Jamaica heads to Women's World Cup knockouts for first time ever, Brazil crashes out

As the group stage at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup winds down, Wednesday proved to be yet another dramatic day at the competition.

Here are more of the headlines from the day's action down under:

• Jamaica's manager calls team's knockout round qualification "one of the best feelings I’ve had in my life": The Reggae Girlz reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in the country's history thanks to a gutsy draw against Brazil, a game which manager Lorne Donaldson called a "war." The result, coupled with the other Group F game between France and Panama, meant the team advanced as runner-up and will face the winner of Group H in the next round.
• Brazil's greatest female footballer played in her final World Cup: Brazilian striker Marta, now 37, has concluded what will be her sixth and final World Cup. She is considered by many – perhaps even most – to be the greatest female footballer of all time. On Wednesday, Jamaica sent Brazil home with a stunning 0-0 draw in the teams' final group-stage match. Prior to the tournament Brazil's all-time record goal scorer said this would be her final World Cup appearance for her country.
• France tops Group F with goals galore in win over Panama: It looked a bit shaky at the beginning, but France overcame any issues to book its place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with its 6-3 victory over Panama. Marta Cox's stunning free kick put Panama up early on, but France recovered quickly by scoring five unanswered to take control of the match. Kadidiatou Diani was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to become the first female French player to do so at the World Cup.
• South Africa and Italy played out a thriller: South Africa and Italy played arguably the game of the tournament so far, featuring end-to-end action, a bizarre own goal and a stoppage-time winner. South Africa's 3-2 victory saw the team finish second in Group G and reach the knockout stages for the first time ever thanks to Thembi Kgatlana's late goal. Italy, meanwhile, would have progressed in the tournament with a win or a draw, but instead goes home in heartbreaking fashion.
• Sweden advances to face the US next round: Sweden eased to a 2-0 win over Argentina, setting up a clash with the US on Sunday. The US women were inches away from being knocked out of the tournament in a huge World Cup scare for the Americans against Portugal earlier this week.

Brazil's Marta, the record scorer in World Cup history and veteran of six tournaments, spoke after her team bowed out of the tournament following a scoreless draw against Jamaica:

“But it is only the beginning. The Brazilian people asked for renewal, and there is renewal. I think the only old one here is me, and maybe Tami (Tamires) following. Most of them (teammates) are young girls with enormous talent, who have a great path ahead of them. It's just the beginning for them. I finish here, but they continue," she added.

As for her future, the 37-year-old said, “There is no more World Cup for Marta. I am very grateful for the opportunity I had to play one more cup, and I am very happy with everything that is happening with women’s football in Brazil and in the world. Keep supporting because for them it is only the beginning. For me it is the end of the road.”

On Wednesday, Jamaica sent Brazil home with a stunning 0-0 draw that earned the Reggae Girlz second place in Group F and a place in the knockout rounds. Brazil finished third in the group.

She has won the FIFA Player of the Year award an unprecedented six times – no other women’s player has won it more than three times – including five years in a row from 2006 to 2010 and is Brazil’s all-time record goalscorer, male or female, with 115 goals.

She has also lifted the Champions League, the Copa Libertadores and was awarded the Golden Boot and Golden Ball for top scorer and best player at the 2007 World Cup. In 2019, Marta became the first male or female player in history to score at five World Cups and her 17 World Cup goals are an all-time record in men’s and women’s football.

Brazilian striker Marta, now 37, has concluded what will be her sixth and final World Cup, is considered by many – perhaps even most – to be the greatest female footballer of all time.

On Wednesday, Jamaica sent Brazil home with a stunning 0-0 draw that earned the Reggae Girlz second place in Group F and a place in the knockout rounds. Brazil finished third in the group.

Jamaica manager Lorne Donaldson said his team's historic Women's World Cup qualification is "one of the best feelings I’ve had in my life."

The Reggae Girlz reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in the country's history thanks to a gutsy draw against Brazil, a game which Donaldson called a "war."

The result, coupled with the other Group F game between France and Panama, meant it advanced as runner-up and will face the winner of Group H in the next round.

And Donaldson was full of praise for his players afterwards.

When asked how he planned to celebrate the momentous achievement, Donaldson -- who said he had already completed a cartwheel -- said he would keep it lowkey this evening.

It looked a bit shaky at the beginning, but France overcame any issues to book its place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with its 6-3 victory over Panama.

Kadidiatou Diani was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick to become the first female French player to do so at the World Cup.

Panama did give its fans something to cheer for late on with a late flurry of goals, bringing about wild scenes of jubilant, dancing celebrations.

Vicki Bècho's late goal completed the goal fest as France topped Group F where it will now face the runner-up of Group H.

The 19-year-old steered home a cross from close range to add gloss to an impressive victory.

First, it was South Africa. Now, it's Jamaica.

The Reggae Girlz are the second team of the day to earn qualification for the knockout stages for the first time ever following a 0-0 draw against Brazil.

It also means Jamaica is the first Caribbean nation to ever reach the knockouts — something few would have predicted happening ahead of the tournament.

All of the Jamaican squad and coaching staff are out celebrating on the pitch, some of them in tears.

Brazil's players, meanwhile, look shell-shocked — none more so than captain Marta, who has just made her final World Cup appearance. This is the first time in 28 years that Brazil has failed to get through the group stages.

They may be going home, but Panama's players are enjoying their final minutes at the Women's World Cup.

After a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check, the dancing begins anew when it's eventually given.

Was that the last time we'll see the legendary Marta at the Women's World Cup?

She's substituted off for Andressa with 10 minutes remaining in Melbourne, potentially meaning her glittering career will end without ever winning a World Cup trophy.

The 37-year-old is the top scorer in the history of the tournament with 17 goals and is also a six-time FIFA Player of the Year winner. For context, no other women’s player has won the award more than three times.

She'll watch the rest of this match from the substitute bench, desperately hoping that her team can find a winning goal in the closing stages.