Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Australia and Nigeria through to last-16 as Canada crash out | OneFootball

England fans celebrate at Boxpark as Lionesses score against Denmark in World Cup

Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia cruised into the last-16 thanks to a stunning 4-0 victory over Canada, as the Olympic champions crashed out of the tournament.

Australia needed to win to reach the knockout stages and although they remained without Sam Kerr, the Matildas thrashed a shambolic Canada side to advance as group winners. The result was a disaster for Canada, with Nigeria claiming second place as Ireland earned their first World Cup point thanks to a 0-0 draw.

Elsewhere, Japan executed their game-plan to perfection to thrash Spain 4-0 and finish top of Group C. Japan stunned Spain on the counter-attack in a sublime performance and will play Norway in the last-16.

The Lionesses are also finalising their preparation for Tuesday’s crunch match with China following the brutal loss of Keira Walsh to injury. It has been a World Cup packed with surprises, including Colombia’s shock win over Germany. Click here for .

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Australia thrash Canada to save Women’s World Cup dream from the jaws of a nightmare

Sam Kerr remained on the bench but thankfully for Australia, they did not need her. In a must-win match, the co-hosts did much more to keep their World Cup alive: thrashing the Olympic champions Canada to reach the knockout stages and restoring belief that looked to have been lost in the shock defeat to Nigeria. With it, Group B was flipped on its head: Ireland’s draw with Nigeria means Australia advance as group winners, avoiding a potential clash with England in the last-16.

Kerr could yet return for that, but Australia finally found a way to play without their star striker and captain. It came at the perfect time with the Matildas facing elimination and a World Cup dream that was instead turning into a nightmare. Kerr was back on the bench after missing Australia’s opening two games with a calf injury, but against Canada they were instead lifted by another returning star in Mary Fowler.

Ruled out of the defeat to Nigeria, a result that left Australia on the brink, Fowler returned to spark Australia’s attack into life, saving a World Cup that threatened to be over long before it was meant to. The Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson changed his shape and landed on a 4-4-2 that devastated Canada on the counter-attack, with Hayley Raso scoring a decisive brace from the right and Caitlin Foord enjoying her best performance of the tournament on the left. By the end, Australia’s position was so secure that there was no need to rush Kerr back.

Mike Jones31 July 2023 18:44

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What to expect at the Women's World Cup 2023

The Independent’s Sports Reporter Sonia Twigg answers your question about what to expect from the Women’s World Cup. The group stages are rapidly coming to their conclusion and the knockout rounds are shaping up nicely.

What to expect at the Women's World Cup 2023 | You Ask The Questions

Mike Jones31 July 2023 18:00

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Darts, colouring in and 1,000 bags of Yorkshire tea: Inside the Lionesses’ World Cup den

The central coast beaches of Terrigal are a far cry from the metropolitan hustle and bustle of nearby Sydney, but they provide a fitting “home away from home” for the Lionesses as they embark on their Women’s World Cup campaign.

This quiet town, about 51km (32 miles) north of Australia’s largest city, is an environment in which the team can free themselves from the stresses of a major tournament.

It’s the first time the FA have ever allowed the media access to an England base camp and Kay Cossington, the FA’s women’s technical director, and Anja van Ginhoven, England’s women’s general manager, are excited to reveal what they’ve delivered for the squad.

A private entrance to the hotel is adorned with the Three Lions crest, the staircase that leads you towards the team’s home sits underneath a red and white balloon arch, while the stairs themselves bear phrases to drive home the motivation: “Our England, our family, bonded by pride,” reads one.

Mike Jones31 July 2023 17:25

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Women’s football world rankings: Who could take No 1 at the World Cup?

The United States remain the team to beat ahead of the Women’s World Cup and the two-time defending champions remain number one in the Fifa rankings ahead of the tournament.

The USA are looking to become the first country to win three World Cups in a row and have held top spot since 2017.

But the tournament in Australia and New Zealand could bring a shake-up to the order. Europe is catching up and the likes of England, Germany, France and Spain will be coming for the USA’s crown.

Zambia come into the World Cup as the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, which is hosting 32 teams for the first time.

Mike Jones31 July 2023 16:50

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England’s Lionesses train in Sydney ahead of China Women’s World Cup match

The England women’s football team get in some training ahead of their next big match against China in the Women’s World Cup.

A video of the training session shows the Lionesses kicking about and running drills in preparation for the next game.

Taking part in an open training session at Sydney‘s Central Coast Stadium, the Lionesses are looking to win their final group stage against China.

So far England’s Lionesses have glided through the first few matches, beating both Denmark and Haiti 1-0. On the other hand, China has won one game and lost the other.

England's Lionesses train in Sydney ahead of Women's World Cup match against China

Mike Jones31 July 2023 16:20

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England veteran Rachel Daly concerned by ACL issue at Women’s World Cup

England veteran Rachel Daly revealed she blocks out the frightening possibility of becoming a victim of the devastating injury crisis besetting women’s football and the World Cup.

Midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury in the first half of the Lionesses’ 1-0 group-stage victory over Denmark on Friday, later appearing on crutches and sparking concern she might join England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson on a long list of players ruled out of the 2023 tournament with the same anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that disproportionately affects women.

There was no update on Walsh’s condition as of Saturday night in Sydney, three days before the Lionesses play China in Adelaide with a target of escaping Group D in top spot.

Daly said: “I don’t think you can think about it, for me, those three letters scare the absolute you-know-what out of me.”

Mike Jones31 July 2023 15:45

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England can cope without Keira Walsh — here is how Sarina Wiegman can adjust

“When Keira Walsh got injured, there was a collective groan of sympathy for a world-class player missing the rest of the tournament, but also for the rest of England’s squad. They must now deal with the loss of Walsh, the deep-lying playmaker who knits the team’s approach play together and so brilliantly patrols the space in front of the back four.

“Walsh is probably Sarina Wiegman’s most important player, certainly in the absence of Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, and England have now lost all three of the players who led them to European Championship glory.”

Here’s Kelly Smith’s latest column on how England can adapt to losing their most crucial midfielder:

Mike Jones31 July 2023 15:15

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Sam Kerr: Australia’s legendary striker could finally make impact on Women’s World Cup after injury woes

Sam Kerr, 29, is Australia’s most beloved player, the captain of Matildas and the first person from her homeland ever to score a hat-trick at the World Cup. Now preparing for a tournament on home soil, the icon hopes to conjure an even greater moment for her fans to savour.

Australia are coming into it in a rich vein of form, having won their last eight games in a row, one of which saw them inflict the first defeat of Sirena Wiegman’s tenure on England, a 2-0 defeat on a rainy night in Brentford this April. Kerr, naturally, bagged the opener.

A global phenomenon, she made her debut on the international stage aged just 15 and split the early part of her career between teams in Australia (Perth Glory, Sydney FC) and the US (Western New York Flash, Sky Blue FC).

Mike Jones31 July 2023 14:30

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Australia thrash Canada to save Women’s World Cup dream from the jaws of a nightmare

Sam Kerr remained on the bench but thankfully for Australia, they did not need her. In a must-win match, the co-hosts did much more to keep their World Cup alive: thrashing the Olympic champions Canada to reach the knockout stages and restoring belief that looked to have been lost in the shock defeat to Nigeria.

With it, Group B was flipped on its head: Ireland’s draw with Nigeria means Australia advance as group winners, avoiding a potential clash with England in the last-16.

Kerr could yet return for that, but Australia finally found a way to play without their star striker and captain. It came at the perfect time with the Matildas facing elimination and a World Cup dream that was instead turning into a nightmare.

Kerr was back on the bench after missing Australia’s opening two games with a calf injury, but against Canada they were instead lifted by another returning star in Mary Fowler.

Mike Jones31 July 2023 14:00