Preview of all the action on day five at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Argentina, Germany and Brazil amongst six teams in action.
Two-time champions, Germany feature in the headline tie as they face tournament debutants, Morocco in the opening Group H clash, where they will be looking to avoid a shock against the African side looking to emulate their male-counterparts’ antics at the Men’s World Cup last year.
2007 runners-up, Brazil meanwhile meet tournament debutants, Panama in an Americas derby in Group F as they look to make a strong start to their campaign.
Italy meanwhile face Argentina in Group G as both teams look to seize an early initiative in a tough group containing Sweden and South Africa.
Now, here is a preview guide to all three matches on day six of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Group G – Italy vs Argentina
Following their surprise run to the Quarter-Finals in 2019, Italy will be eager to at least escape Group G after suffering an embarrassing Group Stage exit at last summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros, where they just lacked their usual quality but should be favourites to snatch one of the two knockout spots in this group if can raise their game.
Italy will also be buoyant as they enter this tournament with no defeats in their last four matches but their defending simply can’t be any worse than last summer.
Argentina meanwhile are unbeaten in six matches since the turn of this year with a strongly blended mix of youth and experience – worth noting that they even snuck in a penalty shootout friendly against Venezuela, underlining just how serious they are now with just one goal conceded across those six games.
The Argentineans though do have a World Cup hoodoo with no wins in three previous tournaments but if there is a time to end that rot, it is now if they bring their best game and target Italy’s defence so I do expect this to be close but something in me feels like Argentina will have the upper hand.
Prediction: Italy 1-2 Argentina
Result: Italy 1-0 Argentina
Group H – Germany vs Morocco
Considered as one of USA’s most closest challengers, Germany certainly will come into this tournament believing that they can go one step further than at last summer’s UEFA Women’s Euros, which is perfectly achievable given the quality within their squad with players like Lina Magull and Alexandra Popp.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s Germans however haven’t exactly hit their best form so far in 2023 with inconsistent results, especially as they come into this game off the back of a shock 3-2 loss to Zambia underlining that they might not be the challengers that many are expecting.
Morocco meanwhile are an unknown quantity coming into their debut World Cup campaign but having seen their male counter-parts stage a shock run to the last four at last year’s Men’s World Cup, they will be motivated to come out seeking to spring some surprises of their own.
A draw against Germany though does feel like their best bet unless they can take heart and lessons from Zambia and somehow produce their own shock, which I just don’t see happening if Germany can sort out their inconsistency.
Prediction: Germany 2-0 Morocco
Result: Germany 6-0 Morocco
Group F – Brazil vs Panama
2023 Women’s Finalissima runners-up, Brazil are rightly considered amongst the title contenders with a serious blend of youth and experience, alongside a relentlessly solid possession-based style in which they are just as defensively stubborn when out of possession.
Panama on the other hand are making their World Cup bow and this certainly won’t be an easy start by any stretch when they come into this game, especially off the back of conceding 12 goals in their last two games against Spain and Japan respectively who are of similar quality to Brazil.
A 5-4-1 formation also is often Panama’s preferred formation but their defence is going to be absolutely key, especially if want to stop players like Marta and Debinha who are both expected to lead Brazil’s attack otherwise I can see a comfortable result coming.
Prediction: Brazil 3-0 Panama
Result: Brazil 4-0 Panama
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