Group B was wild. It started with a horror defeat by 2018 runners-up England, and after two miserable draws they finished bottom of their group. Somehow, Norway managed to fight their way to second spot with three draws, and they will join Rest of World, France and Germany in the next round.
The two third-placed sides with the best record also go through. Spain's record was better than Sweden's, so they are guaranteed to go through. Sweden need whoever finishes third in Group C today to earn no better than 2 points.
In Group C we have the tournament favourites, USA. Italy are second seeds, whilst Scotland and Rest of Europe are relative minnows. Let's see how everybody gets on!
Italy vs Rest of Europe
The 'Mainland Europe' team made the semi-finals of last year's event, but that was a side mainly containing players from Spain and Italy. This Europe side is not as strong. And they fell behind half an hour into this game as Italy's English pair combined beautifully - Eni Aluko chipping the ball into the path of Lianne Sanderson to volley home. Aluko had a second assist when her free kick was headed home by Laura Agard, as Italy lead 2-0 at the break. Lana Clelland added a third in the 76th minute with a great shot into the top corner, as Italy started their debut WDWC in style.
Final score: Italy 3-0 Rest of Europe
In Group C we have the tournament favourites, USA. Italy are second seeds, whilst Scotland and Rest of Europe are relative minnows. Let's see how everybody gets on!
Italy vs Rest of Europe
The 'Mainland Europe' team made the semi-finals of last year's event, but that was a side mainly containing players from Spain and Italy. This Europe side is not as strong. And they fell behind half an hour into this game as Italy's English pair combined beautifully - Eni Aluko chipping the ball into the path of Lianne Sanderson to volley home. Aluko had a second assist when her free kick was headed home by Laura Agard, as Italy lead 2-0 at the break. Lana Clelland added a third in the 76th minute with a great shot into the top corner, as Italy started their debut WDWC in style.
Final score: Italy 3-0 Rest of Europe
Scotland vs USA
The USA side is pretty scary, with an attack including Sam Kerr, Alex Morgan, Marta and Tobin Heath - with the likes of Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair forced onto the bench. However, Scotland dug in extremely well here, and were able to earn a 0-0 draw without even conceding any major chances.
Final score: Scotland 0-0 USA
The USA side is pretty scary, with an attack including Sam Kerr, Alex Morgan, Marta and Tobin Heath - with the likes of Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair forced onto the bench. However, Scotland dug in extremely well here, and were able to earn a 0-0 draw without even conceding any major chances.
Final score: Scotland 0-0 USA
Rest of Europe vs Scotland
Each of these sides will rightly see this as their best chance of a win in this group - and a win is likely to be enough to earn qualification. As a result, this was a very cagey affair, with chances at a premium. Scotland eventually broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute when a Hayley Lauder free kick was poorly cleared, allowing a second ball into the box which Clare Shine was able to poke in. Eight minutes later and Scotland scored from another dead ball situation, as Jo Love was left unmarked at a corner to hit it home. And another one came soon after when Lauder hit the bottom corner with an excellent free kick.
Final score: Rest of Europe 0-3 Scotland
Each of these sides will rightly see this as their best chance of a win in this group - and a win is likely to be enough to earn qualification. As a result, this was a very cagey affair, with chances at a premium. Scotland eventually broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute when a Hayley Lauder free kick was poorly cleared, allowing a second ball into the box which Clare Shine was able to poke in. Eight minutes later and Scotland scored from another dead ball situation, as Jo Love was left unmarked at a corner to hit it home. And another one came soon after when Lauder hit the bottom corner with an excellent free kick.
Final score: Rest of Europe 0-3 Scotland
USA vs Italy
There's certainly no cause for USA to panic, but a defeat here would leave them in last-chance saloon. However, after a brief scare at the other end, USA quickly asserted themselves in this game, Kerr blasting into the top corner in the 7th minute. Despite dominance of the first half, USA couldn't add to their tally before the break.
Straight from kick-off USA surged forward yet again, and this time they did add another, Rapinoe's low cross finding Heath just ahead of Italian right back Elisa Bartoli. And it got worse for Bartoli, as her terrible back-pass allowed Kerr to steal in and grab USA's third. It had been a quiet game for Marta, but in the 81st minute she joined the scoresheet with a calm finish, and in added time she added a second from a rebound following Carli Lloyd's shot.
Final score: USA 5-0 Italy
There's certainly no cause for USA to panic, but a defeat here would leave them in last-chance saloon. However, after a brief scare at the other end, USA quickly asserted themselves in this game, Kerr blasting into the top corner in the 7th minute. Despite dominance of the first half, USA couldn't add to their tally before the break.
Straight from kick-off USA surged forward yet again, and this time they did add another, Rapinoe's low cross finding Heath just ahead of Italian right back Elisa Bartoli. And it got worse for Bartoli, as her terrible back-pass allowed Kerr to steal in and grab USA's third. It had been a quiet game for Marta, but in the 81st minute she joined the scoresheet with a calm finish, and in added time she added a second from a rebound following Carli Lloyd's shot.
Final score: USA 5-0 Italy
So here is the table with one round of games left to play:
As USA & Scotland cannot finish below third, and they have already surpassed Sweden's points tally, they are guaranteed qualification. Italy will join them in the next round as long as Rest of Europe somehow don't beat USA - and even then, Italy need a heavy defeat against Scotland.
Therefore the real battle for the best position in this group. The top side in this group will face Norway in the next round, the second-placed team will face France and the team in third will play Rest of World.
Italy vs Scotland
It's hard to see past an easy USA win in the other game, so this is realistically a battle for second spot (and even then, the draw isn't really easier). Italy fired an early warning shot as Sara Gama hit the post from an Aluko free kick. Scotland didn't heed the warning, and in the 8th minute Gama headed an Aluko free kick home for the lead. Scotland could not get into the game, even from set pieces, and Italy held onto their lead with ease, never leaving second gear.
Final score: Italy 1-0 Scotland
Therefore the real battle for the best position in this group. The top side in this group will face Norway in the next round, the second-placed team will face France and the team in third will play Rest of World.
Italy vs Scotland
It's hard to see past an easy USA win in the other game, so this is realistically a battle for second spot (and even then, the draw isn't really easier). Italy fired an early warning shot as Sara Gama hit the post from an Aluko free kick. Scotland didn't heed the warning, and in the 8th minute Gama headed an Aluko free kick home for the lead. Scotland could not get into the game, even from set pieces, and Italy held onto their lead with ease, never leaving second gear.
Final score: Italy 1-0 Scotland
Rest of Europe vs USA
That result means Rest of Europe cannot avoid elimination now, and this is simply a question of whether USA will grab the win to earn top spot in the group. Stephanie Roche headed narrowly over early on for Europe, and in the 21st minute a cool cut-back from Abbi Grant allowed Roche to put Europe into the lead! USA suddenly began to look a bit nervous, as they could only muster - and waste - chances from set pieces. However, on the stroke of half time a bad clearance from Nanna Christiansen went straight to Crystal Dunn (starting in place of the suspended Heath), and she fired USA level!
The second half continued to see USA generally controlling the game, and Marta nearly scored a wonderful goal from range, only to see it cannon off the crossbar. However, despite 23 shots to Europe's 5, they couldn't find the breakthrough, and an unlikely draw meant that Italy win the group!
Final score: Rest of Europe 1-1 USA
That result means Rest of Europe cannot avoid elimination now, and this is simply a question of whether USA will grab the win to earn top spot in the group. Stephanie Roche headed narrowly over early on for Europe, and in the 21st minute a cool cut-back from Abbi Grant allowed Roche to put Europe into the lead! USA suddenly began to look a bit nervous, as they could only muster - and waste - chances from set pieces. However, on the stroke of half time a bad clearance from Nanna Christiansen went straight to Crystal Dunn (starting in place of the suspended Heath), and she fired USA level!
The second half continued to see USA generally controlling the game, and Marta nearly scored a wonderful goal from range, only to see it cannon off the crossbar. However, despite 23 shots to Europe's 5, they couldn't find the breakthrough, and an unlikely draw meant that Italy win the group!
Final score: Rest of Europe 1-1 USA
Confirmation of the final table:
And so, to the draw for the knockout round:
The obvious match-up of note is the one between the two sides that didn't win their group - USA vs France. Whoever triumphs there will be confident of making the final. In the other half of the draw both Rest of World and Germany will be pretty happy with their draws, and both looked good in the group stages. But the group stages were highly unpredictable - none of the top seeds won their group for example - so all eight teams should feel like they have a chance.
Next time we'll do the quarter-finals, so don't miss it!
Next time we'll do the quarter-finals, so don't miss it!