SYDNEY: France were held 0-0 by Jamaica in a disappointing start to their Women’s World Cup campaign on Sunday, but Sweden and the Netherlands won by narrow margins.

France never lifted the World Cup despite the strength of the women’s domestic league and Jamaica tackled them against Sydney rain in front of nearly 40,000.

France’s Hervé Renard, one of the pre-World Cup favorites along with holders the United States and England, hit the woods late on and had more possession and chances, but Jamaica refused to pull away.

Jamaica made their first appearance in the Women’s World Cup only in the previous edition in 2019 and lost all three matches, so this point was the first in the competition for them.

“I would say it’s the number one result we’ve had so far, men and women – I’d like to put it out there,” declared coach Lorne Donaldson.

The only note was that striker Khadija Shaw was sent off in stoppage time for receiving a second yellow card. As a result, she will miss her second match of the tournament against Panama.

The Jamaicans, ranked 43rd in the world to France’s five, celebrated wildly at the final whistle, defender Denesha Blackwood parading through the air.

“You’re playing a great team like France. I mean, just by looking at the rankings, the score at this point should be No. 1,” Donaldson said.

In the first match of the fourth day of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Sweden were bullied by South Africa before winning 2-1.

Third-placed Sweden struggled after trailing by a goal, conjuring up a 90th-minute winner through Arsenal defender Amanda Ellistit, much to the relief of their fans in the miserable rain conditions in Wellington.

Hilda Magaya’s goal early in the second half – at which she picked up an injury at the end of the game – gave South Africa hope of an upset in front of 18,317 spectators.

But it was quickly canceled out by Barcelona star Fridolina Rulfo before Ilestedt’s late tackle, and he came home from close range for a hard-fought victory.

Italy will play Argentina on Monday also in Group G, while Brazil will play Panama in the same group.

Sweden coach Peter Gerhardsson said “stress and tension” were behind the shaky start to their World Cup campaign.

“It’s good to be nervous but you have to have the courage to keep doing it,” Gerhardson said.

The Dutch, who lost 2-0 to the United States in the final four years ago, had fewer problems against newcomers Portugal in the New Zealand city of Dunedin.

Defender Stephanie van der Graagt ​​scored a powerful header in the 13th minute with the winner.

The Netherlands now face the United States on Thursday in a rematch of the final, with Group E supremacy on the line.

Sunday’s match in Dunedin, played in front of a crowd of 12,000, saw the Dutch gain more possession but Portugal threatened at the break.

Portugal’s first shot of the game finally arrived in the final ten minutes, but the Dutch were eventually more or less comfortable winners.