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Wednesday 26 June 2019

Dutch cap Europe’s World Cup dominance by ousting Japan

By ROB HARRIS the players I feel very sorry
AP Global Soccer Writer for them and frustrated.”
RENNES, France (AP) — With the last Asian team
Tears were still flowing from eliminated, the Women’s
Saki Kumagai’s eyes more World Cup will have a
than 30 minutes later. record seven European
With victorious Dutch rivals teams in the quarterfinals.
passing her on the way out Norway and England meet
of the stadium, Japan’s in Le Havre on Thursday and
captain seemed to find sol- France takes on the United
ace in speaking about the States the following night.
penalty long after it cost After the Netherlands plays
her team a place in the Italy on Saturday, Germany
quarterfinals of the Wom- and Sweden will meet.
en’s World Cup. “It’s really tough to be
With Tuesday night’s game here,” Netherlands forward
entering the 90th minute Miedema said. “Sometimes
locked at 1-1, Kumagai’s it kind of feels like a Euros.”
outstretched left arm That is a title already won
blocked the shot Vivianne by this team, thanks to Mi-
Miedema had aimed into edema’s goals in the final
the right side of the net. two years ago on home
“It had my hand for sure,” soil. The fans won’t have far
Kumagai said. “It’s difficult to travel for the World Cup
to accept but it’s also sad. I Netherlands’ Lieke Martens, center, celebrates after scoring her side’s second goal from the quarterfinal, with Valenci-
know that is football.” penalty spot during the Women’s World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands ennes around two hours’
Referee Melissa Borjas and Japan at the Roazhon Park, in Rennes, France, Tuesday, June 25, 2019. drive from the Netherlands.
pointed to the penalty spot Associated Press It will be another chance
and Lieke Martens netted The reigning European ing, ‘Let’s continue writing front in the 17th minute and for the orange-clad fans
her second goal of the champions will need to history.’” It is journey’s end Yui Hasegawa equalized in who danced and sang
game in the 90th minute maintain that composure for Japan, which won the the 43rd to complete a slick their way in a convoy to
to seal a 2-1 victory that as they prepare for a meet- 2011 tournament and was passing move. the stadium on Tuesday
sent the Netherlands into ing with Italy on Saturday the runner-up four years But the post, crossbar to stamp their mark on this
the quarterfinals for the first after going one stage fur- later. The strength of the and goalkeeper Sari van tournament.
time. ther than their Women’s second-half display count- Veenendaal thwarted Ja- They were certainly given a
“We have made history,” World Cup debut four years ed for nothing. pan’s pursuit of a winning game to savor, and an au-
Martens said. “I’m not usu- ago. As befitting a meeting of goal. dacious opening goal.
ally taking the penalties but “We were standing in the the Asian and European “I think we lacked the clini- Martens flicked in the
I felt really good this game. circle after the match and champions, the game pro- cal edge,” Japan coach opener after evading her
I asked Sherida Spitse if I we were so happy, yelling duced some of the slickest Asako Takakura said. “We marker to meet a corner
could take it and she gave at each other,” Nether- action of the World Cup. A have to accept the result, and send the ball through
it directly to me and I felt lands coach Sarina Wieg- backheel flick set up Mar- we’re defeated, we’re very the legs of Yuika Sugasawa
quite relaxed about it.” man said. “We were say- tens to send the Dutch in disappointed and for all into the net.q

U.S. France Les Bleues finished atop

their group with three
Continued from Page 18 champions, relentlessly tar- wins before surviving their
geting Alex Morgan and knockout opener. Captain
It was circled on every- using brawn to counter the Amandine Henry redirect-
one’s World Cup calendar Americans’ superior speed. ed Amel Majri’s free kick for
since December’s draw. Rapinoe scored on a pair a tiebreaking goal in the
“It’s going to be totally of penalty kicks for the 2-1 107th minute of a 2-1 victo-
awesome. This is what ev- victory in Reims on Monday ry Sunday night in Le Havre.
erybody wants. And these night, although the game- Valérie Gauvin, whose first-
are the biggest games that winner in the 75th min- half goal was disallowed in
you kind of dream about ute was the result of what a video review, put France
as a kid,” Rapinoe said. many thought was at best ahead early in the second
The United States ad- minimal contact between but Thaisa tied the score
vanced with a physically Spain’s Virginia Torrecilla France’s Amandine Henry, center, celebrates with teammates 11 minutes later for No. 10
challenging win over Spain and Rose Lavelle. The foul after scoring her side’s 2nd goal during the Women’s World Cup Brazil.
in the round of 16, while was confirmed after video round of 16 soccer match between France and Brazil at the Afterward, French coach
France scored in extra time review. Oceane stadium in Le Havre, France, Sunday, June 23, 2019. Corinne Diacre was critical
to get past resilient Brazil. Lavelle insisted afterward: Associated Press of her team, saying, “We
The top-ranked U.S. team “I didn’t flop.” World Cup. The Americans challenging game and it weren’t at our best.”
breezed through its group Players said the difficult could also face No. 3 Eng- showed a little bit of what “Obviously, I know my play-
stage at the World Cup, match was crucial to the land if they go through to we might see in France, so ers inside out. I know that
pouncing on Thailand 13-0 team’s preparation go- the semifinals. this was an important step- we weren’t 100 percent to-
before more balanced vic- ing into the quarterfinal “I think this game was ex- ping stone for us looking day and the objective is to
tories over Chile and rival against the fourth-ranked tremely important to us, forward.” hit that 100 percent for the
Sweden. But Spain posed a French, the first time the looking forward to France,” France also got a tough next game,” Diacre said
challenge to the three-time U.S. has faced the host in a Morgan said. “It was a very test out of the way. through a translator. q