Cheering for Inka Grings and Switzerland, disappointment for Canada and easy gallop for Spain: While the former DFB player Grings made a successful start to the World Cup with a 2-0 (1-0) win against the Philippines and her first victory as coach of the Confederates, Canada star Christine Sinclair became a tragic figure with her missed penalty in the 0-0 draw against Nigeria. Spain clearly beat Costa Rica 3-0 (3-0).
In an initially balanced duel, Ramona Bachmann scored the first goal for the favored Swiss in the 45th minute. The offensive player from Paris St. Germain stayed cool after video evidence from the penalty spot. Previously, the supposed lead for the Philippines had rightly been revoked for offside (16th).
Seraina Piubel increased in the second half with a right-footed shot (64th) and shot the Swiss to the top of Group A. For the former German international Grings, who was twice European champion, it was the first win since taking office in January. Since then she had only been able to show five draws and one defeat in six friendlies.
Sinclair misses
For the Canadians, captain Sinclair had the winning start on foot, but the 40-year-old missed a penalty in the 50th minute. The attacker, who is playing her last World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, won the penalty herself but was denied by Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
For the 324-time national player Sinclair it is the sixth participation in the World Cup. Nigeria’s Deborah Abiodun (90+8) was red carded shortly before the end for a foul play.
Switzerland continues on Tuesday (10:00 a.m. CEST in the FAZ live ticker for the women’s soccer World Cup and on ARD) with the second group game against the Norwegians, who surprisingly lost to hosts New Zealand (0-1) at the start. The Canadians need to improve against Ireland on Wednesday. Nigeria meet co-hosts Australia on Thursday, who lead Group B after winning the opener (1-0) the night before (local time).
In New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, Costa Rica’s defender Valeria del Campo Gutierrez (21′) scored an own goal and goals from Spain’s Aitana Bonmati (23′) and Esther Gonzalez (27′) decided the game early in favor of the favorites around two-time world footballer Alexia Putellas.
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The victory could have been much better, for example Jennifer Hermoso (34th) failed with a penalty kick on Costa Rica goalkeeper Daniela Soleras. It was already the fifth penalty in the fifth World Cup game, the shooters have missed three times so far.
The Spaniards meanwhile have to deal with Zambia in the second game of Group C on Wednesday (9.30 a.m. CEST in the FAZ live ticker for the women’s football World Cup and on ZDF). The Africans start the tournament on Saturday (9:00 a.m. CEST in the FAZ live ticker for the women’s soccer World Cup and on ARD).
