Tag: Women’s World Cup

A new name will be engraved on the Women’s World Cup after Sweden clung on to defeat the 2011 champions Japan 2-1 on Friday and set up a semi-final clash with Spain.

Spain needed extra time earlier to defeat the Netherlands, the 2019 runners-up, 2-1 to reach the last four for the first time in their history.

After the exits of Germany, Norway and holders the United States, Japan had been the last remaining former Women’s World Cup champions.

They refused to go out without a fight, Honoka Hayashi pulling a goal back three minutes from the end of normal time to set up a frantic finish in front of more than 43,000 at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Japan also missed a penalty and rattled the woodwork as the Swedes clung on for the second game in a row after holding off the USA and winning a penalty shootout in the last 16.

Sweden, the top-ranked side left standing at world number three, survived against Japan to reach the semi-finals for the third time in four Women’s World Cups.

They will stay at Eden Park to face Spain on Tuesday for a place in the final.

“I have been a coach for so many years now, I have had such incredibly skilled players,” said Sweden’s 63-year-old coach Peter Gerhardsson.

“They are very meticulous, always interested and they always give 100 percent, and during tournaments like this we become more like a club team.”

Sweden took the lead in the 32nd minute when Japan failed to clear and the ball fell to Amanda Ilestedt to stab home a scrappy opener, her fourth goal of the tournament.

Gerhardsson’s side made it 2-0 from a penalty soon after the break, converted by Manchester City’s Filippa Angeldal.

Japan were given a lifeline when they won a penalty of their own in the 76th minute.

Riko Ueki picked herself up after being fouled but smashed her spot-kick off the underside of the bar and headed the rebound over.

The woodwork rescued Sweden again in the 87th minute but seconds later Hayashi pounced, setting up a nerve-shredding stoppage time that lasted almost 11 minutes before Sweden could celebrate.

Spanish teenager Salma Paralluelo’s smart extra-time winner knocked out the Netherlands in Wellington after an incident-packed match ended normal time 1-1.

Spain, who have recovered from a 4-0 humbling by Japan in the group phase, dominated the first half and twice hit the woodwork in quick succession. They also had a goal ruled out for offside by VAR.

The Netherlands got a foothold in the second half and thought they had a chance to take the lead when Lineth Beerensteyn was fouled in the box, but the penalty was rescinded after a VAR review.

Spain went ahead from the spot with nine minutes left of normal time through Mariona Caldentey after Paralluelo’s cross struck Stefanie van der Gragt’s hand just inside the penalty box.

Defender Van der Gragt — playing for the last time before retirement — made amends in the first minute of stoppage time when she blasted inside the far post for 1-1.

The Netherlands had the better of extra time, but second-half substitute Paralluelo was the hero for Spain as she went down the left and lashed the ball hard and low into the bottom corner.

“It’s hard now,” said Van der Gragt.

“We had the chance in extra time and we didn’t score, they had one chance and they scored.

The other two Women’s World Cup quarter-finals are on Saturday, when co-hosts Australia play France in Brisbane and European champions England face Colombia in Sydney with the winners to meet on Wednesday.

Australia skipper and goalscoring great Sam Kerr will start against France if fully fit after a calf injury, coach Tony Gustavsson said Friday.

The Chelsea striker got her first minutes of action at the tournament as a late substitute in the 2-0 win over Denmark in the last 16.

“If Sam is fit to play 90 minutes, she is starting, it is not even a question, and the team knows that,” said Gustavsson.

READ: Spain hit extra-time winner to reach World Cup semi-finals for first time

Teenager Salma Paralluelo scored an extra-time winner as Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 to reach the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time Friday and a clash with Japan or Sweden.

Over a tense 90 minutes in Wellington full of incident, Mariona Caldentey scored an 81st-minute penalty for Spain, only for Stefanie van der Gragt to equalise in added time.

With the quarter-final seemingly headed for penalties, the 19-year-old substitute Salma Paralluelo produced a brilliant solo finish in the 111th minute to put Spain into the last four.

They will now face Sweden or Japan in Auckland on Tuesday while the tournament is over for the Dutch, beaten finalists four years ago.

Barcelona forward Salma Paralluelo, who had started every previous game at the tournament, said she was determined to make an impact when coach Jorge Vilda introduced her from the bench in the 71st minute.

“It means everything to me. It was a unique moment, great euphoria to have lived through it and I’m extremely happy,” the teenager said.

Vilda predicted the former sprinter will blossom into a global star, having only made her Spanish senior debut nine months ago — when she scored a hat-trick against Argentina.

Salma Paralluelo scored twice in last year’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup final win over Japan, before going on to taste European Champions League glory two months ago with Barcelona.

“Salma is a player with enormous potential and she’s not reached her best,” Vilda said.

“Right now she is excellent, but in the future it’s going to be much, much more.”

Their maiden semi-final place was a reward for a display of controlled attacking football from the sixth-ranked La Roja, who have regained their swagger after crashing to a 4-0 group-stage loss to Japan.

The 90 minutes of normal time were largely dominated by Spain — and some VAR decisions — but it was the Netherlands who looked stronger in extra time, before Salma Paralluelo’s clinical left-footed finish on the break.

“We’ve always dreamed of something like this… but we’re not stopping here,” said Vilda, as his Spain side chase more history.

“We’ve reached somewhere we’ve never reached before.

“It was a match with a lot of emotions, VAR decisions. And the goal from Salma — it was sheer joy,” he added.

Spain dominated the first half and were denied by the woodwork twice when Alba Redondo’s header was parried onto the post by goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and her follow-up also struck the post.

Spain captain Esther Gonzalez lashed a shot into the net but the striker was ruled offside by VAR.

The Netherlands got a foothold in the second half.

They looked set to go in front when Lineth Beerensteyn tumbled over in the box following contact with Irene Paredes, who was shown a yellow card and French referee Stephanie Frappert pointed to the spot.

But the decision was cancelled after VAR called for a review.

Spain went ahead from the spot with nine minutes left of normal time through Caldentey after Paralluelo’s cross struck Stefanie Van der Gragt’s flailing hand inside the penalty box.

Defender Van der Gragt, who is now set to retire aged 30, made amends in the first minute of stoppage time when her surging run was found by Victoria Pelova before blasting past Cata Coll in the Spain goal.

The Netherlands had the better chances in extra time, going close twice through Beerensteyn, before conceding the decisive goal as penalties loomed.

“It’s hard now,” said Van der Gragt, whose last game in football was an eventful one.

“We had the chance in extra time and we didn’t score, they had one chance and they scored. That’s football.”

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Morocco coach Reynald Pedros said Tuesday his team reaching the Women’s World Cup last 16 was as impressive as the country’s men getting to the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup.

Their run ended with a 4-0 loss to France in Adelaide but Morocco exceeded all expectations by getting to the knockout rounds at their debut Women’s World Cup.

“Being in a World Cup last 16 for Morocco is exceptional. It has been a remarkable adventure,” said Pedros, the former French international midfielder.

His team bounced back from losing 6-0 to Germany in their first game in Australia to beat South Korea and Colombia, both by a 1-0 scoreline, and advance to the knockout stage.

“We have been together as a team since the 12th of June, working for and preparing for this World Cup,” added Pedros, who became coach in 2020 and took the team to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations last year.

“I don’t think we could have imagined going into our last group game with a chance of getting to the last 16.

“I sincerely believe that getting to the last 16 with this team, for the first time, is the equivalent of the guys getting to the semi-finals.

“It is beyond fantastic. We only started building this team three years ago. There are so many things that make us proud even though we have been knocked out.”

Morocco’s men lost 2-0 to France in the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup and ended up finishing fourth, the best performance by an African team at the tournament.

Pedros and his side will now regroup to try to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics, with Morocco’s women never having featured at the Games before.

“I am going to congratulate and thank them because what they have given us in terms of emotions is quite incredible, and then we will get back down to work,” he said.

“We have the Olympic qualifiers to prepare for but we have gained experience from this.

“I am really, really proud to be coach of this team because we have fantastic players.”

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Colombia reached the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals for the first time and a clash with England after a 1-0 win over Jamaica on Tuesday, with France or Morocco poised to join them.

Skipper Catalina Usme scored the only goal of the game in Melbourne in the 51st minute, bringing the ball down expertly and bending it into the bottom corner.

It was the first time at the Women’s World Cup that Jamaica had conceded a goal.

It set a cagey game alight and sent the pumping pro-Colombian crowd into deafening delirium.

Fired up, Jamaica almost had an immediate reply with Jody Brown’s shot cleared off the line in a frantic goalmouth scramble.

Behind for the first time at the World Cup and facing the exit door, Jamaica abandoned their defensive posture and threw players forward frantically looking for the equaliser.

Drew Spence almost grabbed it with a header that spun just wide, but Colombia held on.

They will now play European champions England in Sydney on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals.

Jamaica bow out but made history of their own, winning a World Cup game for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Panama and holding heavily fancied Brazil and France to goalless draws.

But despite boasting the prolific Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw, Jamaica’s lack of goals proved to be their undoing — they scored just one all tournament, against Panama.

It was a victory, though, of sorts in the team’s wider battle with their federation — they hope their displays will mean more support in future from Jamaican football bosses.

“Now we’re a bit low because we didn’t want to end the tournament, but I’m proud of all my team-mates,” said Shaw.

“A lot of people didn’t think we were going to make it this far.

“It shows that if you believe and work hard, anything is possible.”

France, fifth in the FIFA world rankings, and Morocco kick off in Adelaide, with the winners facing Australia.

Morocco are appearing at their first Women’s World Cup and recovered from a 6-0 hammering by Germany to reach the last 16 with 1-0 wins over Colombia and South Korea.

Morocco are the lowest-ranked team left, 67 places below Herve Renard’s France.

But Renard, who managed the Moroccan men’s team for three years, is wary.

“Even when we have a kickabout with friends we want to win, and we are here to win and qualify for the next round,” said the Frenchman.

“The important thing is that we respect our opponents and the fact that this is a last-16 tie at a World Cup.

“Morocco are not here by chance. This is a match of the same calibre as our game against Brazil.”

France were held scoreless by Jamaica in their opening game before defeating Brazil 2-1 and Panama 6-3.

It will also be a special occasion for Renard’s opposite number and countryman Reynald Pedros.

The Morocco coach is a former French international.

“There will be just one French coach left in the quarter-finals,” Renard said.

“I hope it will be me.”

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The United States’ long reign as Women’s World Cup holders was brought to an end in the most dramatic fashion as they were dumped out on penalties by Sweden, who joined the Netherlands in reaching the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Sweden face Japan in the last eight as the drama and shocks just kept coming at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. The Netherlands beat South Africa 2-0 and meet Spain.

Their last-16 defeat after the game ended 0-0 after 120 minutes was the United States’ earliest exit in their Women’s World Cup history and leaves European champions England now the firm favourites.

“Just devastated, feels like a bad dream,” veteran striker Alex Morgan, for so many years one of the faces of the all-conquering Americans, told Fox Sports.

The USA have long been the dominant force in international women’s football: they have won the World Cup four times and were chasing an unprecedented third title in a row.

Vlatko Andonovski’s side were the better team against Sweden in Melbourne but they could not beat goalkeeper Zecira Musovic and then lost their nerve in the penalty shootout.

Megan Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup winner who was desperate to end her career with another title, missed her spot-kick before the Swedes sealed the deal 5-4 on sudden-death penalties.

Even then the end was excruciatingly tense. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher thought she had saved Lina Hurtig’s kick but VAR ruled it had just crossed the line.

Cue belated pandemonium among the Sweden squad and tears for the Americans who, despite dominating large periods of the game, just never got going at this World Cup.

They were held 1-1 by the Netherlands in the group phase in a rerun of the 2019 final and likewise 0-0 by debutants Portugal, meaning they squeezed into the last 16.

“This team was a really special team, I just feel like everyone just got along really well,” added Morgan.

“It’s a tough one to swallow.”

Sweden next face a Japan team who have been the sensation of the tournament so far. The 2011 champions eased into the last eight with a 3-1 win over Norway on Saturday.

“We were facing a really tough opponent today and somehow we managed to get to the penalty shootout, where we showed a lot of courage,” said Musovic, who was named player of the match.

“I’m extremely proud of the girls that we could go there and win the game.

“It’s a huge win for us. I had a really good feeling before the game.”

England face Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday hoping to avoid another shock, before co-hosts Australia face Denmark in Sydney.

Earlier Sunday, the Netherlands secured their spot in the quarter-finals by ending South Africa’s historic run.

The Dutch, runners-up in 2019, suffered some anxious moments in front of 40,000 fans in Sydney and had goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar to thank for making several big saves in the first half.

Jill Roord scored after nine minutes to put the Dutch on their way against a team that sits 45 places below them in the world rankings and was featuring in the knockout rounds for the first time.

South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart then made a mess of an innocuous Lineth Beerensteyn shot midway through the second half to gift the Dutch a second.

The African champions will be kicking themselves after having numerous chances in the opening 45 minutes, almost all of them falling to their livewire captain Thembi Kgatlana.

“Daphne saved us a few times and I was happy to lead 1-0 at half-time,” said Dutch coach Andries Jonker.

“We did much better in the second half and had much more control of the game.

“We deserved to score again and in the end deserved to win.”

His team will now return to New Zealand for Friday’s last-eight game in Wellington against Spain, who outclassed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.

South Africa coach Desiree Ellis was proud but felt her side should have won.

“We had a lot of chances, especially in the first half, to kill off the game,” she said.

“The chances we created should have put us out of sight.”

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Japan’s surprise title charge at the Women’s World Cup gathered pace with a clinical 3-1 win over Norway to reach the last eight while Spain thrashed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday.

The 2011 champions Japan will face either holders the United States or Sweden in the quarter-finals and on this evidence they will take some stopping.

They have won all four games in Australia and New Zealand — including a 4-0 thumping of Spain — scoring 14 times and conceding only once.

Hinata Miyazawa is also quickly becoming one of the breakout stars of the Women’s World Cup which has been full of shocks.

The 23-year-old got the third nine minutes from time to seal Norway’s fate in front of 33,000 in Wellington.

She is now the tournament’s top scorer.

The teams went to the break level at 1-1, but Japan turned the screw on Norway in the second period through goals by Risa Shimizu and Miyazawa.

Norway threw everything at Japan late on but goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita stood firm and in injury time pulled off a breathtaking save from a close-range header, somehow clawing the ball back off the line.

Ominously for the rest of the teams, coach Futoshi Ikeda said Japan are becoming harder to beat as the Women’s World Cup progresses.

“The team is very positive, kept up the pace and I think we have become tougher than before,” he added.

Spain crushed Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history and will face the Netherlands or South Africa next.

Aitana Bonmati played a starring role with a brace and two assists in front of 43,217 fans at Eden Park in Auckland, a record crowd for a football match in New Zealand.

Coach Jorge Vilda, who made five changes to his starting line-up including dropping reigning Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, said he had “the 23 best players in the world”.

“Aitana played very well today, she scored goals and was player of the match, but the rest of the team played very well too. We have 23 Ballons d’Or,” he said.

Barcelona’s Bonmati said the humbling by Japan in the group stage had been on their minds.

“When you lose like we did the other day it is a really big blow but to win 5-1 in a World Cup knockout tie, be through to the quarter-finals and make history, that shows we are a team,” said the midfielder.

“It was not easy after the other day but today we saw the character of the players and I hope we have a lot of days left here.”

Spain were simply a class above a Swiss side who had reached the last 16 without conceding a goal but whose exit means they have still never won a major tournament knockout game.

The United States, who have underwhelmed so far in their pursuit of an unprecedented third Women’s World Cup crown in a row, play Sweden on Sunday in Melbourne.

It pits the two top-ranked sides left in the tournament after world number two Germany’s shock early exit.

The top-ranked US won their last Women’s World Cup encounter 2-0 in 2019 on their way to the title, but world number three Sweden were 3-0 winners when they last met at the Tokyo Olympics.

United States coach Vlatko Andonovski admitted the underfire title-holders were lucky to still be in the tournament after some insipid displays.

They stumbled out of their group in second place with one win — against Vietnam — and nervy draws with the Netherlands and Portugal.

“The fact we are in, we are lucky, but we are moving on,” said Andonovski.

In Sunday’s other last-16 encounter, the 2019 runners-up the Netherlands must avoid becoming the latest top team to go out at the hands of a lower-ranked opponent.

South Africa, 54th in the world, beat Italy 3-2 to grab a place in the knockouts and defeating the Dutch would be another major upset.

“Look, we’ve been underestimated so many times before,” South Africa’s coach Desiree Ellis said on the eve of the game.

“I think this group has shown that nothing can stand in their way.

“This group has shown that when the chips are down, they can stand up.”

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Jamaica ensured there would be no fairytale ending to Marta’s career as they strangled Brazil 0-0 to reach the last 16 on Wednesday and condemn the South Americans to their earliest exit since 1995 in the Women’s World Cup.

It was heartbreak for the legendary Brazilian attacker Marta, who at age 37 has said this sixth Women’s World Cup would be her last.

“Not even in my worst nightmares was it the World Cup I dreamed of,” she said, looking as shellshocked as she was upset.

But it was joy in Melbourne for a Jamaica team who are yet to concede at the tournament and are into the knockout rounds for the first time in their history.

Lorne Donaldson’s unbeaten side, who have defied rows with their federation to get this far, will most likely meet Colombia next after finishing second in the group behind France.

“This is one of the best days I’ve ever had in my life,” Donaldson said.

“To see a country like Jamaica be able to do this, it’s unbelievable.

“The girls are doing it for the country, the country should be proud.

“We had resilience, fight. We are going into a war and we need to be ready,” he added.

“And it was a war, and we stayed in the battle.”

Jamaica’s achievement, having lost all three games in their debut World Cup in 2019, is all the more remarkable considering the tensions behind the scenes.

Donaldson’s team has been in open dispute with their football federation over a lack of support, including issues over pay and poor planning in the build-up to the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer said their run at the Women’s World Cup will send a message to the bosses back home.

“We know we’ve got a point to prove and the better we do, the more pressure it creates.

“We hope they’re looking at us and taking us seriously now.”

Brazil had to win to be sure of going through, whereas Jamaica needed only to draw.

So it was little surprise that it was the South Americans who had the better of an attritional contest.

In front of a crowd of nearly 28,000, Brazil had much more of the ball and attempts at goal — Jamaica had none on target all game to Brazil’s five.

But for all that and with Marta starting, Jamaica were never really in serious trouble at any point in the game.

Jamaica, who held France 0-0 before getting their first-ever World Cup win with a 1-0 victory over Panama, were defending deep and in numbers.

Pia Sundhage’s Brazil, who have never won the World Cup, looked short of ideas as they went to the break goalless.

The second half was more of the same but Brazil were struggling to really create a golden chance.

Khadija Shaw, the prolific Manchester City striker and Jamaica’s undoubted star, was hardly seen as an attacking force.

Into the last 20 minutes and Jamaica showed few signs of buckling, as Brazil simply ran out of steam and ideas.

Marta said that many other teams in women’s football have simply caught up with eighth-ranked Brazil and the other sides at the top.

“We used to see teams that came to the World Cup and scored seven or eight goals, not any more,” she said.

“Women’s football has been growing and it is profitable.

“Marta ends here, there is no more World Cup for Marta.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have one more World Cup and very happy with what is happening with women’s football in the world.”

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Captain Lindsey Horan scored a second-half equaliser as holders the United States came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Netherlands at the Women’s World Cup on Thursday in a rematch of the 2019 final.

Midfielder Jill Roord fired home a first-half opener to threaten a momentous result in the Group E clash in Wellington in front of a crowd of 27,312.

But Horan responded just after the hour as the Americans maintained their proud unbeaten record at the Women’s World Cup stretching back to the 2011 final, when they were beaten on penalties by Japan.

The stalemate leaves the two teams locked on four points and neither is yet assured of a berth in the knockout phase heading into their final group games on Tuesday, when the US face Portugal and the Dutch play Vietnam.

Horan’s 62nd-minute equaliser from substitute Rose Lavelle’s corner came moments after a flashpoint between US midfielder Horan and her Lyon teammate Danielle van de Donk.

“I respect her so much because that’s how it should be, competitive at all times,” Horan said.

“Once we got to that tackle, all I wanted to do was score. Heat of the moment, but Rose put in an absolute dime and I got on the end of it.”

US coach Vlatko Andonovski described Horan’s response to the altercation as a turning point.

“It’s a really good example of the leader that she is. She gets fouled, kicked, hurt and obviously it’s a very difficult moment,” Andonovski said.

“And instead of crying about it, she just goes and makes a statement.

“It shows everyone the direction that the game is going to take.”

The most highly anticipated game of the tournament group phase was vastly different to the decider four years ago in France, which the US won comfortably 2-0 to retain their title.

This time the Dutch had the better of the first half, finding chinks which were also evident in the United States’ opening 3-0 win over minnows Vietnam.

The Americans recovered to dominate the final stages but couldn’t find a winner and this was a patchy performance which ends a string of 13 successive Women’s World Cup match wins and casts some doubt on their status as favourites to lift the trophy again.

Andonovski said the Dutch were given too much leeway to control the tempo in the first half.

He said that changed in the second spell and believed his team’s increased assertiveness provides a template for the rest of the tournament.

“This team is not just young, this is also a fresh team that hasn’t spent a lot of minutes together,” he said of a squad which features veterans such as Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan mixed with 14 World Cup newcomers.

“What you saw in the second half is what you’re going to see going forward as a baseline. In game three we expect to grow from there.”

Having opened with a 1-0 win over Portugal, the ninth-ranked Dutch looked like repeating that result when Roord struck smartly in the 17th minute.

The new Manchester City signing — who came off the bench in the Lyon final four years ago — finished with a low drive from the edge of the box to silence thousands of travelling US supporters.

However, following Horan’s goal, the resurgent US twice came close to unearthing a winner.

Striker Morgan found the net only for the offside flag to cut short her celebrations and a bullet strike from Sophia Smith was kept out by a goal-line clearance from Lieke Martens.

Netherlands coach Andries Jonker was content with a point given the late pressure heaped on his team.

“We performed brilliantly and at times it was really fantastic… you have to be happy with 1-1,” he said.

“These games are battles from the first second to the last. The only thing you can say is that women’s football has evolved incredibly.

“We’re there, along with the US, and I’m very satisfied with that.”

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Hannah Wilkinson scored the only goal as co-hosts New Zealand recorded a historic 1-0 win over Norway in the opening game of the Women’s World Cup on Thursday.

It was the country’s first-ever victory at the tournament and came in front of more than 42,000 in Auckland, the biggest crowd in New Zealand football history.

It came at the end of a day which started when New Zealand’s largest city was shaken in the morning by a shooting which left two people and the gunman dead, the incident happening in a downtown area close to where several World Cup teams, including Norway, were staying.

The host country’s prime minister, Chris Hipkins, attended the match alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino at Eden Park, where a moment’s silence was held in memory of the victims.

The Football Ferns, who are co-hosting the first 32-team Women’s World Cup with Australia, were not overawed by the occasion as they went on to claim a deserved victory thanks to Wilkinson’s early second-half goal.

“I still have goosebumps. We waited for this moment for such a long time,” said New Zealand’s Czech coach, Jitka Klimkova.

“Hearing our fans behind us was just an unforgettable moment, for me as a coach and for all the players involved. It is an incredible, incredible feeling.”

New Zealand had not won any of their 15 previous matches across five previous appearances at the Women’s World Cup and had set ending that dreadful record as their modest objective this time.

They duly did so against the former World Cup winners, to the delight of a near-sell-out crowd of 42,137 fans, a national record for any football match in the country, men’s or women’s.

Their margin of victory on a cold, wet and windy evening could even have been greater, had Ria Percival not missed a late penalty.

Qualifying for the knockout stages from Group A is now a realistic aim, with Switzerland and minnows the Philippines their other opponents.

“For me now, let’s just celebrate this because New Zealand waited for this moment for such a long time,” added Klimkova, whose team saw Hipkins pay a visit to their dressing room after the match.

“He came to the locker room and he was very proud for this team and thankful for the performance that he saw.

“It was a very nice moment for us to have this kind of guest.”

Norway, whose squad were woken early by a helicopter and emergency vehicles responding to the shooting just metres away from their hotel, were disappointing, although coach Hege Riise dismissed suggestions that the morning’s events had impacted them.

“It was nothing we were scared of. We knew it was under control quite early,” Riise said.

“Some players slept through it, some woke up, but we had an early morning meeting with everyone just to tell them they were safe. That was it. It didn’t affect how we performed in the game.”

“It was an opening game that we feel like we want to play one more time,” she added.

Wearing all black at the home of the country’s all-conquering rugby union team, New Zealand were the better side in the first half without creating anything to seriously trouble Norway goalkeeper Aurora Mikalsen.

The breakthrough came three minutes after the restart as Jacqui Hand’s low ball into the box from the right was swept into the net by Wilkinson, the striker based in Australia.

The game opened up as Norway, world champions in 1995, went looking for an equaliser, and Frida Maanum somehow missed the target from a promising position.

Indiah-Paige Riley had a fine effort turned over at the other end, while Norway’s former Ballon d’Or-winning forward Ada Hegerberg remained subdued.

Tuva Hansen came closest to equalising with a long-range strike that was tipped onto the bar by New Zealand goalkeeper Victoria Esson.

And it was Hansen’s handball that was then penalised following a VAR check late on, but Percival hit the bar from the resulting 90th-minute penalty.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled the host nations for the upcoming four women’s global events from 2024-27, India, England, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka included.

Following the annual conference of the cricket governing body, the ICC has revealed the hosts for their Future Tour Programme (FTP).

As a result, Bangladesh will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the second time in 2024, while England will host the tournament for the first time since 2009 in 2026.

India, on the other hand, has been awarded the hosting rights of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Whereas, Sri Lanka was chosen host of the ICC Women’s T20 Champions Trophy 2027, subject to their qualification for the event.

A Board sub-committee of the ICC, led by Martin Snedden and comprised of Ricky Skerritt, Clare Connor, Martin Snedden, and the chairman of the Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly conducted a competitive bidding process to choose the hosts.

“The hosts were selected via a competitive bidding process overseen by a Board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden,” the ICC stated.

“The ICC Board accepted the recommendations of the committee who conducted a thorough review of each bid along with ICC management,” the statement added.

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