02 August 2023
The group stages of this year's FIFA Women's World Cup have drawn to a close, with both euphoria and heartbreak for our Juventus Women competing in Australia and New Zealand.
In Canada's final group stage fixture played on Monday, 31 July, the Olympic champions were humbled 4-0 by Australia to be bundled out of the tournament. Despite a win and a draw, the heavy loss against the hosts saw Julia Grosso's side finish third in their group, thus failing to advance in the tournament.
Ninth-ranked Netherlands closed out the round robin phase with an emphatic 7-0 victory over Vietnam, ending on top of Group E with seven points. Lineth Beerensteyn missed the encounter following the injury picked up in the opening fixture, but hopes to return for her side's Round of 16 clash against South Africa.
Three teams with Bianconere in their squads did battle on Wednesday, 2 August, with a disappointing end to Italy's campaign as they were knocked out of the competition in their final group stage encounter against South Africa.
Juventus Women's Chiara Beccari, Lisa Boattin, Barbara Bonansea and Arianna Caruso started from the first minute, the latter slotting home a penalty to hand the Azzurre the lead. South Africa, who needed a victory to progress - with Italy only needing a draw - fought back, levelling matters before taking the lead with 67 minutes on the clock.
Yet Caruso's deflected effort from club teammate Cristiana Girelli's header drew the sides level seven minutes later, yet South Africa would score a third through Thembi Kgatlana in stoppage time, the 3-2 defeat sending the Azzurre home after a solitary victory from their three Group G fixtures.
Italy's Group G rivals Sweden earned a comfortable 2-0 win over Argentina, Linda Sembrant featuring as a second-half substitute as Sweden continued their perfect record so far at this year's tournament. The third-ranked side face number one-ranked United States of America in a mouth-watering Round of 16 tie.
In Wednesday's late kick-off, Juve's Pauline Peyraud-Magnin stood in goal for a third straight encounter as France earned a 6-3 victory over Panama, sealing top spot in their group as they advanced to the next round of the competition.
