Ex champions, Japan and Norway collide at Wellington Regional Stadium in Round of 16 at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Japan are looking to avoid a second consecutive exit at this stage of the Women’s World Cup, whilst Norway seek to reach the last eight for a second consecutive Women’s World Cup.
Team News
Japan have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to report but manager, Futoshi Ikeda could again rotate his squad, with Shiori Miyake, Yui Hasegawa and Mina Tanaka amongst those looking for a recall after being rested against Spain.
Norway could be without forward, Ada Hegerberg after she missed their last two matches with a groin injury.
Caroline Graham Hansen meanwhile is looking to retain her spot after scoring against the Philippines, having previously been benched for their goalless draw against Switzerland.
When is Kick-Off?
Japan meet Norway at Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday 5 August at 9am UK Time, live on ITV1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Japan lost their only previous Women’s World Cup meeting against Norway, which came in a 4-0 defeat in Chicago, USA, in the Group Stage of 1999 tournament (L1).
- Norway are meeting Japan in a knockout match for the first time at a World Cup.
- Japan have won six of their last eight meetings against European opposition at a Women’s World Cup (W6, L2).
- Hege Riise’s Norwegians have scored six goals without conceding in their last two matches (W1, D1).
- Japan managed to avoid picking up a single booking across their three group matches.
Prediction
Riding high on confidence as only one of three teams to escape the Group Stage with no goals conceded, Japan certainly have thrown themselves into the title mix with a series of clinically powerful performances.
We also can’t forget that Japan played possession-based football to beat Zambia and Costa Rica yet executed a counter-attacking style with pace to beat Spain, underlining just how technical this team can be tactically which has to be a huge worry for teams in their half of the knockout stages.
Norway on the other hand are lucky to have even scraped through by virtue of goal difference but this game is a major step up in opposition from their 6-0 demolition of the Philippines, so I do worry about their defence which looked fragile against New Zealand and Switzerland.
Hege Riise Norwegians therefore must take heart from that victory and use it as a base to build upon because if they allow Japan to play with pace and technicality, I do feel that this game could end up one-sided unless the Japanese unexpectedly let their performance drop at the wrong moment.
Prediction: Japan 2-0 Norway
Result: Japan 3-1 Norway
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