Tuesday night is a massive evening of action in the Women’s World Cup, with two of the competition favourites the United States and England in action.
Both sides are looking to secure their progression from the group stage, but could still be eliminated if results go against them!
The US face Portugal at 5pm AEST, the same time as Vietnam faces the Netherlands.
The US and Netherlands are both on four points, with Portugal on three and Vietnam zero.
But at halftime, the US have been held goalless by a remarkable performance from debutants Portugal, who have never even made it out of the group stage of a European Championships let alone a World Cup. And the Netherlands are leading Vietnam 5-0, meaning they’ll progress in top spot as it stands.
Then at 9pm, England face China while Denmark play Haiti – with all four teams still able to progress.
England have six points and Denmark and China three, with Haiti on zero. The team that finishes second in the group will play the Matildas next Monday night.
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MATCH CENTRES (TEAMS, STATS AND MORE!)
Group E, 5pm AEST
Portugal vs United States, Eden Park (Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau)
Vietnam vs Netherlands, Dunedin Stadium (Dunedin/Ōtepoti)
Group D, 9pm AEST
People’s Republic of China vs England, Hindmarsh Stadium (Adelaide/Tarntanya)
Haiti vs Denmark, Perth Rectangular Stadium (Perth/Boorloo)
FULL SCENARIOS: What every team needs to reach knockouts
AUSSIE STAJ STEPS DOWN
Philippines coach Alen Stajcic has left his post after the national team’s exit from their first Women’s World Cup, the Philippine Football Federation said on Tuesday.
The Philippines have shaken off their status as regional minnows since Aussie Stajcic’s appointment as coach in late 2021 — they have jumped from 68 in the FIFA rankings to a best-ever 46th.
The Philippines were not expected to get out of their group, but caused a major upset by beating co-hosts New Zealand for a historic first World Cup win before a 6-0 defeat to Norway on Sunday ended their adventure.
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The Philippine Football Federation said Stajcic and assistant coach Nahuel Arrarte had “decided to explore other options” at the end of the World Cup campaign.
“Coach Alen Stajcic’s appointment as Philippine Women’s National Team head coach brought women’s football in the Philippines to new heights and hope,” PFF president Mariano Araneta said in a statement.
“Coach Alen showed full dedication to hone the Filipinas into a fighting team. He will long be remembered as the coach who trained and dared the team to win at any international competition,” Araneta said.
FULL GROUP STANDINGS: CLICK HERE
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Under Stajcic, the Philippines made the semi-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup in early 2022, where they lost to South Korea but secured a historic World Cup berth.
They followed it up with bronze at the Southeast Asian Games last year, then won the regional AFF Women’s Championship on home soil.
Stajcic was a major reason for the Philippines’ improvement. He brought a wealth of experience after a playing and coaching career in Australia.
He coached Australia at the 2015 World Cup and took the Matildas to as high as fourth in the FIFA rankings, but was dumped despite guiding them to the 2019 tournament.
After the Philippines’ loss to Norway, Stajcic said he was “proud of the heart and spirit” of the team, but ducked questions about his future as coach.
“We will reflect on that for now and in the coming days we will start making plans for the future,” he said.
Stajcic has been linked to multiple A-League Mens teams, where he previously impressed at the Central Coast Mariners.
