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0 As the round of 16 takes shape, the teams in three last groups are still trying to secure their places in the knockout stage.
Sweden looks overwhelmingly secure in its place atop Group G, which would send it to a rematch of its 2019 World Cup defeat against the United States. But in a tournament of surprises, Italy and Argentina may still have something to say about that.
Brazil, meanwhile, is fighting for its tournament life, as well as to extend the World Cup career of its superstar, Marta. But to do that, it will need one of France or Jamaica to falter.
South Africa vs. Italy
This match is a battle for second place in Group G. For Italy, it’s essentially win or go home. For South Africa, the path is narrower — the South Africans most likely need to win by more than one goal to remain in contention to advance. The higher the score, the better.
The Italians are coming off a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Sweden. South Africa lost a close match to Sweden, 2-1, dropping a game it had led by allowing two goals, including a game-winner by Sweden’s Amanda Ilestedt in the 90th minute.
The game “is going to be like a final,” Italy defender Elena Linari said Tuesday. “We must give everything that we have in order to get a good result, and actually achieve what we came here for.”
Argentina vs. Sweden
This is the match that American fans will be watching intently, as it will have a large say in their opponent on Sunday in Melbourne. It would require a disastrous — or miraculous, depending on one’s perspective — result for that opponent to be anyone other than Sweden.
Sweden is currently winning Group G comfortably, and it will advance to the knockout stage regardless of what happens with Argentina. The Argentines, on the other hand, are currently last the group, and they would need a multi-goal win over Sweden and a South African win over Italy (possibly with some helpful math) to advance.
Jamaica vs. Brazil
Brazil needs to win this match to avoid elimination, because it can’t count on Panama, the worst team in the group, to beat France. But Jamaica has its sights set on the round of 16, too, and it can advance with a win or a draw.
“I think the players are liking Australia,” Jamaica Coach Lorne Donaldson said. “They like it here. They see some kangaroos. So we want to stay a little bit longer.”
His comments came after the Reggae Girlz, as the team is known, earned a scoreless draw against France and their first-ever World Cup win, over Panama.
For the Brazilian star Marta, 37, who has been the face of her national team for almost two decades, a deep run in this tournament could be her last chance to leave her mark on international soccer.
Panama vs. France
This will be Panama’s final match in this World Cup after losses to Brazil and Jamaica. France is currently tied with Jamaica for first place in Group F, and a win will help its chances of coming away as the group winner.
The French entered this World Cup as an elite team working through adversity after their previous coach was ousted in March and their new coach, Hervé Renard, stepped in despite never having coached a women’s team.
After a scoreless draw against Jamaica in its opener, France reignited its hopes of contending deep into the tournament with a 2-1 win over Brazil in which it grabbed the winner on a Wendie Renard header in the 83rd minute.
