FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on Optus Sport – It’s day two of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ in Australia and New Zealand and it’s the day after the night before after both of the tournament hosts were in action.
A Sam Kerr-less Matildas got their tournament off to a flyer with a 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland thanks to stand-in captain Steph Catley’s second-half penalty.
In the tournament curtain raiser hours earlier, the Football Ferns stunned Norway to win their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ game with Hannah Wilkinson scoring the only goal of the game.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the second day of action, as well as what you missed from the day before.
What’s on today:
There are three games on Friday, with the other teams in Group A and Group B in action as well as our first look at Group C.
Nigeria vs Canada (12.30pm AEST)
First up on Friday in Melbourne are the reigning Olympic champions Canada against a FIFA Women’s World Cup™ ever-present in Nigeria, who have been at ever single finals.
Canada themselves have only missed one, the first one, and are expected to go deep into the tournament, with their final group game against the Matildas expected to decide who tops the Group B.
Canada will therefore hope to get off to a strong start against the lowest-ranked team in the group with the Super Falcons sitting in 40th place in the FIFA rankings.
They are on a run of three consecutive wins going into the tournament though and managed a 2-2 draw with Friday’s opponents in April 2022.
Speaking on Optus Sport, World Cup winner Jess McDonald said: “Nigeria isn’t going to be an easy team to go through and I think it will be such a good test for Canada going into this tournament. I’m going to go with North America here, the Canada side, over Nigeria.”
Philippines vs Switzerland (3pm AEST)
They may be making only their first appearance at a FIFA World Cup – men’s or women’s – but the Philippines are a lot of people’s dark horses at this tournament and are expected to cause an upset or two, perhaps against Switzerland in Dunedin.
Coached by former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic, they have won five of their last six matches and are coming into the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ on the back of a best-ever performance at the Asian Cup, where they reached the semi-finals.
And they will be hoping to cause a surprise against a Switzerland side that had to rely on a last-gasp, 121st-minute winner in a dramatic playoff victory over Wales to qualify.
That goal from Fabienne Humm was actually the last time the Swiss have won, having failed to win any of their subsequent seven games – five of which have ended all square.
Spain vs Costa Rica (5.30pm AEST)
One of the tournament favourites, Spain, kick off their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ campaign in the final game on Friday in Wellington against Costa Rica.
La Roja are only competing in their third finals, having been eliminated at the group stage in 2015 and the last 16 in France four years later, but are the bookies’ third favourites behind USA and England.
That’s despite their preparations for the tournament being dominated by a protest from 15 of their most prominent players, who signed a letter in September last year calling for head coach Jorge Vilda to be removed over the conditions in the national team setup.
Those 15 made themselves unavailable for selection as the Spanish federation instead backed Vilda.
Some of those players, such as Ona Batlle and Aitana Bonmati have returned for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, but there are still some notable absentees. Spain come into the tournament on the back of thrashing Vietnam 9-0 in their final warm up game and have won all of their last six games.
The game with Costa Rica will be a re-run of their first game of the 2015 tournament, where the two sides drew 1-1, although a repeat result seems unlikely this time around given Costa Rica have lost eight of their last 11 games.
Players to watch
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)
While Nigeria are the underdogs against Canada, if they’re to spring a surprise then it will come through Asisat Oshoala.
The Barcelona striker bagged 21 goals in 28 games in Liga F and five in nine in the Champions League to help her side to the double.
She missed the African Cup of Nations in 2022 as Nigeria exited in the semi-finals but will be back against Canada and could well provide an early shockwave to shake up Group B.
Lia Walti (Switzerland)
There are a number of WSL players on show for Switzerland, with Aston Villa forward Alisha Lehmann one to keep an eye out for.
However, when it comes to the national team, it’s her captain, Arsenal midfielder Lia Walti, who is likely to attract the most attention.
She will be playing in her 99th game for her country against the Philippines and will be crucial in ensuring her side don’t slip up on a potential banana skin in the form of Alen Stajcic’s side.
Alexia Putellas (Spain)
Reigning, back-to-back winner of the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA Best award, Alexia Putellas is widely considered as the best player in the world.
Her star is so high that she won the second of her two Ballon d’Ors while out injured with an ACL rupture on the eve of Euro 2022, causing her to miss the entire tournament.
She only returned to the Spain national team on June 29 after almost a year out, scoring in a 7-0 win over Panama.
She proved her fitness enough to be included in Spain’s squad and is many people’s pick to challenge the likes of Sam Kerr and Alex Morgan for the Golden Boot.
Where to watch
Like every game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™, Nigeria vs Canada, Philippines vs Switzerland and Spain vs Costa Rica will all be shown live and on demand on Optus Sport.
Coverage begins from 11.30am (AEST) on Optus Sport with Nigeria vs Canada, the other two teams in Australia’s group, kicking off at 12.30pm (AEST).
Philippines vs Switzerland (3pm AEST) and Spain vs Costa Rica (5.30pm AEST) will follow on.
Media Release – Optus Sport
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