One of the tournament favourites France were unable to get their World Cup off to a winning start, drawing a feisty and physical match with Jamaica 0-0.

The French, semi-finalists at last year's European Championship, were unable to get their fluent passing game going as the Jamaicans hassled and harried them to earn their first World Cup point after three defeats in their 2019 debut.

France were the better side for much of the game, and especially so in the second half, but despite creating a host of chances, could not find the back of the net.

Forward Kadidiatou Diani almost clinched the winner for France in the 90th minute, but her powerful header hit the bar, then the post, before bouncing out to the delight of the Jamaicans in the crowd of nearly 40,000.

The only dampener on a famous result for Jamaica was the sending off of their talismanic striker Khadija Shaw late in the game for a second bookable offence, meaning she will miss their next match against Panama.

Sweden deny South Africa a famous World Cup point

Sweden denied South Africa a first-ever Women's World Cup point, claiming a 90th-minute winner over the underdogs in Wellington.

Amanda Ilestadt broke South African hearts with her header from Kosovare Asllani's corner just as full-time loomed on Sunday evening.

On a shiver-inducing night, Hildah Magaia stunned the world number-three Swedes with the opening goal, sparking a mini-pitch invasion from the bench for the 54th-ranked South Africans.

Sweden's Fridolina Rolfo — who scored the winner in last month's European Champions League final for Barcelona — equalised on 65 minutes, setting up a frenzied finish.

After Sweden knocked on the door for half an hour, Ilestadt leapt highest for a winner from their 11th corner of the match.

"To concede at the end was a bit cruel, but that's football," South Africa coach Desiree Ellis said.

Arriving at the stadium and dancing and singing their way from the bus to their changing room, South Africa merited a point for their physical and patient counter-attacking play.

The Scandinavians' best chances in the first half came from crosses, with Ilestedt heading corners in quick succession wide and over the goal.

South Africa struck three minutes after the restart when the indefatigable Thembi Kgatlana raced onto a long ball and cut inside to shoot.

Her effort was palmed away by Zecira Musovic into the path of Magaia, who arrived first at speed to knock the ball into an empty net.

Sweden was able to get the equaliser when Rolfo bundled home a cross from Chelsea's Johanna Kaneryd with defender Lebohang Ramalepe all at sea.

From that point, Sweden monopolised possession and repeatedly threatened South Africa's goal.

Kaneryd thought she had blown it when she missed a free header on 88 minutes, with South African goalkeeper Kaylin Swart slipping and the goal at her mercy.

Up stepped Arsenal defender Ilestedt to give the Group G favourites an expected win — but one earned with unexpected hardship.

Coach Peter Gerhardsson admitted Sweden made "too many tactical mistakes" and said there were "significant problems" in the performance, suggesting nerves.

"It's just nice to win," he said.

"We showed now we can turn a match around."

The Netherlands begin World Cup with win over debutants

The Netherlands have made the perfect start to their World Cup, with a 1-0 defeat of Portugal in Dunedin.

Retiring defender Stefanie van der Gragt earned the Dutch victory on Sunday night with a 13th-minute header in the all-European affair.

Under the roof in Dunedin, the Netherlands laboured to a tight defeat of the World Cup first-timers.

Portugal did not have a shot or touch the ball in the Dutch box throughout the first 80 minutes.

This was a routine win with a routine goal, with van der Gragt rising highest from veteran Sherida Spitse's corner to power a header past wrong-footed goalkeeper Ines Pereira.

"Today's game gives me a little goosebumps. Because I'm a match winner and everyone in the team has fought," the 30-year-old van der Gragt said.

"These are very important points. We said in advance that the first game is super important."

While the Dutch goalkeeper had little to do otherwise, Portugal coach Francisco Neto believed his side put in a fine shift.

"In the second half we managed to dominate Netherlands," he said.

"What (my team) did today was of utmost courage, utmost character, to play against the runners-up, the vice champions of the world."

The Netherlands are next in action against two-time reigning champions USA on Thursday in Wellington.

Portugal faces Vietnam in a battle of the Group E minnows and two of the eight first-timers at the tournament.

AAP/ABC

See how the day unfolded in our blog.

FULL-TIME: France 0 - 0 Jamaica

Earlier:

Netherlands 1 - 0 Portugal

Sweden 2 - 1 South Africa

See you tomorrow

Thanks for following along today, three great games, all interesting for different reasons. See you again tomorrow.

FULL-TIME France 0 - 0 Jamaica

Jamaica holds on for a famous draw!

No goals, but a thrilling game to finish the night.

France were pouring forward for much of that second half, but Jamaica somehow held on.

That's their first World Cup point after suffering three losses on debut four years ago.

The big dampener there was the red card for their leader Khadija Shaw, who will now miss their next game against Panama.

90+4' Dali volleys straight to the keeper

France had a heap of bodies in the box but it wouldn't quite fall to anyone. The Dali's effort was directly at Spencer.

90+2' Shaw is sent off! SCENES

She's lunged into Renard near the sideline and gets a yellow, and that's her second of the match. She'll miss the next game.

Such a shame, she's been tremendous.

Probably should have been taken off a little while ago as she was tiring.

90' Diani hits the woodwork!

A close-range header comes down off the crossbar and onto the post. Wow, the best of the many chances she's had.

88' Lakrar heads over

France have another corner and it's delivered to the head of Lakrar. She doesn't make clean contact though and it's over the bar.

6 minutes of added time.

85' Jamaica not far away now

This would be a huge result for them. The wet conditions are probably helping them keep France at bay. But as we saw with Sweden and South Africa earlier, it's not over 'til it's over.

And they've won a corner!

The ball is briefly loose in the box and Shaw has a go at it! Too many bodies in the way.

81' Shaw stays down

She's down again after yet another body clash. This might be the end of the night for her.

76' Le Sommer with the shot!

Some lovely tiki-taka on the edge of the box and Le Sommer shoots on target from a tough angle on the left. Saved.

Titans

Renard and Shaw come together again, with the Jamaican taking her time getting up from this one.

What a battle it's been.

67' Diani misses another great chance

France looking ever more likely to score.

Substitute Bècho sends in a floating cross and Diani can't land the header in the back of the net.

Meanwhile, it's raining very heavily at the Sydney Football Stadium.

62' Shaw still buzzing around

It's mostly France on the ball now, but Shaw is still looking energetic when she gets the chance to attack.

The French players who have been marking her will know about it in their recovery sessions tomorrow.

60' France turning the screws

Some delightful touches around the edge of the area now as Jamaican legs start to tire.

58' Toletti blasts over!

France continues to apply pressure, but when the ball falls to Toletti on the edge of the area she can't control the shot.

53' France playing some nice stuff

They're pinging it around, finding a bit more space in the attacking third. They have another corner but it's cleared by Blackwood.

On the next attack Le Sommer crosses from the byline and Diani gets her head to it! It goes wide from close range.

Le Sommer is on fire.

47' France on the break!

Le Sommer streaks away after a Jamaican corner goes wrong, eventually Majri is fouled but it's in a good spot for France.

Matéo sends it in low, almost to the feet of Le Sommer, but it's away for a corner, which Jamaica deal with.

The second half is underway

Feisty

Three yellow cards in that half alone - the most of any match so far at this World Cup.

HALF-TIME: France 0 - 0 Jamaica

Exciting first half, physical and increasingly free-flowing towards the end.

France were really hitting their straps late in that half, and will start the second half with plenty of confidence.