Spain Qualifies for First Ever World Cup Semi-Final 🇪🇸

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It’s Friday, August 11th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything World Cup.

“The world should be looking out for the US team in 2027 and I think they should be looking out for us in ‘24 as well.”

The inimitable Becky Sauerbrunn weighs in on how she believes this USWNT will rebound from World Cup disappointment.

I. Spain qualifies for first-ever World Cup semi-final with extra time victory over the Netherlands 🇪🇸🇳🇱

From the start, Spain controlled this game and eclipsed the Dutch for chances. Nevertheless, it took them 81 minutes to find a goal. And after all that possession (and the quality chances conjured from it) their first goal came from a penalty.

Mariona Caldentey (Barcelona) secured the penalty to make it 1-0 with just 10 minutes remaining (though 12 minutes of added time loomed). But the Dutch came back with a fury, unleashing multiple counters, capitalizing on Spain’s defensive errors, until they found an equalizer. Rather poetically, the goal came from their veteran defender guilty for the costly handball, Stefanie van der Gragt, who’d been boldly moved to the forward line in a display of managerial finagling that worked. Van der Gragt retires after the tournament, but not before notching this epic knockout round equalizer.

Credit to the Dutch is due for shifting their approach as the match wore on, as they accrued a more even tempo (and scoreline) by the final whistle. But the control of the game remained Spain’s, who found the victorious difference maker from Barcelona’s 19-year-old burgeoning talent, Salma Paralluelo, a substitute who made an immediate, incredible impact.

And with that, Spain booked the first seat in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, the furthest they’ve ever reached in the tournament.

II. Sweden books date with Spain; Japan’s historic run stutters 🇸🇪🇳🇱

The thing about this sport of ours is it’s cruel sometimes. The knockout round can cruise in, capable of turning group-stage momentum on its head, shifting expectations in ways that manifest kindly for one team while obliterating the other. And so it was Friday evening in Auckland, as a reinvigorated Sweden ended an incredible tournament for Japan.

Nadeshiko Japan entered this match as frequently presumed favorites, given that their tournament form had featured some of the most dynamic, flexible, technical, and well-executed football in this year’s edition. But Sweden, who until last evening didn’t look overly convincing in their victories, picked them apart. And credit to them.

Sweden came out on the front foot and scored first, rather unsurprisingly, from a set-piece. The revelation comes not from the set-piece execution, but from the incredible change of character in that it didn’t come from the air. All the same it did come from Arsenal’s Amanda Ilestedt, who as a center back, is a top scorer (in a four-way tie in second place for the 2023 golden boot) now with four goals and counting.

A penalty awarded to Sweden made it 2-0 in the 51st minute. The gap felt gargantuan at that point. And though Japan did claw back toward parity, closing the gap of Swedish victory with an 87th minute goal from Honoka Hayashi, it wasn’t enough to salvage the evening.

This Japan side has introduced the world to an enchanting generation of technical and creative talent. And while many may miss watching their run through this tournament continue, solace can be found in watching this side continue on in the future.

With their departure, as the sole remaining representative of the teams already in possession of a World Cup trophy (Japan, Germany, Norway, USA), we are now guaranteed to crown a brand new victor in Sydney.

III. COMING UP 🇦🇺 🇫🇷 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇨🇴

Two more tests remain in the World Cup quarter-finals:

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

Lyon’s Australian wonder, Ellie Carpenter, spoke movingly to media this week about watching the Matildas play with about 300 observers present when she was a kid. Now, it’s sold out crowds and record-breaking attendance. Australia will expect and need that support Saturday, as they play an elite French team in Brisbane. A key (ongoing) question will be the fitness of Chelsea’s world-renowned striker Sam Kerr, and how or whether Australia uses her. (Questions have swirled regarding the wisdom of inserting Kerr into the starting line-up as she returns from injury. Though Australia’s manager, Tony Gustavvson, recently confirmed she’d certainly start if healthy).

France has threatened to make good on their talent for years, but have yet to lift a major international trophy. With ascendant and esteemed international manager Herve Renard newly at the helm, theirs is a verve renewed. And long-time goal-scoring-legend-extraordinaire, Eugénie Le Sommer, is playing near peak potential. It took them a moment, but their attack is clicking cohesively and dangerously in the final third across their most recent matches. Any defensive mistake from the opposition has been pounced on. Though, they may find a different test in the Matildas.

These two met for a friendly just before the World Cup began, resulting in a testy 1-0 victory for the Aussies. Manchester City’s Mary Fowler made the difference in a match otherwise dominated by the French in possession. With much higher stakes this time, the result could certainly flow in the same direction. As the Australians won’t need or want the ball, and will only need a moment to counter.

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

In the absence of Lauren James (serving a two-match suspension for her red card against Nigeria), Sarina Wiegman will need to reorganize her side once more as they prepare to meet Colombia. They won the Euros with an unchanged XI, gaining speed as they lurched toward the final. But this year’s tournament has truly been a test of depth and rotation. As injury, form and discipline have all forced rotation in the starting line-up.

After squeezing by a formidable Nigeria side via penalties, England will need to solve their unreliable threat in the final third, as the goals come only intermittently. Certainly, they found them against China (who they beat in Group D, 6-1) in large part due to James.

As for Colombia, the world would be unwise to underestimate their ability to halt the Lionesses in Sydney this quarter-final. With a cast of attacking characters spanning generations and moving with smooth composure, Las Cafeteras will look to do to England what they did to Germany. (Colombia toppled the No. 2 ranked German side 2-1 in Group H, in part due to this wonder-goal from Real Madrid’s 18-year-old virtuoso, Linda Caicedo).

Their captain, Catalina Usme, who scored this match-deciding goal against Jamaica, told the press gathered in Australia that they feel that can do it:

“We are certain about how we prepared and we are dreaming big but we know we can pull it off. We will go there on the pitch and give our all.” 

And their manager, Nelson Abadía, pushed back on the notion they should be on the backfoot: “According to English football and their history we need to be careful and cautious. But the football that has been shown, I think the gaps have been closed down. And Colombia has been solid.”

IV. News and Notes 📰

1. From Henry Bushnell at Yahoo Sports. Is the coaching landscape in women’s soccer still dominated by men? 

2. Ukraine may not be in this World Cup, but their squad is still in training amid wartime. PS: A feature we did on the Ukranian Women’s team shortly after the Russian invasion. WATCH HERE.

3. The UN has urged FIFA to equalize prize money by next World Cup.

V. Parting Shots

Becky Sauerbrunn: "I'm like why is Alyssa [Naeher] beating me in beep tests, that's not okay."

Sam Mewis: "Yeah, she got us."

Becky Sauerbrunn: "She did."

Anecdotes like this and more for those who follow along on the Men in Blazers Twitch stream.