Women’s World Cup 2023 LIVE: Jamaica brilliantly draw with France and reaction as Lionesses defeat Haiti

France suffered a blow early in their Women’s World Cup campaign as they were held to a 0-0 draw by a battling Jamaica as the group stages continue in Australia and New Zealand.

Les Bleues came into the tournament under new coach Herve Renard after Corrine Diacre’s controversial reign was brought to an end just four months before the tournament. But Renard could only watch as his side were stifled by the relentless pressing of the Reggae Girlz with Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw and Drew Spence leading the way for the underdogs in a deserved goalless draw, despite Shaw’s late red card for a second booking.

The Netherlands, runners-up four year ago under Sarina Wiegman, earlier battled past World Cup debutants Portugal 1-0 in Group E thanks to Stefanie van der Gragt’s early header. The Dutch were defeated by the United States in the 2019 final, and will face the defending champions later in the group stage. The USA began their defence with a 3-0 win against Vietnam on Saturday.

Elsewhere, England opened their Women’s World Cup campaign with a win but the Lionesses were pushed all the way by Haiti in what was a close contest in Brisbane. Georgia Stanway’s retaken penalty in the first half was enough to earn England a narrow victory, but goalkeeper Mary Earps had to make a big stop to protect their lead late on.

Follow the latest World Cup scores, updates and news in today’s live blog

Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest updates

• The Women’s World Cup continues in Australia and New Zealand

• England survive Women’s World Cup scare — but Haiti highlight problems for Lionesses to solve

• Jamaica secure stunning 0-0 draw with much-fancied France in Group F

• Netherlands beat Portugal 1-0 in Group E as Stefanie van der Gragt heads home only goal

• Sweden edge past South Africa 2-1 thanks to Amanda Ilestedt’s 90th-minute winner

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

13:00 , Luke Baker

FULL-TIME! Brilliant, simply brilliant by Jamaica. They earn their first-ever point at a Women’s World Cup! And it’s fully deserved

They hold on with 10 women to deny France - they played their hearts out with Khadija Shaw (despite her late sending off) and Drew Spence leading the way. Their pressing restricted LEs Bleues and they even created a few chances themselves.

Reaching the knockout stages of this World Cup is now a possibility for the Reggae Girlz, although Shaw’s impending suspension is a huge blow.

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

12:55 , Luke Baker

90+2 mins: RED CARD! Oh no! This is a nightmare for Jamaica! Their captain, talisman, superstar Khadija Shaw has been sent off for a second bookable offence.

She’s been brilliant in this match - literally leading from the front with her relentless pressing as a lone centre forward. But she’s already on a yellow and needlessly lunges at Wendie Renard. She protests her innocence but it’s a clear foul and the referee has no choice but to give her a second booking.

The Man City star will miss not only the final few minutes of this game but the next group game against Panama as well. That could be vital.

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

12:51 , Luke Baker

89 mins: CROSSBAR! The width of the crossbar is how close France came to breaking Jamaica hearts in the dying moments.

Kadidiatou Diani’s effort loops over the Jamaica goalkeeper but comes back off the bar. Incredible! But the Reggae Girlz survive. Into six minutes of injury time

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

12:47 , Luke Baker

85 mins: Five minutes to go, Jamaica win a corner and Blackwood puts a dangerous ball into the mixer. Shaw’s shot on the turn goes over the bar however.

A draw would be a great result for Jamaica - who are ranked 43rd in the world to France’s 5th - but a victory would be seismic

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

12:33 , Luke Baker

70 mins: Into the final 20 minutes in Sydney. France goes close to breaking the deadlock when Aston Villa star Kenza Dali curls in a gorgeous cross but Kadidiatou Diani heads wide.

Les Bleues are on top now but Jamaica still holding in there

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

11:58 , Luke Baker

HALF-TIME! Jamaica will be really happy with that first-half performance. Frankly, they’ve outplayed France and it wouldn’t be unfair if they were ahead.

Their pressing has been brilliant, hassling France and forcing them back. Bunny Shaw, Drew Spence and Atlanta Primus have been leading the charge for the Reggae Girlz. Can they find a breakthrough in the second half or will Herve Renard make the necessary adjustments for Les Bleues?

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

11:45 , Luke Baker

42 mins: CLOSE! Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw takes a huge run-up (think prime Roberto Carlos) and thumps a free-kick from about 30 yards goalwards. France goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin desperately dives to her left but the exocet flashes narrowly wide of the post. Great effort.

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

11:22 , Luke Baker

20 mins: This has been a really good start by Jamaica. They’re winning the battles in the middle of the park and are disciplined in their shape.

France forced to scramble the ball away in defence as a couple of shots are blocked. Les Bleues need to settle down here and start playing the possession-based football they’re known for.

Women’s World Cup 2023: France 0-0 Jamaica

11:10 , Luke Baker

Underway in Sydney and France are unsurprisingly having the better of things so far. They’re breaking from deep and running at Jamaica’s defenders. No early breakthrough yet though.

Women’s World Cup 2023: France vs Jamaica

10:54 , Luke Baker

The final match of the day at the Women’s World Cup will be getting underway in about five minutes’ time. France - who were semi-finalists at the Euros last summer - are taking on Jamaica.

So far the underdogs, the likes of Haiti and Portugal, have really impressed and caused the ‘bigger’ teams some issues, albeit they’ve lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

Jamaica failed to get a point on their tournament debut in 2019, so can they go one better this time and cause an upset against Les Bleues?

England underestimated Haiti in World Cup opener and revealed their Achilles heel

10:35 , Luke Baker

Mary Earps could do nothing but scream in frustration. The shakiness of England’s defence had thankfully been compensated for by Haiti’s lack of a cutting edge but her irritation was still clear, and warranted.

Time and time again the simple things just hadn’t been done right. Balls had been allowed to sail over heads, lunges were delayed as passes skimmed through gaps, passes were sent wayward. It wasn’t the start to the World Cup that England would have hoped for.

England were ahead but that wasn’t the sense you would get from reading the players’ body language. The half-time whistle blew in Brisbane and heads hung low as they retreated down the tunnel.

The truth was evident: they were lucky to be leading.

England underestimated Haiti in World Cup opener and revealed their Achilles heel

Full-time: Netherlands 1-0 Portugal

10:35 , Luke Baker

And it’s all over in Dunedin!

Netherlands have held on for a 1-0 win over debutants Portugal. Stefanie van der Gragt’s header early in the first half proved to be the difference.

Portugal frustrated the Dutch for large parts of the match but failed to really threaten an equaliser. This will feel like a missed opportunity for them with the USA also in their group - you feel they had to get a result here to stand a realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages.

Netherlands will be relieved - three points on the board is the most important thing. A win over lowly Vietnam will likely be enough to qualify now, although it’s the USA up next for them on Thursday.

England goalkeeper Mary Earps hits out at Nike for refusing to sell her shirt

10:15 , Luke Baker

England goalkeeper Mary Earps says Nike’s decision to not sell her kit during the Women’s World Cup is “hurtful” and “hugely disappointing”.

England’s home and away kits are available for fans to buy, but the Lionesses goalkeeper kits have not been put up for sale by the team’s kit supplier.

Earps was England’s goalkeeper when they won the Euros last summer and the Manchester United star was named Fifa’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper for 2022.

Earps said England captain Millie Bright had told her she wanted to buy her kit for her niece, only to find it wasn’t available for purchase.

England goalkeeper Mary Earps hits out at Nike for refusing to sell her shirt

Latest score: Netherlands 1-0 Portugal

10:06 , Luke Baker

Into the final 15 minutes of the Netherlands vs Portugal clash and the Dutch are still holding on to their 1-0 lead. This has been an impressive World Cup debut by the Portuguese.

Latest score: Netherlands 1-0 Portugal

09:38 , Luke Baker

Netherlands are taking on debutants Portugal and that game is in the early stages of the second half.

Netherlands lead 1-0 after Stefanie van der Gragt’s header in the first half was eventually given after a VAR review. The debutant Portuguese have equipped themselves well though and are frustrating the Dutch.

Sweden steal 2-1 win over South Africa in World Cup opener

09:19 , Luke Baker

Amanda Ilestedt’s 90th-minute winner gave Sweden a 2-1 win over South Africa in their Women’s World Cup Group G match after a fortuitous equaliser from Fridolina Rolfo had cancelled out Hildah Magaia’s opener.

Under pouring rain in the New Zealand capital, Ilestedt jumped highest and squeezed the ball home to save her team’s blushes after they were left frustrated by the African champions for much of the opening hour of the game.

The result left the third-ranked Swedes top of their group, before Italy and Argentina play their opener in Auckland on Monday.

“South Africa made it hard for us, but I think we grew into the game and got better and better. In the second half we played better, but a victory in the opening game is what counts,” Ilestedt said.

South Africa, ranked 54th, were looking for their first-ever World Cup win on their second appearance at the tournament, having exited in the group stage in 2019 without picking up a point.

They kept their more fancied opponents at bay in the first half, as a frustrated Sweden side controlled possession but could not find the finishing touch, and threatened on the counter.

Zecira Musovic had parried away Thembi Kgatlana’s shot but Magaia got to the rebound before Sweden defender Jonna Andersson and bundled the ball over the line two minutes after the break, scoring South Africa’s second-ever World Cup goal.

But Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross skewed off defender Lebohang Ramalepe and bounced into the net off Rolfo to hand the Swedes a lifeline in the 66th minute.

Peter Gerhardsson’s side pushed for a winner but they were denied by South Africa’s resolute defending, until Ilestedt met Kosovare Asllani’s corner with a strong header.

Reuters

Cutting edge missing for unconvincing England, admits boss Sarina Wiegman

08:59 , Luke Baker

England boss Sarina Wiegman felt her European champions lacked “ruthlessness” after they eked out a 1-0 victory over debutants Haiti to open their World Cup campaign at Brisbane Stadium.

Georgia Stanway’s retaken first-half penalty was ultimately enough to win her side all three points, but did little to ease concerns about the Lionesses’ attacking form after they failed to find the back of the net in their previous three encounters.

Were it not for a late second-half save from FIFA women’s goalkeeper of the year Mary Earps to deny substitute Roseline Eloissaint, the fourth-ranked Lionesses could well have ended their evening with a draw against their underdog Group D opponents, who sit 49 places below them in the FIFA rankings.

Sarina Wiegman admits unconvincing England lacked cutting edge in World Cup opener

England survive Women’s World Cup scare — but Haiti highlight problems for Lionesses to solve

08:58 , Luke Baker

England have a precious first win in this World Cup but that very description is why they did not look like eventual winners of the tournament itself.

That isn’t to say it will remain like this, but Sarina Wiegman has a lot of problems to solve, and a lot of work to do. Haiti at least more than set the tone for the latter. In something that has already developed into a bit of a pattern in these first few games, the supposed minnow deserved more than the 1-0 defeat they suffered through Georgia Stanway’s mercifully re-ordered penalty.

Haiti’s brilliant young star, Melchie Dumornay, may well end up deserving a series of individual awards. She was by far the player of the match here, running the game. Haiti often gave England a run-around. The entire result ended up depending on Mary Earps standing her ground in a crucial final chance for Haiti.

England survive World Cup scare but Haiti highlight problems to solve