It is time for joys, hopes and disappointments in the Women's Soccer World Cup that is being held in Australia and New Zealand.
In some groups the curtain has already fallen and some selected ones have returned home with their heads down.
Others, on the contrary, continue celebrating the long-awaited qualification to the round of 16.
Today I am going to tell you what happened on the last date of groups B and C.
The World Cup that takes place in Australia and New Zealand disputes its twelfth day of competition, standing out the duel between Japan and Spain, for the leadership of Group C.
Japan had no mercy with Spain and stayed with the group.
The Asians thrashed Spain 4-0, were first in their area and also remain undefeated and with a perfect score.
Japan gave Spain a lesson in effective and fast football with a 4-0 win on Monday in Wellington, a result that allowed the Asians to win their group in the Women's World Cup.
The two teams were already classified by Group C and the result only defined that Japan will face Norway in the round of 16, while Spain will face Switzerland, both classified by Group A.
Japan opened the account at minute 12 thanks to a quick reply from Hinata Miyazawa and expanded to 29 through Riko Ueki, after a withering combination with Miyazawa.
The third was more of the same: quick play that surprised the Spanish defense and Miyazawa's shot at minute 40, while the 4-0 was a personal foray by Mina Tanaka at 82 that the Iberians failed to stop.
The match was played on a freezing night at the Wellington Regional Stadium at about two-thirds capacity. For the match on August 5 against Switzerland for the round of 16, Spanish coach Jorge Vilda guaranteed a "different attitude" from his players.
Zambia says goodbye to the World Cup with a victory against Costa Rica.
Group C closed with a match between the two teams that were eliminated and it was 3-1 in favor of the Africans.
In their absolute debut, the Africans closed their participation and prevailed over the Central Americans through goals from Banda, Kundananji and Mweemba in a duel where pride was defined.
Zambia will mark this World Cup in Australia - New Zealand as a historical milestone because to the participation they added a great triumph on the final date against the Ticas. Bruce Mwape's team did their homework against Costa Rica and fairly beat Amelia Valverde's team.
Defender Lushomo Mweemba opened the game quickly after three minutes and forward Bárbara Banda rose from twelve steps.
It was a whirlwind until Melissa Herrera's goal that put the second half on hold but in the end Racheal Kundananji closed the job for Zambia's historic 3-1.
The group closed with a dominant Japan that won its three games without conceding goals and was followed by the Red. Then Zambia and in the last place Costa Rica, which accumulated three defeats.
Australia thrashed Canada to win Group B.
The locals beat the North Americans 4-0, who were eliminated, and qualified first in their area.
Australia defeated Canada on Monday in the Women's World Cup soccer with a result of 4-0 to advance to the round of 16, while the North Americans were eliminated from the tournament.
Team Australia, known as “The Matildas”, needed a win to guarantee their advancement, while reigning Olympic champions Canada needed to avoid defeat or be eliminated.
Haley Raso scored the first goals of her World Cup career for Australia, while Mary Fowler and Steph Catley added the other two.
Australia's progress to the round of 16 ensured that this year's Women's World Cup will not be the first without the host nation in the knockout stage.
With their victory over Canada and Nigeria's 0-0 draw with Ireland, Australia finished first in Group B with six points. Nigeria finished second with five points.
Nigeria tied and got into the round of 16.
The Africans did not go from 0-0 against Ireland, now without chances, and got into the top 16 of the World Cup.
Ireland and Nigeria drew 0-0 on Monday morning at the Brisbane stadium for Group B and the African team achieved a pass through the round of 16 of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
Despite several attempts, neither team managed to score.
With the tie, both teams add one point, giving Nigeria a total of 5 points and placing it in second place in Group B. For its part, Ireland is in last place with one point.
Nigeria will now have to face the team that comes first in Group D, which is confirmed by England, Denmark, China or Haiti, on August 7.
Source images: Twitter FIFA Women's World Cup.
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