Jamaica and South Africa Stride Into Round of 16; Sweden Earns Matchup With U.S.

Jamaica, which reached the knockouts in the identical World Cup wherein it gained its first sport within the match, completed second in its group to France, which comfortably beat Panama, 6-3.

In a match that has steered a altering of the guard, with upset outcomes changing into commonplace, the emergence of latest abilities and the fading of previous stars, it was maybe becoming that it was Jamaica that delivered the knockout blow to Brazil and Marta, who has stated she is not going to compete within the World Cup once more.

Having held France, thought-about one of many favorites earlier than the match, to a draw, after which successful its first World Cup sport by beating Panama, Jamaica proved itself as soon as extra on a frigid evening, displaying composure and funky heads in repelling the little offensive assault that Brazil needed to supply.

As the Brazilians slumped in dismay, Jamaica’s crew sprinted throughout the turf, barely believing what it had achieved having arrived within the match after a money disaster that noticed gamers ask the general public for monetary help. The velocity of its achievements has surprised even its personal gamers.

“Today might be the new best day in Jamaican football history,” ahead Kayla McKenna stated in an interview, after the draw within the match opener in opposition to France was heralded as such by the crew’s coach, Lorne Donaldson.

For Brazil, lengthy a program to aspire to in world soccer, the departure on the group stage is a low it has not suffered since 1995, eight years earlier than Marta first donned the nationwide colours.

Handed her first begin of the match, a stage she has performed on for six totally different editions stretching again to a primary look in 2003, Marta was largely unable to impose herself on a sport that at occasions appeared to cross her by earlier than she was substituted with 11 minutes to go.

Now, 37, and 23 years right into a profession that’s older than a few of her teammates, Marta and her teammates have been for essentially the most half saved at bay by effectively organized and bodily Jamaican protection

A couple of minutes after the ultimate whistle, Marta met quietly with one in all her heirs obvious, Jamaica ahead Khadija Shaw.

Shaw, a 26-year-old often called Bunny, has referred to as Marta an idol up to now, and she or he appeared to restate her admiration to the Brazilian as they spoke alone.

Marta replied with a nod and a thanks, after which pointed a finger towards Shaw and started to talk animatedly, as if to say she was passing the torch, and accountability to hold the sport ahead, to younger stars like her.

“I just told her congrats on the wonderful career she had and I told her for me as a young girl growing up, she was an inspiration for me,” Shaw advised reporters. “And not just for me but for a lot of people in the Caribbean.”

Marta was in tears on the eve of the sport as she mirrored on the impression she has had on gamers — like Shaw, who was 3 when Marta first performed in a World Cup — throughout a lodestar profession.

But whereas her previous is assured to be celebrated, her future is much less clear.

Pia Sundhage, Brazil’s Swedish coach, was blunt in her evaluation of her crew’s shortcomings. Her gamers have been, she stated, too gradual and too ponderous in possession. She steered there could be wholesale modifications the following time she picks a Brazilian squad.

No one could be spared if a greater possibility may be discovered, together with Marta, who may need a greater farewell than the one she had on the World Cup.

“Whether she’s good enough to be called up for the national team, well, let’s see,” stated Sundhage, who a day earlier was filled with reward for Marta’s contribution to world soccer.

The nervousness of a departure that will have been unthinkable when Brazil embarked for Australia was evident from the primary minutes. Brazilian followers on the sport jeered 10 minutes into the sport over what they perceived as time-wasting by the Jamaicans. That frustration was matched by their crew, with gamers steadily waving their arms in frustration on the referee.

Jamaica overcame sustained stress by Brazil within the second half to protect its shutout, stifling the Brazilians by not yielding any actual openings that put their goalkeeper, Becky Spencer, to a stern check.

When Marta was substituted out of the sport, changed by more energizing, youthful legs late within the second half, she dashed to the sidelines and exhorted her replacements to make one final push, to attain the objective that will have extended her keep within the World Cup.

Those exhortations and people modifications did not elicit any enchancment. Marta’s World Cup, Brazil’s World Cup, is over. Jamaica will at all times bear in mind the evening its crew despatched a World Cup legend into retirement, and the evening new stars have been born.