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The knockout stage of the 2021 IFF Coupe du monde was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 21 November with the round of 16 and ended on XX October with the final match, held at the XXXX Stadium in XXXX. The top two teams from each group (16 in total) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament. A third place play-off was also played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.
All times listed are local time.
Format
In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each), where each team was allowed to make a fourth substitution. If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners.
Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage.
| Group | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| A |  Maucha
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 Satavia
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| B |  Paretia
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 Amathia
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| C |  Caldia
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 Soravia
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| D |  Lavana
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 Scovern
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| E |  Champania
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 Hennehouwe
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| F |  Kesselbourg
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 Ajahadya
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| G |  Shangea
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 Aucuria
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| H |  Nuvania
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 Gapolania
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Bracket
Round of 16
Maucha vs Gapolania
This was the first time both teams had met.
The game was tougher than both sides expected. Throughout the whole 90 minutes, and over time, no one managed to break through and put their team ahead. Maucha and Gapolania exchanged sparks, as the game was a constant back and forth between attack and defense. The goalkeepers are the highlight, as both Thumeka Dana and Lidia Nermali guarded their nets with their lives. The offense of both teams was on point as well; while Marotta and Giorgiù were a headache to the Mauchan defense, Hawa was also unbalancing things on the Mauchan left flank. Every mistake was punished by the opposition arming attacking plays that would often end with an attempt. However, the goals were stubborn and the game went to a penalties shootout. Gapolania kicked the first penalty with Giorgiù, but it was denied by Dana, while Maucha's first penalty was converted by Nadia. Gapolania made up for the missed goal in the second penalty with Marotta, while Mondise missed for Maucha. Gapolania followed for their third kick with Lucià, but the post was there to save Maucha, who scored their second penalty with Dalila. The fourth Gapolanian kick by di Zeta was, again, saved by Dana, which put her opponents in a tough spot: if Maucha scores, its over. As Hawa walked towards the penalty mark, both teams waited nervously. Finally, Hawa kicked the ball and, though Nermali touched it with the tips of her fingers, it was not enough to keep Maucha from advancing onto the quarter-finals of the Women World Cup for the first time in their history.
| Maucha | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Gapolania |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties | ||
 Nadia  Mondise Dalila Hawa |
3-1 | Giorgiù Marotta Lucià di Zeta |
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Player of the Match:
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Champania vs Scovern
This was the 7th game between both teams, most recently in a 2019 friendly that saw Scovern win 2-1 in Brigançon. Both teams have won 3 games a piece, tying once in a 2009 friendly 3-3 again in Brigançon.
What to say about one of the title contesters of this year's coupe? Champania did not come to play football, but to teach how to do so. Champania left little room for Scovern to breath, as they 3-nil against the northern Euclean side by half-time. Though Scovern sketched a reaction by the 61st minute with Justesen, Champania came back strong to increase their lead on the 72nd minute with Carpentièr and on the 85th minute with Murràs. The odds were fair, and the expected was then confirmed: Champania advances onto the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup.
| Champania | 5–1 | Scovern |
|---|---|---|
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12|
Player of the Match:
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Caldia vs Ajahadya
This was the first time both teams met in an official match.
The underdogs Ajahadya facing the ultimate favorites Caldia? What a piece of football art that is! So much expectation and so much anticipation from all watchers and enjoyers of the beautiful game for this match. From the beginning, Ajahadya showed no fear of the Caldians, as they went for their typical offensive style from the beginning. However, taking big risks against experienced and talented opponents may be one's own doom and, though Caldia seemed to struggle at first, they broke the marker in the 29th minute with Baldacci's first goal in this coupe. Caldia then came to increase their lead up to 3-0 by the mid-second half, while Bhukar did not let Ajahadya go down without shaking their opponents at least once, scoring the Satrian's only goal in the match on the 74th minute. While the score shows a two goals difference, Caldia's effectiveness when scoring was needed was the main reason why the Eucleans proceeded to the quarter-finals instead of Ajahadya. The Satrian team wasted a few crucial chances that could have given the game a much different outcome but those are lessons learned for their next appearance in the Women's World Cup as they are going home early for Caldia to advance onto the next stage.
| Caldia | 3–1 | Ajahadya |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Shangea vs Amathia
This was the second match between both teams, following a 2017 Coupe du Monde Group D match, that saw Amathia win 3-0. Allowing Amathia to classify to the round of 16.
Attitude towards your opponent is key for a team's success in a competition. Earlier today, an article by a Shangean website referred to Amathia as "mediocre" and "thuggish." Well, the Amathian team decided to bring that onto the field and show what they are made of. Initially, Shangea seemed to be on high heels, thinking that the match was already won as they enjoyed enormous amounts of ball possession and a few goal attempts within the majority of the first half. However, the ice bath came on the 38th minute as Antonescu scored Amathia's first goal in the match following a corner kick. Shangea was caught by surprise and decided to try and be more vertical and objective with their attacks, but it was not enough to keep Amathia from scoring their second goal in the 65th minute with Barbu during a counter-attack play. As the Amathians (and some Senrians) supporters went crazy on the stands, Amathia seemed to have proven beyond their mediocracy. In the 78th minute, a corner kick saw Shangea putting their goal in with a header by defender Xiang. Shangea came to score a second goal with Yi in the 87th minute, but a slight (and controversial) handball had the goal disallowed by the VAR. As the final whistle came by, Amathia celebrated with the Senrian supporters in the stand, and the girls on the pitch ran to one another for celebration as Amathia passed onto the quarte-finals of the Women's World Cup.
| Shangea | 1-2 | Amathia |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Paretia vs Aucuria
This was the first time that both teams met in a match.
The match started at a slow pace, as both teams seemed cautious and studious about each other. Aucuria seemed to care about keeping up their momentum following their victory against Bistravia on the group stage as they slowly took charge of the actions of the game. In the 41st minute, the prize for Aucuria's early effort was paid when Kobuševskienė converted a corner kick into the Asterians' first goal of the match; the first half ended as perfectly as it could be for the Asterians. As the second half began, Paretia seemed to have woken up after a good stern talk in the vestroom. Carbonell came back from the break with a scary passing efficiency and movements that the Aucurian team did not see from the Euclean side. The Eucleans did right in changing their stance in the game, as they turned the score around in less than 10 minutes with goals by Moleiro and Carbonell herself. Aucuria did not back down, and they kept pouncing Paretia and attempting to score enough to take the game to overtime, at least. When the referee was about to whistle the end of the game, Grikšaitė did the unimaginable! She dribbled 2 defenders on the right flank and managed to miraculously score Aucuria's tying goal. With Paretia stunned and Aucuria over their head, the game proceeded to overtime. When the referee allowed the first half of the overtime to begin, it took 4 minutes for Paretia to score a corner kick goal with Paretian defender Santinho. Aucuria tried running after the score, still believing that they would repeat their doings of the regular time, but a counter-attack by the Eucleans saw the Paretian top scorer, Cândida Vizeu scoring Paretia's 4th goal in the match. Aucuria seemed clearly exhausted and mentally beaten after the Eucleans opened a 2 goals advantage before halftime. At the end of the first half of overtime, Safira Egas, who subbed for Marisol Gutiérrez, scored her first goal in the competition to seal Paretia's spot in the quarter-finals.
| Paretia | 5-2 (a.e.t.) | Aucuria |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Kesselbourg vs Soravia
This was the 16th match between both teams, the most recent encounter being a friendly in Spálgleann that Soravia won 4-2 on April 2021. Both teams had previously met in the 2001 Coupe du Monde round of 16, where Soravia defeated Kesselbourg 1-0. Kesselbourg has won 6 matches, while Soravia has won 5, with 5 ties.
Akin to the match from earlier, both teams started the game and played the first half with cautiousness not to make any mistakes and jeopardize their chances of advancing. The biggest event of the first half was a penalty kick given to Soravia but wrongly revoked by the VAR. A lot of complaints and controversies arose from the wrong decision of the referees, but the game kept on going. In the second half, the slower pace was maintained, with Kesselbourg having a slightly more ball possession than Soravia. In the 63rd minute, a free-kick by the Kesselbourgish team saw the ball hitting the post and, luckily enough, rebounding on Soravian defender Shaposhnikova and rolling inside the goal to put Kesselbourg ahead. Their own goal was not enough to shake Soravia's spirit, as they quickly tied the game up in the 68th with Muzkya, the Soravian ultimate goal scorer in this competition. With the score tied up 1-1, both teams now seemed to be more into attacking. Kesselbourg tried being more vertical while attacking, but Soravia's defense was very well-armed. However, de Mesmaeker found a gap in the Soravian defense to kick the ball from outside the box to score a beautiful goal and put Kesselbourg back ahead on the score. However, a frontal free-kick favoring Soravia in the 91st minute saw two Soravian players arguing about who was going to kick it. Muzkya and attacking-midfielder Lyasina spent about a minute or two arguing and Muzkya decided to let Lyasina kick. Lyasina promised, and she delivered; the kick was indefensible for the Kesselbourgish goalie, and the score was 2-2. Going into OT, the score was kept the same, and the decision was taken to penalties. The coin toss decided that Kesselbourg would kick first. De Mesmaeker and Muzkya both converted the first kick. Speelers and Lyasina also delivered the second kick. Verstraete hit the post, while Bebchuk converted it. The advantage earned by Soravia was soon equalized by Kesselbourge as Walravens scored, and Čierna's kick was saved by the goalie. Van den Borre and Lapteva both scored the fifth kick and, since the regular kicks ended 4-4, the golden goal was on. Jessie Van De Gucht walked towards the goal and shot straight above the post, giving Soravia a chance to score and move on to the quarter-finals. Madona Iashvili walked up to the penalty spot and, with great category, scored the goal to put Soravia in the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup against Champania.
| Kesselbourg | 2-2 | Soravia |
|---|---|---|
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| Penalties | ||
| De Mesmaeker Speelers Verstraete WalravensVan den Borre Van De Gucht |
4-5 | Muzkya Lyasina Bebchuk Čierna's Lapteva Iashvili |
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Player of the Match:
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Lavana vs Hennehouwe
This was the 3rd time Lavana and Hennehouwe faced off in a math, all 3 having been friendlies. Both teams have won one friendly each 3-2 for Lavana, and 4-1 for Hennehouwe, with their most recent match, a friendly in Bazadavo that ended 2-2 in 2018.
Unlike the past two games of today, this one was not as balanced. Lavana was on top of their game from the beginning, and they scored the first goal in the 12th minute with Ablaivo. The remainder of the first half saw Hennenhouwe closing back their defense, and seemingly trying to build attacks out of Lavana's mistakes. However, Lavana was effective to keep the ball, but their attackers could not find gaps to pounce the opponent. A couple of long shots were attempted throughout the rest of the first half, but the score by halftime was Lavana 1-nil. When the game started again, the possession was initially Hennenhouwe's, but a pass interception by Yeldosoa allowed her to put Bounvanati in front of the goal to score 2-nil right on the 46th minute. After the game had just restarted, Yeldosoa ran after the passes, who were slowly kicking it back to the center-backs so that they could assist in organizing the team. A slow and sloppy pass was easily intercepted by Yeldosoa again, who ran alone to score a goal by nutmegging Hennenhouwe's goalkeeper and put the Couians ahead 3-nil. Hennenhouwe's only response came with Bolks in the 72nd minute, but no Euclean effort was enough to keep Lavana from advancing to the quarter-finals to face Caldia.
| Lavana | 3–1 | Hennehouwe |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Nuvania vs Satavia
Nuvania and Satavia are regular rivals, having most recently met in the South Asterian qualification tournament, where Nuvania defeated Satavia twice 1-0 and 3-2. Both teams had met in the 2009 Coupe du Monde in the B Group, where both teams tied at 0, rendering them both out of the competition. The record between both teams overall stands at 21 wins for Nuvania, 12 for Satavia, and 15 ties for a total of 48 games.
Sometimes, the stars on the pitch are not the strikers, but the goalies. Both halves were 0-0, and it all goes through both teams' goalkeepers, who were monumental in the match, taking it to overtime. Right at the beginning of the first half of overtime, de Klerk scored for Satavia after a beautiful series of triangulations. However, Nuvania replied right after, in the 94th minute, with Skinner scoring out of a free-kick. By the 104th minute, van der Linde made a run and passed 5 opponents before scoring a beautiful comeback goal for Satavia. As the halftime approached, Satavia's only duty was to hold a furious Nuvania back and, unfortunately for one, but luckily for another, Satavia failed. In the 127th minute, Nuvania's winger Bosman headed the ball as fast as a bullet into the back of the net, equalizing the game and pushing it into penalty kicks. The shootout began with Satavia, but both Satavia and Nuvania had their first three kicks defended by both goalies. It was not until van Ryneveld kicked the fourth Satavian penalty and scored to put the Dolphins ahead. Libbie Clement went for Nuvania's fourth kick, but her kick went higher than it should have, completely missing the goal. It was all on the feet of Jacomie Jouberts to score and send Satavia forward into the quarter-finals, or on the hands of Kaelee Daniels to defend and keep Nuvania alive. Jouberts charged towards the ball and kicked on the opposite foot of the Nuvanian goalie, scoring Satavia's second goal and sending the Dolphins onto the quarter-finals to face Amathia.
| Nuvania | 2-2(a.e.t.) | Satavia |
|---|---|---|
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| Penalties | ||
| Bosman Skinner Becker Clement |
0-2 | de Klerk Van der Linde Richards van Ryneveld Jouberts |
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Player of the Match:
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Quarter-finals
Maucha vs Paretia
This was the 2nd match between both teams, following a June 2021 Friendly between both teams that saw Paretia defeat Maucha 1-0. The friendly was part of a series of Euclean friendlies intended to test facilities in preparation for the games.
| Maucha | 2-0 | Paretia |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Champania vs Soravia
This was the 10th time both teams met, most recently in the Euclean qualification for the tournament in 2020, that saw Champania defeat Soravia 4-2, and 3-1. Both teams had met in the 2009 Coupe du Monde Group E match, that saw Champania defeat Soravia 2-0. Champania has 6 wins, with Soravia having 3 wins and 1 tie between both teams.
| Champania | 1-1 | Soravia |
|---|---|---|
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| Penalties | ||
| Vancoppenòlle Muarràs Carpentièr RaspienjasEssartier |
5-4 | Čierna's Lyasina Muzkya Iashvili Bebchuk |
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Player of the Match:
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Caldia vs Lavana
The teams had met in 8 previous matches including in the Coupe du Monde, a Round of 16 game in 2013 where Lavana lost 3-5 to the eventual champions, in 2005 a group match saw Caldia win 2-1 in their second group game, they would win that Coupe du Monde as well. In a 2001 friendly Caldia defeated Lavana 12-3, their biggest defeat. Lavana had never defeated Caldia only drawing 3 friendlies in 2004, 2009, and 2018.
Caldia dominated the start of the game with strong attacks led by Mia Baldacci, and Saorla Talmhach which resulted in two goal post shots. In minute 31 Rut Dunaid was unable to finish a shot inside the square, leading to a Baizhan Vidimhe save. At minute 39 a corner by Layla Zibiangego found itself into the feet of Debeniuno Ablaivo who pushed it into the net catching Caitlín Ní Ríain off balance. At minute 43, a free kick was awarded to Rós Anderrsen following a yellow card to Aolani Yeldosoa, the free kick was palmed away by Vidimhe. At minute 51 Ziujebano Siharath found space in a crowded area and drilling in a left-footed strike forced Ní Ríain to palm the ball away, the ball was struck wide by Halia Keobuntala. A minute 73 attack saw Sìneag Sùdrach unable to finish a Maleia Nic Cionnaith pass, two minutes later Baldacci struck a shot over the crossbar from the penalty shot following a deflection off Mhuoganga Thammasith. At the 82nd minute Shara Soulignavong and Siharath connected for a shot to the left of Ní Ríain which just missed wide. At minute 87 Talmhach struck a left-footed shot at Vidimhe, which forced her to make a diving stop to her right.
Lavana's victory represented the first time Lavana defeated Caldia in a match, and was the 2nd time Lavana entered into the top 4, finishing 4th in 2009. The defeat ended the 4 straight Coupe du Monde streak where Caldia finished in the top 4 spots of the tournament. It also represented the first game Caldia had finished scoreless since September 14th 2020, in a Caldia-Rizealand friendly that finished 0-0.
| Caldia | 0-1 | Lavana |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Amathia vs Satavia
This was the first time both teams met in an official match.
| Amathia | 3-5 (a.e.t.) | Satavia |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Semi-finals
Maucha vs Lavana
This was the 3rd time both teams met, most recently in a June 2021 friendly in Nambabi that saw Lavana defeat Maucha 3-1. The match was intended to test Mauchas facilities in preparation for the Coupe du Monde. Lavana has won all 3 friendlies, 1-0 in 2005, and 3-2 in 2017 the latter two in Pers.
Sometimes the score of a game does not translate what was seen on the pitch. Maucha, who was dominant in most of their matches throughout the competition, did not keep the pace up today against Lavana, allowing the Cranes to maintain their momentum. Though Lavana did not have their best start during the group stage, they slowly pieced themselves together and got to even send the Caldians home earlier than everybody expected. Both teams worked hard to arrive in the semi-finals, but only one seemed to play. Fairly enough, Maucha has never been this far in a world cup, and the Lavan team knew how to take advantage of the Bahians' inexperience. Lavana had many attempts, and they ended the game with over 70% ball possession, but the Mauchan defense worked a lot too. Despite Lavanan dominance, the two Mauchan center-backs were of great service, keeping the Cranes from scoring multiple times. As the attackers were constantly neutralized, Lavana counted on defender Thammasith to head the ball in the goal in the 66th minute and put Lavana in the finals of the 2021 Women World Cup! Given the Lavanan offensive inefficiency and the Mauchan defensive performance, Christiane Lexer was elected the best player of the match.
| Maucha | 0-1 | Lavana |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Champania vs Satavia
This was the first time both teams met in an official match.
The representatives of Group A came a long way as the underdogs of the knockout stage but stopped in the semi-finals. Satavia was surprised a lot throughout this competition; they showed persistence and perseverance throughout the competition, resisting tiring comebacks, overtimes, and penalties shootouts. Champania, on the other hand, has been showing since the beginning why they are favorites to win this competition. They controlled matches and won their way up to the semi-finals. The match, however, was a surprise to everybody as Satavian midfielder Brown scored in the 6th minute. The Asterian party would last little, as Vancoppenòlle tied things up in the 10th minute. Things were going head to head until Raspinejas scored in the 18th minute and Penhs in the 25th minute. With the half-time score of 3-1, the Satavian team seemed to feel the stress and tiredness that they accumulated throughout the competition. They could not uphold a good game, and Champania promptly took advantage of that. Carpentièr (twice) and Jarossia sealed the Euclean victory by the score of 6-1, putting them in the finals of the 2021 Women World Cup against Lavana! Due to their resilience showed on the pitch, summed to her attacking prowess now and throughout the competition, the youngster Adelaida Raspienjas was chosen as the player of the match.
| Champania | 6-1 | Satavia |
|---|---|---|
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Player of the Match:
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Third place
Maucha vs Satavia
This was the first time both teams in an official match.
Final
Lavana vs Champania
This is the 17th time both teams have met, most recently a 2020 friendly that drew at 2 in Brigançon. Both teams met in the 2013 Coupe du monde, Group D where Lavana defeated Champania 3-2. Lavana and Champania have played a friendly game between each squad since 2015. Champania has 8 games, to Lavanas 6 with 3 ties.