Day 19: Flying Seagulls at the AAMI

Colombia and France complete our quarter-final set

Colombia 1 - Jamaica 0

Jamaica’s miraculous run to the World Cup knockout stages came to an end after they were knocked out by a Catalina Usme goal which saw Colombia reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in their history. It was a tense match with few chances between the two teams, both of whom had no qualms about letting their opponents know they were there. In the end, it felt like Colombia just had that extra technical edge which gave them the advantage.

Colombia were without Manuela Vanegas due to a disciplinary suspension and it was clear early on how much that was limiting them in attack. It was a solid performance from her replacement, 18 year old Ana Maria Guzman, but it enabled Jamaica to double team Linda Caicedo. Whilst Caicedo showed her flair on more than a couple of occasions, she did not have that same support provided from Vanegas’ runs to get forward.

Bunny Shaw meanwhile regularly found herself surrounded by four Colombian players and over time, her frustration grew. Jamaica were struggling to get the ball to her and when she did manage to receive it, she lacked support. Despite an excellent performance once again from Drew Spence, it felt like the Jamaican players were not quite on the same wavelength.

The breakthrough came at the start of the second half when Colombia began to switch the ball quicker to exploit the space on the right hand side of the pitch. In the end, a ball sailed over the head of Deneisha Blackwood, allowing Catalina Usme to cut in and finish.

It was fitting that it was Usme who scored. Lots of focus on this Colombian team has centred on their younger players like Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez but Usme, at 33 years old, has seen women’s football transformed in her country. She has played in every single World Cup they have participated in and has had an important role during the tournament as she has dovetailed with Ramirez to create that fluid attacking structure which has looked so dangerous.

Jamaica seemed reluctant or unable to really go for it as the minutes ticked away with Bunny Shaw trying to find space out wide but then seeing no one in the box when she crossed in. Spence had one good headed chance and the game finished out with Becky Spencer arguing with the coaching team about whether she should go up for a final corner. In the end, it was a heroic effort from a Jamaican side who deserve so much more support but Colombia just looked too good.

France 4 - Morocco 0

France made light work of Morocco with one of the most comprehensive displays of the Round of 16. They were three goals up within half an hour and from then on cruised through the rest of the match. Herve Renard actually dropped Maelle Lakrar to the bench for this one, despite her impressing so far in the tournament, and played with Eve Perisset, Wendie Renard, Elise De Almeida and Sakina Karchaoui. De Almeida was perhaps the surprise one to make it into the starting line up but she rewarded Renard’s pick with some fancy footwork which begun the slick passing move for France’s first goal. However, Morocco will be frustrated that the same movement which Alex Popp used to find space in their opener went undetected again here as Kadidiatou Diani drifted away from her marker to have a free header.

Perisset’s role on the right hand side also seems to have freed up Dali who has looked more comfortable taking up positions off the wing as the tournament has gone on. Dali is not a natural winger and France could see exactly what you get from her if she can move centrally as her fantastic strike put them 2-0 up. Morocco also struggled with the French press (similar to how they did against Germany as the game went on) and Diani leading from the front allowed LeSommer to score France’s third. At that point it was game over.

Much like their opponents in the quarter-finals, France seem to be growing into this tournament at exactly the right time. Despite the disappointing draw with Jamaica to start the competition, the team seems to be clicking, and the opportunity to match up player for player against Australia’s 4-4-2 will be an intriguing one. Renard’s side look well coached and aware of what their roles are - could they be the dark horses of this tournament?