Australia seem to be fielding 11 players called Sam Kerr if the media is to be believed.
Will be cheering England but my second team are the minnows from the Philippines albeit they seem to have drafted in some Septics and Skippy's Ala Jack Charlton's Ireland.
80,000 expected for the opening Sam Kerr 11 tonight....40,000 for the Kiwis too...not bad. Had to subscribe to Optus to watch all the games....Aussie TV only showing 15 of the 64 games, pretty shit considering they are Co hosts.
Norway look very dodgy at the back. Pace and power of Wilkinson is giving them issues. Should get a couple of better chances if the game carries on in the same way.
Norway's best chance looks like it'll come from a mistake by the New Zealand keeper, not looked convincing at all.
There it is. NZ 1 Norway 0 and a deserved victory. Norway had their chances and were unlucky to hit the crossbar on one occasion. But NZ should have wrapped it up a few minutes from time with a penalty which hit the crossbar. Interesting to watch the intense look of determination on the face of the NZ penalty taker - in contrast to the Norway keeper who was laughing at her.
Great start for the host nation and their first victory in 16 attempts at a World Cup tournament. It was also the first football game in New Zealand -men or women - to be played in front of a crowd over 40,000.
I'm sure this tournament will have the usual proportion of one-sided goal-fests, but for those of us who were worried there might not be any proper underdog wins in the whole thing, game 1 was a reassuring start.
Comments
Norway's best chance looks like it'll come from a mistake by the New Zealand keeper, not looked convincing at all.
Go the Ferns!
Tbf was a matter of time till they got a better chance. Been trying that ball through the channels all game.
Especially on Katie McCabe. She's the poster girl.
I really hope they give a good account of themselves against the Aussies 🙏💚
Huge!
Not impressed by Norway at all. Defensively looked shaky. Midfield were poor and the front 3 offered nothing.
She must be relieved!!
Really good win from NZ!
On 20 July 2023, she scored the opening goal of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, against Norway.[20]
Maybe this bears that out a bit.
Great start for the host nation and their first victory in 16 attempts at a World Cup tournament. It was also the first football game in New Zealand -men or women - to be played in front of a crowd over 40,000.