Women's World Cup 2023: Top Storylines, Updated Bracket for Round of 16

Captain Sam Kerr made her first appearance for Australia in this World Cup, returning to the pitch Monday in the host country's victory over Denmark.

The Matildas played defense, countering the attack of their opponents and shutting them out in what amounted to a statement win for a team that is growing and evolving with every match. They know how and are willing to adapt their style of play to counter that of their opponent and it has earned them a trip to the quarterfinals.

Australia's victory was one of two impressive showings Monday.

Find out the final scores of those matches and the predictions for Tuesday's final two Round of 16 games with this look at the top storylines to watch.

Latest Scores, Predictions for Remaining Round of 16 Matches

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Khadija Shaw of Jamaica celebrates at the full time whistle during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group F match between Jamaica and Brazil at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on August 02, 2023 in Melbourne / Naarm, Australia. (Photo by Alex Pantling - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Scores for Monday, August 7

England def. Nigeria (0-0; 4-2 penalties)

Australia vs. Denmark

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Predictions for Tuesday, August 8

Colombia vs. Jamaica (4:00 a.m., prediction: Jamaica)

France vs. Morocco (7:00 a.m., prediction: France)

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All games broadcasting on FS1 and streaming at FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app.

Click here for the up-to-date bracket

England Advances With Grueling Win

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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 07: Chloe Kelly of England celebrates scoring her team's fifth and winning penalty in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Round of 16 match between England and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium on August 07, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Like the United States, England's World Cup aspirations came down to penalty kicks.

The different between the Lionesses and the Stars and Stripes?

They put the ball in the net enough times to advance to the quarterfinals, out-shooting Nigeria 4-2.

More impressive was the fact that England even made it to the penalty kick phase after star Lauren James was dealt a red card for stepping on the back of Nigeria's Michelle Alozie.

This left the team with just 10 players through extra time, the hopes of a nation and its desire to win its first World Cup in 57 years on their outnumbered shoulders.

It was a gritty, grueling performance by a team with high expectations of themselves and a physical style of play. It was also proof that they can overcome adversity, something that is typically in ample supply in a tournament of this magnitude.

The team will play the winner of Colombia and Jamaica this Saturday, with a date to the semifinals at stake.

Morocco's Makes World Cup History

Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Fatima Gharbi and Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Morocco enters Tuesday's match with France already having accomplished a feat no one expected them to: advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup in their first appearance.

They were also the first Arab or North African team to even qualify for the World Cup, let alone advance to the round of 16.

Their improbably run is an inspirational one and something young women in Morocco and its surrounding countries will use to fuel their futures in the sport, an accomplishment in and of itself that is as meaningful as actually winning the World Cup.

The team will struggle mightily to make it to the quarterfinals, though, as France is a top-five team and one that has put up eight goals in three matches and looked every bit their world ranking thus far.

That does not mean the superior team, at least on paper, is taking its opponent lightly.

"We are favorites and we won't hide from it, we came here with a lot of ambition, and that won't change because we play Morocco. We approach every game the same way, we want to win. We have more experience than Morocco in this kind of tournament, it is their first World Cup, their first round of 16. So it is up to us to bring the best from ourselves to win this match," France's leading scorer Eugenie Le Sommer said of Tuesday's match.

The ambition could be the difference in the match, but not in a positive way.

Les Bleus know there are lofty expectations for them in this tournament and will play with that in mind. The Atlas Lions have played looser, freer, knowing that there were zero expectations of them outside of their locker room.

They do not know pressure. They do not feed off the idea of presupposition. They just play the game and have been able to turn that into one of the great underdog stories of this World Cup.

That has been an attribute to the team to this point.

Whether it remains that way, or even matters against a team as purely talented as France, remains to be seen.