New Zealand rolls in before Australia is sold out

The Women’s World Cup kicks off Thursday in Oceania with New Zealand-Norway (9:00am) and then Australia-Ireland (12:00pm), an action-packed day for hosts in Auckland and Sydney with two crowd records expected, although Concerns about filling stadiums in the archipelago.

The month of competition has kicked off at Eden Park, the legendary temple of rugby and the All Blacks, but it may not be full: 37,000 spectators are expected to fit into 43,000 places in FIFA’s make-up.

While Sydney’s Australian stadium will be full (more than 75,000 fans), the international body is trying to address low ticket sales for the 29 matches scheduled in the Oceania archipelago.

“It’s not too late, we need you, come and see the matches,” President Gianni Infantino opened Wednesday in Auckland to New Zealand reporters, during the World Launch press conference (July 20-August 20).

New Zealand, far from being the land of soccer, will host all group matches of the United States, two-time world champions. But only 320,000 tickets were sold in the country out of a total of 1.375 million tickets sold, less than a quarter.

Goal: win a match

On Thursdays in front of their fans, the “Fern Football” can go down in history: they have never won a match in the final stage of a World Cup and, therefore, have never made it through the first round. But we hope to change that from the match against Norway, champions in 1995.

Their best result was in 2012 at the London Olympics, when they reached the quarter-finals.

“Hopefully this time we achieve our goal of winning the World Cup and do it at home, which will make it the best match of my career,” captain Ali Riley said on Wednesday. “It is an opportunity for sports culture, to inspire young people.”

In the face of Norway, the great favorite and led by the first Ballon d’Or in history, Ada Hegerberg, 28, and Barcelona midfielder Caroline Graham Hansen, Czech players Jitka Klimkova will have to adjust the statistics.

“This is an opportunity for this country not only to be a rugby country, but to reawaken their passion for football,” said the Kiwi coach.

On the other hand, Norway is considered one of the greatest historical countries in women’s football, but they have left a mark in recent years, with the quarter-final loss against England (3-0) in 2019, and above all the defeat of the Hens during the last Euro against the same English ( 8-0).

Later in the day, 29-year-old Australian Matildas, famous captain Sam Kerr, will meet Ireland’s Arsenal striker Katie McCabe.

– Matildas on a mission –

The goal: to launch the pageant as much as possible, which could be historic for yellow and green, worn by an entire country. The Holy Union will be measured on Thursday, but it really took shape last Friday against France (1-0) during the last preparatory match.

If the Australians want to go far in the World Cup, they will necessarily have to rely on Kerr, the Chelsea striker and star of Australia.

It was already necessary against France, and its depth raised concerns for Wendie Renard and the tri-colour defence.

“We are very confident, but what is important for us is the first match. At the moment we are playing this match without thinking about anything else, so it is our final match at this stage,” she said in a press conference on Wednesday.

And she continued, “I think everyone is looking forward to it rather than worrying about the crowds. Everyone knows they are on our side.”

At the last World Cup, where Australia was knocked out by Norway in the round of 16 on penalties, she scored five goals. His stats are equally impressive this season with the Blues, 29 goals in 38 matches.

After several defeats last year, Australia have enjoyed a seven-match winning streak since October, including victories over Denmark, Sweden and Spain. Despite the loss in April to Scotland, which marred the schedule, Matilda then beat England, European champions.

Their best World Cup result dates back to 2015 with a quarter-final, as it did in 2011 and 2007.