For the first time, the remaining seven members of the last eight all hail from the same confederation, with Italy and the Netherlands having further bolstered the European contingent.
The most recent gains for the old continent were made at the expense of Asia, as Japan – winners in 2011, finalists in 2015 – and China PR were sent tumbling out.
Their conquerors will now meet in the quarter-finals, with Valenciennes bracing for a Dutch-Italian invasion.
Confirmed Women's World Cup quarter-finals:
Norway vs England
France vs USA
Italy vs Netherlands
Germany vs Sweden
No comments: