Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence, Sandy Baltimore, Eve Perisset, Mayra Ramirez, Sjoeke Nusken and Maika Hamano were in action for their respective countries as the group stage matches kicked-off across France.

In Group A, Lawrence and Buchanan - who was making her 150th appearance - started as Canada began the defence of their gold medal with a 2-1 win over New Zealand in Saint-Etienne.

The Blues duo found themselves 1-0 down when the Football Ferns took the lead after only 13 minutes, however, the game was level at the break with Canada equalising on the stroke of half-time.

Lawrence helped set up the leveler with our defender playing a smart one-two with former Chelsea midfielder Jessie Fleming, before the former released the ball to Nichelle Prince, who found goal scorer Cloe Lacasse.

Canada completed the comeback in the 79th minute when Fleming played a sweeping through pass forward to Evelyne Viens, who buried the ball into the bottom corner from a tight angle inside the box.

French duo Baltimore and Perisset, who were both named on the bench, claimed bragging rights in the battle of the Blues in the other Group A clash as the Olympic hosts beat Mayra Ramirez's Colombia 3-2 in Lyon.

Three first-half goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto (2) and Kenza Dali had France in control at the interval.

However, it was a more even second half. Chelsea striker Ramirez won a penalty in the 52nd minute after being brought down by French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin. Catalina Usme converted the spot-kick and pulled a goal back for Colombia, before substitute Manuela Pavi made it 3-2 soon after.

In the 70th minute, Baltimore came on from France as part of a double change. But, as one Blue entered the pitch, one would soon leave it as Ramirez was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a challenge on Selma Bacha.

The results in Group A have France sitting at the top with three points, Canada in second, Colombia in third and New Zealand in fourth.

In Marseille, Nusken made her Olympics debut as she started and played the first-half for Germany in their Group B opening win against Australia.

The Germans took the lead after 24 minutes, with Marina Hegering finding the back of the net with a header. Two quickfire goals just after the hour mark, from Lea Schuller and Jule Brand, saw Germany claim a 3-0 victory.

After one game, Nusken and her compatriots are top of Group B, level on points with the USA who beat Zambia 3-0 in their first competitive fixture under former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes. The Matildas are third, while Zambia sit bottom.

In Group C, Hamano was named on the substitutes bench for Japan as they took on reigning world champions Spain in Nantes.

Our forward was introduced at half-time with the score level at 1-1. Japan had taken the lead through Aoba Fujino after 13 minutes, before Aitana Bonmati equalised for Spain less than 10 minutes later.

It would finish 2-1 to Spain after Mariona Caldentey put them ahead with a strike inside the box in the 74th minute.

The defeat leaves Japan sitting third in their group, level on zero points with fourth-placed Nigeria, who were defeated 1-0 by Brazil. Spain are first and Brazil are second, both with three points.

The second round of group stage matches take place on Sunday, 28 July - and these are the fixtures with Blues in action:

Group A

New Zealand v Colombia (KO 4pm)

France v Canada (KO 8pm)

Group B

USA v Germany (KO 8pm)

Group C

Brazil v Japan (KO 4pm)

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