They wrapped up the 16th round of the World Cup held across Australia and New Zealand. On Tuesday, the event’s final day, the field narrowed as Jamaica and Morocco were eliminated. Jamaica fell 1-0 to Colombia, and Morocco were swept aside by France with a 4-0 result. The quarterfinals are set to begin in the early hours of Friday, with Spain facing the Netherlands in a showdown that has captured attention across the continent.
Jamaica fought to the end
Catalina Usme’s strike powered Colombia to history as they secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the women’s World Cup for the first time, prevailing 1-0 against a sturdy Jamaica side in Melbourne on Tuesday. Colombia, fresh from their group-stage momentum, faced a team known for speed and physicality. Yet the Colombians found a way to hold the line, striking at key moments and weathering Jamaica’s pressure to advance in a tense finish that electrified the home crowd and fans worldwide.
After an assertive group phase, Colombia stood as the lone South American survivor and carried that confidence into this knockout clash. They remained composed against a team that boasted additional fitness and pace, gradually turning the match into a tight war of attrition. Each sequence mattered, and Colombia’s organization ultimately paid off, delivering a historic result that changes the trajectory for the South American side and reshapes the quarterfinal lineup.
With this win, Colombia set the stage to meet England in the quarterfinals. England, European champions who dispatched Nigeria and entered the knockout rounds among the favorites to lift the universal crown, looms as a formidable test. The clash promises high technical quality, with Colombia seeking to build on their tactical discipline while England looks to impose its pace and precision in the pursuit of a deep tournament run.
Quarterfinals are shaping up with intrigue as teams analyze both form and history. The momentum from this result adds to the growing narrative of the tournament, where underdogs can strike and established powers must contend with disciplined, relentless opposition on big stages.
Morocco’s defeat against France was more decisive. Guided by Hervé Renard, the Moroccan side entered the duel with belief but found France to be relentless from the opening whistle. The first 45 minutes frustrated the dream for the North African team, and the French proved clinical after halftime. Kadidiatou Diani opened the scoring in the 14th minute, followed by a Dali strike in the 19th, and Le Sommer confirmed the rout with a fourth in the 70th minute, sealing a comprehensive win for France.
The quarterfinal lineup now features France advancing to face host Australia in Brisbane on August 12, a matchup that will test both the defending champions and the tournament hosts in a high-stakes environment. The Australian crowd is expected to bring electric atmosphere as the home team seeks an impactful run in front of their fans while France looks to repeat their earlier triumphs on this global stage.