None of those who’ve played have scored a goal yet, but they aren’t getting totally thrashed either.
Five of the eight debutantes in this World Cup have played. None have scored a goal as of yet and have been outscored by a collective of 15-0. However, many of them have been hanging in matches with their defensive prowess. Saturday in New Zealand saw three of the debutantes in actions, more penalties, more penalty misses, more VAR, but only one scoreline that could be constituted as a thrashing.
USA 3-0 Vietnam
It could arguably have been more. It perhaps should have been more, but most of that was because Vietnam showed great spirit and great defending. Some did expect a similar scoreline like the one the USA inflicted on Thailand four years ago, but Vietnam would just let three into the net. Not the worst result in the world for Vietnam in their debut match, but something they can hold their heads high with. Not every team has a realistic shot of winning a game, let alone the Cup, but Vietnam played well defensively (though there was a bit of wasteful finishing by the USA as well).
On a side note, Megan Rapinoe came on as a substitute and made her 200th appearance in the match to the cheers of the over 41,000 fans at Eden Park.
Zambia 0-5 Japan
This eventually became a thrashing, but Japan didn’t get on the board until just before halftime. Indeed, they had a few decisions go against them through VAR, they would pour it on in the second half with four goals. The Copper Girls were eventually outmatched by Japan in the end, outshot 25-0, and unfortunately have the worst goal difference so far this tournament.
England 1-0 Haiti
Over in Brisbane, England would only win through a penalty in the 29th minute, and that penalty was a retake after keeper Kerly Theus had stepped off their line before the kick by Georgia Stanway. Stanway converted the retaken penalty to put England ahead. Haiti showed the most attacking so far of the debutants (apart from Ireland late against Australia) getting seven shots (to England’s 21).
Another other factor was VAR which was called upon several times during the match from denying England a penalty after a foul by Alessia Russo in the box, later awarding them one for handball by Batcheba Louis, Dayana Pierre-Louis not getting a red card when her studs dragged down Chloe Kelly’s shin in the first half, and not awarding a penalty on that play because of Russo’s foul in the build-up.
Haiti and Republic of Ireland have accounted for most of the shots taken by debutantes so far in the tournament with Costa Rica, Vietnam, and Zambia combining for just one.
Denmark 1-0 China PR
Denmark required a 90th minute goal to defeat China in their first World Cup appearance since 2007. Amalie Vangsgaard scored off Pernille Harder’s corner and then the Danes had to hold on after China nearly equalized deep into stoppage time. It would have counted for nothing in the end as China was ruled offside on the play.
This was late night for those New Zealand (including this reporter) as there is a four-hour time difference between Perth and New Zealand. Or, a 13-hour time difference between Chicago and Perth.
Speaking of Chicago, this reporter is leaving Auckland on Sunday after nearly a week here and will be returning to Chicago to cover the Cup from there (that life-outside-soccer thing). It’s been a wonderful time in Auckland and this reporter looks for to coming again real soon.
Three more matches coming up and that includes our sixth debutante as Portugal play the Netherlands in Dunedin (2:30am CT, FS1/Telemundo), France plays Jamaica in Sydney (5am CT, FOX/Telemundo), and Sweden takes on South Africa (midnight CT on Monday, FS1/NBC Universo).
That’s all for now. More later!
