Group A: New Zealand | Norway | Philippines | Switzerland

Group A chat in here

Although Norway's forward line of Hegerberg and Hansen is one of the best in the world, there is some hope for the Ferns in that defensively, they are not so world class.
Norway have conceded 27 goals in their last 14 games.
This year, Norway's record is: W: 1 D: 2 L: 2
Goals for: 6  Goals against: 9
And the sole victory came against lowly Uruguay ranked 64th in the world.
In their last 14 games from July last year:
P: 14 W: 5 D: 3 L: 6
Goals for: 21   Goals against: 27
The new coach Riise appointed August last year, has been concentrating on shoring up the defence:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/04/womens-world-cup-2023-team-guides-part-two-norway
"In came Hege Riise and a more cynical approach, where defensive stability is the key to success in a 4-3-3 or 5-4-1.
“We have to acknowledge where we stand at the moment and work from that,” Riise said upon being appointed in August. She did not have the best of starts, it is fair to say. The day after her first squad selection, Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen announced she would take a break from international duty due to fatigue. Just weeks later another of the team’s superstars, Ada Hegerberg, got injured for seven months. The captain, Maren Mjelde, and Barça’s Ingrid Syrstad Engen have also been out for spells, but all four are back for the World Cup.

The Guardian, UK's guide to the teams in Group A:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/women-s-world-cup-2023--guardian-experts--network?page=2

Phillip Rollo @ByPhillipRollo

The Football Ferns' Group A opponents the Philippines were thumped 5-1 by Sweden in their final warm-up game, in *Upper Hutt*. Stina Blackstenius scored a hat-trick for Sweden.

Predicting the group results
NZ 0-2 Norway - Norway have too much quality and we'll suffer opening night nerves
Philippines 0-4 Switzerland - Switzerland have some great attacking players and Philippines are real minnows
NZ 2-0 Philippines - NZ will dominate ala the Vietnam game, 1-0 at HT then a second half goal to settle it
Switzerland 1-1 Norway - Two similar European sides, think the Swiss get a draw out of it
Switzerland 1-1 NZ - NZ will need to win, will come from 1-0 down to equalise and attack them desperately last 20 mins, but Swiss hold on for draw.
Norway 2-0 Philippines - Norway will rotate and Philippines will be determined to end on a better note, nevertheless comfortable Norway win.

Norway win the group and Switzerland also through - both exit in the Round of 16. 

Love your predictions for each group but you missed in this one we win every game and go through at the top of the table.

Ferns tinted glasses....ON!

Bananas

Love your predictions for each group but you missed in this one we win every game and go through at the top of the table.

Ferns tinted glasses....ON!

 It's gonna be very very tight between us and the Swiss

FIFA Preview Show for our group here on Sky Go:
https://www.skygo.co.nz/watch/mac_sh_144332/mac_11644427?playbackOrigin=Content%20Highlights%2C%20Replays%20%26%20Shows&playerReferrer=Content%20Details

Any chants or songs due for release at the Ferns game tomorrow? Even songs using their names? Victoria? Chance? Betsy? Percy? That would be awesome to hear from 43,000 in the stands.

lthomas20

Bananas

Love your predictions for each group but you missed in this one we win every game and go through at the top of the table.

Ferns tinted glasses....ON!

 It's gonna be very very tight between us and the Swiss

Still find it odd that likely the biggest game in the history of the Ferns is going to be held in Dunners. Hopefully the 'Zoo' turn up at Forsyth Barr to create some noise.

coochiee

lthomas20

Bananas

Love your predictions for each group but you missed in this one we win every game and go through at the top of the table.

Ferns tinted glasses....ON!

 It's gonna be very very tight between us and the Swiss

Still find it odd that likely the biggest game in the history of the Ferns is going to be held in Dunners. Hopefully the 'Zoo' turn up at Forsyth Barr to create some noise.

I'll be there under the roof. Probably the best stadiums in NZ to watch football/sport. Especially in winter. 
Looks like it will be a pretty good crowd. Low availability of tickets right now.

LETSGONEFERNS!

Hopefully we smash em 7 nil

I'd be pretty happy with smashing them 1 nil!

Good luck tonight ladies. Fingers crossed me busting my ass at work last night means hopefully I should be able to tune in from work.🤞

Do the country proud. 🖤🤍

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I'd be pretty happy with smashing them 1 nil!

(I'd be happy with 1-1 to be fair)

But LETSGONEFERNS!  WE WANT 7!

COYF!

Geez that fact that no team hosting has ever failed to make the round of 16 seems mean.

We are under of underdogs

Rough start from both teams tbh..

Just too much on that touch

This game is gonna be bad for my blood pressure 

We don't look like the better team but 12 minutes in we don't look much worse.

COME ON FERNS!!!!

I actually think this game is there for the taking. We just don’t create many chances.

Get a better striker up front and we might have something here actually. Promising.

Some heavy touches letting them down in the final 3rd. At times a bit shakey at the back but other than that going good

Sooo good so far. Just missing the final touch!!

Bott immense so far, IP Reily our biggest threat. 

I think that last kick was a shot lol

What an absolutely brilliant half from the Ferns! 

Solid first half, I'm impressed with the work rate and will to win the ball back quickly. Some decent through balls but the final touch is missing. Should be a good 2nd half

Ferns are looking fudgeing great.

Norway has quality when they had the ball so we are just trying to starve them of it.

The energy and willingness to throw ourselves at getting the ball back, the through passes, the opportunities we are making.

Ferns doing us proud.

kwlap

Sooo good so far. Just missing the final touch!!

Final touch or first touch?

Bloody hell, that's a quality team goal!! 

WHAT A FUCKING GOAL!!!!!!!!

BABY JUST WENT TO BED SO I STOOD SILENTLY WITH MY ARMS UP!!!

IM SO FUCKING PUMPED!!!!!

Scenes! 

AMAZING! Just what the game needed!!!

Bananas

WHAT A FUCKING GOAL!!!!!!!!

BABY JUST WENT TO BED SO I STOOD SILENTLY WITH MY ARMS UP!!!

IM SO FUCKING PUMPED!!!!!

You did well. Our kids are in bed but I just let out a massive scream LOL

Far a pen there would have been interesting 

InsulinMachine

Bananas

WHAT A FUCKING GOAL!!!!!!!!

BABY JUST WENT TO BED SO I STOOD SILENTLY WITH MY ARMS UP!!!

IM SO FUCKING PUMPED!!!!!

You did well. Our kids are in bed but I just let out a massive scream LOL

Haha our toddler is such a shark sleeper my whole body was screaming to mouth to stay bloody silent.