The Republic of Ireland's behind-closed-doors practice match against Colombia was abandoned after 20 minutes after becoming what the Football Association of Ireland said was "overly physical".

 

It has been reported that midfielder Denise O'Sullivan had to go to hospital for a scan on a shin injury sustained in Friday's game.

 

The FAI said it decided to end the match, which took place in Brisbane's Meakin Park, after consultation with the match officials.

 

The Colombian Football Federation released a statement of its own which said that while the training of its teams was "framed within the rules of the game, healthy competition and fair play", it respected Ireland's decision to abandon the game.

Group Stage Guide:

 

Group A:

New Zealand (Appearances 6) [best: Group Stage 1991, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019]

Norway (Appearances 9) [best: Winners 1995]

Philippines (Debut appearance)

Switzerland (Appearances 2) [best: Last 16 2015]

 

Group B:

Australia (Appearances 8) [best: Quarter-Finals 2007, 2011, 2015)

Republic of Ireland (Debut appearance)

Nigeria (Appearances 9) [best: Quarter-Finals 1999]

Canada (Appearances 8) [best: 4th 2003]

 

Group C:

Spain (Appearances 3) [best: Last 16 2019]

Costa Rica (Appearances 2) [best: Group Stage 2015]

Zambia (Debut appearance)

Japan (Appearances 9) [best: Winners 2011]

 

Group D:

England (Appearances 6) [best: Third 2015]

Haiti (Debut appearance)

Denmark (Appearances 5) [best: Quarter-Finals 1991, 1995]

China (Appearances 8) [best: Runner-Up 1999]

 

Group E:

USA (Appearances 9) [best: Winners 1991, 1999, 2015, 2019]

Vietnam (Debut appearance)

Netherlands (Appearances 3) [best: Runner-Up 2019]

Portugal (Debut appearance)

 

Group F:

France (Appearances 5) [best: 4th 2011]

Jamaica (Appearances 2) [best: Group Stage 2019]

Brazil (Appearances 9) [best: 3rd 1999]

Panama (Debut appearance)

 

Group G:

Sweden (Appearances 9) [best: Runner-Up 2003]

South Africa (Appearances 2) [best: Group Stage 2019]

Italy (Appearances 4) [best: Quarter-Finals 1991, 2019]

Argentina: (Apperances 4) [best: Group Stage 2003, 2007, 2019]

 

Group H:

Germany (Appearances 9) [best: Winners 2003, 2007]

Morocco (Debut appearance)

Colombia (Appearances 3) [best: Last 16 2015]

South Korea (Appearances 4) [best: Last 16 2015]

 

Odds: (Coral)

 

USA 5-2f

Spain 9-2

England 19-4

Germany 15-2

Australia 10-1

France 12-1

Sweden 20-1

Brazil 28-1

Japan 28-1

Netherlands 33-1

Canada 45-1

Norway 50-1

Denmark 66-1

Italy 66-1

Portugal 100-1

Colombia 125-1

New Zealand 125-1

South Korea 125-1

Republic of Ireland 150-1

Switzerland 150-1

Argentina 200-1

China 200-1

Nigeria 250-1

Haiti 300-1

Jamaica 300-1

Morocco 300-1

South Africa 300-1

Costa Rica 400-1

Zambia 400-1

Panama 500-1

Philippines 750-1

Vietnam 750-1

 

England defender Lucy Bronze says the squad feels "empowered" to improve standards in the women's game.

 

The Lionesses released a statement on Tuesday saying they will pause discussions with the FA on performance-related bonuses until after this summer's Women's World Cup.

 

Some nations are set to provide player bonuses but England, who won Euro 2022 last summer, will not as things stand.

 

"It's the first time as a group we sent a message out ourselves," said Bronze.

The VAR at the tournament will have the spoken explanations broadcast in the stadium and on television as part of a year-long trial of the technique intended to give more transparency to often-controversial decisions

Finally got round to making a banner for this :magic: Tournament is going well so far I think!