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Sports in numbers: brilliant players and goals at 2023 Women's World Cup
Chen Rong
Olga Carmona celebrates after scoring a goal to secure Spain's 1-0 victory over England during the FIFA Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP
Olga Carmona celebrates after scoring a goal to secure Spain's 1-0 victory over England during the FIFA Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Olga Carmona celebrates after scoring a goal to secure Spain's 1-0 victory over England during the FIFA Women's World Cup final at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Olga Carmona's winner fired Spain to clinch their first Women's World Cup title on August 20.

The 1-0 victory in the final also set a landmark result and Spain became the second nation after Germany to win both the women's and men's FIFA World Cup.

Spain took the men's 2010 World Cup champions in South Africa.

Germany won back-to-back Women's World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, while the German national men's team won four World Cups in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.

A screen displays the number of people attending the Women's World Cup opening match between Australia and Republic of Ireland in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2023. /CFP
A screen displays the number of people attending the Women's World Cup opening match between Australia and Republic of Ireland in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2023. /CFP

A screen displays the number of people attending the Women's World Cup opening match between Australia and Republic of Ireland in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2023. /CFP

A screenshot of a spectator's tweet on August 20 recording the attendance displayed on the big screen in the final is 75,784. /@zirtaebomlesna
A screenshot of a spectator's tweet on August 20 recording the attendance displayed on the big screen in the final is 75,784. /@zirtaebomlesna

A screenshot of a spectator's tweet on August 20 recording the attendance displayed on the big screen in the final is 75,784. /@zirtaebomlesna

Co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia, the ninth FIFA Women's World Cup was the first tournament that featured an expanded format of 32 teams.

A total of 164 goals were scored in 64 matches during the tournament that ran from July 20 to August 20.

Both the opening match and the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney hit record-breaking attendance at 75,784, while the full capacity of the stadium is 83,500.

Team Spain celebrate after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup crown in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP
Team Spain celebrate after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup crown in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Team Spain celebrate after winning the FIFA Women's World Cup crown in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

A captain's armband is displayed in the Spain's dressing room prior to the Women's World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP
A captain's armband is displayed in the Spain's dressing room prior to the Women's World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

A captain's armband is displayed in the Spain's dressing room prior to the Women's World Cup final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Ivana Andres of Spain holds her child after winning the Women's World Cup title in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP
Ivana Andres of Spain holds her child after winning the Women's World Cup title in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Ivana Andres of Spain holds her child after winning the Women's World Cup title in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Spain's goalkeeper Catalina Coll celebrates with her son after the final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP
Spain's goalkeeper Catalina Coll celebrates with her son after the final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Spain's goalkeeper Catalina Coll celebrates with her son after the final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Spain's forward Salma Paralluelo poses for selfies with her family after the final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP
Spain's forward Salma Paralluelo poses for selfies with her family after the final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Spain's forward Salma Paralluelo poses for selfies with her family after the final in Sydney, Australia, August 20, 2023. /CFP

Spain's route to champions

Team Spain had seven appearances during the tournament.

In the group stage, Spain took the opening victory with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica on July 21.

Spain defeated Zambia 5-0 on July 26, but suffered a 4-0 loss to Japan on July 31.

In a round of 16 match, Spain had a 5-1 win over Switzerland on August 5.

In the quarterfinal, Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 on August 11.

In the semifinal, Spain routed Sweden 2-1 on August 15.

In the final, Spain won the champions with a 1-0 win over England.

Spain had their most aggressive shots during their match against Costa Rica on July 21. They took 46 shots, with 12 on target, 595 passes and 81 percent of possession on the ball to end their opening match 3-0.

On average, Spain had 22.57 shots per match en route to victory.

A view of a goal scored by a Dutch player during their group match between the Netherlands and Vietnam at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, August 1, 2023. /CFP
A view of a goal scored by a Dutch player during their group match between the Netherlands and Vietnam at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, August 1, 2023. /CFP

A view of a goal scored by a Dutch player during their group match between the Netherlands and Vietnam at Dunedin Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand, August 1, 2023. /CFP

Big wins

Compared to men's World Cup, the women's tournament featured teams that might have a huge difference in football skills that varied from each other.

Thanks to the expansion of the format from 24 to 32 teams, eight teams qualified for the competition for the first time. They were Haiti, Republic of Ireland, Morocco, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Therefore, some matches had huge differences results in the numbers.

The Netherlands thrashed Vietnam 7-0 on August 1.

Norway hammered Philippines 6-0 on July 30, while Germany defeated Morocco 5-0 on July 24.

Sweden defeated Italy 5-0 on July 29, Spain had a dominating 5-0 win over Zambia on July 26, and Japan routed Zambia 5-0 on July 22.

Hannah Wilkinson of New Zealand celebrates after scoring the first goal at the Women's World Cup during the group match between New Zealand and Norway in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20, 2023. /CFP
Hannah Wilkinson of New Zealand celebrates after scoring the first goal at the Women's World Cup during the group match between New Zealand and Norway in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20, 2023. /CFP

Hannah Wilkinson of New Zealand celebrates after scoring the first goal at the Women's World Cup during the group match between New Zealand and Norway in Auckland, New Zealand, July 20, 2023. /CFP

Stephanie Catley of Australia strikes on penalty during the Women's World Cup group match between Australia and the Republic of Ireland in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2023. /CFP
Stephanie Catley of Australia strikes on penalty during the Women's World Cup group match between Australia and the Republic of Ireland in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2023. /CFP

Stephanie Catley of Australia strikes on penalty during the Women's World Cup group match between Australia and the Republic of Ireland in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2023. /CFP

Marta Cox (front) of Panama celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the Women's World Cup group match between Panama and France in Sydney, Australia, August 2, 2023. /CFP
Marta Cox (front) of Panama celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the Women's World Cup group match between Panama and France in Sydney, Australia, August 2, 2023. /CFP

Marta Cox (front) of Panama celebrates after scoring her team's first goal during the Women's World Cup group match between Panama and France in Sydney, Australia, August 2, 2023. /CFP

Goals

First goal New Zealand striker Hannah Wilkinson scored the first goal of the tournament in the 48th minute during their opening match with Norway on July 20.

First goal on penalty – Australian left-back Stephanie Catley scored the first goal on penalty of the tournament on the 52nd minute during another opening match between Australia and the Republic of Ireland on July 20.

First own goal – Costa Rica's Valeria del Campo put through her own net, the first own goal of the tournament, during the match between Costa Rica and Spain on July 21.

Fastest goal – Marta Cox of Panama scored on the second minute against France, the fastest goal of the tournament on August 2.

Hinata Miyazawa (R) of Japan fights for the ball during the Women's World Cup quarterfinal between Japan and Sweden at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 11, 2023. /CFP
Hinata Miyazawa (R) of Japan fights for the ball during the Women's World Cup quarterfinal between Japan and Sweden at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 11, 2023. /CFP

Hinata Miyazawa (R) of Japan fights for the ball during the Women's World Cup quarterfinal between Japan and Sweden at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, August 11, 2023. /CFP

Ary Borges of Brazil celebrates her hat-trick goal during the Women's World Cup match between Brazil and Panama in Adelaide, Australia, July 24, 2023. /CFP
Ary Borges of Brazil celebrates her hat-trick goal during the Women's World Cup match between Brazil and Panama in Adelaide, Australia, July 24, 2023. /CFP

Ary Borges of Brazil celebrates her hat-trick goal during the Women's World Cup match between Brazil and Panama in Adelaide, Australia, July 24, 2023. /CFP

Sophie Roman Haug (#22) of Norway controls the ball during the Women's World Cup group match between Norway and Philippines in Auckland, New Zealand, July 30, 2023. /CFP
Sophie Roman Haug (#22) of Norway controls the ball during the Women's World Cup group match between Norway and Philippines in Auckland, New Zealand, July 30, 2023. /CFP

Sophie Roman Haug (#22) of Norway controls the ball during the Women's World Cup group match between Norway and Philippines in Auckland, New Zealand, July 30, 2023. /CFP

Kadidiatou Diani (#11) of France celebrates after scoring a goal during their group match between France and Panama in Sydney, Australia, August 2, 2023. /CFP
Kadidiatou Diani (#11) of France celebrates after scoring a goal during their group match between France and Panama in Sydney, Australia, August 2, 2023. /CFP

Kadidiatou Diani (#11) of France celebrates after scoring a goal during their group match between France and Panama in Sydney, Australia, August 2, 2023. /CFP

Goal-scorers

Japanese midfielder Hinata Miyazawa won the Golden Boot Award as the top goal-scorer with five goals during the tournament.

She scored a brace in Japan's 5-0 victory over Zambia on July 22, and had another two goals in Japan's 4-0 victory over Spain on July 31.

The 23-year-old also scored a goal during Japan's 3-1 win over Norway on August 5.

Ary Borges of Brazil, Sophie Roman Haug of Norway, and Kadidiatou Diani of France were three players who scored hat tricks during the tournament.

Ary Borges's triple powered Brazil 4-0 to win over Panama on July 24.

Sophie Roman Haug's three goals contributed to Norway's 6-0 win over Philippines on July 30.

Kadidiatou Diani's goals fired France 6-3 to win over Panama on August 2.

Wang Shuang of China takes a selfie after winning the Player of the Match award after the Women's World Cup Group D match between China and Haiti in Adelaide, Australia, July 28, 2023. /CFP
Wang Shuang of China takes a selfie after winning the Player of the Match award after the Women's World Cup Group D match between China and Haiti in Adelaide, Australia, July 28, 2023. /CFP

Wang Shuang of China takes a selfie after winning the Player of the Match award after the Women's World Cup Group D match between China and Haiti in Adelaide, Australia, July 28, 2023. /CFP

Team China

China's "steel roses" women's national team had three appearances at the 2023 World Cup.

Denmark defeated China 1-0 in the group match on July 22.

With one goal on penalty from Wang Shuang, China had a 1-0 victory over Haiti on July 28.

China suffered a 6-1 loss to England on August 1, with the only goal also from Wang Shuang on penalty.

FIFA Women's World Cup's tweet on August 22 about China's performance during the tournament. /@FIFAWWC
FIFA Women's World Cup's tweet on August 22 about China's performance during the tournament. /@FIFAWWC

FIFA Women's World Cup's tweet on August 22 about China's performance during the tournament. /@FIFAWWC

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