Women's World Cup Groups 2015: Updated Standings and Tables After Sunday Matches

In stark contrast to the nervy 1-0 wins enjoyed by host nation Canada and the Netherlands over China and New Zealand, respectively, on Saturday, Day 2 of the 2015 Women's World Cup served up a pair of lopsided contests to round out the first weekend of tournament play.

In the day's first game, Norway scored three first-half goals en route to a 4-0 win over Thailand. Germany upstaged the Norwegians at the Ivory Coast's expense, with six players combining to score five goals on either side of halftime in a 10-0 win. 

The Women's World Cup action picks up on Monday, with four games played each day through June 17 to take care of the group stage. Sweden takes on Nigeria, Cameroon battles Ecuador, USA clashes with Australia and Japan meets Switzerland in Monday's action. 

It's early, but here's a look at the updated table after Sunday, followed by a closer look at the day's two contests. 

Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Canada	1	1	0	0	1	3
Netherlands	1	1	0	0	1	3
China	1	0	0	1	-1	0
New Zealand	1	0	0	1	-1	0
	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Germany	1	1	0	0	10	3
Norway	1	1	0	0	4	3
Thailand	1	0	0	1	-4	0
Cote D'Ivoire	1	0	0	1	-10	0
	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Japan	0	0	0	0	0	0
Switzerland	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cameroon	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ecuador	0	0	0	0	0	0
	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
United States	0	0	0	0	0	0
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sweden	0	0	0	0	0	0
Nigeria	0	0	0	0	0	0
	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	0
South Korea	0	0	0	0	0	0
Spain	0	0	0	0	0	0
Costa Rica	0	0	0	0	0	0
	P	W	D	L	GD	PTS
France	0	0	0	0	0	0
England	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colombia	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0

Sunday Results

Norway 4, Thailand 0

Thailand received a brutal introduction to top-tier soccer in its first-ever World Cup game. Trine Ronning scored 15 minutes on, Isabell Herlovsen notched a brace before halftime and striker Ada Hegerberg added another goal in the second half to create the final scoreline. 

ESPN's Paul Carr noted the unusual nature of Ronning's opener: 

Herlovsen's second goal led to an early front-runner for best, silliest goal celebration, via SportsCenter: 

Fox Sports' Jerry Trecker laid out some of the advantages the Norwegians enjoyed throughout the contest:

"

Not only did Norway have a height advantage across the field, they also were considerably faster with the ball at their feet which allowed them to isolate Thai defenders for numerous first half one-on-one attacks which created space for crosses and supporting runs. The winners did not often bother to use their height in the penalty area, preferring to keep the ball on the artificial surface rather than relying upon high crosses to create openings.

"

Keeping control of the ball through midfield and the attacking third proved to be a sound, successful strategy for Norway. It kept 65 percent of possession and managed 25 shot attempts to Thailand's seven.

It's a dream start for Norway, who couldn't navigate its way out of the group stages in 2011. Norway faces a much tougher test on Thursday when it plays Germany. Head coach Even Pellerud is aware of the challenge the Germans present.

"The first game of the tournament is always nerve-wracking. We are happy to have three points, but we have to improve aspects of our play against other teams. We're ready for the game against Germany on Thursday," he said, per FIFA.com.

Thailand goes on to play Ivory Coast on Thursday, a game that appears winnable for the World Cup rookies, although neither side looks likely to make it out of the group stage after poor performances Sunday.

Germany 10, Ivory Coast 0

It took only until the third minute of play for 26-year-old Celia Sasic to score the first goal of her record-breaking hat trick and start off Germany's thrashing of a ridiculously overmatched Ivory Coast side.

Sasic scored again in the 14th minute, and just two minutes after attacking midfielder Anja Mittag popped in her first goal, she put another one in the back of the net for the quickest hat trick in Women's World Cup history, per ESPN Stats & Info:

And that was only the first hat trick of the game for the Germans. Mittag scored in the 35th and 64th minutes to complete her own treble of goals, and despite not setting any major record, she was named player of the match, per the tournament's official Twitter account: 

It's the most one-sided scoreline in Women's World Cup play since—surprise, surprise—Germany thrashed Argentina 11-0 to open the 2007 edition of the Cup, one that the Germans eventually won by defeating Brazil in the final. 

Simone Laudehr, Sara Dabritz, Melanie Behringer and Alexandra Popp each scored a lone second-half goal to complete the destruction.

Few should be surprised at Germany's prodigious output. Deadspin's Billy Haisley noted this team is made up of several members of the 2013 Women's Euro-winning side:

"

That squad forms the backbone of Germany’s World Cup roster. The young players are coming into their prime, and spent the intervening two years sharpening their skills in the Frauen-Bundesliga, probably the best women’s club league in the world. Seventeen members of the World Cup roster were on the Euro-winning squad, meaning that Germany have essentially kept the same team together for three years.

"

Haisley does go on to note that 2014 FIFA World Player of the Year Nadine Kessler, Fatmire Alushi and Luisa Wensing aren't on the squad, but that doesn't seem to be an issue for this squad, at least not after the first 90 minutes of play.

The German contingent should be ecstatic with this result, as it sent a clear, ominous message that should reach well beyond Group C. The likes of the United States, Sweden and defending champion Japan all have a chance to impress on Monday, but it seems that Germany has set an impossibly high standard for opening games and is indeed a threat to win the whole thing.


Match stats courtesy of FIFA.com unless otherwise noted.