MADRID, 9 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has already defined its eight teams that will fight for the title and to inherit the already vacant throne after the elimination of the United States in the round of 16, including a Spain, ‘rookie’ in these competitions along with Columbia.
The Spanish and Colombian teams are the only ones of the quarterfinalists in this World Cup who are making their debut in this round, and also, together with France, they are the only two of those still alive who do not have a title on their record. at an absolute level and the only ones, along with Australia, to not have reached a World Cup semifinal.
Spain will play the quarterfinals in a World Cup for the first time after winning their match against Switzerland (1-5). Until then, they had never won a knockout match and now they will aspire to play the second semifinals of a major tournament after those of Euro 1997, lost to Italy and reached from the group stage.
The Spaniards were in the round of 16 for the second time, a round in which they were eliminated by the United States four years ago, and the same thing happened to Colombia, the current South American runner-up, who surprised by going first in their group where was able to prevail over Germany (2-1). Already in the round of 16 in Canada 2015 and then eliminated by the Americans (2-0), she overcame this barrier by beating Jamaica (1-0).
And these two rookies will have to measure themselves against more expert teams and who also already know what it is to lift a great trophy. Spain will face the Netherlands, which in addition to being the current world runner-up, was European champion in 2017. The Dutch, like Jorge Vilda’s team, are in their third World Cup, all in a row.
For its part, Colombia will face off against one of the great theoretical favorites, England led by Sarina Wiegmann and who was crowned the new European champion last summer. The English won on penalties against Nigeria in their sixth World Cup quarterfinals and now they aspire to play the semifinals for the third consecutive edition.
Of the other two quarterfinals, the one that will face Japan and Sweden stands out mainly. The ‘Nadeshiko’ are the only ones in this penultimate round that have won their four games, they are the only world champions left in the running (2011) and they are the ones that have played the most finals since they were also in the 2015 one.
The Japanese team, also Asian champion (2014 and 2018), will face rocky Sweden, surely the other team with the most tradition of those remaining in the tournament. Third four years ago, in 2011, where Japan was his executioner in the semifinals, and in 1991, and runner-up in 2003, he has two Olympic silver (2016 and 2021) and was continental champion in 1984.
Finally, co-hosts Australia will face France. For the ‘Matildas’, champions of Asia in 2010 and of Oceania in 1994, 1998 and 2003, this round is their barrier since they have crashed in it on three occasions (2007, 2011 and 2015), while the French, who They have not even played a grand final either, they are in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive edition, although they only surpassed them in 2011 when they were fourth.
In addition, of the eight quarterfinalist teams, the Colombian is the one with the worst world ranking since it is located in the twenty-fifth position, while Sweden is the best ranked (3rd). After her, England (4th), France (5th), Spain (6th), the Netherlands (9th), Australia (10th) and Japan (11th).