FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on Optus Sport – It’s day 14 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ in Australia and New Zealand and the football is coming thick and fast.
Yesterday, England and the Netherlands picked up big wins, while the USA and Denmark also confirmed their place in the knockout stages.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 14th day of action, as well as what you missed from the day before.
FROM MATCHDAY 13:
- Vietnam 0 – 7 Netherlands
- Portugal 0 – 0 United States
- China 6 – 1 England
- Haiti 0 – 2 Denmark
What’s on today:
It’s a massive day of football on Optus Sport as we enter the penultimate day of group stage games as we find out the winners of Groups F and G.
Argentina vs Sweden (5pm AEST)
It’s top vs bottom in Group G with already-qualified Sweden looking to cement top spot and earn themselves a more favourable route in the knockout stages.
Sweden are all but already guaranteed top spot given their 10-goal superior goal difference meaning they will face USA.
As for Argentina, they will need to not only upset Sweden, but hope Italy and South Africa draw or South Africa win by a smaller scoreline than they beat Sweden by.
It’s a long shot but we’ve already seen a number of upsets at this FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ so far.
South Africa vs Italy (5pm AEST)
Italy are best placed to finish the night in second place, going into the game with South Africa knowing that a win will guarantee their safe passage to the round of 16.
However, the manner of their 5-0 hammering at the hands of Sweden has put them in a concerning position should they draw as it would give Argentina the chance to leapfrong them given their more superior goal difference.
Should South Africa win, then they can be quietly confident that they will be the ones face Netherlands in the next round.
Panama vs France (8pm AEST)
With just one point separating three teams in Group F, France can’t afford another slip up in this tournament following their opening game draw against Jamaica.
They’re back at the Sydney Football Stadium to right those wrongs on Wednesday night against a team who could be leaving Australia and New Zealand as statistically the worst in the competition.
Given second-placed Jamaica and third-placed Brazil are facing each other, France have the safety net of knowing that a draw will also be enough to send them through, but they may lose top spot in the group if they do so.
But in this group, finishing top is not necessarily an advantage, with Germany now looking like they could finish second in Group H and therefore be lying in wait for the group winners.
Jamaica vs Brazil (8pm AEST)
For Brazil, it’s a must-win game. For Jamaica it’s a must-not-lose.
The Selecao completely blew Panama away in their opening game but a late Wendy Renard header against France turned the group completely upside down and left Brazil in an unwanted position going into the final game.
As for Jamaica, they will have star player Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw back from suspension after her red card in the first game against France and she will be looking to make amends and making up for lost time.
Whoever finishes second in this group will face top spot in Group H, which looks set to be Colombia after their two wins from two.
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Players to watch
Amanda Ilestedt (Sweden)
After scoring a 90th-minute winner in the opening game against South Africa, Amanda Ilestedt followed it up with two goals in the 5-0 romp of Italy last time out.
But what makes that more impressive is that Ilestedt is a central defender. Can she continue her insane goalscoring run against a team ranked 25 places below Sweden in the world rankings?
Wendy Renard (France)
There’s something in the water when it comes to goalscoring centre backs at this tournament, with Wendy Renard scoring an 83rd-minute winner to down Brazil and put France in prime position to qualify.
She will be more important at the other end of the field tonight however, with France knowing a draw will be enough to send them through to the round of 16.
Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)
After getting sent off against France in Jamaica’s first game, Bunny Shaw missed the win over Panama last time out.
She will be desperate to make up for that absence against Brazil and make sure she can take her side into the last 16.
Where to watch
Like every game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Argentina vs Sweden, South Africa vs Italy, Panama vs France and Jamaica vs Brazil will all be shown live and on demand on Optus Sport.
Live coverage begins from 4pm (AEST) on Optus Sport with Argentina vs Sweden on Optus Sport 1, with South Africa vs Italy playing out simultaneously on Optus Sport 2. The coverage on Optus Sport 1 runs through to Jamaica vs Brazil while Panama vs France will air on Optus Sport 2.
Media Release – Optus Sport
Link to Optus Sport HERE
TV Central Optus Sport content HERE
