World Cup, Day 10 Analysis
Corners are the theme of the day as France record a huge win against Brazil, Sweden finally show their potential and Jamaica survive without Khadija Shaw...
Sweden hit the target
It's fast becoming one of the biggest questions of the tournament. How do you stop Sweden on set-pieces? It turns out Amanda Ilestedt's last-minute header against South Africa wasn't a one-off, but a genuine tactical ploy.
With Jonas Eidevall looking on, presumably with a big smile on his face, Ilestedt scored two more against Italy, both from corners, both from headers.
Jonna Anderson's pinpoint deliveries caused chaos, with Fridolina Rolfö also scoring from a corner after Italy's chances of a result ebbed away in six first half minutes.
Milena Bertolin's side actually started well. A tactical tweak saw Sofia Cantore coming into the side and early on but her and Chiara Beccari did well at splitting and stretching Sweden's full-backs, and Zećira Mušović was tested on several occasions.
Sweden though had a little regroup partway through the half and even before the corner onslaught looked more threatening. Kosovare Asllani came more into the game and they started to find Rolfö and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd down the flanks, whic more often than not led to subsequent corners, or the third goal of the game converted by Stina Blackstenius.
Italy are still in pole position to go through in second, but they face a South Africa side who has looked good so far and they'll now be regretting more than ever throwing away their 2-0 lead against Argentina yesterday.
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France show they have what it takes, both physically and mentally
It looked like it was going to get away from Les Bleues momentarily, but this was a huge win for France and Hervé Renard, and it was deserved too.
All the talk was about how France would recover from a sub-par opening game against a Brazil team which was free-flowing against Panama, but in the opening 20 minutes Pia Sundhage's side could barely get a kick.
Both sides playing 4-4-2 is something of a novelty these days, but France made it work, aided by the return of Selma Bacha, as well as Kenza Dali coming back into the side.
France worked neat triangles between full-back, winger and forward down both flanks, with Bacha, Sakina Karchaoui and Eugénie Le Sommer particularly dangerous early on.
The attack was aided by a sublime performance from both Grace Geyoro and Sandie Toletti in the midfield, and when Le Sommer headed home it was deserved. But they didn't build on it, and when Debinha equalised it felt like momentum would swing.
But it didn't. France came roaring back and were denied several times by Letícia, until Brazil somehow failed to pick up Wendie Renard who headed home a late corner.
France now control the group with Panama to play, and it's worth remembering neither goalscorer would have likely been at this tournament had the FFF not finally parted with Corinne Diacre.
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