5 things we learned from the 2019 Women’s World Cup QF’s

Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, England, Norway, and the Netherlands made for a very Euro-centric quarter-finals stage. The only team not to come from UEFA was none other than reigning champions USA.

As expected, the quarter-finals did not disappoint, and there was even a major upset along the way. Here are five things we learned from the quarter-finals at this summer’s World Cup tournament.

Netherlands continuing to live up to “dark horses” tag…

It continues to be onwards and upwards for the Oranje, who brushed aside a very determined Italian side in the quarter-finals. For only the second time this competition, the Azzurre were unable to score. Despite a strong defensive showing in the first half, Italy’s defense was finally breached in the late moments of the game, with both of the Netherlands’ goals arriving in the 70th and 80th minute.

They will next face Sweden, who have been steadily growing in confidence, and it will be a very interesting clash between these two sides. The fact that the Netherlands were just one of a handful of teams to have a perfect group stage campaign needs to be noted. In addition, the EURO 2017 winners dispatched Japan, who had won this tournament in 2011 and finished as runners up in 2015. Although Japan are hardly the team who impressed not too long ago – with many young players now in their ranks – nonetheless, they are still a solid team.

The Netherlands saw this after the Asians pulled a goal back and it took a late penalty to finally break their resistance. But based on their showings, they are arguably many fans’ pick as the tournaments ultimate dark horses, with many fancying their chances at making it to the coveted final this weekend.

…but could Sweden also be one as well?

Sweden versus Germany was always going to be a very interesting encounter. For starters, the Germans headed into that game as the only side who had not conceded a goal, and thus were the heavy favorites against the Blågult. Sweden had been solid, but not spectacular as they quietly completed their group stage campaign, finishing second to the United States and ground out a gritty 1-0 win over Canada in the round of 16.

When they went 1-0 down to Germany, though, most thought that Sweden would be out of it, and the no. 2 side would begin their march towards the semi-finals, where they would face England.

However, football is really unpredictable, and fans saw this once again this weekend as Sweden rallied back to win the match 2-1. That marked the first time Germany had conceded a goal, let alone two, and now Peter Gerhardsson’s side will face one of the dark horses in this summer’s competition – the Netherlands – in the next round.

Many do see the Oranje as the ultimate dark horses, but Sweden certainly are shaping up to be one as well following their stunning upset over Germany.

Lack of squad rotation finally catches up to Italy

Milena Bertolini opted to largely stick with the same players throughout the course of this tournament, with little to no squad rotation. That finally came back to haunt them against the Netherlands, where despite an excellent defensive performance for 70 minutes, fatigue reared its ugly head.

Both of the Netherlands’ goals came off headers, in nearly identical situations. And how did Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt grab their goals. Via free-kicks. Sherida Spitse stepped up twice following fouls by the Italians, and twice she served a well-placed effort for her teammates to convert.

Reckless fouls also come due to lapses in concentration as well as, of course, physical fatigue. Nerves also played a factor – after all, Italy were in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1991. All in all, despite the bitter disappointment the Azzurre will feel about having to head home early, they certainly can hold their heads up high. The team represented Italy admirably this summer in France, especially considering they had not featured at a World Cup in 20 years.

England roaring at just the right time

The Three Lionesses survived a nasty battle with Cameroon to book their spot in the quarter-finals, were they were pitted against Norway.

Although Phil Neville’s squad are the heavy favorites, the Norwegians did manage to frustrate Sam Kerr’s Australia and book their ticket to the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out.

However, they were no match for England. Fatigue certainly played a major factor for Norway, who had to play 120 minutes, and they were largely subdued and inefficient as England overpowered them to pick up a resounding 3-0 victory.

That makes it back to back knockout games sans conceding a goal, while England have scored six times in their last two games. In fact, England have not conceded since matchday one, when they beat Scotland 2-1 and now have a perfect winning record so far at this summer’s tournament.

They will now take on the USA – another team who has yet to lose this summer – and truly, England are roaring at just the right time. Will it be finally coming home? We’ll have to see, but so far, they have truly impressed – just like the men’s side did last summer in Russia.

To VAR or not VAR? USA lucky…France not so much

VAR proved to be a major deciding factor in the France vs. USA tie – which was certainly the big one of the quarter-finals clashes.

Unfortunately for Les Bleues, it wasn’t on their side. In fact, it wasn’t even consulted after Kelley O’Hara seemingly deflected the ball off her arm in the box in the 85th minute.

France were certainly aggrieved. After all, they had really started to claw their way back into the game. Megan Rapinoe’s brace – one from a free kick – had given the Stars and Stripes a comfortable 2-0 lead, until Wendie Renard powered home a towering header to halve the deficit.

Certainly, as the home team, France felt that the officials needed to take a look again at O’Hara’s action inside the box. But there was no review, and Team USA were able to breathe a sigh of relief. Their opponents, on the other hand, were left with a bitter taste in their mouths – as to what could have been.

Megan Rapinoe, not Alex Morgan, proving to be the clutch player at the right time

The USA will now face England, and having survived that scare will definitely be hoping to have a more assured showing against the Three Lionesses. They needed a pair of penalties to beat Spain – with Rapinoe converting both.

That means she’s scored all four of her team’s goals in the knockout rounds. Prior to that, she had netted just once. Her teammate, Alex Morgan, also has five goals, but all were in the USA’s 13-0 blitz of Thailand.

Although all eyes were on Morgan as the likely MVP for her team, it’s been Rapinoe who has been really scoring when it counts. She will be expected to start on Tuesday against England, and with the form she is in at the moment, don’t count against her having some sort of impact as the USA seek to become the first team after Germany to win back-to-back titles.