World Cup 2023 live: Spain vs Zambia

Fifa’s media officer intervened at a Women’s World Cup press conference on Tuesday 25 July to deflect questions about an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against Zambia head coach Bruce Mwape.

“I’ll ask you to restrict the questions to the football and to the tournament only,” a media officer for the organisation is heard saying, after a reporter asked what effect the investigation into the allegations has on Zambia’s image.

Norway winger Caroline Graham Hansen has apologised for lashing out at coach Hege Riise after being dropped to the bench for Tuesday’s scoreless draw with Switzerland at the Women’s World Cup.

The 28-year-old was brought on as a second-half substitute at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium but the 0-0 draw left the former champions teetering at the exit of the tournament.

Graham Hansen vented her frustrations in a TV interview after the final whistle.

“I just want to apologise for my statements after the match. I’m just a human being with a lot of feelings,” she told reporters on Tuesday.

“Emotions got the better of me. I took the focus away from what matters, and that is being here to play the World Cup.”

Graham Hansen said she still “strongly disagreed” with the coach’s decision to leave her out of the starting line-up.

“But I respect that the coach decides, and she has the right to do what is best,” she added.

“I know it causes unrest around the team, when I speak out as I did yesterday. It was … not the rational me.”

Spain underlined their credentials as pre-tournament favourites when they became one of the first teams to seal qualification for the Women’s World Cup knockouts with a 5-0 win over Zambia in their second Group C encounter on Wednesday.

Teresa Abelleira opened the scoring while Jennifer Hermoso and Alba Redondo scored twice to give Spain their second victory, which also assured Japan of last-16 qualification after they beat Costa Rica 2-0 earlier on Wednesday.

Abelleira settled any opening nerves when she picked up the ball after an intricate passing move in the ninth minute and fired a shot from long range that rocketed into the top corner. Four minutes later, Hermoso marked her 100th appearance for Spain with an easy header at the far post after Zambia failed to defend a cross from Alexia Putellas.

Spain continued to dominate after halftime although Zambia goalkeeper Eunice Sakala made several saves. But she was left stranded when Redondo was put through on goal as the forward rounded the 21-year-old keeper to make it 3-0.

Hermoso then grabbed her second – and 50th for Spain – when she pounced on a rebound off the post to fire home, a goal awarded after some confusion over the referee’s initial announcement that it was ruled out for offside.

Redondo then beat the offside trap late in the game to score Spain’s fifth, also awarded after a VAR review when the assistant referee flagged for offside.

That was a cruise for Spain ever since jumping into that early lead after 15 minutes. Zambia posed them plenty of questions on the counter-attack but their final ball was poor all match and they were unable to ever trouble the Spain goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez. After a flurry of substitutes, Alba Redondo came on with a mission and scored two quick goals as Spain racked up five, overtaking Japan on goal difference. That could be important ahead of Monday’s Group C decider, with Spain and Japan level on six points.

Job done for Spain! They are through to the last-16 thanks to a five-star win against Zambia, a result which also sees Japan go through from Group C.

Zambia and Costa Rica are out with a game to spare.

90+8 mins: Racheal Kundananji drives forward for Zambia…. can they get their World Cup goal?! No – Kundananji’s shot is driven over.

At the other end, Sakala makes another save to deny Redondo her hat-trick. Redondo had leapt at the header by Sakala makes a great save to her right.

90+5 mins: There’s a worry for Real Madrid forward Athenea del Castillo, who hobbles off with an injury. Spain will play out the last few minutes with 10.

90 mins: We’re into eight minutes of added time and Zambia are heading for back-to-back 5-0 defeats. Sakala, who considering who she came into today’s game as Zambia’s third-choice goalkeeper, has been able to keep the score down, saving from the corner as Spain push for a sixth.

Spain are hunting for that fifth goal and Alba Redondo has been on a mission since coming on to do it…. the flag goes up again as Redondo controls a cross from the right, beats the defender and finishes past Sakala…

… but it’s given onside! Spain have five! Redondo, the top scorer in Spain last season for Levante, has her second since coming on.

Goal! Two in two minutes for Spain, and a second of the day for Hermoso! It’s a 50th goal for Spain for Hermoso, too, on what is her 100th appearance.

It was originally ruled out for offside, but VAR allowed it. The referee adds to the confusion by announcing ‘no goal… no offisde… no, no offisde, goal!’

Spain now only one goal behind Japan…