#FIFAWWC Game Day Notes: Wednesday, June 17

Today’s Match Schedule

• 3:30 p.m. ET – Mexico vs. France (Ottawa) on TSN/TSN GO
• 3:30 p.m. ET – England vs. Colombia (Montréal) on TSN2/TSN GO
• 6:30 p.m. ET – Costa Rica vs. Brazil (Moncton) on TSN1/TSN3/TSN4/TSN GO
• 6:30 p.m. ET – Korea Republic vs. Spain (Ottawa) on TSN2/TSN GO
• 10 p.m. ET – Canada 2015 Recap Show on TSN1/TSN GO

  Match Previews from FIFA.com Mexico vs. France: France made an impressive start against England only to then trip up against Colombia in their second match, leaving them with a make-or-break meeting with Mexico, a game that will decide if they can press on with their bid to improve on the fourth place they achieved at Germany 2011. Mexico has the possibility to spoil the party for European powerhouses England and France with a good result in their final group match. England vs. Colombia: Group F leaders Colombia head into their game against England on a high after that defeat of the French, their very first women’s world finals win. Las Cafeteras have spent their time since then working on tactics and finishing, and are contemplating a tight battle against Mark Sampson’s side, who are in a similarly buoyant mood after disposing of Mexico. Costa Rica vs. Brazil: Having seen his side make relatively serene progress to the last 16, Brazil coach Vadao will be resting his most leg-weary players for their final group assignment, not that opponents Costa Rica will find things much easier against the Verdeamarela second string. Las Ticas have been rewarded for their hunger, organization and hard running with a brace of draws that have taken them to second place in Group E, a privileged position they are determined to cling on to. If Costa Rica can pull of the almost impossible task of beating Brazil, they will also advance to the round of 16. Korea Republic vs. Spain: Spain will need to rediscover their scoring touch against Korea Republic if they are to advance from Group E. La Roja have looked solid so far at Canada 2015 but have been profligate in front of goal, leaving them with just one point to show for their efforts. Disappointed to concede a late equalizer to Costa Rica in their last outing, the South Koreans have been doing their homework on Veronica Boquete and Natalia Pablo, identified by coach Yoon Dukyeo as Spain’s chief goal threats.   Game Day Notes: Mexico vs. France Mexico and France have met once at a senior women’s fixture. France won 5-0 in a friendly in 2011. Mexico

• Currently are last in Group F with one point – tied Colombia 1-1 in first group match and lost 2-1 to England in their second match
• Remain without a win in eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches (0W/3D/5L)
• Have scored six and conceded 25 in their eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches
• Have only scored more than once in one of their eight FIFA Women’s World Cup matches
• Have met European opposition three times at the FIFA Women’s World Cup – lost to England 2-1 in 2015, drew 1-1 with England in 2011, and lost 2-0 to Italy in 1999
• Third appearance at FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Second appearance in a row at FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Never advanced past opening round at FIFA Women’s World Cup
• FIFA world ranking: 25

France

• Currently in third place in Group F with three points – beat England 1-0 in first match and lost to Colombia 2-0 in their second game
• Colombia (FIFA world ranking #28) became the lowest-ranked team to beat a Top 10 nation (France FIFA world ranking #3) at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since FIFA ranking began in 2003
• Four of France’s five defeats at the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been by a two-goal margin
• Are meeting CONCACAF opposition for the third time at a FIFA Women’s World Cup – beat Canada 4-0 in 2011 group stage before losing 3-1 to USA in semifinal
• Best finish was fourth in 2011
• Beat Bulgaria 14-0 in qualifying
• Won all 10 qualifying games for 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Won U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2012
• Finished third in U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2014
• Louisa Necib was nominated for 2014 FIFA World Player of the year
• FIFA world ranking: 3

  Game Day Notes: England vs. Colombia England and Colombia are meeting for the first time at any level in a women’s fixture. England

• Currently second in Group F with three points – lost their opening match 1-0 to France and won against Mexico 2-1 in their second match
• Last four FIFA Women’s World Cup goals have been scored in the second half
• Have met CONMEBOL opposition just once at the FIFA Women’s World Cup – beat Argentina 6-1 in 2007
• Fourth participation in the FIFA Women’s World Cup (previously in 1995, 2007, & 2011)
• Reached quarter-finals in each of their previous appearances
• In Germany 2011, England was the only team to beat tournament winners Japan
• England won all ten of their group matches while qualifying for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• England was best newcomer in the 1995 tournament in Sweden
• FIFA world ranking: 6

Colombia

• Currently first in Group F with four points – tied first game 1-1 against Mexico and won their second game against France 2-0
• Beating France was Colombia’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup win, possibly the biggest upset in the history of the tournament
• Colombia (FIFA world ranking #28) became the lowest-ranked team to beat a Top 10 nation (France FIFA world ranking #3) at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since FIFA ranking began in 2003
• Have mathematically qualified for the round of 16. Can finish first, second, or third in Group F
• Are unbeaten in their last three FIFA Women’s World Cup matches
• Daniela Montoya’s goal in the draw against Mexico was Colombia’s first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup goal in its second participation
• Second consecutive appearance at FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Never advanced past opening round at FIFA Women’s World Cup until this year
• Prior to 2015, Colombia’s best result at FIFA Women’s World Cup was 0-0 against Korea DPR in 2011
• FIFA world ranking: 28

  Game Day Notes: Brazil vs. Costa Rica Brazil and Costa Rica have met twice in a senior women’s international tournament with Brazil winning both games. Last met at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico where Brazil won the group stage game 2-1. Brazil

• Currently ranked first in Group E with six points – won first two games 1-0 over Spain and 2-0 over Korea Republic
• Formiga, playing at a record-tying sixth FIFA Women’s World Cup (tied with Japan’s Homare Sawa, who is also in the 2015 tournament) became the oldest goal scorer in the competition’s history, aged 37 years and 98 days
• Marta became the all-time leading goal scorer in FIFA Women’s World Cup history with 15 goals, moving ahead of Germany’s Birgit Prinz
• Formiga is set to make her 24^thFIFA Women’s World Cup appearance, equalling that of Birgit Prinz (Germany) and Julie Foudy (USA). Only USA’s Kristine Lilly (30) has more. Formiga made her tournament debut in 1995
• Brazil has played 20 group stage matches at the FIFA Women’s World Cup (14W/2D/4L)
• Kept a clean sheet in each of their last eight group stage matches
• Participated in every FIFA Women’s World Cup, the only South American team to do so
• Best finish was runner-up to Germany in 2007
• Won silver at Olympics in 2004 and 2008
• FIFA world ranking: 7

Costa Rica

• Currently second place in Group E with two points – tied Korea Republic 2-2 in their second match and tied Spain 1-1 in their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup match
• No team has ever drawn three matches in succession at the FIFA Women’s World Cup
• All three of their goals at the tournament have been scored in the opening 25 minutes
• Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno scored the first goal for her country in FIFA Women’s World Cup history
• Costa Rica has previously taken part in four FIFA women’s tournaments (U-17 and U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cups), losing all 12 matches
• Qualified for FIFA Women’s World Cup at CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup 2014, where they lost in the finals 6-0 against USA
• Shirley Cruz played in the 2015 UEFA Women’s Champions League final for Paris Saint-Germain, losing to Frankfurt 2-1
• If selected to play, Gloriana Villalobos will become the youngest player to play in a FIFA Women’s World Cup. She did not play in the team’s first two games.
• FIFA world ranking: 37

  Game Day Notes: Korea Republic vs. Spain Korea Republic and Spain are meeting for the first time at a senior women’s international. Korea Republic

• Currently in last place in Group E with one point – lost opening game 2-0 against Brazil and tied Costa Rica 2-2 in second match
• Remain without a win in their five FIFA Women’s World Cup matches but secured their first-ever point in the tie with Costa Rica
• Scored more than once in a FIFA Women’s World Cup game for the first time in their 2-2 draw with Costa Rica
• Second appearance in FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Lost all three games in 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• FIFA world ranking: 18

Spain

• Currently in third place in Group E with one point – tied opening match 1-1 against Costa Rica and lost second match 1-0 against Brazil
• Vicky Losada scored the first goal for her country in FIFA Women’s World Cup history in a draw against Brazil
• Spain went undefeated in 10 qualifying games, scoring 42 goals and conceding two
• Ignacio Quereda has been Spain’s coach since 1988
• Captain Veronica Boquete was nominated for 2014 FIFA World Player of the year
• FIFA world ranking: 14