“Our target is not simply to win our group. We’re here to reach the final, and we won’t be satisfied after any of our games until we’ve hit our target,” Korea DPR coach Sin Ui Gun
Yesterday’s Results
Group A in Miyagi
Mexico 2-0 Switzerland
Japan 2-2 New Zealand
Highlights at http://www.fifa.com/u20womensworldcup/highlights/video/video=1685205/index.html
Group B in Saitama
Brazil 1-1 Nigeria
Italy 0-2 Korea
Yesterday’s highlights
With six goals in total, New Zealand’s Rosie White enters the top ten in the list of all-time leading scorers at the FIFA U- 20 Women’s World Cup.
esterday was not the first time that Japan had managed to escape with a draw after trailing by two goals. They also did it against Mexico in 2010, coming from 3-1 down to tie the game at 3-3.
Just as they had done on the first matchday, Brazil salvaged a draw with a late equaliser. After Amanda scored on 90+2 minutes against Italy, Giovanna Oliveira struck on 87 minutes to rescue a point against Nigeria.
Giovanna Oliveira’s goal was Brazil’s 50th in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Brazil and Nigeria have recorded more draws in the history of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup than any other side, with eight apiece.
Italy and Switzerland are two of three European teams that have failed to win a match in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Le Azzurrine have played five games, drawing two and losing three, whereas the Swiss have lost all eight of their matches played to date. The other UEFA side yet to win a match are Finland, who could only muster three straight defeats during their solitary campaign in 2006.
Italy have had a player sent off in two consecutive matches, which previously happened to Mexico in 2002 and New Zealand in 2008.
All three of Mexico’s victories in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup have come against European opponents, namely Switzerland in 2006 and yesterday, and England in 2010.
Official Training on 24 August in Kobe and Tokyo
Italy, New Zealand, Nigeria, and Mexico have transferred to Kobe for their final group stage match. The four teams will have their official training at Kobe Universiade Stadium on 24 August at the times listed below. Each team is also planning to have a press conference at the stadium. The scheduled times will be posted on the FIFA Media Channel when they are confirmed.
Kobe Universiade Stadium (no official training on 25 August)
Italy 16:00-17:00
Nigeria 17:30-18:30
Mexico 19:00-20:00
New Zealand 20:30-21:30
Brazil, Japan, Korea Republic, and Switzerland will be transferring to Tokyo today and tomorrow for their final group stage match. Korea Republic and Switzerland will have their official training at Tokyo National Stadium on Friday, 24 August at the times listed below. Brazil and Japan are scheduled to have their official training at National Stadium on Saturday, 25 August. The times for the official press conferences will be posted on the FIFA Media Channel when they are confirmed.
National Stadium in Tokyo
Korea Rep. 17:00–18:00
Switzerland 19:00–20:00
Stats of the Day
With six goals in total, New Zealand’s Rosie White enters the top ten in the list of all-time leading scorers at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Looking ahead to today’s matches, defending champions Germany are unbeaten against African opposition in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. In three showdowns they have picked up two wins, 5-0 over Congo DR in 2008 and 2-0 against Nigeria in the 2010 final, plus one draw, 1-1 against Nigeria in the 2004 quarter-finals, when the Germans ultimately went through on penalties.