2023 Women's World Cup last 16: How to watch first knockout round on TV and live stream
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2023-08-05 04:20
Everything you need to know about 2023 Women's World Cup round of 16, including how to watch the likes of England and the USWNT on TV and live stream

United States head coach Vlatko Andonovski declared: "The rankings mean nothing in the World Cup." And that was while Brazil and Germany were still in the competition.

The group stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup has produced some of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history. Olympic champions Canada have also gone home early, completing a trio of departing teams ranked among the best ten nations in the world by FIFA's rapidly undermined system.

Here's everything you need to know about the first knockout round of the tournament and all the upsets that lie in wait.

Switzerland vs Spain

This World Cup has been impossible to predict but one thing is for certain: history will be made on Saturday morning. Neither Switzerland nor Spain have ever won a knockout match in a major women's international tournament.

Theoretically, Spain are the favourites. However, aside from the curse of the ranking system - which has La Roja in sixth and the Swiss 20th - Spain could be derailed by the growing sense of unrest in the squad which has existed since 15 players boycotted the national team last September.

Japan vs Norway

Norway may be able to boast a bigger margin of victory at this World Cup - thrashing the Philippines 6-0 - but Japan have unquestionably been the more impressive side thus far.

Slicing through opponents with surgical precision, Japan demonstrated the flexibility of their approach - which is usually based on possession - to annihilate Spain without the ball. Norway boast the star quality to cause an upset but Japan's unerring unity makes them clear favourites.

Netherlands vs South Africa

Desiree Ellis, South Africa's enigmatic head coach, has an autobiography called Magic. The title perfectly captures her wizardry from the technical area but it may need a few more chapters after the former player led her nation into the knockout stage of a World Cup for the first time.

The Netherlands produced some magic of their own - Esmee Brugts in particular - during a 7-0 rout over Vietnam in their final group game but are in for a far tougher test against Ellis and her box of tricks.

Sweden vs USA

When the USWNT returned to their hotel in China after winning the inaugural World Cup, the Swedish team had positioned their yellow socks to read 'USA gold' outside the lift door. The camaraderie that existed between the two nations, who also shared Western snacks on that tour in 1991, will not be present on Sunday.

Sweden come into the knockout stages after a more convincing group stage, with talk of meeting a US side in crisis rife. Yet, for all of the supposed chaos engulfing the US after one win and two draws, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher has only faced one shot on target at this tournament (which, admittedly, she conceded).

READ MORE ON THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

England vs Nigeria

A cathartic victory over an underwhelming China ignited England's World Cup - although, Sarina Wiegman is hardly the character to get carried away by one victory.

Nigeria entered the competition amid a fog of institutional unease but rallied to hold Olympic gold medallists Canada to a goalless draw and dismantle host nation Australia in the group stage. England may be champions of Europe and ranked 36 places above Nigeria, but they cannot afford a whisper of complacency.

Australia vs Denmark

After so much hand-wringing about how the Matildas would cope without their injured attacking lynchpin Sam Kerr, her potential return to fitness has led to questions of where she can fit into this side.

Australia may have impressively fended off the disaster of a group-stage elimination as hosts with a 4-0 win against Canada but any team would be better with Kerr through the middle.

Denmark's captain Pernille Harder, Kerr's former Chelsea teammate of three years, will know that all too well.

Colombia vs Jamaica

The odds for either nation to reach the last 16 were slim but for both Colombia and Jamaica to qualify - and do so in style - represents a remarkable achievement.

Colombia's attacking verve, epitomised by teenage sensation Linda Caicedo, will be up against Jamaica's fearsome defensive resolve. The Reggae Girlz are one of only three nations to pass through the group stage without conceding a single goal (although they only scored one themselves). Another shutout would at least guarantee a penalty shootout on Tuesday.

France vs Morocco

Herve Renard became the first individual to ever win a match at the men's and women's World Cup as France topped a group which included Brazil and a spirited Jamaica this year. Incidentally, the former cleaner's first foray on the global stage was in 2018 with the men's national team of Morocco - the nation that will go up against Renard's France in the final last-16 tie of this Women's World Cup.

Despite losing 6-0 to Germany in their opener, Morocco snuck into the knockout stage in place of the Germans. Morocco may be the lowest-ranked nation left in the competition but, as Andonovski so rightly pointed out: "Rankings mean nothing."

This article was originally published on 90min as 2023 Women's World Cup last 16: How to watch first knockout round on TV and live stream.

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