The Women’s World Cup knockout stages get underway this morning as Spain face Switzerland in the last-16.
It’s been a tournament defined by shocks and surprises so far, after a group stage that saw Germany, Brazil and Canada crash out while Jamaica, South Africa and Morocco advanced to the knockout phase for the first time.
Switzerland will look to keep the upsets coming as they take on Spain in Auckland. The Swiss have been defensively resilient so far and did not concede a single goal as they topped Group A ahead of Norway, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Spain, meanwhile, are looking to respond to their 4-0 defeat against Japan in their final game of Group C. That result increased the pressure on head coach Jorge Vilda, as Spain look to rediscover their early form that made them contenders for the World Cup.
Follow live updates from Switzerland vs Spain in the Women’s World Cup last-16, followed by Japan vs Norway.
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Spain vs Switzerland
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Switzerland face Spain as Women’s World Cup knockout stages begin
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Last-16 tie in Auckland kicks off at 6am BST on Saturday
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Spain make five changes as Alexia Putellas drops to bench
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Switzerland topped Group A ahead of Norway and are yet to concede
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Spain are looking to bounce back from 4-0 defeat to Japan in Group C
Switzerland 0 – 0 Spain
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Spain 0-0 Switzerland
06:01 , Jamie Braidwood
Underway in Auckland! Will Spain’s changes pay off or can steady Switzerland pull off another World Cup shock?
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Spain vs Switzerland
05:59 , Jamie Braidwood
The anthems are played at the knockout stages of the Women’s World Cup are moments away!
Women’s World Cup: Spain vs Switzerland
05:54 , Jamie Braidwood
Switzerland have never reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup before but were one of three teams who did not condede a goal in the group stages. In contrast to Spain’s debutant goalkeeper, the experience of 37-year-old Gaëlle Thalmann has been key for Switzerland’s defensive solidity. They will have to be prepared to spend long spells without the ball today.
Women’s World Cup: Spain vs Switzerland
05:47 , Jamie Braidwood
There is surely no way Jorge Vilda can survive this team selection should it backfire and Spain lose to Switzerland in the last-16.
Dropping Putellas and handing a debut to a rookie goalkeeper for what is Spain’s second knockout match at the World Cup in history is a huge call.
Women’s World Cup
05:37 , Jamie Braidwood
Meanwhile, Fifa is investigating a complaint of misconduct in relation to Zambia at the Women’s World Cup.
It has been reported the alleged incident, said to involve head coach Bruce Mwape, took place during a training session ahead of Zambia’s final Group C match against Costa Rica.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), however, stressed the organisation had not received any formal complaint from players or officials.
“Fifa takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident,” a spokesperson said.
“We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian Women’s National team and this is currently being investigated.
“We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons.”
Zambia Women’s coach accused of rubbing player’s chest at World Cup
Women’s World Cup LIVE
05:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Lauren James inspired England to a thrilling Women’s World Cup victory over China and now the Lionesses are into the knock-out stages of the tournament.
The Chelsea forward has produced some spectacular strikes already down under, with England rebounding from the injury loss of Keira Walsh.
Sarina Wiegman has reshuffled the pack spectacularly and England have regained their confidence, particularly in front of goal.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Lionesses’ next challenge in Australia:
When do England play next? Women’s World Cup fixtures and route to the final
Women’s World Cup LIVE
05:23 , Jamie Braidwood
England goalkeeper Mary Earps hailed “mastermind” Sarina Wiegman whose system switch-up stirred the Lionesses to life and ensured they launched themselves into the World Cup’s knockout phase with a perfect record.
Wiegman’s move from a 4-3-3 to a 3-5-2 formation in the absence of injured midfielder Keira Walsh inspired a 6-1 victory over China to conclude the group stage and set up a last-16 meeting with Nigeria in Brisbane.
And there was more hopeful news for Lionesses fans on Friday morning after it was revealed Walsh stepped up her recovery from the knee injury she sustained against Denmark, and was following an individual programme whilst her 22 team-mates trained together at the Central Coast Stadium.
Asked if the new system had been in the works for a while, Earps replied: “No, not really, I mean obviously Sarina is the mastermind behind all the tactics and the formations, so yes, we just do as we’re told, we get in formation, do our job to the best of our ability and it paid off for us.”
More here
Mary Earps insists fearless England ready to avoid World Cup banana skin
Women’s World Cup LIVE
05:15 , Jamie Braidwood
The race for the Women’s World Cup golden boot is taking shape as the group stages continue in Australia and New Zealand.
Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa bagged a brace in the 4-0 victory over Spain to move top of the top-scorer standings. Alexandra Popp, one of the pre-tournament favourites for the golden boot, joined her on four goals but the Germany captain will be unable to add any more after the two-time champions crashed out in the group stages.
Lauren James among those on three goals after her stunning double in England’s 6-1 win over China. If two or more players finish on the same number of goals, the golden boot will be determined by assists and then on minutes played.
Women’s World Cup golden boot standings
Four goals
Hinata Miyazawa (Japan) – one assist
Alexandra Popp (Germany)
Three goals
Lauren James (England) – three assists
Ary Borges (Brazil) – one assist
Kadidiatou Diani (France) – one assist
Sophie Román Haug (Norway)
Women’s World Cup LIVE: Team news!
05:09 , Jamie Braidwood
The team news is in and the big news for Spain is that Jorge Vilda has decided to drop Alexia Putellas and his goalkeeper as he makes five changes from the 4-0 defeat to Japan. Barcelona’s Cata Coll replaces Misa Rodriguez in goal for Spain and will make her international debut in the knockout stages of the World Cup, while two-time Ballon d’Or Putellas drops to the bench.
There’s also a change at centre-back, with Laia Codina coming in for Rocío Gálvez. Mariona Caldentey and Olga Carmona are also replaced, with Esther Hernandez, Oihane Hernández and Alba Redondo all coming in. Big changes.
Switzerland: Thalmann, Stierli, Maritz, Riesen, Aigbogun, Reuteler, Sow, Waelti, Crnogorcevic, Bachmann, Piubel.
Subs: Peng, Friedli, Marti, Felber, Arfaoui, Rey, Buehler, Mauron, Calligaris, Humm, Terchoun, Lehmann.
Spain: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Hernandez, Codina, Abelleira, Bonmati, Hermoso, Gonzalez, Redondo, Paralluelo.
Subs: Rodriguez, Salon, Andres, Guerrero, Caldentey, Putellas, Navarro, Perez, Carmona, Galvez, Zornoza, del Castillo
04:57 , Jamie Braidwood
The two squads inspect the pitch ahead of kick-off. We should have some team news any moment now…
04:49 , Jamie Braidwood
Switzerland manager Inka Grings on her team’s progress to the last-16 and the improvements they must have to score more goals:
“It feels very good to have made it through. There are a lot of things we can be satisfied with, and we are, but we’ve got to understand that the journey is not finished yet. I played in Germany long enough to see things differently. You’ve got to be able to instil a winning mentality. If you’ve got enough conviction, anything is possible.
“It was something that we analysed intensively, we talked through with the team and [we will look to] also take the offensive players, assertive players, bring them more into the team. Of course we have to be more assertive in that run towards the goal.”
Women’s World Cup LIVE
04:40 , Jamie Braidwood
Spain head coach Jorge Vilda warned that his team won’t forget the 4-0 defeat to Japan as they begin their knockout stage campaign against Switzerland.
“These types of defeats leave a deep mark upon us,” he said. “But they are also necessary in the evolutionary development of the team and process of growth.
“We haven’t forgotten about it and we will not forget about it.
“Switzerland have something very valuable, that in three games no-one scored a goal against them. That means that the defence is very solid.”
Spain are playing in just their second knockout game at the World Cup, after being knocked out in the last-16 by the USA four years ago.
Women’s World Cup LIVE
04:34 , Jamie Braidwood
The upsets at the Women’s World Cup group stage started on the opening day and ended with the biggest of all. Germany, the two-time champions and among the tournament favourites, are out before the quarter-finals for the first time in their history, a result that ranks as both the most stunning shock the tournament has ever seen, while also simply continuing the theme of the greatest group stage ever played at the Women’s World Cup. After all, hadn’t we learned to expect the unexpected?
A 1-1 draw against South Korea sealed Germany’s fate, following their dramatic 2-1 defeat to Colombia earlier in Group H. It meant Morocco, making their Women’s World Cup debut, progressed ahead of the side who thrashed them 6-0 in the opening round. The first-ever 32-team Women’s World Cup and the decision to expand from 24 teams has been a resounding triumph: rather than creating a more predictable group stage, it has done the opposite and led to wonderfully chaotic, thrilling tournament football.
How the Women’s World Cup produced its greatest ever group stage
How the Women’s World Cup produced its greatest ever group stage
Women’s World Cup LIVE
04:33 , Jamie Braidwood
After 16 days and a group stage that was full of twists and turns, the state of play at the Women’s World Cup remains largely as it was before the start of the tournament: there is no standout favourite. Despite the shock exits of Germany, Brazil, and Canada, the tournament remains open to a number of teams and the list of contenders grew as the group stage progressed. No one is ruling out anyone, though as ever, when it comes to teams punching above their weight, the question at this point in the World Cup is how long they can sustain their momentum.
One of the differences between this year’s last-16 to four years ago and previous tournaments is there are more games than usual at this stage where there is a clear underdog. That, of course, is a result of a group phase like no other in Australia and New Zealand and its string of high-profile shocks. South Africa-Netherlands, Nigeria-England, Morocco-France, and even Jamaica-Colombia, all carry the edge of potential surprises.
Women’s World Cup last-16 preview
Can England break cycle of World Cup shocks or will underdogs continue to thrive?
Women’s World Cup LIVE
04:32 , Jamie Braidwood
How to watch today’s matches
Saturday 5 August
Match 49: Switzerland vs Spain (06:00, Auckland) – BBC One
Match 50: Japan vs Norway (09:00, Wellington) – ITV 1
Women’s World Cup LIVE
04:31 , Jamie Braidwood
The Women’s World Cup knockout rounds are set after the group stages featured a number of shocks and stunning upsets in Australia and New Zealand.
Germany, Brazil and Canada were all knocked out in the groups, with Jamaica, South Africa and Morocco among those through to the last-16 for the first time.
England are looking strong after Sarina Wiegman’s tactical tweak released Lauren James, with the Lionesses forward scoring twice in the 6-1 win against China.
It means England will play Nigeria in the last-16, with the knockout stages getting underway on Saturday with Switzerland vs Spain and Japan vs Norway.
Here is everything you need to know about how to watch the Women’s World Cup.
Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today
Good morning!
04:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Hello and welcome as the Women’s World Cup knockout stages get underway this morning, with Spain facing Switzerland in the last-16.
It’s been a tournament defined by shocks and surprises so far, after a group stage that saw Germany, Brazil and Canada crash out while Jamaica, South Africa and Morocco advanced to the knockout phase for the first time.
Switzerland will look to keep the upsets coming as they take on Spain in Auckland. The Swiss have been defensively resilient so far and did not concede a single goal as they topped Group A ahead of Norway, New Zealand and the Philippines.
Spain, meanwhile, are looking to respond to their 4-0 defeat against Japan in their final game of Group C. That result increased the pressure on head coach Jorge Vilda, as Spain look to rediscover their early form that made them contenders for the World Cup.
Follow live updates from Switzerland vs Spain in the Women’s World Cup last-16, followed by Japan vs Norway.
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