The gap has truly closed at Women's WC

Hitting the crossbar meant two-time world champions and world No. 2 Germany went home and the upright ensured that world No. 1 and defending champions USA didn't.

- Dhiman Sarkar

Fortunes were that fickle in the ninth Women's World Cup where the round of 16 begins on Saturday.

One where Olympic champions Canada, Copa winners Brazil, and Asia's best team China will have no part in. Where USA will meet Sweden, a team they had lost 0-3 to in the Olympics, in a must-win game. Where Spain, smarting from the 0-4 loss to Japan, will start the knockout round against Switzerland. Where Norway will be in awe of Japan in this clash of former world champions. And Australia and England hoping they are peaking at the right time with Sam Kerr and Kiera Walsh fit. The slick-haired Vlatko Andonovski has not got many things right with his team USA - the midfield has struggled, the attack has been blunt and the press not good enough - but his comment about the gap closing seems prescient in the light of what happened in 48 of the 64 games that have finished.