kudos to the Poms for CCM.

yes tsf its amazing how much womens standards have improved and its not surprising.
May it carry on - having mens and womens together at such good levels in the future is great for the game.
Especially for the minnow countries incl ours getting more support they deserve from Gov and sporting bodies.

James from England side has 2 match ban for arse stomping. Available for Final if England make it

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-11/fifa-womens-world-cup-england-lauren-james-banned/102716952

Netherlands Spain has started.

Playing in a ridiculous oversized cricket stadium in the middle of the day. People behind the goal and sides are miles from the outside lines.

Spain hitting the post twice in the one play.

Stil nil all.

Pen Muz?? She went down pretty softly?

Check on penalty for Netherlands.

No penalty - whew!

And there you go! Penalty to Spain!

GOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to Spain and only just, off the inside of the post.

What an equaliser! great game. 

100% penalty. Baffled as to how that wasn't given.

Looked a pen in real time and looked a pen during the replays.

If they're saying shoulder to shoulder then I have no idea. For me you have to be side by side to challenge like that and get away with it. Clear push in the back.

Wish just once the ref would go over, look at the replay, and stick with the original.

Netherlands finishing stronger after being dominated in normal time.

Middle of the day cos it was assumed the USA would be in this position, if they won the group and kept advancing. Was obviously part of the TV negotiation with American TV and FIFA. AS for the stadium how do NZ not have better, more modern Rugby grounds? 

I'm assuming based on that non penalty and the one scrubbed the other night for england that the VAR is acting under some new directives about contact in the box.

Would love to know the reasoning.

England's Lauren James - intentional foul ( violent conduct) = 2 match suspension.

Nigeria’s Deborah Abiodun - unintentional foul (serious foul play) = 3 match suspension.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/world-cup/fifa-called-out-over-double-standards-after-lauren-james-ban/news-story/ce81d11b4aab11c45c22cf44b8475471

Thats pretty classy.

Weird seeing Japan rattled but that they are.

Sweden suffocating them and not giving them space.

1 nil up for Swedes.

Wow. 2:0 Sweden

Drama drama drama.

2 - 1

How did that free kick stay out?

Off the cross bar onto her bonce onto the post and across the face of goal.

Its a shame Japan is out, they played such great football at this World Cup but Sweden nullified them for most it and use their experience which the former lacked but im sure they will learn from it in 4 years time.

I thought the reason she was looking was to see if she should have upgraded the yellow to a red. Couldn't believe the penalty was cancelled. Then later the Japan penalty was upheld despite not being touched...

Yep after seeing the penalty to Dutch getting cancelled out by Var I couldn’t believe Japan penalty wasnt overturned. Japan players went to ground very easily all match trying to fool ref - worked eventually.
Sweden harrased Japan so well they overpowered them in the end 👏

Wow 1:0 Colombia. 

What an absolute gift for England. 1:1 ht

Colombia kept booting their clearances long straight back to England no surprise a goal came through all the posession

Sorry wrong post...

Spain to win against Sweden I think. Interesting game.

Spain have better technical skills but Sweden are very physically tough & fast. Gonna be a cracker hopefully 

Been suffering through the Nova Sport telecast of Spain/Sweden with a Slovak speaking commentator to make things even dicier for me. Then at some point there is some technical glitch.

About 5 seconds.

I swear I heard Simon Hill's beautiful voice come through on the telecast before I got returned back to the Nova commentators.