Australia’s home World Cup was a spectacle that captured hearts across the nation. But it was an anxious start for the hosts after the bombshell news of Sam Kerr picking up a calf injury on the eve of the tournament. The Matildas steadied the ship with a 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland, but then suffered a 3-2 loss to Nigeria to leave knockout round qualification in the balance. 

 

Needing a big performance in their final group fixture, Australia posted a statement 4-0 win over Olympic champions Canada with the likes of Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler and Hayley Raso stepping up in Kerr's absence. A 2-0 win over Denmark in the last 16 set up a historic quarter-final meeting with France in Brisbane. 

It was a result that sent shockwaves around the world and had many experts predicting Japan could go all the way as the Nadeshiko routed Spain 4-0. Looking back on the tournament after La Roja were crowned champions, the victory – the only game Spain failed to win – looks even more impressive. 

 

In the battle for top spot in Group C, Hinata Miyazawa opened the scoring on 12 minutes after racing onto a delightful Jun Endo pass before Riko Ueki doubled the lead as the half hour approached. Miyazawa fired home to make it three in the 40th minute, leaving Spain shell-shocked at the interval. 

Mina Tanaka wrapped up the victory with a fabulous individual effort in the final 10 minutes as Futoshi Ikeda’s side claimed one of the most eye-catching wins of the World Cup. 

 

Perhaps the biggest talking point after the game was that Japan’s win came despite having just 23 percent of the possession. It was a counter-attacking game plan that worked to perfection and clinical finishing at its best in a victory that will live long in the memory. 

The World Cup gave the Philippines a new set of sporting heroes as the Filipinas continued their incredible rise in world football, with a shock 1-0 win over co-hosts New Zealand in the group stage being the highlight of a historical campaign that created waves back home and around the world. 

 

Since Alen Stajcic’s appointment as their head coach in 2021, the Southeast Asian nation have made it to the semi-finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to qualify for their maiden World Cup, were crowned the Southeast Asian champions for the first time and rose to a best-ever 44th in the world rankings. 

They made their World Cup debut with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in Dunedin, but their spirited performance received plaudits and was a sign of things to come. Against New Zealand, who came into the clash on the back of a 1-0 win over former champions Norway, the Philippines left an indelible legacy on the tournament. 

 

Sarina Bolden scored their first-ever World Cup goal in the first half while goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel and the defence, marshalled by Hali Long, ensured they came out with their first-ever victory. The win in Wellington was not only the Philippines' finest footballing moment, it will also rank among the country's great sporting achievements. 

It’s fair to say Korea Republic failed to live up to expectations after losing their first two matches against Colombia and Morocco, but the Taeguk Ladies finally got things right in their final group game to send one of the tournament favourites packing. 

 

With Germany needing a win to guarantee qualification to the last 16, Cho So-hyun stunned the two-time champions. Playing in her third World Cup and in her 10th successive game at the competition, the 35-year-old latched onto a Lee Young-ju pass to coolly slot past Merle Frohms in the sixth minute. 

A trademark Alexandra Popp header levelled proceedings shortly before half-time and the striker hit the woodwork with another header in the second half as Germany desperately pushed forward. With Morocco beating Colombia in the other Group H game, nothing short of a win would do. 

 

However, try as they might, they could not find a second as a resolute Korea held firm and, incredibly, just like the Korean men’s team had done five years previously in Russia, the women eliminated Germany in the final group game to end an otherwise disappointing campaign on a high. 

With Vietnam drawn to face the two-time defending champions United States in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match, memories came flooding back of when a relentless US side scored 13 times without reply against Thailand four years earlier. 

 

But, in front of a sizable Vietnamese support in Auckland, their Southeast Asian rivals were not going to suffer the same fate. 

Sophia Smith put the holders one up inside 15 minutes but there remained just a goal in it when the US were awarded a penalty three minutes before the interval. Alex Morgan, who’d netted five past Thailand in 2019, stepped up, only to see her spot-kick well saved by goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh.

 

Smith made it two in first-half stoppage time, but Mai Duc Chung’s side continued to hold their own. It took until the 77th minute for the US to add a third as Vietnam, against the most successful side in the women’s game, showed they were more than worthy of their place on football’s biggest stage.

China PR went into the World Cup as Asian champions, having reclaimed the continental title for the first time in 16 years in 2022, so hopes were high that they would be able to continue their perfect record of having advanced to the knockout rounds each time they have appeared at the global showpiece.

 

Those hopes were dashed by a last-minute Denmark winner in their opening game in what many predicted would be a battle for second place in Group D. Shui Qingxia’s side had to recover for their must-win game against Haiti, but things went from bad to worse when Zhang Rui was dismissed with less than 30 minutes on the clock.