Tottenham Women’s stars experience heartbreak and elation at World Cup
Tottenham Women’s Ria Percival was eliminated from the World Cup while Luana Buhler qualified and Rosella Ayane made history.
Sunday 30 July was a busy day of action at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as Group A concluded, meaning two more teams were confirmed for the knockout stages of the competition.
Two Spurs stars were in action for two different nations and both experienced very contrasting emotions Down Under.
First and foremost, in a dramatic conclusion to Group A, Percival and New Zealand were eliminated from the tournament they are co-hosting, becoming the first host nation to fail to make it past the group phase of a Women’s World Cup.
Despite beginning the day in second place, Norway’s empathic 6-0 win over the Philippines moved them above New Zealand and the Kiwis needed to beat Switzerland but failed to do so, with the Swiss holding on to draw 0-0 and book their place in the last 16.
New Zealand needed to win the match but didn’t manage a single shot on target until the 70th minute and ultimately, after a tournament that started so well with a 1-0 win over Norway, a shock loss to the Philippines, the lowest-ranked side in the group, proved to be the beginning of the end.
Spurs star Percival endured a difficult match, losing possession 14 times, registering a successful passing accuracy of just 60 per cent and winning only one of her four aerial duels, although she did manage to make five tackles (Sofascore).
New Spurs recruit Buhler is part of the Swiss squad who have now qualified from Group A, though she has not featured in either of the past two matchday squads after starting her country’s opening match against the Philippines.
Meanwhile, in Group H, Ayane was part of Morrocco’s first-ever win at the Women’s World Cup.
In a huge upset the Atlas Lionesses, ranked 72nd in the world, defeated 17th-ranked South Korea 1-0 to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the knockouts.
As well as their first win they scored their first-ever goal at the tournament when Ibtissam Jraidi headed her side ahead in the sixth minute.
Although she didn’t start the match, Ayane did come on as a second-half substitute, playing 16 minutes and missing one big chance (Sofascore).
Morocco now have three points and a chance of qualifying for the next stage of the competition on the final matchday in Group H.
In other Tottenham News, two other Spurs stars are on the brink of history at the Women’s World Cup.