within the prematch huddle earlier than mysteriously exiting the pitch and strolling again down the tunnel solely moments earlier than kick-off. A groin criticism was the explanation given by the crew at half-time. But Hegerberg was not the one absentee with Ingrid Engen and Caroline Graham Hansen — who each began towards New Zealand — relegated to the bench. Though Graham Hansen was ultimately substituted on for her a hundredth nationwide crew look.

The Swiss have been driving excessive on confidence after their 2-0 victory over the Philippines and created probabilities, however couldn’t discover the again of the web. Norway have been equally toothless in entrance of aim and the outcome means Group A has all the pieces to play for heading into the ultimate matchday of the group stage. — Marissa Lordanic.

play

Should Daly begin over Russo for England within the World Cup?

Sam Marsden and Marissa Lordanic share who they assume ought to begin for England going ahead after their win over Haiti.

England placed on a present in coaching

GOSFORD, Australia — Under blue skies, towards the picturesque backdrop of the harbour, England skilled in entrance of round 2,000 native kids who had flocked to the Central Coast Mariners’ stadium to catch a glimpse of the crew.

England placed on an open coaching session, lasting practically two hours, as the youngsters cheered each aim, and watched on as Sarina Wiegman’s crew continued their preparations for the sport towards Denmark on Friday.

They noticed England high-quality tuning their combos, with Lauren James, Alessia Russo and Chloe Kelly linking up for one brilliantly-worked aim. They noticed Georgia Stanway and Keira Walsh going by way of their very own bespoke drill engaged on fast passing. And additionally they noticed Millie Bright working with two coaches as she pinged varied lengthy passes out to the fitting wing.

The event was marked by the normal welcoming ceremony, led by the Darkinjung group.

They’re significantly pleased with their pitch right here — an immaculate floor on the Central Coast Stadium which has received awards prior to now. It’s the identical patch of grass the place Jamaica’s Olympic dash legend Usain Bolt had his transient trial with the Mariners again in 2018. — Tom Hamilton.

– World Cup information, options, previews, and extra
– Stream FC Daily and Futbol Americas on ESPN+

Popp ‘telephones house’ in celebration

Alexandra Popp might find yourself successful the Golden Boot at this World Cup, however she’s already left her mark on the event with a brace of objectives in Germany’s 6-0 win over Morocco.

The Germany striker marked her first with an attention grabbing aim celebration. She pointed to the sky with one arm, and made a phone signal along with her different hand. The inspiration? The 1982 movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”

“The gesture I used to celebrate my goal comes from E.T. when he wants to phone home,” mentioned Popp. “I phone home because we’re a long way from home. It’s not just for those who sit in front of the TV, but also for the people who can’t be with us any more and are very important to me. It shows that I think of them.”

Popp’s two-goal efficiency happy her coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.

“That our goal scorer is also our captain is great. She knows she can score from the crosses and we know how our team plays,” she mentioned. “Wherever she plays, she is a great leader, a great captain and one of the very best. She is also a team player. We don’t just have Alex but a lot of other players who take on responsibility. It’s a really important aspect of our team. But I’m so happy that Alex is with us because she is great.” — Tom Hamilton.

play

Alyssa Thompson shares ideas on enormous Netherlands conflict

Alyssa Thompson and Naomi Girma share the USWNT’s expectations forward of their large sport vs. the Netherlands.

Match previews

Odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook.

Group C: Japan vs. Costa Rica (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin; 3 p.m. native / 1 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. BST)

Odds: Japan -5000, Draw +1400, Costa Rica +3000

After taking part in a few of their greatest soccer in a 5-0 win towards Zambia, the job for Japan of their second match shall be sustaining consistency towards a Costa Rica crew that felt flat towards Spain. Having opted for Mina Tanaka to steer the road final week, coach Futoshi Ikeda could also be trying to freshen the crew and rotate by bringing in Riko Ueki, or saving Hinata Miyazawa’s legs after her starring position in Hamilton.

Having struggled towards Spain, the job for Las Ticas shall be to solidify their defence lest they make issues too simple for the Nadeshiko. — Sophie Lawson

Group C: Spain vs. Zambia (Eden Park, Auckland; 5.30 p.m. native / 3.30 a.m. ET / 8.30 a.m. BST)

Odds: Spain -15000, Draw +2100, Zambia +9000

Spain boss Jorge Vilda warned his gamers towards being “fooled” by Zambia heavy defeat to Japan of their opener. He identified it’s lower than three weeks for the reason that identical group of gamers, spearheaded by Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji in assault, beat Germany 3-2.

Vilda might make modifications to the Spain aspect which beat Costa Rica 3-0 of their first sport as he makes use of the depth he has out there. Alexia Putellas, who has come by way of 4 coaching periods for the reason that win over Costa Rica, might begin her first sport on the event as La Roja to look to ebook their place within the spherical of 16 and ship their African counterparts house. — Sam Marsden

Group B: Canada vs. Republic of Ireland (Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth; 8 p.m. native/ 8 a.m. ET / 1 p.m. BST)

Odds: Canada -165, Draw +250, Republic of Ireland +490

It’s solely matchday two for Canada nevertheless it already looks like a must-win conflict for the Olympic champions, significantly with a remaining group sport towards the Matildas nonetheless to return. Canada have been held to a irritating draw towards Nigeria of their opener and proceed to wrestle to place the ball into the again of the web.

Meanwhile, Ireland can contemplate themselves a bit of unfortunate to not stroll away from Sydney with a degree of their first sport towards co-hosts Australia. Vera Pauw’s aspect are greater than able to inflicting an upset in Perth, which might go a great distance in direction of development to the knockout phases. — Jake Michaels

Features of the day

The recipe for Philippines’ historic World Cup win? Adventure, a contact of luck and sheer need
With a way of journey, a contact of luck and sheer need, Philippines now have a maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup win to their names.

How groups can qualify from every Women’s World Cup group
Group play within the Women’s World Cup is transferring into its essential stage. Here, we check out all eight teams and what’s wanted to safe a passage to the knockout rounds.

Afghanistan ladies’s crew in exile desires FIFA recognition
There is one different nation in Australia this Women’s World Cup — Afghanistan. The crew in exile desires motion, not simply phrases, from the likes of FIFA.

And lastly …

If there was ever a quintessential instance of a Brazil aim, it was the Selecao’s third aim in its 4-0 win towards debutantes Panama. Brazil ahead Beatriz Zaneratto scored off a ravishing mixture of creativity, backheels and aptitude. A pure murals which is able to certainly be a aim of the event contender.

BRAZILIAN SOCCER AT ITS FINEST 🇧🇷

Bia Zaneratto makes it three for Brazil 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/DT0c5838Rk

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 24, 2023