New Zealand stun Norway to open the Women’s World Cup

In the first ever victory for the New Zealand national football team at the FIFA World Cup, the women’s team upset highly-fancied Norway with a 1-nil win to open the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

 

The sport began after a moment of silence was held before the final whistle to remember the two people who died and 5 others injured, including a police officer, in a photo shoot in Auckland early Thursday morning just miles from Eden. The park, the scene of the first fitness of the World Cup.

 

The shooter was killed in the incident and New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins told reporters that authorities did not consider the capture a national security risk or a danger to the World Cup competition.

 

“The authorities have spoken to FIFA organizers this morning and the match will go ahead as intended,” Hipkins said.

 

And indeed it was for New Zealand, ranked 26th in the world, when they took on 12th-placed Norway in a healthy Group A, setting the attendance record for all New Zealand football records, men or girls. with more than 42,100 people in attendance, CNN Sports suggested.

 

The fun turned into a stalemate until New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson headed in from close range in the 48th minute, scoring from teammate Jacqui Hand’s pass. A free-kick through New Zealand just before the end of regulation would have lifted the Ferns to any other purpose, but Ria Percival neglected to do so when her 90th-minute shot hit the crossbar.

 

And of course it did for New Zealand, ranked 26th in the international rankings, as they took on in-form Group A Norway in 12th place, setting a record for attendances of any healthy football in New Zealand history, men or women with more than forty-two and a hundred human beings in participation, CNN Sports stated.

 

The game turned into a stalemate until in the 48th minute he hit New Zealand’s Hannah Wilkinson from close range, who scored after a move from teammate Jacqui Hand. A free kick through New Zealand near the time limit could have set the Ferns up for another goal, but Ria Percival missed when her shot hit the crossbar in the 90th minute.

 

Later on Thursday, co-hosts Australia take on Ireland in Sydney, where they will be top of Group B form.

 

Thirty groups will compete over the next month in over 60 outfits across 10 locations in Australia and New Zealand, two very unique international football themed locations. While Australia has extra global fulfillment with the game, New Zealand is understood extra as the rugby kingdom and had by no means won a World Cup recreation – men’s or girls’ – until Thursday.

 

The US women’s national team is ranked No. 1 and will arrive this 12 months as the champion of the match at the time she was protected wanted to win one more time. The USA returns this year with 9 players who were also on the 2019 champion team, including Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Julie Ertz.

 

The Americans’ first match is this weekend in New Zealand against Vietnam, with US Visible the heavy favourites.