Japan are firming as legitimate challengers for the Women’s World Cup after cashing in on Norwegian errors to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Hinata Miyazawa iced a 3-1 win for Nadeshiko on Saturday night in Wellington with her fifth goal of the tournament, putting her on top of the golden boot race.
Hinata Miyazawa celebrates with teammates after scoring Japan’s third goal.Credit: Reuters
Norway only had themselves to blame for their round of 16 exit, making awful defensive blunders in both halves.
Ingrid Syrstad Engen scored an early own goal, deflecting Miyazawa’s cross agonisingly past Aurora Mikalsen, who scrambled but could only watch the ball trickle into the net.
After equalising through Guro Reiten’s fine header, Norway then succumbed to Japan’s hyper-press.
In the 50th minute, Vilde Boe Risa laid on a hospital pass in the box which Risa Shimzu picked off, taking a touch before scoring an easy go-ahead goal for Japan.
After resisting Norway’s pressure for a second equaliser, Miyazawa then raced onto a superb defence-splitting pass by Aoba Fujino, and the game was done.
Nadeshiko fully merited their win, controlling the tempo all night in the battle of the former World Cup winners.
Japan, the 2011 champions, ran rings around their Scandinavian opponents, who triumphed in 1995.
When Norway did score – the first goal Japan have conceded so far this tournament – it came against the run of play.
Japan’s Hinata Miyazawa celebrates after an own-goal blunder by Norway’s Ingrid Syrstad Engen.Credit: Reuters
Norway looked most dangerous with the ball at Caroline Graham Hansen’s feet, particularly with former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg left on the bench until the 74th minute.
It was Hegeberg’s first appearance for Norway since their opening night loss to New Zealand.
Ayaka Yamashita then pulled out a contender for save of the tournament to deny Karina Saevik’s header by just a few centimetres: another sign it wasn’t to be Norway’s night.
Hege Riise’s side face a likely inquest following their exit after their opening night loss to New Zealand sparked infighting.
Japan, in contrast, look a well-drilled team working in harmony.
Their victory means they advance to a meeting with either the United States or Sweden in Auckland on Friday.
Switzerland out in 5-1 rout by Spain
After not conceding in the group stage, Switzerland went out of the Women’s World Cup in a 5-1 rout by Spain in the last 16 on Saturday, but coach Inka Grings said her players gave everything in the country’s second-ever appearance in the global showpiece.
Switzerland also exited the tournament at the last 16 stage in 2015 but had advanced this time around as group winners finishing ahead of Norway and co-hosts New Zealand.
“There is nothing that any of my players did wrong. They did everything right. They played a really, really good tournament,” the German said.
“I think that my team has invested everything and I’m very, very proud of them. That group has shown that we are on the right way.”
Grings acknowledged the professional game in Switzerland needs to be stronger if they are to make a bigger splash on the world stage, as she has players who miss training because of secondary jobs.
“These are topics that we have to discuss,” Grings said. “But of course, we can also not change from zero to 100 that quickly, but we have to start progressing towards those changes.
“And what’s also important is that the players, no matter where they play, whether they play in Switzerland or outside of Switzerland, that they actually get to play.”
The 44-year-old made 96 appearances as a player for two-time World Cup champions Germany. Spain were not on the global women’s soccer radar during her playing days, showing how fast some nations are making progress.
“There are many nations who are catching up or not even catching up but who are just basically continuing on their path and are just progressing,” Grings added.
“Unfortunately, we’re on the receiving end of that today. But we have seen that over the last year that it was a constant development, and I think that that’s one of the reasons why football is so successful at the moment.”
AAP, Reuters
