2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C

Group C of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was one of eight groups that formed the opening round of the tournament with the matches played from 21 to 31 July 2023.[1] The group consisted of Spain, Costa Rica, Zambia and Japan. The top two teams, Japan and Spain, advanced to the round of 16.[2]

Japan playing against Spain at Wellington Regional Stadium on 31 July 2023.

Japan secured their place in the knockout stage with wins in all three group games without conceding, a first for the country. With six points, Spain earned more points this year than in their previous Women's World Cups combined; a total of five across two editions. Despite being eliminated, debutants Zambia secured their first and only win in their last match against faltering Costa Rica, finishing third in the group.

Teams

edit
Draw position Team Pot Confederation Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
October 2022[nb 1] June 2023
C1   Spain 1 UEFA UEFA Group B winners 12 April 2022 3rd 2019 Round of 16 (2019) 6 6
C2   Costa Rica 3 CONCACAF 2022 CONCACAF W Championship fourth place 8 July 2022 2nd 2015 Group stage (2015) 37 36
C3   Zambia 4 CAF 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations third place 13 July 2022 1st Debut 81 77
C4   Japan 2 AFC 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup semi-finalists 30 January 2022 9th 2019 Winners (2011) 11 11

Notes

  1. ^ The rankings of October 2022 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

edit
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan 3 3 0 0 11 0 +11 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Spain 3 2 0 1 8 4 +4 6
3   Zambia 3 1 0 2 3 11 −8 3
4   Costa Rica 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

In the round of 16:

  • The winners of Group C, Japan, advanced to play the runners-up of Group A, Norway.
  • The runners-up of Group C, Spain, advanced to play the winners of Group A, Switzerland.

Matches

edit

All times listed are local, NZST (UTC+12).

Spain vs Costa Rica

edit
Spain  3–0  Costa Rica
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costa Rica
GK 1 Misa Rodríguez
RB 2 Ona Batlle   88'
CB 4 Irene Paredes
CB 5 Ivana Andrés (c)
LB 19 Olga Carmona
CM 6 Aitana Bonmatí
CM 3 Teresa Abelleira   77'
RW 22 Athenea del Castillo   63'
AM 10 Jennifer Hermoso
LW 18 Salma Paralluelo   77'
CF 9 Esther González   63'
Substitutions:
FW 8 Mariona Caldentey   63'
FW 17 Alba Redondo   63'
MF 21 Claudia Zornoza   77'
MF 11 Alexia Putellas   77'
DF 12 Oihane Hernández   88'
Manager:
Jorge Vilda
GK 23 Daniela Solera
CB 20 Fabiola Villalobos
CB 4 Mariana Benavides
CB 5 Valeria del Campo
RM 3 María Coto
CM 16 Katherine Alvarado (c)
CM 10 Gloriana Villalobos   73'
LM 12 María Paula Elizondo   58'
RF 7 Melissa Herrera
CF 9 María Paula Salas   73'
LF 14 Priscila Chinchilla
Substitutions:
MF 15 Cristín Granados   58'
MF 19 Alexandra Pinell   73'
MF 21 Sheika Scott   73'
Manager:
Amelia Valverde

Player of the Match:
Aitana Bonmatí (Spain)

Assistant referees:
Ramina Tsoi (Kyrgyzstan)
Xie Lijun (China)
Fourth official:
Kim Yu-jeong (South Korea)
Video assistant referee:
Marco Fritz (Germany)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Armando Villarreal (United States)
Offside video assistant referee:
Sian Massey-Ellis (England)

Zambia vs Japan

edit
Zambia  0–5  Japan
Report
Attendance: 16,111
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zambia
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan
GK 1 Catherine Musonda   51'   90+7'
RB 8 Margaret Belemu
CB 15 Agness Musase
CB 3 Lushomo Mweemba   82'
LB 13 Martha Tembo
RM 12 Evarine Katongo
CM 4 Susan Banda
CM 14 Ireen Lungu   72'
LM 17 Racheal Kundananji
CF 19 Siomala Mapepa   72'
CF 11 Barbra Banda (c)
Substitutions:
FW 7 Lubandji Ochumba   72'
MF 21 Avell Chitundu   72'  90+9'
DF 23 Vast Phiri   82'
GK 18 Eunice Sakala   90+9'
Manager:
Bruce Mwape
GK 1 Ayaka Yamashita
CB 23 Rion Ishikawa
CB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)
CB 3 Moeka Minami
RM 2 Risa Shimizu
CM 14 Yui Hasegawa
CM 10 Fūka Nagano
CM 7 Hinata Miyazawa   90+3'
LM 13 Jun Endō   77'
CF 15 Aoba Fujino   77'
CF 11 Mina Tanaka   66'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Riko Ueki   66'
MF 8 Hikaru Naomoto   77'
DF 17 Kiko Seike   77'
FW 22 Remina Chiba   90+3'
Manager:
Futoshi Ikeda

Player of the Match:
Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)

Assistant referees:
Lucie Ratajová (Czech Republic)
Polyxeni Irodotou (Cyprus)
Fourth official:
Anahí Fernández (Uruguay)
Video assistant referee:
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Salomé Di Iorio (Argentina)
Offside video assistant referee:
Franca Overtoom (Netherlands)

Japan vs Costa Rica

edit
Japan  2–0  Costa Rica
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costa Rica
GK 1 Ayaka Yamashita
CB 5 Shiori Miyake
CB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)
CB 3 Moeka Minami
RM 2 Risa Shimizu   90+1'
CM 16 Honoka Hayashi   74'
CM 8 Hikaru Naomoto   74'
CM 14 Yui Hasegawa
LM 6 Hina Sugita
CF 15 Aoba Fujino   59'
CF 11 Mina Tanaka   59'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Hinata Miyazawa   59'
FW 9 Riko Ueki   59'
MF 10 Fūka Nagano   74'
DF 17 Kiko Seike   74'
DF 19 Miyabi Moriya   90+1'
Manager:
Futoshi Ikeda
GK 23 Daniela Solera
CB 20 Fabiola Villalobos
CB 4 Mariana Benavides
CB 2 Gabriela Guillén   46'
RM 3 María Coto
CM 16 Katherine Alvarado (c)
CM 15 Cristín Granados   64'
LM 12 María Paula Elizondo
RF 7 Melissa Herrera
CF 9 María Paula Salas   76'
LF 14 Priscila Chinchilla   86'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Gloriana Villalobos   46'
MF 11 Raquel Rodríguez   64'
MF 21 Sheika Scott   76'
Manager:
Amelia Valverde

Player of the Match:
Hikaru Naomoto (Japan)

Assistant referees:
Francesca Di Monte (Italy)
Mihaela Țepușă (Romania)
Fourth official:
Myriam Marcotte (Canada)
Video assistant referee:
Massimiliano Irrati (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Salomé di Iorio (Argentina)
Offside video assistant referee:
Sian Massey-Ellis (England)

Spain vs Zambia

edit
Spain  5–0  Zambia
Report
Attendance: 20,983
Referee: Oh Hyeon-jeong (South Korea)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zambia
GK 1 Misa Rodríguez
RB 2 Ona Batlle   46'
CB 4 Irene Paredes
CB 5 Ivana Andrés (c)
LB 19 Olga Carmona
DM 3 Teresa Abelleira
CM 6 Aitana Bonmatí   61'
CM 11 Alexia Putellas   46'
RF 18 Salma Paralluelo   46'
CF 10 Jennifer Hermoso
LF 8 Mariona Caldentey   83'
Substitutions:
FW 17 Alba Redondo   46'
DF 12 Oihane Hernández   46'
FW 15 Eva Navarro   46'
MF 7 Irene Guerrero   61'
FW 22 Athenea del Castillo   83'
Manager:
Jorge Vilda
GK 18 Eunice Sakala
RB 8 Margaret Belemu
CB 15 Agness Musase
CB 3 Lushomo Mweemba   76'
LB 13 Martha Tembo   90+10'
DM 4 Susan Banda   37'
CM 14 Ireen Lungu
CM 12 Evarine Katongo   76'
RF 17 Racheal Kundananji
CF 11 Barbra Banda (c)
LF 19 Siomala Mapepa   37'
Substitutions:
MF 6 Mary Wilombe   37'
MF 21 Avell Chitundu   37'
FW 7 Ochumba Lubandji   90+1'   76'
DF 23 Vast Phiri   76'
Manager:
Bruce Mwape

Player of the Match:
Jennifer Hermoso (Spain)

Assistant referees:
Lee Seul-gi (South Korea)
Park Mi-suk (South Korea)
Fourth official:
Ivana Martinčić (Croatia)
Video assistant referee:
Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar)
Offside video assistant referee:
Ella De Vries (Belgium)

Japan vs Spain

edit

Japan's 23% of possession was the lowest for a winning side at the Women's World Cup since this stat began being recorded in 2011. This match was compared to the Japan men's team's victory against Spain at the 2022 World Cup, in which Japan's 18% of possession was also the lowest for a winning side at the men's World Cup since recording began in 1966.[3][4]

Japan  4–0  Spain
Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Japan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Spain
GK 1 Ayaka Yamashita
CB 12 Hana Takahashi
CB 4 Saki Kumagai (c)
CB 3 Moeka Minami
RM 2 Risa Shimizu   59'
CM 10 Fūka Nagano   59'
CM 16 Honoka Hayashi
LM 13 Jun Endō   85'
RF 8 Hikaru Naomoto
CF 9 Riko Ueki   67'
LF 7 Hinata Miyazawa   46'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Aoba Fujino   46'
DF 19 Miyabi Moriya   59'
MF 14 Yui Hasegawa   59'
FW 11 Mina Tanaka   67'
MF 6 Hina Sugita   85'
Manager:
Futoshi Ikeda
GK 1 Misa Rodríguez
RB 2 Ona Batlle
CB 4 Irene Paredes
CB 20 Rocío Gálvez
LB 19 Olga Carmona (c)   45+1'   46'
DM 3 Teresa Abelleira   72'
CM 6 Aitana Bonmatí
CM 11 Alexia Putellas   62'
RF 18 Salma Paralluelo   82'
CF 10 Jennifer Hermoso
LF 8 Mariona Caldentey   62'
Substitutions:
DF 12 Oihane Hernández   89'   46'
FW 15 Eva Navarro   62'
FW 17 Alba Redondo   62'
MF 21 Claudia Zornoza   72'
FW 9 Esther González   82'
Manager:
Jorge Vilda

Player of the Match:
Hinata Miyazawa (Japan)

Assistant referees:
Kathryn Nesbitt (United States)
Felisha Mariscal (United States)
Fourth official:
Myriam Marcotte (Canada)
Video assistant referee:
Drew Fischer (Canada)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Armando Villarreal (United States)
Offside video assistant referee:
Mariana de Almeida (Argentina)

Costa Rica vs Zambia

edit
Costa Rica  1–3  Zambia
Herrera   47' Report
Attendance: 8,117
Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Costa Rica
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zambia
GK 23 Daniela Solera
CB 20 Fabiola Villalobos
CB 4 Mariana Benavides   21'
CB 5 Valeria del Campo   23'
RM 3 María Coto
CM 10 Gloriana Villalobos   72'
CM 16 Katherine Alvarado (c)   6'   90+1'
LM 11 Raquel Rodríguez
RF 7 Melissa Herrera
CF 21 Sheika Scott   85'
LF 14 Priscila Chinchilla
Substitutions:
FW 9 María Paula Salas   72'
MF 13 Emilie Valenciano   85'
MF 19 Alexandra Pinell   90+1'
Manager:
Amelia Valverde
GK 1 Catherine Musonda
RB 8 Margaret Belemu
CB 15 Agness Musase
CB 3 Lushomo Mweemba
LB 13 Martha Tembo   40'
DM 4 Susan Banda
CM 20 Hellen Chanda   90+9'
CM 12 Evarine Katongo   74'
RF 21 Avell Chitundu   85'
CF 11 Barbra Banda (c)   66'
LF 17 Racheal Kundananji
Substitutions:
MF 6 Mary Wilombe   74'
MF 19 Siomala Mapepa   85'
MF 9 Hellen Mubanga   90+9'
Manager:
Bruce Mwape

Player of the Match:
Barbra Banda (Zambia)

Assistant referees:
Fatiha Jermoumi (Morocco)
Soukaina Hamdi (Morocco)
Fourth official:
Kim Yu-jeong (South Korea)
Video assistant referee:
Adil Zourak (Morocco)
Assistant video assistant referee:
Abdulla Al-Marri (Qatar)
Offside video assistant referee:
Sian Massey-Ellis (England)

Discipline

edit

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers in the group should the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:[2]

  • first yellow card: minus 1 point;
  • indirect red card (second yellow card): minus 3 points;
  • direct red card: minus 4 points;
  • yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
                                   
  Japan 0
  Spain 2 –2
  Costa Rica 1 3 –4
  Zambia 1 2 2 –7

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Match schedule: FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023" (PDF). FIFA. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Regulations: FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. ^ "The lowest share of possession for a winning side at the FIFA Women". Opta Joe. 31 July 2023.
  4. ^ Cox, Michael (31 July 2023). "Japan are the best side at the World Cup so far – Spain didn't know how to cope with them". The Athletic.
edit