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Sweden power into World Cup with 5-0 victory over Italy 

Sweden barrelled into the Women's World Cup last 16 with a 5-0 demolition of Italy on Saturday, ahead of a blockbuster clash between France and free-scoring Brazil.

Sweden power into World Cup with 5-0 victory over Italy 
Sweden's defender #13 Amanda Ilestedt (C) celebrates after scoring her team's fourth goal. Photo: Marty MELVILLE/AFP.

The third-ranked Swedes join title contenders Spain and former champions Japan in reaching the knockout rounds with a match to spare. Three goals in seven minutes in the first half did the damage as Italy struggled to deal with Sweden’s set pieces and aerial threat.

Arsenal defender Amanda Ilestedt scored twice — both headers — with Fridolina Rolfo, Stina Blackstenius and Rebecka Blomqvist also on the scoresheet.

Sweden came back to beat South Africa 2-1 in their opening game of the tournament thanks to a last-minute Ilestedt winner — again with her head.

But they were far more comfortable against an Italy side who can still qualify from Group G, having defeated Argentina 1-0 to start their campaign.

The Sweden-Italy encounter in front of just under 30,000 in Wellington was the starter to the main course of the day.

France came into the tournament as one of the favourites, but a country known for so long as being the great underachievers of women’s international football underwhelmed in being held 0-0 by Jamaica.

In contrast, Brazil smashed Panama 4-0 to open their World Cup with Ary Borges hitting a hat-trick.

Another slip-up for France in Brisbane would leave them in danger of an early exit from Group F.

In the final match of Saturday, Jamaica will be hoping to win a World Cup game for the first time when they play Panama.

Kerr comeback

Co-hosts Australia are another in danger of failing to go any further in the tournament but their hopes were given a big boost on Saturday when skipper Sam Kerr declared herself available.

Prolific Chelsea striker Kerr, the face of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, suffered a calf injury on the eve of the tournament and missed the Matildas’ first two games.

The Australians squeezed past Ireland 1-0 thanks to a penalty to open their campaign but were then stunned 3-2 by Nigeria.

With a critical encounter against Olympic champions Canada looming on Monday, the 29-year-old fronted the media in Brisbane to say: “I am going to be there, I am going to be ready.”

But Kerr declined to say how much of a part she will play in the clash in Melbourne. “I would love to tell you guys everything but you know being in sport a long time that that’s a massive thing that the opposition wants to know,” Kerr said.

Meanwhile, European champions England sweated on the fitness of key midfielder Keira Walsh after she was stretchered off in their win over Denmark on Friday with what looked like a serious knee injury.

There has been a spate of knee injuries in women’s football and England were already missing captain Leah Williamson and Euro 2022 Golden Boot winner Beth Mead for that reason.

Caicedo fitness doubt

A tight Group A will be decided on Sunday in what looks set for a thrilling conclusion.

Switzerland lead with four points and are in pole position to advance. They play co-hosts New Zealand in a sell-out in Dunedin.

New Zealand are level on three points with debutants the Philippines, who play former champions Norway at the same time in Auckland.

Norway, who sit bottom of the group with one point, can still qualify but they must win at a minimum — and do it without star striker Ada Hegerberg, who is injured.

Also in action on Sunday are one of the favourites, Germany, who face Colombia in Group H.

The Colombians could be without teenage star forward Linda Caicedo after she went down in training on Thursday holding her chest.

Colombia coach Nelson Abadia on Saturday called it “an episode of tiredness, a bit of stress over her debut in a senior World Cup”.

“It was just an episode and she is ok now,” he added. “Linda has overcome the event.

“Whether she will play, we have 24 hours or a bit more to decide.”

In the other Group H game South Korea face Morocco.

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SPORT

France football star Thuram takes stand against far right ahead of elections

France forward Marcus Thuram on Saturday called on voters in the country to "fight" to stop the far right coming to power in upcoming snap elections.

France football star Thuram takes stand against far right ahead of elections

Thuram is the first member of the France squad at Euro 2024 to take a clear position against the far-right National Rally (RN) ahead of legislative elections for the French National Assembly.

“I think the situation is sad and very serious,” the 26-year-old forward with Italian champions Inter Milan told reporters in Paderborn, where the 2022 World Cup runners-up are based during the Euros in Germany.

President Emmanuel Macron has called elections with the first round set for June 30 and the second round on July 7.

He announced the snap poll last Sunday in response to the results of the EU elections, in which far-right parties — including the top-scoring RN — managed to take almost 40 percent of the vote in France.

The French squad, the majority of whom come from an immigrant background, had been playing a friendly match against Canada at the same time as Macron made his announcement.

“I heard about it after the match against Canada. We were all a bit shocked in the dressing room.

“We need to tell everyone to get out and vote, to fight every day to stop the RN winning,” added Thuram, who is preparing with his teammates for their first European Championship game against Austria on Monday.

Other France players, notably Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud, had already publicly called on their compatriots to go out and vote in the elections, but had not taken as clear a stand as Thuram.

“I hope that everyone shares my opinion. It is not enough to say that you need to go out and vote. We need to explain how we have got to where we are,” he said.

“I don’t think it should be very difficult to talk about. It is the way I have been educated.

“I know a lot of people follow me on social media and I have an obligation to get certain messages across,” added Thuram, whose father Lilian won the World Cup with France in 1998 and is well-known for his campaigning against racism.

“Having grown up with my father I feel a responsibility to get this message across.”

Of his teammates in the France squad, Thuram added: “I have no doubt at all that everyone in the France squad thinks the same way as me.

“I am not here to force anyone to say anything even if it is what they think.

“Thanks to my father I have enough of an understanding of this situation to be able to talk about it.”

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