Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold surely won a legion of fans with her steely-eyed heroics in Saturday's quarter-final penalty shootout victory at the Women's World Cup.

England fought back from a goal down to beat Colombia 2-1 on Saturday in a bruising encounter and set up a tasty Women's World Cup semi-final with Australia.

Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold saved three French penalties and missed one herself in a dramatic shootout, with Cortnee Vine stepping up to convert the decisive spot-kick and send Australia into a semi-final against England or Colombia

Amanda Ilestedt scored her fourth goal of the tournament and Filippa Angeldal netted a penalty as Sweden hung on to beat Japan 2-1 on Friday and set up a Women's World Cup semi-final with Spain.

Teenager Salma Paralluelo hit an extra-time winner as Spain beat the Netherlands 2-1 at the Women's World Cup on Friday to set up a semi-final clash with Japan or Sweden.

England forward Lauren James received a two-match ban from FIFA on Thursday for the stamp on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie that earned her a red card in the Women's World Cup last 16.

England forward Lauren James apologised on Tuesday for the stamp on Nigeria's Michelle Alozie that earned her a red card in the Women's World Cup last 16.

The captain's 51st-minute strike sent Colombian fans into delirium at a packed Melbourne Rectangular Stadium and ensured they will battle England for a place in the last four

Sam Kerr came off the bench as Australia surged into the Women's World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark in front of nearly 76,000 fans in Sydney on Monday.

Megan Rapinoe did not get the Women's World Cup farewell she wanted on Sunday, a penalty that sailed over the crossbar the last international play by one of the United States' most decorated players.

Aitana Bonmati played a starring role with a brace and two assists as Spain crushed Switzerland 5-1 at Eden Park on Saturday to march into the quarter-finals of the Women's World Cup for the first time in their history.

Zambia's football association on Friday expressed "surprise" at claims its women's coach abused a squad member at the current World Cup, after FIFA launched an investigation into what it called an "allegation of misconduct".

Australia is interested in holding the men's World Cup in 2034, football's governing body in the country said Friday, as it looks to build off the momentum of hosting the women's version.

Marta said Brazil's Women's World Cup exit at the group stage Wednesday was "not even in my worst nightmares" as the legendary attacker bid a heartbreaking farewell to the tournament.

England will hope to have far less trouble when the European champions look to get the draw they need against China to reach the knockouts as Group D winners

The Japanese delivered a lesson in clinical counter-attacking and led 3-0 at half-time to issue a World Cup warning against one of the title contenders

Skipper Alexandra Popp thought she had rescued a point for Germany as she held her nerve to score from the spot on 89 minutes

Colombian forward Linda Caicedo has already survived cancer, earned a move to Real Madrid and scored for her country at the Women's World Cup.

In front of 49,156 fans in Brisbane the Matildas missed a golden chance to reach the last 16 and instead now face a must-win final group game against Canada

The most highly-anticipated game of the tournament's group phase was vastly different to the decider four years ago in France, which the US won comfortably 2-0 to retain their title