The Women’s World Cup started with a bang on Friday at a sold-out Parc des Princes and has now completed the first round of matches so it’s time to look at how Arsenal players have been getting on.
LOC announced that more than 1,000,000 out of the 1,300,000 tickets have been sold and that 14 games have now sold out. This is a big success helped by the cheap tickets prices offered to fans. Grounds have not always been full especially, in Southern France, but attendances have been quite good.
In the first round, we saw many of the favourites perform as expected, but there was also a big upset.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the last 16, as well as the four best third-placed teams.
Group A
France, Norway, Nigeria, South Korea.
Arsenal’s Pauline Peyraud-Magnin started in goal for France as they beat South Korea 4-0.
In the other group game, Norway beat Nigeria 3-0.
The two favourites won their opening games easily and met on Wednesday in Nice with France beating Norway 2-1, meaning they will likely top the group. Nigeria beat South Korea 2-0 in the other game in the second round of matches.
Group B
Spain, Germany, China, South Africa.
One of Arsenal’s summer signings, Leonie Maier, was on the bench for Germany as they struggled to beat China 1-0.
Spain also struggled somewhat as they beat South Africa 3-1. Germany then beat Spain 1-0 in their second game.
Group C
Brazil, Italy, Australia, Jamaica.
Arsenal have no players in this group.
Brazil defeated Jamaica 3-0 which was surprising considering they had lost their previous 10 games, doing well to start their World cup in a strong manner.
The other game saw a huge upset as Australia were defeated by a last-minute goal from darkhorses, Italy. That 2-1 result has blown the group wide open.
Group D
England, Argentina, Japan, Scotland.
Beth Mead’s England beat Kim Little’s Scotland 2-1 with Mead replaced after 71 minutes by Karen Carney who is playing at her fourth World Cup. Lisa Evans and Jen Beattie also started for Scotland. Leah Williamson was an unused sub for England.
England won this derby match thanks to an excellent first half where they took a two-goal lead. Scotland managed to claw one back, but that was not good enough to steal a point.
The other game between Argentina and Japan was the only match of the opening round not to feature a single goal, representing a huge upset as the former world champions, Japan, were held.
Group E
Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Cameroon.
Arsenal’s summer signing, Jill Roord, came off the bench to score the only goal in the Netherland’s 1-0 win over New Zealand. This game that also featured Vivianne Miedema and Danielle van de Donk as well as former Gunners, Dominique Bloodworth and Saari van Veenendaal.
In the other game, Canada beat Cameroon 1-0.
The two group favourites struggled to win their opening games. The Dutch needed a late goal and the Canadians created very little.
Group F
United States, Sweden, Chile, Thailand.
The USA set a new record (that had stood since 2011) when they beat Thailand 13-0 on Tuesday as Alex Morgan netted five, pretty much securing the Golden Boot in her first game. In all, the USAWNT had seven different goalscorers in the game.
In the other match, Sweden beat Chile 2-0 in a match that was stopped due to the weather alert due to a thunder threat.
Be sure to follow Daily Cannon’s very own Sylvain Jamet who is at the World Cup and providing reports.