Spain drew 0-0 with China in Le Havre on Monday, that saw both teams proceed to the last 16 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Spain threatened to take all three points, but China goalkeeper Peng Shimeng – who was also Player of the Match – made some key saves in the last 10 minutes, keeping out a Patri Guijarro strike and then tipping over a Jennifer Hermoso effort.
After the match, Spanish coach Jorge Vilda said: ‘We’re very grateful for all the Spanish fans who came to watch. Of course we’re happy to qualify for the round of 16, we’re continuing to make history. We knew a draw was a possibility, it would’ve been good to have scored but I think today the Chinese goalkeeper was very very good.’
Spain finish in second place with four points and are through to the knockout phase for the first time, while China are relegated to third on goal difference but are already sure to progress as one of the best third-place finishers.
Former winners Germany had no trouble dispensing with South Africa in Montpellier to top the group with the maximum nine points and with no goals conceded.
Spain will play in Reims on 24 June against either the United States or Sweden, while China must wait to find out which group winner they will come up against.
On the prospects of the next game being against the USA, coach Jorge Vilda also said, ‘Playing against [USA] for the first time [earlier this year] made us understand what playing against such fast players with great technique within a well-learned system would mean. This is something we’ve studied. This is a game where any small detail can change things so we’re going to look at what we’ve done and try and correct our mistakes and try to call on our strengths in the run up to the game. So we’ll try and do what we do best.’