Fifa Women's World Cup: Japan claim top spot with Spain thrashing

1. Japan claim top spot in Group C ahead of Spain
2. Result: Japan 4-0 Spain - Miyazawa scored twice either side of Ueki's deflected shot; Tanaka added fourth
3. Japan will play Norway in last 16; Spain will face Switzerland
4. Result: Costa Rica 1-3 Zambia - African nation get first-ever win at tournament
5. Mweemba, Banda and Kundananji for Zambia, Herrera pulled one back for Costa Rica

Thanks and goodbye

What a day it has been for Japan, who thrashed Spain to advance as Group C winners, and Zambia as they gained their first ever win at a World Cup.

It promises to be a dramatic few hours as Australia look for a victory against Canada to stay in the tournament.

You can follow all the action here.

For this page, the final whistle has gone, so thanks for your company and see you soon.

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More to come

It's a busy day 12 of the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup, with two matches still to come as Australia look to keep their hopes alive and they need to beat Canada to advance.

This is what is still to come on Monday...

• Group B - Canada v Australia (11:00 BST)
• Group B - Republic of Ireland v Nigeria (11:00 BST)

Japan thump Spain to book last-16 Norway tie - read the report

Neil Johnston

BBC Sport at Wellington Regional Stadium

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Japan showed why they are serious contenders at the Women's World Cup by hammering Spain to finish top of Group C and book a last-16 showdown with Norway.

The 2011 world champions made it look easy as they scored three times before half-time, with Hinata Miyazawa getting two to take her tally to four goals and become the tournament's leading scorer.

The attacking midfielder put Japan ahead with a calm finish after Spain's defence had been exposed, before Riko Ueki doubled the lead with a deflected finish which looped into the net.

Miyazawa, who scored two in Japan's opening group game against Zambia, made it 3-0 by firing across goal and into the net in front of a crowd of 20,957.

Substitute Mina Tanaka added to Spain's pain with a fourth goal in the 83rd minute.

Zambia beat Costa Rica for first Women's World Cup win - read the report

Joe Rindl

BBC Sport

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Zambia secured their first Women's World Cup win by edging out Costa Rica in their final Group C match.

Lushomo Mweemba opened the scoring for Zambia inside the first three minutes and Barbra Banda added a second from the spot midway through the first half.

Costa Rica's Melissa Herrera pulled a goal back shortly after the break, but Racheal Kundananji completed the win, netting a third in injury time.

Both sides had already been eliminated after two matches. Zambia had lost 5-0 against both Japan and Spain in their first two games.

Last 16 taking shape

So we now know the first two of the last-16 ties. This is the schedule so far...

Saturday, 5 August (06:00 BST, Auckland)

• Switzerland (winners Group A) v Spain (runners-up Group C)

Saturday, 5 August (09:00 BST, Wellington)

• Japan (winners Group C) v Norway (runners-up Group A)

Watch: Miyazawa's superb finish gives Japan lead

Watch how Japan's Hinata Miyazawa raced clear and fired her side into the lead in the 12th minute in their Group C decider against Spain at the Women's World Cup.

How Group C finishes

This is how Group C ends.

Japan with a superb record, played three, won three, scored 11, conceded none.

Spain also through and will be desperately trying to instantly forget about this one.

Zambia's first ever win sees them move above Costa Rica, who end up pointless.

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'Counter-attacking masterclass from Japan'

Eniola Aluko

Former England forward on ITV1

Japan showed compsure in everything they did today. The shape, defensive play, their counter attacking play was a masterclass.

Fantastic, the way that Japan set up defensively to then break on the counter attack so quickly.

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Contrasting emotions

Reuters

EPA

Reuters

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FULL-TIME

Zambia, after 5-0 defeats in both their first two games, get their first ever win at a Women's World Cup.

Lushomo Mweemba volleyed them in front inside three minutes and Barbra Banda converted a penalty, after she had been fouled, for number two.

Melissa Herrera pulled one back for Costa Rica, but Zambia scored a third in injury time through Racheal Kundananji.

Costa Rica, just as they did in their previous finals appearance in 2015, will be going home after losing all three of their group matches.

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'Inspiring the next generation'

Siobhan Chamberlain

Ex-England and Man Utd goalkeeper on ITV4

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Zambia have had to withstand so much pressure from Costa Rica, but they look to have sealed their first ever World Cup win here.

Hopefuly there are little girls back home that will be dreaming of representing Zambia in the World Cup.

They are inspiring that next generation, and will look to make their presence on this stage a regular occurence.

FULL-TIME

Brilliantly ruthless from Japan, who soaked up the Spain pressure before a delightful display of counter-attacking football.

Hinata Miyazawa with two to move on to four and be the tournament's top goalscorer so far, with Riko Ueki and Mina Tanaka also on the scoresheet.

Spain, despite having 77% of the ball, are left humbled and embarrassed.

Japan advance as Group C winners and play fellow former winners Norway, while Spain take on Group A winners Switzerland.

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GOAL - Costa Rica 1-3 Zambia

That should do it for Zambia, that should be their first ever World Cup win.

Barbra Banda with a lovely reverse pass, Racheal Kundananji takes a touch then slots the ball past Daniela Solera.

Three goals and maybe three points and a bit of history for the African nation.

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Japan's powerful message

Neil Johnston

BBC Sport at Wellington Regional Stadium

Japan fans have turned this into one big party. "We want five," they chant. They have seen their team send out a powerful message to the rest of the world.

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Into injury time, with Zambia trying to hold on to their lead. Barbra Banda tries to wrap up the victory but sees her shot go straight at Daniela Solera.

We're two minutes into nine additional ones so still time for Costa Rica.

Get Involved

Joe: Predictions of "who plays who" later in the tournament thrown in the bin again.

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What a match it will be in the last 16 as Japan, the 2011 winners, take on 1995 champions Norway.

Japan are 11th in the world rankings, Norway 12th and both in great form.

Norway, after a slow start to the tournament, losing 1-0 to co-hosts New Zealand, turned on the style yesterday by crushing the Philippines 6-0 - the joint largest win of the tournament.

Saturday, 5 August in Wellington at 09:00 BST is when that one takes place. One to watch out for.

'Back to the drawing board for Spain'

Emma Byrne

Former Ireland goalkeeper on ITV1

Reuters

What a finish from Mina Tanaka.

There's not much space there, just an absolutely exquisite finish.

Little step over, she doesn't even need to look up, she knows whether the goal is.

Absolute pure quality.

Spain will have to look at these goals because it is poor defending. You can't concede from a throw in like that. They'll have to go back to the drawing board.

GOAL - Japan 4-0 Spain

It's a thrashing!

This is one of the goals of the tournament. Mina Tanaka collects the ball close to the right touchline and steps on the accelerator pedal.

She runs direct at the defence, produces a stepover to create space for the shot, jinks on to her left foot and curls a stunning finish into the top corner.

Wonderful.

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CLOSE!

A chance for 2-2.

Maria Coto shoots wide for Costa Rica at the back post, when she should've hit the target. Neither side has won a World Cup match, with Costa Rica unsuccessful in their previous five matches across two tournaments.

Ten minutes plus injury time to rescue this one and deny Zambia their first victory themselves.