An exhilarating fourth day is on the cards at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, as the tournament kicks up a gear. Day three featured four fixtures with the USA, Japan, England, and Denmark setting the pace with resounding victories.
Optus Sport offers live and on-demand viewing of each match of the Women’s World Cup. If you missed the action from the previous day, here’s a quick rundown:
- The USA commenced their journey with a 3-0 triumph over Vietnam.
- Japan thundered past Zambia with a commanding 5-0 scoreline.
- England squeezed past Haiti 1-0 in a tightly contested match.
- Denmark eeked out a 1-0 victory against China.
Three enthralling fixtures are on the docket for today, with Netherlands, the 2019 finalists, starting their campaign against the tournament debutants.
Starting the day at 3pm AEST, Sweden, the 2019 bronze medallists, are set to face South Africa, who are playing in their second Women’s World Cup. The match in Wellington promises an intriguing clash as Sweden seeks a strong start, and South Africa aims to assert their potential wildcard status.
At 5.30pm AEST, Netherlands launch their redemption campaign against Portugal, the tournament newbies who secured their place through a string of playoffs. This match may be more challenging than expected for the Dutch, given Portugal’s recent 0-0 draw with England.
The final fixture of the day is scheduled for 8pm AEST in Sydney, with France, the 2019 hosts, squaring off against Jamaica. Given the competitiveness of Group F, which also includes Brazil and Panama, France must aim for a solid start and are the favourites in this match. Jamaica, having only netted one goal in their previous World Cup outing, will be keen to make a stronger impact.
Key players to watch include Sweden’s Caroline Seger, the evergreen midfielder who was instrumental in their 2019 campaign. Now 38, the veteran who boasts over 200 caps shows no signs of abating.
Netherlands’ Lieke Martens is another pivotal figure to watch. Having played through injury in the 2019 World Cup, the Paris Saint-Germain star is aiming to shine in full health.
Jamaica’s hopes rest largely on the shoulders of Khadija Shaw, a Women’s Super League sensation with Manchester City who tallied 31 goals last season. With an impressive international record of 55 goals in 38 caps, Shaw could cause a stir in the tournament.
Optus Sport’s coverage starts from 2pm (AEST) with the Sweden v South Africa fixture, followed by Netherlands v Portugal at 5.30pm (AEST) and France v Jamaica at 8pm (AEST).
