What: Soccer World Cup, round of 16.
Where: Melbourne Regional Stadium, Melbourne, Australia.
When: Tuesday at 10 a.m., Swedish time.
TV/radio: TV6, Viaplay and P4/Radiosporten.
+ Colombian teen stars
2–0 against South Korea, 2–1 against Germany and 0–1 against Morocco saw Colombia win their World Cup group.
There have been four goals ahead – half of which have come from the 18-year-old Real Madrid striker Linda Caicedo.
Caicedo has already presented herself on the big world stage and in the round of 16 against Jamaica there are many indications that another Colombian teenager will join her in the starting eleven.
18-year-old Ana Maria Guzmán.
As Manuela Vegas is suspended, Guzmán is expected to get the chance in defense – which in that case will be the tournament debut for the 18-year-old.
Colombia’s national team captain, Nelson Abadía, has mentored both Caicedo and Guzmán since they were twelve years old and fully trusts the duo.
— It is a fantastic opportunity. The coach has been a key person in my life, has always supported me and I want to give the best I have, says Guzmán.
— Getting to play with Linda (Caicedo) is extra special. Yes, we are the youngest, but we will give everything to wear this jersey.
+ “Reggae Girlz” go for the knockout
Jamaica cruised against both France and Brazil (0–0 in both) and beat Panama 1–0 in the group stage, which saw them both clinch second place in the group ahead of Brazil themselves and knocking them out.
The score is intact, but the goalscorer needs to come loose. Jamaica captain Lorne Donaldson likens the round of 16 meeting with Colombia – where one of the nations will reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time – to a boxing match.
Donaldson promises that it is Jamaica that will deliver the knockout blow.
— Just like a boxing match, someone will fall. We will be the ones who stand up when the match is over, he says before commenting on the lack of goal production.
— It will come, I don’t think it’s a big concern for us. But now of course we have to score to win this game or we will be eliminated.
+ The winner between Colombia and Jamaica faces England in the quarter-finals.
France–Morocco
What: Soccer World Cup, round of 16.
Where: Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia.
When: Tuesday at 1 p.m., Swedish time.
TV/radio: TV6, Viaplay and P4/Radiosporten.
+ Warns of French underestimation
France are unbeaten so far in the World Cup after 0-0 against Jamaica, 2-1 against Brazil and 6-3 against Panama.
Ahead of the round of 16 meeting with Morocco, France is the big favourite, but national team captain Hervé Renard raises a finger of warning – for French underestimation.
The match will be extra special for Renard, who between 2016 and 2019 was the national team captain for the Moroccan men’s national team.
— I have wonderful memories from my time in Morocco, but let’s focus on football. We are here to win and to get to the next round, says Renard.
— The most important thing is that we respect our opponent. Morocco is not here by chance. This is a match of the same caliber as our match against Brazil.
+ The surprise of Morocco
After 0–6 in the World Cup opener against Germany, not many thought that Morocco would advance from the group.
But that’s how it happened.
1–0 against South Korea and 1–0 against Colombia meant that Morocco reached the round of 16 at the expense of the Germans.
— We prayed while watching the game, said Morocco’s midfielder Anissa Lahmari after Thursday’s 1-0 victory against Colombia, in the long wait for Germany’s game against South Korea (1-1) to be completed.
Morocco is also making its first World Cup.
Reynald Pedros is the national team captain for the Moroccan national team and for the Frenchman the meeting with France will be special.
During the men’s Euro 1996, he played alongside Zinedine Zidane in the French team that reached the semi-finals. Between 2017 and 2019, he made a name for himself as a coach in women’s football when he was in charge of French giants Lyon.
“I know this French team perfectly, which is an advantage,” says Pedros.
+ The winner between France and Morocco faces Australia in the quarter-finals.