Hello and welcome to the LIVE coverage of the Group C fixture, where Italy takes on Brazil at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes.
I'm
Lavanya and I will be taking you through one of the two big games of the night.
ALSO READ | Football WWC Scorecard Link
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Until then, it's a wrap from us at Sportstar. Goodbye and goodnight.
Australia will face Norway in Nice on Saturday while Brazil will either take on France (Group Awinners) or Germany (Group B winners).
That ends live action from Valenciennes. We hope you enjoyed both games of the night. There is an update on the possible fixtures in the last 16.
Italy tops Group C due to goal difference, Australia goes through as the runner-up and then Brazil third, with all three teams finishing on six points.
Brazil clinches a 1-0 victory over Italy thanks to a Marta penalty midway through the second half. Brazil dominated much of the second half, with Zaneratto and Kathellen both going close before Marta finally managed to break the deadlock from the penalty spot after Debinha was barged to the ground by Linari. The Brazil skipper sent the keeper the wrong way to score her 17th World Cup goal.
Sam Kerr was determined to walk away with the spotlight it seems but no damage done to Brazil, which still qualifies for the knockouts.
Brazil just earned its seventh yellow card, the most for any team in this World Cup.
Italy is desperate to avoid a defeat here. 4 minutes of added time.
89'
Less than a minutes left to play here, with Italy starting to get back into the game but they are yet to test Barbara in the second half.
Oh well, Australia is back in second position now thanks a fourth goal from Sam Kerr. She is on fire. Marta also walks off and is substituted.
And here is how Group C looks at the moment.
What is that shade of lipstick Marta has on? What an absolute boss. She is 'goals' in every sense of the modern connotations of the word.
74'
GOOOAAALLL! Brazil lead 1-0! Marta had to wait a long time to take the penalty after VAR checked the decision, but that didn't faze her, sending the ball into the bottom corner of the net, with Giuliani diving the wrong way.
Marta is now the outright top goalscorer in World Cup history.
72' BRAZIL PENALTY! Debinha goes down after Linari barges into her after the striker races into the box. The referee points to the spot straight away and after a VAR check, the penalty stands. Marta is taking it. Can she net one and take the girls ahead? The referee is explaining the rules to the Italian keeper. Remember the retake fiasco earlier with France and Nigeria?
HAT-TRICK TO SAM KERR, meanwhile. What a brilliant night this is turning out to be.
Goalkeepers have been a revelation in this edition of the tournament. From Correa and Endler to Pen Shimeng and now Laura Giuliani, this tournament has seen many a brilliant save.
Home hasn't forgotten you, Marta! Here's some inspiration.
Is it just me or did I spot Mario in the stands?
I cannot imagine what HAVANA SOLAUN must be feeling like right now. What a night for this team. All's well that ends well, true more than ever in this case.
Jamaica registered its first goal of the tournament. The Reggae Girlz are debuting in this World Cup, so what an achievement for them. Their's is a story of struggle and resilience. Read about here.
56' CLOSE! Kathellen with a free header in the box, she powers the ball towards the far post and it flies just inches wide of the post, with Giuliani scrambling across her goal. I'm not sure she wouldn't got to that if it was on target.
It is not Brazil's day today, it seems. Three misses now.
That's two off the post for Brazil. The women are not going to be pleased about that.
52' OFF THE BAR! Andressinha steps up to take the free-kick, she gets it up and over the Italian wall and it looks like it is going to fly into the top corner, but it doesn't just have enough dip on it and it strikes the top of the crossbar.
51' Free-kick to Brazil in an excellent shooting position, right on the edge of the penalty area after Cernoia barges into the back of Tamires.
Italy loves scoring in the second half. Will this match also see a similar addition to the scoreline?
Remember when the Italian girls jived to the Macarena at halftime, during the game against Jamaica? Here's something to refresh your memory.
Italian fans are happy. The Macarena is back.
Manasi just clapped and turned around to tell me that Jamaica scored. When do I get my turn to do the same thing?
We're back with live action from Valenciennes. Can Brazil or Italy manage an opener?
I am reading this piece about smaller field and goal sizes for women's football to allow a level playing field for men and women. What do you think of the same? Get in touch and let us know.
Looks like Kerr is scoring for the Brazilians too. 2-0 up, the Matildas are.
Digging out that last thread for you has opened a wormhole of feminist literature on social media about why women's football is the way it is. Do you think the scale and popularity of the WWC this time will help the game? Let us know in the comments section or reach out to us on social media at @sportstarweb.
Yes, it has been slow. There have been no goals in this game and this oddly reminds me of a tweet my colleague shared this morning.
37' Brazil needs to increase the pace of game if it is to break down this resilient Italy defence, switch the ball faster and try to stretch its opponents. Marta is dropping deep to get onto the ball.
35' Bartoli has been heavily involved in the action for Italy tonight, she's already been booked and she has now just received a warning from the referee after disagreeing with a decision.
At the end of these two games, if the scorecard remains static, Italy and Australia will finish first and second in the group and therefore automatically qualify. Brazil will hopefully get through as one of the best third-placed teams.
We have a yellow card each on either side now.
Just read this on the FIFA official handle: For the first time - Le Azzurre will feature in the prime time slot on RAI Uno, the nation’s most watched channel. What a moment this, for the girls in blue here and women all over Italy! This World Cup truly has been something special.
There's been a dip in momentum from the Brazilian side of things and Italy has capitalised. A lot more proactive aggression from them now, specially in terms of possession.
Not many people have been too fond of the VAR system in this tournament. The Nigerian coach is clearly not fond of the technology.
Here's what he said.
Giuliani has stood her ground today, so far at least and will hope to keep that momentum going.
29' OFFSIDE.
Italy got happy there for a minute, but it isn't to be. Girelli with a wonderful goal after a flick on by X, she keeps the ball alive and shows great skill to beat her marker and then volley the ball into the back of the net past Barbara. However, the flag then goes up for offside and after a VAR check, it's the correct decision.
Brazil has enjoyed the upper-hand in this Euro-American rivalry. There is an odd silence in the Italian parts of the stadium here. The pressure is on, Brazil is pushing. Will it be able to convert this into a positive change in the scorecard?
Marta has been quiet so far. This is fast becoming the trend in this tournament. Key players are playing on the backfoot. What is Brazil waiting for?
Asking the questions that matter, this Twitter user.
17' CLOSE! Debinha with a great chance to put Brazil ahead. Marta whips the ball towards the near post from the corner and Debinha gets in front of her marker, but Giuliani makes a great reaction save.
THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS for the group. Australia now move to second place. Brazil needs to do something quickly. I am relieved and worried that the team has no idea what's happening
AUSTRALIA HAS SCORED . SAM KERR NETS ONE FOR THE MATILDAS! Manasi is jabbing away at the keyboard. I wonder what's going on there. We still haven't seen one go through today. And as I type, there's been a beautiful save here by the Italian keeper.
The story is a little different for Italy. The Le Azzurre are riding high on that 5-0 demolition of Jamaica, who again is incidentally playing today. The Reggae Girlz are going against the Matildas. Australia at least needs a draw. Jamaica, much much more.
Brazil comes off a defeat it could have very well avoided, against the Matildas who are playing Jamaica as we speak. Coming back from a 2-0 deficit, the Australian girls did well to take the game right out of Brazil's hands.
If you're struggling with the knockout qualification algorithms that decide which teams will qualify to the last-16, I did the math for you.
Nine teams still have an open chance to qualify for the knockouts on the basis of being the best third-placed teams.
1' KICKOFF. And we have begun for the night. I have my bet on an Italian opener. Just a gut feeling. What do you think?
Formiga has been suspended and will be out of this game.
Brazil is still battling it out with Australia for the runner-up spot, having beaten Jamaica, but then losing 3-2 to Australia in its second game, despite being 2-0 up. However, a draw tonight would also be enough to qualify even if Australia beat Jamaica, it would go through as one of the best third placed teams.
Are you superstitious before a game? I am. I have realised that eating my dinner during the first half greatly helps the team I support. Not meaning to be biased but my heart is with Brazil today. Italy has nothing to lose today and so I don't feel guilty about this either. I have some lovely fried rice and chicken curry to go with it. A quiet cricket-rid evening and we have the perfect setting for some quality football.
I feel terrible starting this blog with some bad news. Brazil forward Andressa Alves will miss this game and the remainder of the tournament (if Brazil goes through), having sustained an injury in practice yesterday. Formiga is also out of the game today thanks to the two yellow cards she picked up in the previous two group games. Will this dent Brazil's chances? Will Marta manage to take her girls through? We will have to wait and watch.
Hello and welcome back everyone! I cannot wait for the group stages to be over, not because the games are boring but because these schedules are crazy. Group stage matches have been scheduled to happen at the same time by FIFA. Have you ever wondered why? We have the answers.
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