The final round of group games in the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics took place on Wednesday evening and eight teams have now booked their place in the quarter-finals.
Six games took place throughout the evening in Bordeaux, Nantes, Saint-Etienne, Marseille, Nice and Lyon as the nations battled it out for a place in the knockout stages. Among those competing at this summer’s Olympics are the Tokyo 2020 gold medalists Canada, 2023 Women’s World Cup winners Spain and four-time gold medalists United States.
The top three teams, who finished top of their respective groups, have progressed to the next round of the competition. Then, the two highest ranked second-place teams also advanced to the last eight.
90min has taken a look at the final group standings, all the results, and selected our player of each match…
Group A
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
2 | Canada | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||
3 | Colombia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
4 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | -4 |
Group B
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | United States | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | ||
2 | Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 3 | |
4 | Zambia | 3 | 3 | -7 |
Group C
Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spain | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 | ||
2 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | |
3 | Brazil | 3 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 3 | |
4 | Nigeria | 3 | 3 | -4 |
Group A
Canada 1-0 Colombia
Canada made it three wins from their three group games to finish second in the standings behind hosts France. The reigning Olympic champions would have topped the group had it not been for a six-point penalty incurred following a drone-spying scandal that resulted in coach Bev Priestman and two other members of staff receiving a one-year ban from FIFA.
The players, however, were not phased by matters off the pitch and scored a second-half winner against Colombia to keep their hopes of retaining their Olympic title firmly alive. After a goalless first half, Vanessa Gilles rose above everyone on the hour mark to head in a cross from Jessie Fleming and put Canada in the driving seat.
Canada will now face 2016 gold medalists Germany in a quarter-final clash at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday.
Player of the match: Vanessa Gilles (CAN) - 8/10 - The very best players step up in the big moments and Gilles has done that twice for Canada at this summer’s Olympics. She showed plenty of composure and scored the winning goal to send the team into the knockout stages.
France 2-1 New Zealand
Hosts France bounced back perfectly after the weekend’s last-gasp defeat to Canada. Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored twice, once in each half, to edge a narrow 2-1 win in Lyon.
New Zealand pulled a goal back before half time courtesy of Kate Taylor, but France had just enough to get over the line. They will now take on Brazil in Nantes on Saturday in a bid to clinch a medal at their home Olympics.
Player of the match: Marie-Antoinette Katoto (FRA) - 8/10 - The Paris Saint-Germain forward has now scored five goals at this tournament and she’s leading the Golden Boot charge. She took both goals against New Zealand extremely well and her clinical form will be crucial as France enter the knockout stages.
Germany 4-1 Zambia
After losing their second group game against the United States, Germany bounced back in emphatic fashion on Wednesday night. Lea Schuller, Klara Buhl and Elisa Senss were the goalscorers for Germany in an impressive 4-1 win against Zambia.
Barbra Banda pulled one back early in the second half to make it 2-1, but Schuller scored her second of the game to put Germany further ahead and Senss put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time. Germany will now face 2020 gold medalists Canada in the quarter-finals.
Player of the match: Klara Buhl (GER) - 9/10 - With one goal and two assists, it was a perfect night for Buhl. The Bayern Munich forward showed exactly why she’s one of the most exciting young players in Europe.
United States 2-1 Australia
Emma Hayes’ United States side made it three wins from three on Wednesday night against Australia. It was a dramatic game in Marseille with plenty of VAR action, but goals from Trinity Rodman and Korbin Albert meant Alanna Kennedy’s stoppage-time goal for the Matildas didn’t impact the overall result.
The US qualified top of Group B ahead of Germany and they will now take on Japan in the quarter-finals. It’s been the perfect start to Hayes’ tenure as they charge towards the knockouts at the Olympics.
Player of the match: Trinity Rodman (United States) - 7/10 - The forward line has been the ‘x-factor’ of the United States team at this summer’s Olympics so far. This time, it was Rodman who stepped up with a crucial goal, set-up by teammate Sophia Smith.
Group C
Japan 3-1 Nigeria
Japan fired their way into the knockout stages with a 3-1 win over Nigeria in Nantes. Chelsea’s Maika Hamano opened the scoring after 22 minutes before Mina Tanaka doubled their advantage 10 minutes later.
Jennifer Echegini pulled one back soon after with an outstanding strike, but Hikaru Kitagawa restored Japan’s two-goal advantage on the brink of half time. It was a goalless second half, but the job was already done for Futoshi Ikeda’s side.
Player of the match: Mina Tanaka (JAP) - 7/10 - Wednesday night was something of a redemption for Tanaka. After missing a penalty kick over the weekend against Brazil, she was on the scoresheet against Nigeria to make amends and help fire Japan to a crucial victory.
Spain 2-0 Brazil
World champions Spain showed once again they mean business at this summer’s Olympics a 2-0 win over Brazil in Bordeaux. They had to work for it, though, as it took until the 68th minute for Real Madrid’s Athenea del Castillo to put them in front.
Alexia Putellas then put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time with Spain’s second of the night. They will now face Colombia, who qualified for the knockouts as one of the best third-place teams, in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Brazil also progressed, despite finishing behind Spain and Japan, as they clinched the second third-place spot. However, they will have to contend their quarter-final clash against France without legend Marta after the 38-year-old received a red card for a high foot on Spain’s Olga Carmona at the end of the first half.
Player of the match: Tarciane (BRA) - 8/10 - Despite being on the wrong end of the result, it was a resilient defensive display from Brazil’s Tarciane. Playing against Spain with 11 players is difficult enough, let alone 10, so to hold the world champions for so long is no mean feat and she showed incredible leadership and discipline. Still only 21 years of age.
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