Japan, then fourth in the world, was drawn into Group C for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with tournament debutants Ecuador, Switzerland, england shirt and Cameroon. It marked England’s first-ever knockout stage win at a Women’s World Cup and a ticket to the quarterfinals to face host nation Canada. As in Britain, there was cross-code competition with the 1877 AGM eventually voting down a motion to “abolish scrimmages and running with the ball”, new england kit at which stage the popularity of the sport exploded and by 1880 there were 41 clubs in Sydney as well as a burgeoning game in Brisbane. Against England in the semifinals, Nadeshiko Japan was able to survive against the tenacious Lionesses, as the two teams traded goals from the penalty spot (Aya Miyama for Japan, Fara Williams for England).