BRISBANE, Australia: France breathed fresh life into their Women’s World Cup campaign with a 2-1 victory over Brazil on Saturday as Sweden barreled into the last 16 and Jamaica claimed a historic first win.
France captain Wendie Renard headed in the winner seven minutes from time in front of nearly 50,000 in Brisbane to earn a vital three points and leave Brazil’s World Cup in peril.
The result blew Group F wide open. France are top on four points from two games and in pole position to qualify along with Jamaica, who have the same number of points following a 1-0 triumph over Panama.
Herve Renard’s France defied most of the Brisbane crowd and a Brazilian team who thumped Panama 4-0 in their previous match, to reinvigorate French hopes of a first World Cup title.