Group A at the Women’s World Cup looks a tight one with no stand-out favourite, though Norway will also be hard to beat and have several players who have featured at the highest level of the global game.
GROUP A FIXTURES (times are SAST)
20 July New Zealand v Norway 09:00
21 July Philippines v Switzerland 07:00
25 July New Zealand v Philippines 07:30
25 July Switzerland v Norway 10:00
30 July Switzerland v New Zealand 09:00
30 July Norway v Philippines 09:00
Fifa WOMEN’S RANKINGS
12 – Norway
20 – Switzerland
26 – New Zealand
46 – Philippines
GROUP SUMMARY
Co-hosts New Zealand will feel they have a real shot at advancing with just about the best group they could have hoped for, though they have not been in the greatest of form themselves of late.
They were always going to get a couple of big guns, but to have only one team in the top 19 in the world in their pool is a good result.
New Zealand got a much-needed 2-0 friendly win over Vietnam this week, ending a run of 10 games without victory. Quite incredibly, it was New Zealand’s first win on home soil in 12 years.
“Seeing how we played and having this winning result is very helpful with our confidence to go further and be more prepared for our first game at the World Cup,” coach Jitka Klimková said.
“The first half was an incredible performance, a lot of good combination play, things which we were working on.
“And I’m so happy that we scored and that we actually kept the clean sheet. Those are two things that we were working the most on, to be more efficient in front of our goal in attack and be gritty in front of our goal defensively.”
Norway, with their prolific striker Ada Hegerberg, are the real danger, but Switzerland will be a tricky opponent and are ranked six places above the Kiwis.
"I think the most important thing is to be tactically prepared, that each player knows their role very clearly ... and that we use the qualities we have," Hegerberg said.
"We will have to be very disciplined in the way we want to play, defensively and offensively. Once again, it's about being prepared, and clearly if we feel we've prepared well we will take that with us into the first game.
"We have to go into this with a strong collective feeling that we belong here, that we are in a position that we want to show a strong face to those that follow us, especially Norwegians, and really work very hard, nothing is for free."
Philippines are making their debut and not expected to offer much resistance, so with the Norwegians expected to advance, it could come down to New Zealand’s game with the Swiss on July 30 to decide second place.
THE SQUADS
NEW ZEALAND
Goalkeepers: Victoria Essen (Rangers), Anna Leat (Aston Villa), Erin Nayler (IFK Norrkoping)
Defenders: Liz Anton (Perth Glory), CJ Bott (Leicester City), Katie Bowen (unattached), Claudia Bunge (Melbourne Victory), Michaela Foster (unattached), Ali Riley (Angel City), Rebekah Stott (Brighton & Hove Albion), Daisy Cleverley (HB Koge)
Midfielders: Olivia Chance (Celtic), Betsy Hassett (Stjarnan), Annalie Longo (unattached), Ria Percival (Tottenham Hotspur), Malia Steinmetz (unattached)
Forwards: Milly Clegg (unattached), Jacqui Hand (Aland United), Grace Jale (unattached), Hannah Wilkinson (Melbourne City), Gabi Rennie (Arizona State University), Indiah-Paige Riley (unattached), Paige Satchell (unattached)
NORWAY
Goalkeepers: Cecilie Fiskerstrand (LSK Kvinner), Guro Pettersen (Vålerenga), Aurora Mikalsen (Brann)
Defenders: Anja Sønstevold (Inter Milan), Tuva Hansen (Bayern Munich), Guro Bergsvand (Brighton), Maren Mjelde (Chelsea), Thea Bjelde (Vålerenga), Mathilde Harviken (Rosenborg), Sara Hørte (Rosenborg), Marit Bratberg Lund (Brann)
Midfielders: Ingrid Syrstad Engen (FC Barcelona), Vilde Bøe Risa (Manchester United), Guro Reiten (Chelsea), Frida Maanum (Arsenal), Amalie Eikeland (Reading), Julie Blakstad (Manchester City), Emilie Haavi (Roma)
Forwards: Ada Hegerberg (Lyon), Sophie Roman Haug (Roma), Karina Sævik (Vålerenga), Anna Jøsendal (Rosenborg)
PHILLIPINES
Goalkeepers: Olivia McDaniel (Milwaukee Panthers, Kiara Fontanilla (Central Coast Mariners), Kaiya Jota (Stanford Cardinal), Inna Palacios (Kaya Illoilo)
Defenders: Maya Alcantara (Georgetown Hoyas), Alicia Barker (Pacific Northwest), Angela Beard (Western Union), Reina Bonta (Santos), Malea Cesar (Blacktown City), Jessika Cowart (IFK Kalmar), Sofia Harrison (Werder Bremen), Hali Long (Kaya–Iloilo, Dominique Randle (Por/KA)
Midfielders: Tahnai Annis (Por/KA), Eva Madarang (Blacktown Spartans), Ryley Bugay (Saarbrucken), Anicka Castañeda (Mt Druitt Town Rangers), Sara Eggesvik (Norway KIL/Hemne), Kaya Hawkinson (Central Coast Mariners), Jessica Miclat (Eskilstuna United), Carleigh Frilles (Blacktown Spartans), Isabella Pasion (Lebanon Trail High School), Jaclyn Sawicki (Western United)
Forwards: Katrina Guillou (Pitea IF), Sarina Bolden (Western Sydney Wanderers), Isabella Flanigan (West Virginia Mountaineers), Chandler McDaniel (Milwaukee Panthers), Quinley Quezada (Red Star Belgrade), Meryll Serrano (Stabaek)
SWITZERLAND
Goalkeepers: Seraina Friedli (Zurich), Livia Peng (Levante), Gaëlle Thalmann (Real Betis)
Defenders: Eseosa Aigbogun (Paris FC), Luana Bühler (Hoffenheim), Viola Calligaris (Levante), Laura Felber (Servette), Noelle Maritz (Arsenal), Lara Marti (Bayer Leverkusen), Nadine Riesen (Zurich), Julia Stierli (Zurich)
Midfielders: Iman Beney (Young Boys), Sandrine Mauron (Servette), Seraina Piubel (Zurich), Géraldine Reuteler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marion Rey (Zurich), Coumba Sow (Servette), Lia Wälti (Arsenal)
Forwards: Ramona Bachmann, (Paris Saint-Germain), Ana Maria Crnogorcevic (Barcelona), Fabienne Humm (Zurich), Alisha Lehmann (Aston Villa), Meriame Terchoun (Dijon)