Women's World Cup - Sweden And Netherlands Impress, France Stumbles With Draw Against Jamaica
As the Women's World Cup gets underway, some tournament favorites aimed to make a strong start. Sweden and the Netherlands lived up to expectations, securing victories in their opening matches.

Daniel Clark
Jul 24, 2023
As the Women's World Cupgets underway, some tournament favorites aimed to make a strong start. Sweden and the Netherlands lived up to expectations, securing victories in their opening matches.
However, France, considered one of the top contenders, encountered an unexpected challenge as they settled for a draw against Jamaica.
Jamaica's Unexpected Draw Against France
In a rainy encounter in Sydney, France faced off against Jamaica, aiming to fulfill their ambition of reaching at least the semifinals. However, the match ended in a scoreless draw, leaving France with room for improvement.
The Jamaican team, ranked nearly 40 places lower than France, showed determination and resilience, threatening to cause one of the tournament's biggest upsets.
Jamaica's star striker, Khadija Shaw, wreaked havoc on the French defense until her late dismissal due to a red card.
France, a team that faced internal conflicts and was put back together under the guidance of coach Hervé Renard, failed to display the cohesive play needed to reach their stated goal of reaching the semifinals.
Their disjointed performanceagainst Jamaica raised questions about their potential success in the tournament.

Jamaica hold France with tie while Sweden, Netherlands win World Cup openers • FRANCE 24 English
The Netherlands' Delayed Goal Celebration
In another exciting match, the Netherlands secured a 1-0 victory against Portugal. Stefanie Van Der Gragt's goal initially ruled out for offside underwent a lengthy video review before being reinstated.
While the video assistant referee system ensures accurate decisions, it also leads to delayed goal celebrations, affecting the spontaneity of the game.
South Africa Gives Sweden A Scare
The World Cup's first week has shown that the talent gap between traditional powerhouses and first-time entrants might not be as wide as expected.
South Africa's stunning performance against Sweden demonstrated that the competition is fiercer than ever, with surprises lurking in every match.
Sophia Smith's Emotional Goal Celebration
For Sophia Smith, her goal celebration during the United States' match against Vietnam held a special significance.
Remembering her late friend and former Stanford teammate Katie Meyer, who tragically passed away in 2022, Smith paid tribute to her with a unique celebration.
She and another former teammate launched a mental health care initiative in Meyer's memory, aiming to bring awareness to mental health issues in sports.
France's New Coach Faces Challenges
France's Hervé Renard, a seasoned coach with an impressive men's World Cup resume, finds himself in uncharted territory as he coaches a women's team for the first time.
France's turbulent past months make it a challenging task for Renard to lead them to success in the tournament.
As the Women's World Cup continues, fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling matches and unforgettable moments as the teams compete for the ultimate prize.
Final Words
The opening matches of the Women's World Cup have set the stage for an exciting and competitive tournament.
While Sweden and the Netherlands showcased their strength, France faced unexpected challenges, and Jamaica demonstrated the narrowing gap between elite teams and the rest.
With Hervé Renard leading France's women's team and VARcreating drama, fans can look forward to thrilling moments and unpredictable outcomes in the upcoming matches.
The Women's World Cup promises to be a captivating and memorable event for soccerenthusiasts worldwide.