We had our conflict of groups which have appeared most dominant to date, and we will pare that record right down to “one staff that’s appeared dominant to date.” And in one thing of a shock, Canada acquired their leaden asses booted again to the Nice White North. Let’s get in.

Sport of the day: Japan 4 — 0 Spain

It had develop into one thing of essentially the most anticipated recreation of the group stage after each groups disemboweled each Zambia and Costa Rica of their first two video games. It’s now maybe essentially the most eye-popping results of the event to date, a minimum of up there with Colombia-Germany. What it means going ahead is a little bit murkier, however we’ll save that for later.

Each soccer fan acknowledges the “Spanish Syndrome,” which is lots of tidy possession and passes that don’t go a lot of anyplace. Japan appeared completely geared up to take care of all of this from their 3-4-3 that simply fades right into a 5-4-1, which we’d seen within the opening throes of their recreation in opposition to Zambia as they initially began only a contact cautious of Zambia’s pace on the counter earlier than they found out they might pull them anyplace they wished in assault. Even with Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas pushing up from midfield to affix the Spanish entrance three, Japan had 5 defenders to match them up.

And Spain didn’t supply an excessive amount of selection. They’re simply not going to hit bit switch-balls from one aspect to the opposite to attempt to open up house. They’re loath to cross from deep, although their one-half-chance of the primary half got here from such a ploy as Bonmati operating from deep acquired between two Japan defenders, and barely missed a telling contact on the cross. They don’t play fast sufficient, after they’re at their infuriating worst, to get in behind a protection although they’ve world-class pace in Salma Paralluelo. Whereas their technical abilities on the ball stay off the charts, Japan just about squeezed any house between that 5 and 4 of their formation, which restricted the one-twos, and fast touches that Spain usually focus on to open groups up.

And naturally, no matter mixture of wingers Japan makes use of are merely deadly on the break. It’s not a lot of a secret that Spain’s fullbacks are going to push all the way in which up the sphere when in possession, and it’s additionally not a lot of a secret that their protection is sort of gradual. Much more so due to the continued omission of a very good chunk of their A-squad due to the battle with the Spanish FA and supervisor Jorge Vilda. There positively appeared like a Mapi Leon-sized gap in protection in opposition to Japan. See for your self:

Olga Carmona will need to burn the tape of this one. Spain’s line for the primary objective is comedic, all the way in which on the midway line:

Which begs the query of whether or not their keeper Maria Rodriguez shouldn’t be enjoying extra as a sweeper-keeper and chopping this through-ball out, as a result of you possibly can land an Airbus between her, and the protection. Spain have been caught merely defending with three gamers every time they turned the ball over, and in opposition to Japan’s directness and incisiveness, that’s demise. As quickly as Japan acquired the ball they have been flooding both aspect of Spain’s defensive midfielder Teresa Abbelleira after which getting exterior the 2 centerbacks. It was that easy. Put it this fashion, there’s a purpose each Pep Guardiola staff fouls every time it loses possession unexpectedly. It’s to keep away from precisely this.

Nonetheless, one wonders how fearful Spain can be. One, they have been already by. And neither Norway or Switzerland look any completely different when it comes to offering a problem, even when Norway acquired themselves collectively within the final group recreation. Two, Japan scored on 4 of their 5 pictures on track. A ratio that isn’t more likely to repeat itself once more. However in a knockout recreation, it’d solely take one, and Spain actually appeared fairly able to giving up that one. USWNT followers will be forgiven for dreaming of what Sophia Smith or Trinity Rodman (or ought to Vlakto miraculously uncover he’s allowed to make use of Lynn Williams) may do with house like that in a attainable quarterfinal.

As for Japan, there’s little so as to add to their brilliance, and what may inform the story afterward on this event is how recent they’ll stay. Just one outfield participant hasn’t seen the sphere within the squad. Solely 4 haven’t gotten a minimum of 90 minutes. They now have two heart forwards who’ve gotten a style of scoring in Mino Tanaki and Riko Ueki, and each have chipped in assists as effectively. 5 gamers have a number of goal-contributions. They’re so effectively drilled that any participant that steps onto the sphere is aware of the task completely. They usually’ve proven flexibility, seamless flexibility, in having the ability to tear aside groups which have sat again, or groups which have dominated the ball. They will do it any approach you need it. Knockout soccer is at all times tough and hinges on such few moments, however that capability to play a number of other ways is about as positive of safety as a staff can get. Switzerland will trigger Japan to revert extra to what their first two video games appeared like, they usually have extra to supply than both Costa Rica, or Zambia, however actually not sufficient that Japan received’t be closely, and rightly favored. The bandwagon is getting full on the Nadeshiko Specific.

Different outcomes: Zambia 3 — 1 Costa Rica

Zambia will get a landmark win in what was a useless rubber, and doubtless a extra even recreation than the scoreline suggests. Costa Rica had a objective chalked off within the second half that will have made it 2-2, and couldn’t discover one other equalizer earlier than Zambia put it to mattress in harm time. Once more, very similar to Morocco, having one thing extra to take residence than simply showing is a big deal for Zambia, particularly after the way in which they have been mauled of their first two video games. Taken one step, in time they’ll take one other.

Australia 4 — 0 Canada

Proving as soon as once more that the Tokyo Olympics was a Mickey Mouse event (tee hee).

Australia was feeling the warmth earlier than this one, given the way in which they crumbled in opposition to Nigeria, and put themselves on the rack, needing a win in opposition to an, a minimum of, skilled Canada aspect. However generally expertise and $3 will get you on the bus, as Canada violently discovered.

The one factor Canada couldn’t do was surrender an early objective to get the place rocking and settle Aussie nerves within the largest recreation within the staff’s historical past. So it wasn’t actually an opportune time for the precise aspect of Canada’s protection in fullback Jayde Riviere and Kadeisha Buchanan to spend a lot of the match on the zoo:

Besides, when Hayley Raso picks up this ball within the field, Canadian keeper Kailen Sheridan’s positioning is…fascinating?

That’s a complete lot to fireplace at.

Buchanan’s day wouldn’t get significantly better, as she was late in stepping up earlier than the Aussies’ third objective, which left Caitlin Foord the house, and time to jot down an up to date model of Ulysses. Sheridan’s day wouldn’t get significantly better both after the opener, as she was flapping at a nook that then rebounded to Raso to complete from a foot and a half out.

Even at 2-0 this one was over, given simply how balloon-handed Canada was with the ball, and in assault. Christine Sinclair is a Canadian legend in all sports activities, however it most likely says one thing that in a recreation the place Canada wanted a end result they needed to begin an motionless 40-year-old as a #9. It may also say one thing that, as nice as she was, ought to any participant on this day, and age be allowed to accrue 300+ caps with out anybody difficult them for a spot, however we’ll save that for one more day.

On at the present time, Australia had no concern of anybody getting behind them, and Sinclair, Jessie Fleming, and Julia Grosso spent a lot of the first half getting in one another’s approach. Jordyn Huitema and Adriana Leon have been punchless on the wings, and Australia might afford to double up on them anyway with just about no risk within the center. Once more, Canada wanted a end result right here, and in a match they trailed for many of they got here up with three pictures on track. They will’t declare to be unfortunate to be going residence.

Australia can breathe once more, they get nearly every week to strive, and get Sam Kerr wholesome, they usually’ve acquired a reinvigorated Foord again on the left wing the place she’s way more snug. A date with any of China, Denmark, or a severely hobbled England received’t be essentially the most terrifying matchup for them both, particularly if Kerr can bounce on the sphere in any capability.

Nigeria 0 — 0 Eire

Eire get the purpose their battling performances in all three video games most likely deserved. As soon as phrase filtered in that Australia had gone in entrance, Nigeria performed prefer it knew 0-0 can be sufficient to get them by. Eire have been scrappy and devoted however don’t include a complete lot of nous, and Nigeria had already efficiently held out one staff (Canada) that lacked creativeness too. Your entire match solely had three pictures on track mixed, and someplace across the seventieth minute there appeared to be an unstated settlement {that a} draw was adequate for each because it turned clear that Nigeria wouldn’t need to do something, due to the pounding Canada was taking.

Objective of the day

You’ll be able to most likely take your decide of any of Japan’s on the counter, however Jun Endo’s go for Japan’s opener ought to have a really fancy cocktail purchased for it:

The case for and in opposition to VAR

It didn’t find yourself mattering that a lot as Australia utilized tire tracks to the chest of Canada, however Raso’s opener is why VAR is round. Steph Catley was onside by half a physique, although the referee assistant was in sort of a troublesome spot as Catley was all the way in which throughout the sphere from her. Had this one remained 0-0 for a very long time, that’s the sort of choice you don’t need to ship a staff out of a event like this. It’s too essential to get these proper to appease those that simply don’t have the persistence to let how VAR is used develop into extra streamlined by time and experimentation.

After all, Australia had one taken off the board for all the explanations individuals hate VAR:

Sure, technically that is appropriate as Ellie Carpenter’s toes are offside, and she or he’s within the path between Mary Fowler Kadeisha Buchanan and thus interfering along with her. Although the way in which Buchanan’s match went, Carpenter was most likely solely stopping her from booting this off a teammate’s head and into her personal internet. Was Buchanan ever actually getting there? Would anybody have ever noticed this with the bare eye?

Once more, to the rulebook it’s appropriate, and that’s the thought. It simply appears miserly to a heavy, heavy diploma. Regardless of, cheater’s proof and all that as Canada remained dogshit the remainder of the sport and gave the Aussies a second objective a minute and a half later anyway. Solution to benefit from a break there, hosers.

A counterpoint to the concept that ladies’s soccer is at all times well mannered and lightweight and that Canadians are at all times genteel

Observe Sam on Twitter @Felsgate and on Bluesky @felsgate.bsky.social