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A full slate of four World Cup games are scheduled for Sunday night, with the first pair of final group-stage matchdays as knockout qualification goes down to the wire.
And it’s already started brilliantly with debutants Morocco – the first Arab nation to compete at the Women’s World Cup – rebounding from their 6-0 defeat to Germany in their first game to lead South Korea 1-0.
It was their first-ever World Cup goal, scored through Ibtissam Jraidi. There was more history made as 25-year-old defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab in World Cup history – with head coverings only made legal by FIFA in 2014.
Next, Australian coach Alen Stajcic will guide his Philippines team in search of another massive upset and a place in the knockouts when they face Norway.
The Philippines stunned co-hosts New Zealand last time out, claiming a first World Cup win in their debut tournament.
At the same time, Switzerland and New Zealand do battle in the other Group A game, with simultaneous kick-offs ensuring a thrilling night of action.
The evening ends with a blockbuster clash between world number two Germany and Colombia.
We’ll have all the updates here!
TODAY’S SCHEDULE (AEST)
2:30pm South Korea vs Morocco
5pm Norway vs Philippines
5pm Switzerland vs New Zealand
7:30pm Germany vs Colombia
Lauren James has Lionesses roaring! | 00:23
What Matildas need to reach knockouts in final group game: WC results and standings
Kerr fit to face Canada in big boost for Matildas … but one mystery remains
SATURDAY WRAP: France edge rivals in front of bonkers Brissy crowd; Swedes send five-goal warning
Everyone is talking about Sam Kerr’s fitness for the Matildas’ likely must-win match against Canada on Monday night – and even Wallabies boss Eddie Jones had his say.
In the wake of a brutal 31-point defeat to the All Blacks in front of a massive crowd at the MCG, Jones was more than happy to talk about anything outside of rugby.
“When you’ve got a calf injury, sometimes you don’t know how quickly it can recover,” he said when asked about her injury.
“Sam Kerr is back playing on (Monday). How fit she is? I don’t know.
“If I was him (Tony Gustavsson), I’d be playing her mate. Because they’ve got to win.
“They’ve got to roll her out, strap her up, whatever they need to do – because she can play. S**t she can play!”
Kerr has been on an individual training plan in recent days but was spotted at team training today with her boots on – though journalists had to leave before the team’s session underway, with coach Tony Gustavsson repeatedly refusing to say whether Kerr trained fully with her teammates.
FRANCE COACH LOSES HIS MIND IN UGLY SCENES
France coach Herve Renard made a name for himself in the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar when he led Saudi Arabia t oan upset win over eventual champions Argentina.
In his first role in the women’s game, Renard took charge of heavyweights France, widely seen before the tournament as a contender for the title.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing – and Renard blew up deluxe at rival coaches and officials last night.
France limped to a poor 0-0 draw with Jamaica in their opener, before a thrilling 2-1 win over Brazil in front of a huge crowd in Brisbane.
France led early before Brazil equalised in the second half, with France’s superstar defender Wendie Renard (no relation to the coach) headed home in the 83rd minute.
But as the game went into a lengthy stoppage time due to injuries, coach Herve Renard raged at the fourth official on the touchline, also clashing with a male Brazilian coach during and after the finish.
Former Socceroo Scott McDonald was on the sideline. He told Optus Sport: “The tables are now turned, they’re top of table now. Look, there was fighting in the technical area after the game …”
Renard was restrained by his own technical staff as he engaged in a shouting match, and earned a yellow card for his antics.
