From one surprise to another

The fact that representatives with high rankings in the FIFA rankings and expected to become strong candidates for the championship such as Canada and Brazil were eliminated from the group stage became an "earthquake" at the biggest women's football festival on the planet. However, that surprise continued in the round of 16 of the 2023 Women's World Cup finals.

Sweden deserved to go through after beating the US. Photo: The Independent

First of all, the US women's team. The girls from the land of the stars and stripes entered the 2023 Women's World Cup as the defending champions and the top candidates to extend their achievements from 2015 and 2019. However, the way coach Andonovski's team overcame the difficult group stage, finishing second in Group E and failing to show their performance was an ominous "omen" in the round of 16 when their opponent was Sweden - the representative from the Scandinavian Peninsula who was winning "like cutting bamboo".

Possessing many talents, an ideal combination of stars from many generations, the US women's team lacked the explosiveness and determination to compete. They lost to Sweden in a "nervous and risky" penalty shootout, but in fact they lost to themselves when they could not fix the internal problems that had appeared since the group stage. And that also marked the day that Rapinoe and her teammates lost their "queen" title.

Despite high expectations, the US was too lackluster at the 2023 Women's World Cup finals. Photo: NBC News

Meanwhile, the Japanese women's team and co-hosts Australia have shown commendable form. After winning the 2011 Women's World Cup, Japan did not play well at the most recent World Cup 4 years ago and the convincing 3-1 victory over Norway was the return of the girls from the Land of the Rising Sun. Looking at the path to the 2023 Women's World Cup finals, then the group stage and then the round of 16, fans have every reason to believe that Coach Ikeda's team can repeat the previous feat.

At the same time, after New Zealand had to stop in the group stage, co-host Australia was the hope of the "underdog" teams, although the kangaroo team had to play in the situation of the main striker Sam Kerr being injured and could only start the 2023 Women's World Cup with a few minutes as a substitute in the recent match against Denmark. Indeed, not disappointing those expectations, coach Tony Gustavsson and his team won the quarter-final ticket "fairly".

Colombian female “warriors” were rewarded with a historic quarter-final ticket. Photo: Reuters

In addition, the Colombian women's team also deserves praise for reaching the quarterfinals of a Women's World Cup for the first time after overcoming Jamaica with a minimum score thanks to a goal by "hero" Maria Catalina Usme Pineda. It can be said that both Colombia and Jamaica caused surprises in the group stage, but only the South American representative continued the fairy tale in the world's biggest women's football arena this year.

In addition, we cannot fail to mention the case of Nigeria. They showed a resilient fighting spirit when playing evenly with the extremely strong opponent, the England women's team - the reigning European champions - but fell in the penalty shootout.

Will the surprise last?

The Round of 16 is over and the quarter-final matches have been decided. Looking at the upcoming matches, fans are certainly hoping for more surprises at this year's Women's World Cup.

Co-host Australia is aiming for a semi-final ticket. Photo: ABC News

Hopes continue to be placed on the Colombian women's team in the quarter-final match against England. This is completely reasonable when fans witnessed how hard the representatives of the foggy country played against a brave Nigeria, at the same time, coach Wiegman's team will be without their main star Lauren James due to a red card in the match against the "African Eagles".

On the other hand, the Japanese women's team is also highly rated when facing Sweden to bring home a ticket to the semi-finals for Asia. Meanwhile, co-host Australia is likely to have difficulty getting past the "gate" of France, while the match between the Netherlands and Spain is not too different. However, Australia will be determined to make history with its first appearance in the last four.

That's football. It's the unpredictability that makes it so special and exciting! Fans are looking forward to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup on August 11 and 12.

Thai Ha

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