Full Women's World Cup Quarterfinal Preview 🇪🇸🇳🇱🇯🇵🇸🇪🇦🇺🇫🇷🇨🇴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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It’s Wednesday, August 9th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything World Cup.

“It wouldn't be life without moments like this, and I know without a doubt we will be back and hungrier than ever.”

Sophia Smith weighs in on the USWNT loss to Sweden in the Round of 16, categorizing the early departure as “heartbreak”... though perhaps one necessary for the future.

I. A closer look at the Quarter-finalists 🇪🇸 🇳🇱 🇯🇵 🇸🇪 🇦🇺 🇫🇷 🇨🇴 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 

Despite hopeful attempts to stop time, the ninth Women’s World Cup is officially down to eight teams. They contest for continuation across four games in two days, starting Thursday evening in the US. New Zealand and Australia split the party, with the Kiwis playing host first as Spain and the Netherlands bout in Wellington.

This year’s tournament has been characterized by an expanded pool of 32 teams featuring no small measure of valiant surprises as big teams bounced and new teams proved their quality. Fittingly, the remaining eight nations represent three confederations spread across Asia, South America and Europe. And whereas the 2019 World Cup featured just one team outside of Europe at this stage (the USWNT), this year’s event features three (Colombia, Japan, Australia). Just one team in contention has won the World Cup before: Japan.

The game is global, parity is growing, and the chances we’ll see a new team get their first star is high.

But before we get there, a look at the match-ups looming:

Spain vs the Netherlands 🇪🇸 🇳🇱 (Thursday, 9 p.m. EST, FOX, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo)

While Spain are among the better performing teams this World Cup, they’ve also evinced some serious defensive trouble. Against Japan their lapses were left exposed and Dutch manager Andries Jonker would be wise to exploit them. Unfortunately, the force of the Dutch midfield will miss this game, as Daniëlle van de Donk is forced into absence with yellow card accumulation. Spain may be favored slightly in this match-up, equipped with no less than three players in golden boot contention (Aitana Bonmati, Alba Redondo and Jenni Hermoso each have three goals). But fate could prove unkind if the Dutch can counter like Japan did.

Japan vs Sweden 🇯🇵🇸🇪 (Friday, 3:30 a.m. EST, FOX, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo)

Stolting the smooth run of the fiercest-looking side in this tournament is a tall order for Sweden. But having just toppled the Americans, perhaps their engine of counter-attack and set-piece to death football will be roaring at renewed capacity. As ever, Sweden will threaten Japan on the cross and corner, looming dangerously about their goal looking to get their heads on things. Japan’s 3-4-3 cruises into this match-up having yet to be truly challenged. They’ll have the ball, the cohesion, and unless Sweden pulls off another upset, very likely the win as well.

England vs Colombia 🇨🇴 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (Saturday, 6:30 a.m. EST, FOX, Peacock, Telemundo)

Should the incredible atmospheres tracking Colombia’s historic run continue, the English may be in for a raucous opposition in Sydney as they test themselves against CONMEBOL’s sole remaining representative. At face value, one might imagine the reigning European Champions are favorites in this match-up, but Colombia’s dynamic attack (propelled in part by the burgeoning star of 18-year-old Linda Caicedo), will test them. The Lionesses have looked threatening at times, but have stumbled through in other places, defeating Nigeria in their last match after (extremely well-taken) penalties. They’ll be missing the exceptional talent of Lauren James in this one, whose red card collected against Nigeria likely ends her tournament. (James has since issued an apology via social media). As ever, though, England enter this equation with the guiding force of perhaps the best manager in the women’s game: Sarina Wiegman. Wiegman has guided her team through several forced changes and tactical adjustments in this year’s event. To find victory, she’ll need to do so once again against Colombia.

Australia vs France 🇦🇺 🇫🇷(Saturday, 3 a.m. EST, FOX, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo)

Without question, France are favorites here … on paper. But there’s a buzz about the Matildas seeping across the country and into the football as the co-hosts are back with their talismanic striker Sam Kerr, though have still been cooking in her absence. One of the more interesting elements to this contest will be whether and how Austrailia’s manager Tony Gustavvson elects to use their previously missing star as she returns from ill-timed injury. For in Kerr’s absence, others have stepped up. Shifting the dynamic might prove destructive. France will have the ball here, as well as the force of world class talents firing in Australia’s direction. While Australia has plenty of quality in their ranks, this is a test of home nation momentum vs. world class talent, and Australia might just pull it off.

II. The USWNT is looking forward 🇺🇸

After a brief break, the USWNT will turn the page to meet the next chapter of this era. That starts with a set of friendlies against South Africa this September hosted across the Midwest. The pair of trials welcomes the reigning AFCON champions, Banyana Banyana, to the US following a commendable second World Cup for one among several teams bidding to host the 2027 edition. (That list of bidding nations includes a joint bid between the US and Mexico).

The question of the skipper in charge of this ship will be the most pressing issue for that September window. And though Vlatko Andonovski’s fate remains unspecified, it seems near-certain (and necessary) that a beleaguered World Cup performance ushers in a fresh chapter.

Already, hopeful murmurs wonder what England’s esteemed manager, Sarina Wiegman, might be doing a few weeks from now. The suggestion might roil those who’d like to see her remain with the Lionesses. But her name should be high on a list of those the US will be after.

Domestically, other managers in NWSL may be interested in the position. Perhaps the most interesting among them is the name originally in contention alongside Vlatko Andonovski: OL Reign’s Laura Harvey. Harvey is relatively-successful in the league, understands the domestic as well as global landscape of the game, and has worked closely with key figures of the current generation— the inimitable Rose Lavelle among them.

Speaking of generations, in Rog’s conversation with Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, the WSL gaffer identified a strange absence of US players in their prime as a factor in defeat this summer. Instead, the US squad straddled generations, but skipped the “prime” years. Between now and next summer’s Olympics, it seems likely some veterans may move on: that includes but may not be limited to the already confirmed retirement of 38-year-old Megan Rapinoe. Though Alex Morgan (34 years old) has said she doesn’t plan to hang up the boots yet.

The younger generation, which includes 21-year-old Trinity Rodman, 22-year-old Sophia Smith and 23-year-old Naomi Girma will still be growing. And with the shock of defeat lingering, the effort with which they tear back into this NWSL season will be, if nothing else, exceptionally entertaining.

And so with defeat still bitter, South Africa looming, a manager in limbo, generations shifting and NWSL waiting, this US side begins to evolve toward the Olympics next summer.

III. News and Notes

1. FIFPRO, a global player-led representative body for footballers, has issued a statement confirming its support of the Nigerian Women’s Football Team as they seek clarity on payments of bonuses, camp allowances and expenses now that their tournament has officially wrapped up.

2. From The Independent: “Life-changing bonuses” for nations that made history qualifying for the Round of 16

3. Amid all there is to celebrate, reminders of corruption, discontent, and at times assault linger beneath the surface of teams competing in this World Cup. That includes among this history-making Colombia side.

IV. Parting shots

“THIS IS HISTORY”- Fox Sports analyst and former Colombia National team player Melissa Ortiz reacts to Las Cafeteras making their first-ever Women’s World Cup Quarter-final.