World Cup Diary: Coach accused of 'sexual misconduct', world No.2 KOed at group stage

Zambia’s coach Bruce Mwape has been accused of inappropriately touching one of his own players, with FIFA sent to launch an investigation.

The incident is alleged to have occurred in the lead-up to their nation’s first ever World Cup victory, a 3-1 win over Costa Rica.

Mwape was accused of touching a player’s breasts, with witnesses decided to wait until Zambia’s fixtures were fulfilled before lodging the complaint, in order to avoid accusations of destablising the team.

“It’s not appropriate for a coach to be touching a player’s breasts,” a team source told The Guardian.

Mwape already had a sexual misconduct allegation hanging over his head from before the tournament, with the coach and one of the under-17s coaches, Kaluba Kangwa, under investigation by the Football Association of Zambia.

“If he [Mwape] wants to sleep with someone, you have to say yes,” an unnamed player told The Guardian. “It’s normal that the coach sleeps with the players in our team.”

FIFA have confirmed that a complaint has been received and that an investigation will follow.

“Fifa takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident,” they said in a statement.

“We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian women’s national team and this is currently being investigated.

“We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons.”

Shocks continue as world No.2 KOed at group stage

Germany are out of the World Cup after being held 1-1 by South Korea and overtaken by lowly Morocco, 1-0 winners over Colombia.

The Germans are ranked No.2 in the world and have been to the quarterfinals and beyond of the past eight tournaments – and have never been bounced out in the group stage in their ten attempts.

A pre-tournament favourite, Germany needed to better Morocco’s result against Colombia to progress in Group H, but that match finished 1-0 to Morocco, who were the second lowest ranked team coming in and reach the second round for the first time.

An early goal by South Korea’s Cho So-hyun shook the Euro 2022 finalists in Brisbane, but superstar captain Alexandra Popp netted her fourth goal in three matches to equalise shortly before half-time.

Germany were heading through as group runners-up as they went off the pitch for the break, but Morocco stunned Colombia to score minutes later in Perth, meaning Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side had to win.

Popp hit the crossbar with one header, had a goal disallowed on VAR review and sent another header wide and one more straight at the goalkeeper.

During a 15 minute stoppage time – where three Korean players took lengthy and dramatic injury stoppages Sydney Lohmann struck wide and sent another effort inches over the bar.

Germany’s players were distraught at the final whistle while Morocco’s went wild as the result filtered through to Perth.

“When we had won the match, the most stressful thing was the other match,” Morocco coach Reynald Pedros said.

“We waited, and then the good news arrived. It was incredible.”

“After the first match of the tournament, I think 95 per cent or 98 per cent of people thought it was over, apart from us,” Pedros said.

“We thought we could do something, because football is magic. We know that emotions and hard work can lead to good things.

“If we are at the next stage, it’s because we deserve it, for all the hard work we put in.”

Morocco’s goal scorer Anissa Lahmari added: “At the end of our game, we had the phone and we were praying, waiting for the result to come out of the Germany and Korea game.

“It was a draw and afterwards it was a complete explosion of joy.”

Germany coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg gathered the players in a huddle at the end of the game and midfielder Lena Oberdorf said she had a poignant message.

“She said … we have to stick together as a team with the criticism we will get now,” Oberdorf said.

“(That criticism) is what we want for women’s football. Ten years nobody would have criticised. Now we have to face that and live with that.

“I am very disappointed. I missed the first game. I played the second and we lost. I played the third and we are out. I love those stages because they are the biggest you have in football. I would have loved to have more games to show how I can play … so it is really disappointing for me.”

Marta bows out

On Wednesday, Brazil icon Marta has made her final Women’s World Cup appearance after Jamaica hung on for a 0-0 draw to knock the South Americans out of the tournament.

After losing 2-1 to France, Brazil needed to defeat Jamaica at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Wednesday night to progress to the knockout stage.

However, the Reggae Girlz defended grimly to secure their second 0-0 result of the group stage, after also drawing with France, to book their place in the round of 16 for the first time.

Brazil dominated with 73 per cent possession and had the better of the attacking play, taking 18 shots to three, but were unable to find a winner and have failed to advance from the group stage for the first time since 1995.

Andressa’s free kick from just outside the penalty box in the 86th minute failed to trouble Jamaican goalkeeper Rebecca Spencer, who was player of the match.

It ends the World Cup career of Marta, who made her tournament debut in 2003, and is the record holder for most goals scored by a men’s or women’s player with 17.

The 37-year-old started for the first time in the tournament, only coming to the bench in the 80th minute as Brazil searched for some spark to find a goal.

Marta spoke passionately ahead of the game, hoping she had been an inspiration for women’s players she didn’t have growing up.

It is expected she will continue playing but has already decided a seventh World Cup in 2027, as a 41-year-old, would be beyond her.

“For me, that is the end, but it’s just the beginning for the others,” Marta said post-game, translated from Portuguese. 

Jamaica will return to Melbourne for their knockout clash, likely to be against Colombia with the South Americans top of group F leading into their final match against Morocco on Thursday.

It is only the Reggae Girlz’s second appearance in a World Cup after debuting in 2019 when they were smashed in all three of their group games, including 3-0 by Brazil.

Jamaica coach Lorne Donaldson was thrilled by the victory, celebrating by doing two somersaults on the pitch at fulltime.

“Jamaicans need no reason to celebrate, they’re going to celebrate like we’ve never seen before,” Donaldson said.

Matildas in the shop window

If history is anything to go by, the Women’s World Cup will provide the perfect stage for the Matildas’ breakout stars to audition for a big club move.

Young midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross and centre-back Clare Hunt appear the most likely to attract the attention of Europe’s top clubs.

Previous World Cups have been the launchpad for plenty of Matildas and Socceroos.

Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley all confirmed their moves to Europe after putting themselves in the shop window at the 2019 tournament in France. They have since taken their game to another level.

Cooney-Cross, who debuted for Australia in 2021, has started all three group matches and starred in this week’s 4-0 group-stage win over Canada with her intensity and passing range.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has publicly admired the young playmaker, while Arsenal men’s great Ian Wright was among those singing the praises of Cooney-Cross after her standout showing against the Canadians.

“Cooney-Cross bro,” Wright tweeted in admiration of her performance.

The dynamic 21-year-old has shone at Swedish club Hammarby but insists she isn’t looking beyond this tournament.

“I’ve just been with Hammarby in Sweden and thinking about now and doing well at the World Cup,” she said last week. 

“I’m starting, so I want to keep doing that so far, and I want to show myself (at) this World Cup.”

Midfield teammate Katrina Gorry told AAP ahead of the tournament she felt Cooney-Cross could reach the very top – but that she did not need to rush.

“She can be one of the best players in the world,” Gorry said. 

(Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images )

“For her, it’s taking it slowly. 

“She’s moved over to Sweden and she’s definitely one of the best midfielders here so I don’t think she needs to accelerate too quickly.

“She’s still young, she needs to keep on learning and keep on growing and finding good environments for her, not too out of her comfort (zone) too quickly.”

Western Sydney Wanderers captain Hunt, who has overcome a horror run of injuries to break through as a senior international, has so far taken every moment of her Matildas career in her stride.

The composed and tough 24-year-old’s early World Cup performances are reminiscent of Harry Souttar’s efforts with the Socceroos in Qatar that earned the towering central defender a move to then-Premier League club Leicester City.

Hunt is still taking stock of her rapid rise.

“I am processing this experience on the go and just trying to enjoy the environment in camp and the tournament,” she said.

“I’m sure I’ll have time post-World Cup to reflect on the whirlwind of the last six-to-eight months.”

Along with Cooney-Cross, she might well be doing so from a new set of club rooms.

South Africa stun Italy

South Africa have sensationally dumped Italy out of the Women’s World Cup, coming from a goal down twice in a chaotic and pulsating 3-2 win in Wellington.

Thembi Kgatlana scored a 92nd-minute winner to seal the African champions’ progression, finishing Jermaine Seoposenwe’s cutback to spark frenzied scenes in the New Zealand capital on Wednesday.

The livewire striker was Banyana Banyana’s stand-in captain and thumping heartbeat all night, willing her nation forward against a side 38 places higher on the FIFA rankings.

Coach Desiree Ellis knew only a win would be enough to get out of their group, but trailed early to Arianna Caruso’s penalty.

Benedetta Orsi’s shocking own goal put South Africa back on terms and when Hildah Magaia scored a second – assisted by Kgatlana – the African champions had fresh hope.

Caruso, however, doubled up by getting the last touch on a 74th-minute corner kick that levelled the scores at 2-2 and reversed the live ladder, which would have enabled Italy to squeak through to the round of 16.

That was until Kgatlana’s thumping run and finish in injury time that  created a slice of history.

Until Wednesday night the South Africans had never won a match at the tournament, let alone qualified for the knockout rounds.

After surviving a scarcely believable 16 minutes of injury time, they claimed their place in the knockout stage to set up a clash with the Netherlands in Sydney on Sunday.

They are the second African nation to progress after Nigeria won through in second place of Group B, behind Australia.

The Italians, quarter-finalists in 2019 after their group defeat of the Matildas, head home after two horrible nights in Wellington.

They were battered 5-0 by Sweden last week but were expected to rebound against the world No.54s.

South Africa’s achievement was all the more meritorious given they were without their inspirational captain Refiloe Jane, who was injured in their 2-2 draw with Argentina.

The thrilling and unpredictable match – played in wild and bitterly cold winter winds – produced many chances with both sides hitting the post.

In Group G’s other match, the Sweden beat Argentina 2-0 to finish on top, setting up a clash with reigning champions the United States.