The Olympics 2024 women’s football competition is about to reach its climax, as we’re already in the knockout stages, with France, Brazil, Spain, Colombia, the USA, Japan, Canada, and Germany being the last eight teams standing.
France, Canada, the USA, Germany, Spain, and Japan all made it by taking the top two spots in their respective groups, while Colombia and Brazil managed to qualify despite finishing in third in Groups A and C.
It’s do-or-die for these eight countries because they will go through single-elimination games. If necessary, we will need extra time and a penalty shootout to determine the winners.
France vs Brazil
France qualified for the knockouts by topping Group A with two wins and one loss, while Brazil barely made it with one win and two losses.
Les Bleus started their campaign with a 3-2 victory over Colombia, but they lost 2-1 to Canada in the second game. In the final group stage matchday, France bounced back with a 2-1 win over New Zealand.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto has been a beast for France. With five goals in her first three matches, the PSG forward is the frontrunner in the Golden Boot race.
She opened her Olympics 2024 highlights reel with a brace against Colombia, and she scored the equaliser against Canada. Katoto then notched another brace against New Zealand.
Brazil are on a two-game losing streak. After winning 1-0 in the opener against Nigeria, they dropped back-to-back matches against Japan (2-1) and Spain (2-0).
The loss against Spain was particularly damaging for Brazil because it may have been Marta’s final international game. The 38-year-old forward was given a straight red card for her dangerous kick that hit Olga Carmona’s head, so she’s out against France.
With Marta sidelined, Gabi Nunes has to step up big in the final third for Brazil.
Spain vs Colombia
Spain are one of the teams that cruised in the group stage, as they won all of their matches against Japan (2-1), Nigeria (1-0), and Brazil (2-0). During that stretch, they scored five goals while conceding only once for a positive goal difference of +4.
La Roja, winners of last year’s Women’s World Cup, have flaunted their depth in the quadrennial meet because they had four players on the scoresheet.
Reigning Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey scored against Japan, while Athenea del Castillo scored against Brazil. Their leading scorer is two-time Ballon d’Or Feminin winner Alexia Putellas, with two goals thus far, including the game-winner against Nigeria.
Colombia have one win and two losses in the tournament. After losing against France in the opener, they bounced back with a 2-0 victory over New Zealand but lost to Canada in the final game.
Manuela Pavi, Marcela Restrepo, Leicy Santos, and Catalina Usme have all found the back of the net for Colombia, but they need Linda Caicedo to go off against Spain to have a chance.
USA vs Japan
The SBOTOP Olympics 2024 odds like the USA’s chances against Japan since they have all the momentum heading into the knockouts, with three consecutive victories, scoring nine goals, and only conceding twice for a +7 goal difference.
In their wins against Zambia (3-0), Germany (4-1), and Australia (2-1), five Americans have found the back of the net.
Mallory Swanson is one of the frontrunners for the Golden Boot with three goals, while right behind her are Sophia Smith (2), Trinity Rodman (2), Korbin Albert (1), and Lynn Williams (1).
Japan finished second behind Spain in Group C with two wins against Brazil and Nigeria and one loss against Spain in the opener.
Hinata Miyazawa has yet to go off for the Nadeshiko, but at least Aoba Fujino, Maika Hamano, Hikaru Kitagawa, Saki Kumagai, Mina Tanaka, and Momoko Tanikawa have all scored already.
Canada vs Germany
Canada were docked six points by FIFA for Beverly Priestman’s involvement in an illegal drone spying incident. Despite this, the reigning gold medalists are back in the knockouts because they won all of their group stage matches against New Zealand (2-1), France (2-1), and Colombia (1-0).
Vanessa Gilles was the woman of the hour for Canada because she scored the marginal goal against Colombia, and she is the team’s top scorer with two goals thus far.
With two wins and one loss, Germany made it to the quarter-finals, as Jule Brand, Klara Buhl, Giulia Gwinn, Marina Hegering, and Elisa Senß have scored one goal apiece. Alexandra Popp has yet to pop in this tournament, and DFB-Frauen will need her as they try to make another deep run.
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