With the opening round of group games completed, fears that a first 32-team Women's World Cup would see a flurry of embarrassing mismatches appear largely misplaced.- 'Growing the game' -
FIFA has overseen a rapid expansion of the Women's World Cup, from 16 teams in 2011 to 24 in the last two editions, and now 32 for the first time this year.
Hildah Magaia is likely to be fit for South Africa's second match at the Women's World Cup after fears her tournament had ended in the act of scoring in the loss to Sweden on Sunday.Ellis said her team's performance justified her pre-tournament prediction that they would be no pushover in their second World Cup appearance.
Australia coach Tony Gustavsson has defended keeping Sam Kerr's Women's World Cup injury secret, saying he did so for tactical reasons and to protect his star player.But it was also a tactical move, he acknowledged, with so much at stake in a home World Cup and with Australia expected to go far.
Huynh Nhu started playing soccer with a coconut-like fruit for a ball as a child. Now a member of Vietnam's national team, she will captain her squad in a daunting opening match against the United States in the Women's World Cup. The match will mark a milestone for Vietnam soccer, which is making its World Cup debut.