The FIFA Women’s World Cup has finally completed the first round of games in its six groups, capped by a 13-0 victory by the United States over Thailand in Reims. Consider that the 13 goals – a record for a Women’s World Cup game – is more than 50% of the total number of goals scored in the other 11 games combined (25)!
Moreover, Alex Morgan scored five, equaling Michelle Akers’ total in a 1991 game and seven different U.S. players scored, also a World Cup record.
A great start for the U.S. and a tough one for Thailand, which now must play Sweden, which defeated Chile in a driving rainstorm in Rennes and will be looking for goals. That’s Group F.
But after one round of games, it’s easy to see that the power in women’s football is just the same as in the men: Europe. The comparative statistics – our own compilation – show the gap, even after one round of matches:
Africa: 3 teams
● Record: 0-3
● Goals: 1-7
● Shots: 18-51
● Poss. Avg.: 35-65%
Asia: 4 teams
● Record: 0-3-1
● Goals: 0-18
● Shots: 18-83
● Poss. Avg.: 41-59%
Europe: 9 teams
(Not counting England-Scotland)
● Record: 7-0
● Goals: 16-2
● Shots: 121-50
● Poss. Avg.: 61-39%
North America: 3 teams
● Record: 2-1
● Goals: 14-3
● Shots: 68-25
● Poss. Avg.: 61-39%
Oceania: 2 teams
● Record: 0-2
● Goals: 1-3
● Shots: 23-22
● Poss. Avg.: 44-56%
South America: 3 teams
● Record: 1-1-1
● Goals: 3-2
● Shots: 29-46
● Poss. Avg.: 44-56%
The biggest upset of the first round of play came from a European side — Italy – which shocked Australia, 2-1. Second was Argentina, part of an improving South American group, which held Japan to a scoreless draw.
In the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the tournament ended with all-European semifinals and France as champion. The U.S. has made the semifinals of every Women’s World Cup, but France could be lurking in the quarterfinals … where Brazil made its exit last year in Russia.
Germany lost star midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan with a broken toe in the win vs. China; the team stated she would be out for the group phase. If the Germans were to win Group B, they would play their Round of 16 game on 22 June and a possible quarterfinal not until 29 June.
