WWC - Matchday 3 Update
Decision day drama, the goal of the tournament, and a step forward for the game in Concacaf!
Decision day at the World Cup has come and gone and just 2 out of 6 Concacaf teams are through to the knockout stages. Coming into the tournament, 2 teams advancing is what I, and many pundits, expected. Having said that, the way this group stage transpired exceeded expectations in a way that is hard to describe. I think we are at an inflection point with the women’s game in this region. FIFA, federations, and fans must continue to invest in and support this game and these teams! There is a lot to cover in this edition - let’s get into it!
Concacaf Headlines
The Reggae Girlz make history
Jamaica punched their ticket to the knockout round with an impressive draw against Brazil that sent them packing (more on that later). This achievement is historic for several reasons:
The Reggae Girlz will represent their country in a World Cup knockout game for the first time (men’s or women’s).
They became just the 3rd team from Concacaf to advance out of the group stage.
They are the first Caribbean nation to advance out of the group stage (men’s or women’s).
After the game, manager Lorne Donaldson said: “I tell you what, this is one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life! To see these girls, to see a country like Jamaica, to be able to do this, is unbelievable to just watch it while I am alive, right here, standing. I thank the girls to do this for their country, and the country should be proud”
As promised, Donaldson also celebrated the win with a cartwheel (that was much closer to a summersault…but we won’t nitpick here) after the final whistle blew (see here). Despite continued underinvestment in women’s football and ongoing disputes with the federation, these women have come into this tournament and made a statement! They finished the group with 3 clean sheets - including holding both France and Brazil to scoreless draws.
Marta rockets in goal of the tournament
No - not that Marta, we are talking about Marta Cox from Panama! She was our player to watch for Panama coming into this tournament and this goal shows why. Despite being eliminated prior to this game, you could tell this team came into the matchup versus France with a lot of energy. Marta Cox, in particular, looked like she had something to prove.
Just 60 seconds into the game, she lined up for a 30+ yard free kick. We have seen the type of magic she can generate on set pieces before but what came next shocked the world. The power generated in her run up paired with the ridiculous bend from right to left made sure no keeper on earth could stop her shot - for me this is my new reference point for top bins!
The raw emotion from Cox after this historic goal was on full display. This was her first World Cup goal after two frustrating outings to start the competition. It was the first goal for Panama in their Women’s World Cup history - you could see what it meant to the team and the fans. But on a deeper level, it was her late mother’s dream to watch her play at a World Cup and Marta dedicated this goal to her as she got up with tears in her eyes and sent a kiss to the sky.
One regional giant survives while the other crashes out
This tournament has been full of surprises and the Concacaf giants were not immune. The USWNT were facing a lot of questions going into their final game against Portugal needing a result to advance and Canada faced a similar situation against the hosts (Australia). While the USWNT were able to get the result they needed, they were inches away from an early exit (more on that in a bit). Canada on the other hand, were absolutely played off the field by a Sam Kerr-less Australia in what can only be described as shocking.
Match Reviews + What’s Next?
Jamaica: 0-0 Draw vs Brazil
Because of their impressive result against France, all Jamaica needed from this game was a result and they would advance. Brazil opted to start the legendary Marta for this must-win game, but in the end it was not enough (more on Marta at the end of this post). The Reggae Girlz were defensively dominant in their first two games and it was the same against Brazil. Despite Brazil having most of the ball and a number of chances, the Jamaican backline never seemed threatened and maintained their composure throughout. Watching captain Bunny Shaw’s speech to the team after this historic result will go down as one of my favorite memories of this World Cup!
What’s Next? They will face-off against Colombia on Tuesday, 8/8 at 4am ET. While The Reggae Girlz have already made history, they know that they can compete with any team at this competition and will want to make a deep run. This matchup versus Colombia has all the ingredients of a classic and will feature two of the best players at this tournament…Bunny Shaw and Linda Caicedo!
United States: 0-0 Draw vs Portugal
This game did not go as the USWNT planned and Portugal were in it until they very end. The US just couldn’t get into a rhythm going forward and were not dangerous enough in and around the box. In stoppage time, Portugal had a golden opportunity to knock the USWNT out of the tournament…but the ball smashed off the post and the US survived. If you have been following this tournament or this team at all, you have probably seen hundreds of takes from fans and commentators about this game and the overall performance.
I think everyone can agree - this team has not performed up to their own potential and expectations and this is not what we have become accustomed to seeing from the USWNT at previous editions of the World Cup. People can criticize and have opinions on performance…they have every right to do that. But I find it very interesting that people are questioning, and making statements about, the player’s effort and their desire to win. Every woman is on this team because they want to win this tournament!
What’s Next? A matchup with Sweden (the closest they have to a rival) on Sunday, 8/6 at 5am ET. Historically, Sweden have found ways to draw or beat the USWNT at big tournaments (2011 and 2015 World Cups + 2016 and 2020 Olympics). These are different teams and this is a different tournament but the history is there. This game is the perfect opportunity for both teams to make a statement to the world - and the USWNT will need to be at their best to advance.
Canada: 0-4 Loss vs Australia
There was talk about Sam Kerr returning in this game to help the Matildas advance out of the group…but in the end, they didn’t need her. The hosts took the advantage less than 10 minutes in and then had a second goal called back. They followed the disappointment up with a goal just a few minutes later and never looked back. At the half, Canada made 4 changes (including taking Christine Sinclair off in what ended up being the final World Cup game of her illustrious career). The subs didn’t provide much and the team looked shellshocked as the Aussies added another 2 goals in the second half to finish off the Olympic champs.
What’s Next? This is the big question - not only for this team but all of Canadian soccer. After winning Gold at the Olympics and the men’s team breezing through World Cup qualifying, it seemed like the opportunity for Canada to take the jump to establish themselves as the top nation in Concacaf. Unfortunately, it has not been the case on and off the pitch. There are massive issues facing the federation and righting the ship during these next 3 years will be crucial.
Panama: 3-6 Loss vs France
In my last post, I wondered what type of energy Las Canaleras were going to bring to this game and they did not disappoint! Yes, this score line did get out of hand, but for the already eliminated side, they fought until the end. This was a passion-filled performance that made Panamanian and Concacaf fans proud. It started with Marta Cox’s wondergoal and concluded with 2 more second half goals. After each goal, the whole team came together to celebrate, dance, and enjoy what it means to represent your nation at a World Cup. You could see what this meant in the scenes after the game as they celebrated with their fans…it meant everything!
What’s Next? While just making the World Cup was a success, after two shutout losses to start the group, another shutout loss would’ve been a tough way to go out. Instead, the team showed heart and grit and dropped 3 on the French. The spirit in this team plus the support of their fans, and the improving conditions for women’s soccer in Panama, are the ingredients for a huge leap. This team will have another chance at progress in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup! I think manager Ignacio Quintana explained it best:
"It is promising for the future, it is the beginning of everything. I'm proud of what this team has done, not just the players but the technical staff and the federation. We have a lot of players aged 20 or 21 and playing three World Cup games is very positive."
Haiti: 0-2 Loss vs Denmark
This loss for Haiti didn’t come down to VAR this time…in fact, Denmark had 2 goals disallowed after reviews. The inability to create dangerous chances in the final third defined Les Grenadières struggles at this World Cup. There were moments of brilliance in this game from Corventina and Sherly Jeudy, but it wasn’t enough to create their first goal of the tournament. This performance was another example of a team that is building something and has a lot of potential going forward!
What’s Next? They did not look like a debut nation at any point in this tournament - if they could have scored a few goals they would likely still be in the mix. Despite the early exit and no goals scored, I feel like this Haitian team are just a few pieces away from being a force in Concacaf! The fact that they performed at this level in the midst of national turmoil, and without the federation support other teams have, just shows how high the ceiling is for this side.
Costa Rica: 1-3 Loss vs Zambia
It was a disappointing way to end the World Cup for Las Ticas - this game felt winnable for them (facing a Zambian side who were outscored 0-10 in their first two games). Zambia grabbed the opener with a great finish off a corner just 3 minutes in and added another goal from the penalty spot before the half. Las Ticas did not leave this tournament scoreless though, as Melissa Herrera scored just after the break. In stoppage time, Zambia sealed their first World Cup win with a third goal. In this game, and in this tournament, it just never clicked for Costa Rica.
What’s Next? Las Ticas will be disappointed with the outcome at this World Cup. After a fantastic showing at the 2015 edition, the team was heartbroken to miss out in 2019. This was an opportunity to start building momentum again for the program. Many will be asking why Shirley Cruz (a Ticas legend) was not included in this squad and it is unclear whether Amelia Valverde (who has been in charge since 2015) will get another cycle with this team as a new executive committee takes over the federation. If she does not get another shot with the team, she should be applauded for all she has done for the women’s game in Costa Rica and Concacaf. There is a ton of talent in this team and I believe there is a bright future!
Recommended Content
I hope you all have been enjoying these extra pieces to enhance your 2023 World Cup experience - here are a few more for you!
Jamaica's struggle for equality and respect at World Cup (click here) - every team at this World Cup has faced adversity on the pitch and most teams have battled other issues off the pitch as well. Unfortunately, the women’s game is still underfunded and an afterthought for many footballing federations. This has been true in Jamaica. This piece from ESPN provides a lot of backstory between The Reggae Girlz and the Jamaican Football Federation (JFF) including how players never received their participation money from the 2019 World Cup. It also gives insight into how advocates like Cedella Marley and GoFundMe campaigns have supported this team over the years. This team is on a mission on and off the pitch - I think manager Lorne Donaldson summed it up best: “cut the bullcrap, it's time to step up and support women's football”
With Brazil's exit, Marta delivers an emotional farewell to the World Cup (click here) - it’s hard to put into words what Marta means to the sport (not just the women’s game but the sport as a whole). On the field, she is one of the greatest to ever do it…a true GOAT. She is the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup (men’s or women’s) with 17 goals and has been world player of the year 6 times. Off the pitch, she is an icon and inspiration to generations of players. She has given so many women around the world something she never had - a futbolista to look up to and admire. In a pregame presser with tears in her eyes, she explained: “When I started playing, I didn't have an idol, a female idol. You guys didn't show any female games, how was I supposed to see other players? How I was I supposed to understand that I could arrive at a national team and become a reference?" As she left the pitch for the last time, she was seen encouraging Bunny Shaw and the Jamaican team - a class act! She also gave an impassioned postgame speech imploring fans and federations to support the women’s game. THANK YOU MARTA!
That’s all for this ConcaCorner update! Both the USWNT and Jamaica are still in this and will face tough tests in the Round-of-16. Stay tuned for reviews of those matchups and other stories from the 2023 Women’s World Cup!