Erithacus

'So the finalists got smashed 4-0 in the group' That was their last group game against Japan - they had won the first two 3-0 and 5-0 and were already qualified. We would do well to study that one but won't rely on it - the Spanish are a rising team but have yet to get to the very top.

A late flurry of goals to finish the semi-final after some pretty cagey sparring. Sweden are more comfortable on the backfoot and were solid enough for so long that they almost lulled themselves into staying that way. Spain have a host of experienced club players with Champions League appearances so were not the rookies some expected. However, these two teams cancelled each other out and did little going forward for long periods. Salma Paralluelo's introduction was the catalyst to open the game up and her speed and width gave Sweden too much to deal with. You might argue that the goals were a touch fortunate but, as the saying goes, if you're not in the area you won't get on the end of anything. All this from a squad that almost mutinied in the run-up to the tournament. Now it's up to us to end the Aussies' dream. Whilst there will be many inter-club battles I believe we will show our talent and nous to meet the Spanish at the big party.

Ramping up the news on the transfer front as the season starts to come into focus, both on and off the pitch. Good to see Loren back - seems apt.

Agree too. Our Euro 22 squad and style have been studied a lot and opponents know us well enough to have worked out the way to stifle us. Press hard, get the midfield pair of Walsh and Stanway to hurry and we are a lot less dangerous. I still think we haven't got that number 10 role sorted enough to link the midfield and attack. We are a good side (probably not as good as last year, nor as sharp up front) but we are still the most capable left. It will take more than the Aussie fans to beat us. The real question is whether Weigman has enough nous to counter the opposition pressing and the players have it in them to implement. She will be the deciding factor.

Perhaps not the greatest display of goalkeeping or defending today, agreed; but compare the performance of Sweden's Zecira Musovic against USA and I think you'll be more impressed. So here we are again, somewhat scrappy but winners. It is the old adage of playing badly and still getting over the line and all that - mark of champions? Results stage of the competition and all that. The good news other than that was we have no (reported) injuries to worry about, the girls took just the ninety minutes to get the job done and the bookings tally is now discarded. Results stage of the competition and all that. It will be sorrow for the Columbians: their players, their fans, the colour and atmosphere enrich a world event in their own style. However, their time is up. They are on the plane home. We are here all week now. I think Weigman will be happier to take on the home crowd and the Matildas than the more technical French, as several will be familiar sights on English soil. Only four games left in the tournament, and with the 'big names' out already it might be our time. Again.

Contrasting first half. Combative Columbia is not a surprise but we need to to be keener to get a foot in when out of possession. Still think we will be getting stronger as the game progresses and have a much better bench. If we score first this half we will see the Columbians start to fragment.

Well you can't say that the women's game isn't exciting. Now we have a semi-final line-up that few would have predicted at the start of the tournament and I suspect the bookies are laughing up their sleeves. Yes we do. I reckon it would be a familiar sort of encounter.

This one won't lie down. We'll have to delay the England game at this rate. What a way to end a game,

Intriguing game: Australia took ages to really get going but latterly matched the French for desire and workrate. In the end, two well-set teams were unable to really get on top of the game. I thought Asusie centrehalf Kennedy had a great game and kept them in it. When Kerr came on (their Taliswoman?) the team stepped up a level. Happily, from an England perspective, the winner will have had a two hour slog, plenty of bruises and the nerve shredder of penalties.

The competition that hasn't stopped causing upsets goes on. Japan were the class act thus far but didn't show up today; for most of the match they were second best to a solid Sweden side that out-worked them. By which time they were two down and only in the last twenty did they emerge with their trademark style, but too little, too late. This year's cup will have a new name on it. With Spain going through earlier it looks increasingly like an all-European Final - just who will succeed from us and France, or will this World Cup shock once more?

France go through at something of a canter against a Morocco side I thought would have been a bit tougher. Now they will face the Aussies in a rather different sort of match. I still think the French are yet to really fire on all cylinders and could be our opponents if all goes to plan but they need to raise their game now. Has their rebellious stance to oust the previous head coach led to an attitide?

Two teams set on cancelling their opponents, resulting in a stalemate so far. The tactical games of the Groups are over and it's now the real tournament starts - knockout football - and hence the change of approach. Columbia are not averse to some strongarm tactics but the Jamaicans can be physical too if they want. Great first touch for Usme to score but questionable defending. Yes, from an England viewpoint it would not be without value if the game goes into an extra time battle, but it's now up to the Reggae Girls to respond.

It's not just the men's team that put the fans throught the mill. Who thought the game would play out like that? Clearly not Weigman and her staff. We know that Nigeria are a big, strong, ahtletic side but they've added structure and composure to their reportoire and are now a really difficult side to come up against. Several of the Super Flacons have European club experience and it shows. It was alarming to see our space closed down so well - we hardly had a white shirt that wasn't also wearing a green one as well. They must be wondering how they are going home now and I feel for them. But winners find a way. We found one eventually and it will stand us in good stead for the rest of this tournament. I thought Greenwood and Carter we superb in defence, which is just as well as we didn't get much going forwards from midfield. Weigman will have a late night working out the systems we will need if we are to succeed. And as for Lauren James, her story is only just beginning - and there will be more chapters to go through. Time will be the judge. Last seen in the South Stand on Saturday, also tending his flag on the touchline. Perhaps we need to start a crowd funder to get him back Down Under?

Interesting to note that 4 pts was not good enough for most teams this tournament, but South Africa and Norway (only on GD from New Zealand) got out of their groups. Also noting that England, Japan and Sweden won all three group games.

Wow! Crazy end to Group H. Who saw that coming? Germany rolled Morrocco over 6-0 in the first game but it's Columbia and Morrocco who will go on - the Germans are on the bus home. Alex Popp was the clear leader for Germany but she was part of a side that did not gel well enough and looked short of ideas - and when have we said that about them? The Koreans were incessant, swarm-like, with non-stop tracking and tackling. This Women's World Cup has seen many firsts and the old order has shifted. What a story.

What a story! Jamaica'a Reggae Girls were the team they tried to bury. Hamstrung by internal politics and withdrawn funding it was a minor miracle they even boarded a plane for the big show. And now they have not only made their mark but made it out of the group at the expense of Brazil. This Women's World Cup is turning out to be full of good football and gripping narratives. Meanwhile the South Africans are also through, putting Argentina and Italy on the bus home. There is a tangible sense of change about the established world orders, and the tears are either joy or despair, depending on the results.

I will say that I find this tournament on a clearly higher plane. Talent has been grown by almost every nation, even from the Euros. The standard of play is far better than ever, particularly the tempo. The physical side is also at its greatest emphasis. It's my suspicion that the foul count is also at a peak too, perhaps no coincidence. Who are the favourites now? The USA are looking uncertain to many's surprise; France and Germany have not really picked up; Japan are perhaps the most impressive thus far; England are just beginning to show the real form - hopefully more to come. Moreover, the world has gained much more in terms of a sporting contest. Given there are a few trouncings, the undeniable feel of this World Cup is that there are no clear favourites and the 'usual suspects' are going to have to dig even deeper than ever to lift the trophy. There are no easy games in <Women's> international football!

A fabulous performance in the end by an England side that now looks the part of likely winners. Although China were not the force they were or had any real say in the contest, it was still the most impressive game so far. I liked the way so many players seemed to be on the same page with their teammates and that was our strength throughout the match. Clearly they are happy with Weigman's philosophy and structures; the subs came on and took up the reins well, showing the strength and flexibility in depth. This is a really united squad and will be difficult to play against for a whole 90 minutes. Fortunately there appears to be no serious knocks, so on to the knockouts. Momentum is building!

The Lionesses have begun to bear their teeth! A first class performance in the first half. England have clearly started to find their form and were imperious at time, playing all around the Chinese with ease. Good to see Millie Bright showing her best form again; Zelem on her maiden appearance was tidy and the set-up was slightly different to what we might have expected. It worked really well though. We displayed some fluid football at times and the way the front players moved places and caused all sorts of headaches was impressive. But the way the goals went in (and a disallowed one!) was a joy to watch. Lauren James was almost too confident at times but is the joker in our pack. Can we look forward to Nigeria in the R16 with more assurance? It won't be a surprise any more.

You'll need a new flag this season, Shahan. We're all at the Gate (excepting Conti Cup games!). Keep waving, we'll keep watching.

Equality is prime topic and this might just prove it, even if it is a tad coarse. It's the same for both. The old '8 by 8'. First stated in the Laws of the Game in 1863, and they've not changed size since the invention of the crossbar in 1865. It's the same for both.

Japan scored some quality goals too. A statement win and one that will see the Japanese into the knockouts against the uncertain Norweigans. Dark horses? The Spanish, already qualified before the kick-off, will see Switzerland but will be stinging from that result. Japan played their trademark style of football - it's like battling a swarm of wasps, what with the workrate and cohesive interplay. Perhaps the best team performance this tournament.

Artificial Idiocy. Literary equivalent to Photoshop, meaning we can no longer trust anything we see. At the moment I don't fear AI - it's the people it will fool that I do.

Columbia gaining a reputation for the Dark Arts, as the Germans are now finding out. But has Caicedo just scored the goal of the tournament? You'd pay good money to see that.

A pyrrhic victory? Firstly, a win. Tick. Top of the table, looking set for the last sixteen round. Tick. Injuries: a bad one to a key midfielder. Cross. Performance: flashes of real world class imperiousness, occasional periods of domination without scoring, but a few patches of rustiness that could have resulted in a much different scoreline. Overall: 6/10. We looked at times untouchable, but never really got hold of the game and made our lives a but more burdensome than it needed. As time went on, we began to slide back and allow errors to creep in - particularly in the last quarter hour when we looked really leggy and slack. A downhill sort of game. At first we pushed really high; Bronze and Daly were in the middle of the Danish half for ages and the ball was kept around the penalty box. However, when we gave possession away sloppily we were caught short of defenders. Millie Bright showed signs of not having played for months, although I thought Greenwood at centre half had a great game to compensate. Daly returning as a fullback was a surprise (perhaps a 'no sub' attacking option if things didn't go well). However, the dark cloud is Walsh being stretchered off. Naturally the medical staff will be on it fully and we will have to wait for the results. Hopefully it is not as bad as feared, because that will strip the spine out of the Euro 22 winning side (centre half, centre forward and now possibly a central midfielder taken out by ligament injuries). Coombes is a decent replacement but she has very few caps or minutes in the middle of the England side. Finally, the Danes might feel aggrieved they didn't level the score. Earps was a spectator as they smacked the post late on and perhaps should have made better of a couple of other chances. But as I mentioned, it's a 'W' and we can take some comfort in the fact that we are top of the group with maximum points. And as they say, the real football doesn't begin until the knockouts start. Exactly. It might be a good sign or not, but no team has really stormed this tournament thus far. USA looked sufficient, the Germans showed occasional touches, the French are yet to get up to speed, Brazil weren't really tested against Panama and the Spanish have a few new players this time round. No-one has stood out yet - this could be the tightest World Cup to date and it might be anyone's name on the Cup.