The United States, under the stewardship of former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes, showcased their prowess with a resounding 3-0 victory over Zambia in Nice. The match marked Hayes’ first competitive encounter since her departure from Chelsea, where she enjoyed an illustrious 12-year tenure, guiding the Blues to seven Women’s Super League titles, including a remarkable five consecutive championships.
From the kickoff, it was clear that the United States meant business. Trinity Rodman, a standout performer, came close to opening the scoring with a powerful shot that struck the crossbar. However, it was Rodman who eventually broke the deadlock, finding the back of the net in the 17th minute to give the United States a deserved lead.
The American side’s dominance was further underlined by Mallory Swanson, who delivered a clinical double within a minute to push the score to 3-0 by the 25th minute. Swanson’s impressive display was complemented by a red card shown to Zambia’s Pauline Zulu, reducing the Zambian side to ten players for the remainder of the match.
Despite their numerical advantage in the second half, the United States could not extend their lead further. Zambia’s defensive resilience and some missed opportunities by the Americans meant the score remained unchanged. Nevertheless, the victory was a promising start for Hayes’ tenure and set a high benchmark for the upcoming fixtures.
In the other Group B match on Thursday, Germany also secured a convincing 3-0 win, defeating Australia. Goals from Marina Hegering, Lea Schuller, and Jule Brand ensured a comfortable victory for the Germans, positioning them as formidable opponents in the group. The upcoming clash between the United States and Germany on Sunday in Marseille is highly anticipated, as the winner will advance to the quarter-finals, intensifying the stakes of the tournament.
In other notable results, France edged out Colombia in a dramatic 3-2 encounter. Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored twice, and Kenza Dali added another for France. Although Colombia managed to pull one back through a penalty from Catalina Usme and a goal from Manuela Pavi Sepulveda, their efforts fell short, especially with Chelsea striker Mayra Ramirez receiving a late red card.
World Cup winners Spain also demonstrated their resilience by coming from behind to defeat Japan 2-1. Aoba Fujino had given Japan an early lead, but Spain responded with goals from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey, securing their first win of the tournament.
Brazil’s 1-0 victory over Nigeria was secured by a solitary goal from Gabi Nunes, while Canada showed their tenacity by overturning an early deficit to beat New Zealand 2-1. These results underscore the competitive nature of the tournament, with each team fighting fiercely for a place in the knockout stages.
As the group stage progresses, the performances of the United States and their rivals set the stage for a thrilling series of matches. Emma Hayes’ United States team will look to build on their strong start and secure their place in the quarter-finals, while other teams will aim to consolidate their positions and advance in the tournament.
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