Women’s World Cup Group Stage: Match Day One Reaction
Image: Lynne Cameron / ISI Photos / Getty Images
AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The first match day of the Women’s World Cup has come and gone, bringing surprises, upcoming stars and a lot of action. A few players and moments stood out from the rest.
Best Player: Ary Borges (Brazil)
This was a bit of a tough decision, since there were a lot of players who performed well, but Ary Borges stood out amongst them all. Borges scored a hat-trick and provided a back-heeled assist, getting involved in all four of Brazil’s goals. Marta once stated that the next generation of Brazil’s players needed to step up, and Borges did just that in her World Cup debut.
Best Goal: Bia Zaneratto against Panama
There were many impressive goals so far in this tournament, but Zaneratto’s goal against Panama was incredible. From the precise passing that led to the goal to Borges’ back-heel assist, everything about this goal showed Brazil’s style of play at its finest.
Best Team: Jamaica
While Japan and Germany’s victories were impressive, Jamaica deserves a massive amount of credit for holding a fifth ranked France side goalless over 90 minutes. If that doesn’t seem significant, keep in mind that in Jamaica’s previous World Cup, they conceded 12 goals in their three group stage games. The only negative for Jamaica was that their star striker, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, was sent off in stoppage time.
Best Match: Japan 5-0 Zambia
A game with a lot of goals, this match showcased the potential of Japan. While Japan didn’t have the attention of everyone heading into this tournament, they surely do now. This match was a complete performance from Japan, and the incredible part is that the score of this game could have been even higher if Japan did not have two goals nullified for offside calls.
Biggest Upcoming Matches: Netherlands vs. United States, France vs. Brazil
This one was a tie between these two games, because both games are massive matchups between colossal powers in the women’s game. Fans can witness stars such as Sophia Smith, Jill Roord, Eugénie Le Sommer and Debinha competing in the world’s biggest soccer tournament. Make sure to tune in to Netherlands vs. the United States on Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. EDT and France vs. Brazil on Saturday at 6:00 a.m. EDT.
