Day 10: Fox in the box
The best thing a girl can be in this world is an unmarked centre-back at the 2023 World Cup
France 2 - Brazil 1
This highly anticipated meeting of the two best teams on paper in Group F fell slightly flat in the end as France successfully neutralised that Brazilian attacking flair we saw in the opener. With the two teams matching up in 4-4-2s both sides struggled to string together long spells of possession but ultimately France won out when it came to their out of possession game.
A rejigged back line was key to France being able to limit Brazil’s dangerous left-hand side. Chelsea fullback Eve Perisset returned to the starting line-up having been a surprise omission in the opener against Jamaica with Maelle Lakrar reverting to her more familiar centre-back position. The duo were incredibly effective when it came to getting tight to the Brazilian forwards. Meanwhile in the centre of the pitch Sandie Toletti and Grace Geyoro were supported by both Kenza Dali and Selma Bacha tucking in at points. France forced 104 turnovers of the ball during this match, over 20 more than Brazil’s 82.
The decision by Pia Sundhage to continue with Kerolin in central midfield also felt all the more baffling here when Brazil could really have used some more pace out wide. She was the only Brazilian player in the top ten of attacking sequence involvements, which shows just how disjointed their attack was. Sundhage only made one substitute before the 80 minute mark and when Brazilian legend Marta came on in the 86th minute with Wendie Renard having put France 2-1 up it all felt too little too late.
The success of this Brazilian team always felt like it would come down to whether they could find the right balance between Sundhage’s timidity and the attacking riches that she has available to her. Here the pendulum swung too far one way.
Sweden 5 - Italy 0
Sweden all but guaranteed they would finish top of their group after they aerially demolished a disorganised Italy team. Amanda Ilestedt finds herself in the somewhat surprising position of being the tournament’s joint top scorer having scored from two more corners having picked up the late winner against South Africa.
Jonna Andersson and Amanda Ilestedt both played hugely important roles in all the corners that Sweden scored from. Andersson’s delivery from corners has been exceptional, repeatedly putting the ball into very dangerous areas. But Italy’s defending was poor. They allowed the goalkeeper Francesca Durante to be crowded and she struggled to dominate the area. It was all too easy for Ilestedt to nod in the first goal and then nod on the second which was eventually turned in by Fridolina Rolfö.
After that Italy’s defensive line fell apart and Johanna Ryting Kaneryd found it all too easy to break through and cut back for Stina Blackstenius with Sweden now 3-0 up at half time. It was a seven minute demolition from a team who had hardly threatened in the first 35. Italy will now need to beat South Africa in their last group game, or draw and hope Argentina don’t beat Sweden to progress. But with both their group stage displays so far being lackadaisical, that feels like it can’t be guaranteed.
Panama 0 - Jamaica 1
Jamaica rode their loss of Bunny Shaw to injury and kept qualification to the knockout stages in their own hands as they recorded their first ever win at a World Cup, beating Panama 1-0 thanks to a goal from Allyson Swaby.
Drew Spence continued to impress for Jamaica as she used her on-ball ability to progress her team with seven successful dribbles in this match. Spence’s 12 shot creating actions is the highest in the Jamaica squad at the tournament with her 10 progressive passes also being the most. Her attacking impetus helped push Jamaica on in a game where chances were relatively limited.
The result puts Panama out of the World Cup although they showed that in this game that they can hold their own at this level, even if their chances were limited. Jamaica meanwhile will have Bunny Shaw back as they take on Brazil in their final group game knowing that a draw would put them through. It would be a historic outcome for a team who have had hardly any support from their federation. Once again we can only wonder how good Jamaica could be if they had more.