2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group C

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

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 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

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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 downward-facing red arrow 88'
CB 4 Irene Paredes
CB 5 Ivana Andrés (c)
LB 19 Olga Carmona
CM 6 Aitana Bonmatí
CM 3 Teresa Abelleira downward-facing red arrow 77'
RW 22 Athenea del Castillo downward-facing red arrow 63'
AM 10 Jennifer Hermoso
LW 18 Salma Paralluelo downward-facing red arrow 77'
CF 9 Esther González downward-facing red arrow 63'
Substitutions:
FW 8 Mariona Caldentey upward-facing green arrow 63'
FW 17 Alba Redondo upward-facing green arrow 63'
MF 21 Claudia Zornoza upward-facing green arrow 77'
MF 11 Alexia Putellas upward-facing green arrow 77'
DF 12 Oihane Hernández upward-facing green arrow 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 downward-facing red arrow 73'
LM 12 María Paula Elizondo downward-facing red arrow 58'
RF 7 Melissa Herrera
CF 9 María Paula Salas downward-facing red arrow 73'
LF 14 Priscila Chinchilla
Substitutions:
MF 15 Cristín Granados upward-facing green arrow 58'
MF 19 Alexandra Pinell upward-facing green arrow 73'
MF 21 Sheika Scott upward-facing green arrow 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 Yellow card 51' Yellow-red card 90+7'
RB 8 Margaret Belemu
CB 15 Agness Musase
CB 3 Lushomo Mweemba downward-facing red arrow 82'
LB 13 Martha Tembo
RM 12 Evarine Katongo
CM 4 Susan Banda
CM 14 Ireen Lungu downward-facing red arrow 72'
LM 17 Racheal Kundananji
CF 19 Siomala Mapepa downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 11 Barbra Banda (c)
Substitutions:
FW 7 Lubandji Ochumba upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 21 Avell Chitundu upward-facing green arrow 72'downward-facing red arrow 90+9'
DF 23 Vast Phiri upward-facing green arrow 82'
GK 18 Eunice Sakala upward-facing green arrow 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 downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
LM 13 Jun Endō downward-facing red arrow 77'
CF 15 Aoba Fujino downward-facing red arrow 77'
CF 11 Mina Tanaka downward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutions:
FW 9 Riko Ueki upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 8 Hikaru Naomoto upward-facing green arrow 77'
DF 17 Kiko Seike upward-facing green arrow 77'
FW 22 Remina Chiba upward-facing green arrow 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 downward-facing red arrow 90+1'
CM 16 Honoka Hayashi downward-facing red arrow 74'
CM 8 Hikaru Naomoto downward-facing red arrow 74'
CM 14 Yui Hasegawa
LM 6 Hina Sugita
CF 15 Aoba Fujino downward-facing red arrow 59'
CF 11 Mina Tanaka downward-facing red arrow 59'
Substitutions:
MF 7 Hinata Miyazawa upward-facing green arrow 59'
FW 9 Riko Ueki upward-facing green arrow 59'
MF 10 Fūka Nagano upward-facing green arrow 74'
DF 17 Kiko Seike upward-facing green arrow 74'
DF 19 Miyabi Moriya upward-facing green arrow 90+1'
Manager:
Futoshi Ikeda
GK 23 Daniela Solera
CB 20 Fabiola Villalobos
CB 4 Mariana Benavides
CB 2 Gabriela Guillén downward-facing red arrow 46'
RM 3 María Coto
CM 16 Katherine Alvarado (c)
CM 15 Cristín Granados downward-facing red arrow 64'
LM 12 María Paula Elizondo
RF 7 Melissa Herrera
CF 9 María Paula Salas downward-facing red arrow 76'
LF 14 Priscila Chinchilla Yellow card 86'
Substitutions:
MF 10 Gloriana Villalobos upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 11 Raquel Rodríguez upward-facing green arrow 64'
MF 21 Sheika Scott upward-facing green arrow 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 downward-facing red arrow 46'
CB 4 Irene Paredes
CB 5 Ivana Andrés (c)
LB 19 Olga Carmona
DM 3 Teresa Abelleira
CM 6 Aitana Bonmatí downward-facing red arrow 61'
CM 11 Alexia Putellas downward-facing red arrow 46'
RF 18 Salma Paralluelo downward-facing red arrow 46'
CF 10 Jennifer Hermoso
LF 8 Mariona Caldentey downward-facing red arrow 83'
Substitutions:
FW 17 Alba Redondo upward-facing green arrow 46'
DF 12 Oihane Hernández upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 15 Eva Navarro upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 7 Irene Guerrero upward-facing green arrow 61'
FW 22 Athenea del Castillo upward-facing green arrow 83'
Manager:
Jorge Vilda
GK 18 Eunice Sakala
RB 8 Margaret Belemu
CB 15 Agness Musase
CB 3 Lushomo Mweemba downward-facing red arrow 76'
LB 13 Martha Tembo Yellow card 90+10'
DM 4 Susan Banda downward-facing red arrow 37'
CM 14 Ireen Lungu
CM 12 Evarine Katongo downward-facing red arrow 76'
RF 17 Racheal Kundananji
CF 11 Barbra Banda (c)
LF 19 Siomala Mapepa downward-facing red arrow 37'
Substitutions:
MF 6 Mary Wilombe upward-facing green arrow 37'
MF 21 Avell Chitundu upward-facing green arrow 37'
FW 7 Ochumba Lubandji Yellow card 90+1' upward-facing green arrow 76'
DF 23 Vast Phiri upward-facing green arrow 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 downward-facing red arrow 59'
CM 10 Fūka Nagano downward-facing red arrow 59'
CM 16 Honoka Hayashi
LM 13 Jun Endō downward-facing red arrow 85'
RF 8 Hikaru Naomoto
CF 9 Riko Ueki downward-facing red arrow 67'
LF 7 Hinata Miyazawa downward-facing red arrow 46'
Substitutions:
MF 15 Aoba Fujino upward-facing green arrow 46'
DF 19 Miyabi Moriya upward-facing green arrow 59'
MF 14 Yui Hasegawa upward-facing green arrow 59'
FW 11 Mina Tanaka upward-facing green arrow 67'
MF 6 Hina Sugita upward-facing green arrow 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) Yellow card 45+1' downward-facing red arrow 46'
DM 3 Teresa Abelleira downward-facing red arrow 72'
CM 6 Aitana Bonmatí
CM 11 Alexia Putellas downward-facing red arrow 62'
RF 18 Salma Paralluelo downward-facing red arrow 82'
CF 10 Jennifer Hermoso
LF 8 Mariona Caldentey downward-facing red arrow 62'
Substitutions:
DF 12 Oihane Hernández Yellow card 89' upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 15 Eva Navarro upward-facing green arrow 62'
FW 17 Alba Redondo upward-facing green arrow 62'
MF 21 Claudia Zornoza upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 9 Esther González upward-facing green arrow 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 Yellow card 21'
CB 5 Valeria del Campo Yellow card 23'
RM 3 María Coto
CM 10 Gloriana Villalobos downward-facing red arrow 72'
CM 16 Katherine Alvarado (c) Yellow card 6' downward-facing red arrow 90+1'
LM 11 Raquel Rodríguez
RF 7 Melissa Herrera
CF 21 Sheika Scott downward-facing red arrow 85'
LF 14 Priscila Chinchilla
Substitutions:
FW 9 María Paula Salas upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 13 Emilie Valenciano upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 19 Alexandra Pinell upward-facing green arrow 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 Yellow card 40'
DM 4 Susan Banda
CM 20 Hellen Chanda downward-facing red arrow 90+9'
CM 12 Evarine Katongo downward-facing red arrow 74'
RF 21 Avell Chitundu downward-facing red arrow 85'
CF 11 Barbra Banda (c) Yellow card 66'
LF 17 Racheal Kundananji
Substitutions:
MF 6 Mary Wilombe upward-facing green arrow 74'
MF 19 Siomala Mapepa upward-facing green arrow 85'
MF 9 Hellen Mubanga upward-facing green arrow 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
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card
 Japan 0
 Spain 2 –2
 Costa Rica 1 3 –4
 Zambia 1 2 2 –7

See also

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References

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  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.
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