History has been made today, August 2, as the final group stages for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup continue to wrap up. Here are the results of the final group matches in Group F and G.
Group G played first at 8 am Irish Standard Time (IST) with matches between Argentina v Sweden and South Africa v Italy.
Group G
- Sweden
- South Africa
- Italy
- Argentina
Sweden played Argentina and defeated them 2-0 with goals the the 66' and 90' minute. The 90' minute goal was a penalty.
Sweden has won all the games in their group, making them the Group G winner and advancing onward. They are set to play the United States next on Sunday, August 6, at 10am IST.
The last time Sweden won all three of their group matches was in 2011 when they came in third place overall defeating France 2-1 in the third place play off.
South Africa are through to the knockout stages for the first time in their #FIFAWWC history! 🇿🇦
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 2, 2023
South Africa played an intense match with Italy, as both teams battled to qualify. Italy needed a tie or a win to advance and South Africa needed a win.
Italy got a goal in the net in the 11’ minute as a result of a penalty, taking the lead.
In the 32' minute, Italian defender, Benedetta Orsi, scored an own goal when passing the ball back to her goalie, Francesca Durante, without looking up to see she was out of place, resulting in a goal awarded to South Africa.
Hildah Magaia scored in the 67' minute taking the lead for South Africa, with a score of 2-1. Arianna Caruso, for Italy, scored another goal in the 74' minute, tying up the score and threatening the advancement of South Africa.
With a last minute goal from Thembi Kgatlana in the 92' minute, South Africa claimed the win.
This is the first time South Africa advance past the group stage, in their second ever Women's World Cup appearance.
Of this group, Sweden ended top of the table with nine points (three wins), South Africa with four points (loss, tie, win), Italy with three points (win, loss, loss) and Argentina with one point (loss, tie, loss).
Group F kicked off at 11 am IST with matches between Panama vs France and Jamaica v Brazil.
Group F
- France
- Jamaica
- Brazil
- Panama
France, who went into the match with Panama leading the group, only needed one point to qualify to the next round.
France beat Panama 6-3, who was already not advancing past the group stage. However, Panama player, Marta Cox, scored an incredible goal in the second minute of the game from 32 meters away on a free kick, to be Panama's first goal ever in a Women's World Cup.
French Forward, Kadidiatou Diani, scored a hat trick, with goals in the 28, 37 and 52 minute. The goals in the 37' and 52' were a result of penalties.
History. Made. @JFF_Football | #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/Kedp1kT66Q
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 2, 2023
In the close game between Brazil and Jamaica, Brazil needing a win to move on, ended in a tie, advancing Jamaica.
Brazil failing to advance is the earliest the team had been knocked out of the tournament since 1995.
This is the first time in Jamaican history that the team advanced to the round of 16. Jamaica also becomes the first ever Caribbean nation to reach the knockout phase of the Women's World Cup.
Marta Silva, long time Brazilian player, retired after this game. This was her sixth Women's World Cup and she has represented her country for the last 20 years.
“For me, that is the end, but it’s just the beginning for the others,” said Silva in the post-game interview.
At the end of the matches France was first with seven points (tie, win, win), Jamaica had five points (tie, win, tie), Brazil had four points (win, loss, tie), and Panama with zero points (three losses).
The final games in the group stage are tomorrow at 11am IST and are Morocco v Colombia and South Korea v Germany.
