While three teams – Canada, holders USA and hosts Brazil – have already qualified for the quarter-finals before the third and final round of group matches, nine more teams will battle it out for the last five quarter-final places on Tuesday 9 August at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.
Match of the day Germany-Canada, Estadio Nacional Brasilia, 16:00 (local time) The game between two-time world champions Germany and the Canadians promises to deliver plenty of excitement. While the hosts of the last FIFA Women’s World Cup™ already have two wins and a spot in the last eight under their belts, the Germans will be seeking to set their disappointment aside after a draw with Australia in their second group match prevented them from securing early passage to the next round. Only victory will be enough to seal top spot in Group F for a team whose coach, Silvia Neid, is contesting her final tournament in charge of Die Mannschaft. History favours the reigning European champions, who have won all of the two teams’ previous 12 meetings in all competitions.
The other matches Brazil will go into their match in Manaus as clear favourites against South Africa in Group E. The South Americans sent a clear statement of intent to their rivals by defeating Sweden 5-1 in a show of strength. Although the second Group E encounter between Sweden and China PR will then determine who joins the Brazilians in the last eight, the losers of this match will still hope to join their rivals in the next round as one of the two best third-placed teams.
Having secured their own quarter-final place with two victories from their opening two games, world and Olympic champions USA meet bottom-placed Colombia in their last Group G tie. Attention then turns to the duel between France and New Zealand, with both teams chasing three points and a berth in the last eight.
Awaiting Australia on the final matchday in Group F are tournament debutants Zimbabwe, who will go into the game aiming to become one of the two best third-placed sides. The Matildas will also travel to Salvador full of confidence in wake of their 2-2 draw with Germany.
Player to watch Caitlin Foord (Australia) The strong and agile Caitlin Foord was unstoppable in the match against Germany, delivering a flawless performance in which she scored to give Australia a 2-0 lead and regularly placed the Europeans’ defence and goalkeeper Almut Schult under pressure. The 21-year-old Sky Blue FC striker first stunned the footballing world at the Women’s World Cup 2011, where her three impressive performances earned her the inaugural Hyundai Best Young Player award.
The words“It’s going to be a special situation; we’ve got to try and recover and we’re travelling to Brasilia as well. First of all we have to watch out for our bodies to get our strength back. Only then will we talk about China, to focus and see what we can do to beat them.” Sweden striker Lotta Schelin
Match schedule Group F Australia-Zimbabwe (Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 16:00) Germany-Canada (Mané Garrincha Stadium, Brasilia, 16:00)
Group G Colombia-USA (Arena Amazonia, Manaus 18:00) New Zealand-France (Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, 19:00)
Group E South Africa-Brazil (Arena Amazonia, Manaus, 21:00) China PR-Sweden (Mané Garrincha Stadium, Brasília, 22:00)
(All times local)
Note: if two or more teams are equal after exhausting all the tie-breaking criteria, the two best 3rd ranked teams will be determined by the drawing of lots.