Women's World Cup: Brazil, Colombia impress; Argentina falter - ESPN

Might that win of Lionel Messi and Co. in Qatar last year serve as leverage for Argentina's campaign in the Women's World Cup? Of course not. Firstly, because the men's win last December had very little to do with domestic football. The third-choice goalkeeper was the only home-based player in the squad. And more significantly, because it would be a crass mistake to attempt to transpose the geopolitics of the men's game onto the women.

The growth narrative, Brazil aside (we'll get there), has left women's football in South America far behind. Argentina have never been strong in the game. They are still waiting for their first victory in a World Cup. Progress has to be measured on a more modest scale.

Back in 2003 and 2007 their only aim was to try to keep the score down. In the last two World Cups (with Vanina Correa still in goal) they have at least been hard to beat. In their group stage opener at the current tournament they held Italy until the last few minutes. But that late goal conceded in the 1-0 loss conceded is ominous.

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Next come South Africa, who looked good in their opening game, and then they face Sweden, one of the sport's most traditional powers. To make it through to the knock-out stage they will have to get something from the Sweden match, which would entail the greatest ever achievement in their history.

Outside Brazil (once again, we'll get there), South America has only ever won three games at a World Cup — and one of them was Colombia's opening 2-0 victory over South Korea. In a group containing Germany, one of the favourites, this was the crunch encounter. With debutants Morocco still to come, Colombia can now set their sights on getting