The opening match in New Zealand, the Australians entering… Matches on the program for Thursday

The beginning of a month of football on the oceanic continent. The 2023 World Cup begins on Thursday, July 20, with two opening matches for the two host countries of the competition. If the official opener is given to New Zealand, who challenge Norway, attention will at least be focused on Sydney, where the Matildas host Ireland.

9 am: New Zealand – Norway (France 2)

Auckland’s Eden Park goes into football mode. The All Blacks’ usual den will host the first poster match between New Zealand and Norway, favorites in this Group A. Although this is their sixth participation in the World Cup, the Football Ferns team is still searching for the first crown in the competition.

On the other hand, I’m not sure that Lyonnaise’s partners Ada Hegerberg, who was absent from the recent 2019 World Cup due to the boycott, do not hear it that way. The Scandinavian countries, which reached the quarter-finals in France, must get rid of the insult caused by their exit from the group stage in the last European Championship, with a harsh 8-0 defeat against England.

12 noon: Australia-Ireland (W9)

In Group B, Australia should negotiate a good start to the tournament against the Irish. Before the confrontation, all signs were green for the Citizens, supported by their recent victory over the French team (1-0), which defeated Ireland at the beginning of July (3-0). Sam Kerr’s Matildas will also be able to count on a large audience committed to their cause.

In the face of great demand, the organizers moved the meeting to Allianz Stadium, where Sydney From 42,500 seats, to Stadium Australia, a stadium that can accommodate up to 80,000 people, where the final will be played in a month.

It should be noted that the Irish national team His last preparatory match against Colombia was stopped after twenty-three minutes last Friday, after the match had begun “Very rough”. Midfielder Dennis O’Sullivan suffered a notable injury to his leg.