2023 FIFA Women's World Cup - Knockout Stage Quiz

Answer: Yes, Spain scored five plus an own goal for Switzerland (5-1)

Spain got off to a flying start with a goal to Bonmati after only five minutes. However, her own teammate, Cogina scored an own goal in the 11th minute to even the scores. It was a momentary setback with Spain scoring three more goals in the half, including Codina redeeming herself by scoring the fourth right on half time. Spain's Hermoso added one more in the second half eliminating the Swiss 5-1.

Answer: Japan 3-1

Norway's Engen opened the scoring in the 15h minute - unfortunately, it was an own goal. Her teammate Reiten was able to undo the damage by equalising 1-1, the half time score. However the Japanese girls dominated possession 61%-39% overall and hit 16 shots to eight, grinding down their Nordic opponents and they scored twice in the second half, winning 3-1.

Answer: Netherlands 2 South Africa 0

The South Africans, ranked 54th in the world, surprised most pundits when they qualified second in their group losing only to Sweden in the Group Stage and finishing higher than both Italy and Argentina. Nevertheless, they were on the back foot early in this match when the Dutch scored in the ninth minute.

The South Africans, however, did not flinch and while they suffered from a lack of possession (30%-70%), they matched the Dutch shot for shot (13-14) and had more shots on target (7-6). The lack of ball cost them though: The Dutch scored again in the 68th minute and then hung on to win 2-0.

Answer: USA were eliminated

Because the USA qualified second in their group, this caused an early meeting of two of the favourites to win the Cup. The Americans were the defending champions and dominated possession to have 22 shots at goal (with 11 on target to the Swedes' one). The Swedes repelled everything thrown at them.

After 120 minutes there were still no goals on board so it went to a penalty shoot-out, with again, the Swedes matching the Americans shot for shot. The USA cracked first, and with the penalty score at 4-4 with the Swedes needing to score next to win, they took the shot. The American goalkeeper saved the ball but the Swedes thought it had crossed the line. The video referee confirmed that it had - by millimetres. The Cup favourites and defending titleholders had been eliminated, and Sweden marched on.

Answer: England 0 Nigeria 0. England advanced on penalties 4-2

The Nigerians were brave. Very brave. England was expected to cruise to a win in this match but even with a slight majority of the possession, they could not score a goal. The Nigerians did not take an overly defensive role either taking 20 shots to England's 12.

It came down to a penalty shoot-out where England held their nerve and won 4-2. England were through to the quarter-finals by the skin of their teeth.

Answer: Australia 2 Denmark 0

In an evenly matched game, both teams attacked vigorously. The Danes enjoyed a slight advantage in possession which resulted in more shots at goals than their opponents (13-10) but the Aussie defence stayed intact. However, Foorrd was able to slip one past the Danish keeper in the 29th minute and Raso scored another in the 70th minute for the Australians to advance to the quarter finals.

Answer: 1 (Colombia 1 Jamaica 0)

In this very evenly fought match, there were plenty of shots at goal, if a little astray, but by halftime there were no goals on the score sheet. However, Colombian Usme, soon in the second half, slipped one past the Jamaican keeper. The Colombians held on and were the only American team to reach the quarter-finals.

Answer: France 4 Morocco 0

Morocco had qualified second in their group above second favourite Germany and the highly ranked Republic of Korea. However, France utterly dominated this match with three-quarters of the possession and 15 shots to one. Goals were scored regularly - in the 15th, 20th, 23rd and 70th minutes, guaranteeing a place for the French in the quarter-finals.

Answer: Spain 2 Netherlands 1

A close match was expected in this match of 6th vs 9th in the world rankings. Spain, slight favourites, enjoyed more possession and sprayed the Dutch goal with frequent shots (28). The Dutch also managed ten shots but it was not until the 82nd minute that the first goal was scored, by Spain and even then, it was by a penalty. That looked like being the final score until van der Gragt equalised in stoppage time sending the game into extra time.

However Ayingono on an attacking raid in the 111th minute beat the Dutch 'keeper and Spain won 2-1.

Answer: Sweden 2 Japan 1

The #3 vs #11 ranked teams saw an evenly fought quarter-final. Both sides peppered the goals with shots (15 for the Swedes, 11 for the Japanese) with Sweden ahead at half-time 1-0. Angeldal added a penalty early in the second half but Hayashi pulled one back in the 87th minute giving the Japanese some hope. However, the Swedes held on, 2-1, booking a semi-final berth against Spain.

Answer: 20

After an utterly ruthless display against Morocco in the previous round, France were expected to win but the Australians had the advantage of home soil. Possession was even and while there were plenty of shots (France's 21 to Australia's 15), neither side cracked and after extra time, 120 minutes, there were no goals on the board. The penalty shootout was even more tense. There were misses as well as great goals but neither side could get ahead. At 6-6, France could have won it with one last goal. Arnold, the Aussie keeper saved but was ruled to have left the line before the kick. On the retaking of the penalty, she saved again. Then the French keeper Durand saved the next Aussie kick from Hunt. France lined up the 19th kick, but Becho hit the woodwork. Both sides were running out of experienced kickers when Aussie Vine, in her first World Cup, stepped up. She converted and Australia won on penalties 7-6.

It was the highest scoring penalty shoot in World Cup history, men's or women's. Secondly, no Australian side, men's or women's had made it to a World Cup semi-final before.

Answer: No, England won 2-1

Another game that England was expected to win comfortably. They dominated possession at 61%-39% but the Colombians fired more shots (15-10). It looked like it was going to be 0-0 at half time but Santos found the back of the net in the 44th minutes. That galvanised the English and they were able to equalise six minutes into the first-half stoppage time.

The second half was a hard-fought battle but England were able to score one more via Russo in the 63rd minute and were then able to hang on to book the last place in the semi-finals.