The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Group A round will come to an end with a final match between Norway Women and Philippines Women on Sunday at Eden Park.
With one point from their first two matches, Norway sit in third place in Group A. The Philippines, on the other hand, have picked up maximum points from their second two matches.
Norway come into the tournament with the believe that they can easily qualify to the knockout round and they would have been expected to make it out of Group A. Instead, they are staring at an early exit after losing their first game and drawing second one. On Matchday 1, they were defeated 1-0 by tournament co-host New Zealand, while in Matchday 2, they were held to a 0-0 draw with Switzerland.
Match Preview
The former world champions were heavily tipped to win this group, but a poor start has left them on the brink of elimination for the second time in three group-stage games. The Philippines need to win to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages, while anything less than a win will see them exit the tournament.
The Filipinas have had a mixed bag of emotions throughout the Mundial. This is their first time at the World Cup, and they also defied expectations to beat New Zealand. Norway will need to win this match, while also hoping for favorable results elsewhere.
Norway vs Philippines Head to Head
- This is the first time the two teams will meet
- Norway are winless in their last six games, which is their worst losing streak in 10 years.
- The Philippines have only scored more than one goal in 1 of their last 5 games.
- Norway has not scored after the 60th minute of any of their last 8 World Cup matches.
- Norway have only lost their last World Cup group stage match once in the last 8 tournaments, in 2011, and that was the only time they did not progress from the group phase.
- Eight of the Philippines’ last nine games have not been won by either team.
This it it 💥 Kom igjen, Norge 🇳🇴
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) July 29, 2023
Se kampen på TV3/Viaplay. #FIFAWWC #sterkeresammen pic.twitter.com/hpTRLI7pAG
Norway vs Philippines Predictions
We are tipping Hege Riise’s team to claim a narrow victory, with a clean sheet too.
Prediction : Norway 1-0 Philippines
Starting Lineups
Norway Women probable starting lineup:
Mikalsen; Bjelde, Mjelde, Harviken, Hansen; Maanum, Boe Risa, Reiten; Graham Hansen, Haavi, Eikeland
Philippines Women probable starting lineup:
McDaniel; Barker, Long, Beard, Harrison; Sawicki, Cowart, Eggesvik, Quezada; Bolden, Guillou