Japan, Australia and China PR all progressed from difficult groups to advance to the Round of 16, where the trio – who finished as the top three sides in last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup – will push for greater honours on the game’s biggest stage.

Despite their historic win, Chile fell agonisingly short of the three-goal win they needed to advance to the knockout stage, with Francisca Lara missing an 86th minute penalty which would have seen them advance if successful.

The Nadeshiko don’t yet know whether they’ll meet Canada or the Netherlands in Tuesday’s Round of 16 clash in Rennes, but, according to Takakura, it will make little difference to their prospects of success of France unless they can produce better performances.

“If we maintain the way we are playing at the moment, we will be knocked out in the next round,” she said. “Our players are aware of that.”

England made eight changes to the side that beat Argentina 1-0 last Friday, but a brace from Ellen White meant the Nadeshiko finished the first part of their campaign as Group D runners-up.

Asako Takakura’s side will now meet either the Netherlands or Canada in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, after Scotland and Argentina drew 3-3 in the other Group D match.

The prolific 25-year-old was stunning in Australia’s 4-1 win over the Reggae Girlz, scoring two headers in the first-half, before finding the back of the net twice more with her left foot after the break.

In doing so, Kerr not only joined United States forward Alex Morgan, with five goals, on the top of the tournament’s scoring charts but became the first Australian player to score a World Cup hat-trick.

She is also the first player, man or woman, from any AFC nation to hit the back of the net four times in a senior World Cup match.

The Steel Roses survived 23 Spanish shots at goal, with goalkeeper Peng Shimeng turning in a Player of the Match performance to take her side to the Round of 16 with a 0-0 draw against Spain.

With over 40 years of experience in the game, and not having a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve, Jia surprised many - including his star 21-year-old shot-stopper - by showing his emotions after the final whistle.

Yoon Duk-yeo’s side conceded penalties at the beginning of each half, overshadowing a spirited overall display which produced 23 shots at goal to eight, with Yeo Min-ji netting her side’s first goal of the tournament.

Norway’s win takes them through to the knockout stage as Group A runners-up, while France’s 1-0 win over Nigeria in their match, held simultaneously in Rennes, confirmed the hosts as group winners.