New Zealand wishes for a successive win at a Women’s World Cup stage against Philippines that will secure their place in the knockouts.
NZ-W vs PHI-W Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Time: 11:00 (IST) / 15:30 (ACT)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
NZ-W vs PHI-W Match Preview
It was fitting that hosting the Women’s World Cup at home, jointly with Australia, will provide a momentous occasion for New Zealand. The Black Ferns registered their first-ever win in their sixth appearance at the greatest stage of all after beating Norway 1-0. To put the icing on the cake, talismanic striker Hannah Wilkinson scored the goal early in the second half making her the only player from the nation to score in three different editions of the tournament. History was made after a painful wait of 32 years and 15 matches without a victory finally came to end. The score-line is deceiving to say a dogged defence and nicking a goal at the right moment brought the fruits for New Zealand as it was them controlling the game. Norway was completely overwhelmed by the 26th-ranked nation and they could have scored more if Ria Percival found the net from the spot. The task is now simple for Jitka Klimková’s women to secure a win over the Philippines in the next match to move into the last 16 with a game to spare. Switzerland also has to win against Norway in the other clash, while a point will also be enough if the latter loses. The New Zealand team had to go through another incident after a fatal shooting in Auckland on the eve of the tournament as a fire broke out in the team hotel. The police arrested a man related to the matter while the players evacuated safely.
Philippines will enter the clash knowing a defeat will confirm their exit from their debut tournament. A point might also not be enough but could give them a chance to be in the top two if other results fall in their favour. However, extracting the result against a side placed well over them in the FIFA rankings and motivated by their opening-day victory will stretch their limits. The Filipinas got to know that in their first-ever World Cup game surrendering a 2-0 loss to Switzerland. Alen Stajcic’s put up a great fight but their hard work was thwarted when Ramona Bachmann scored a controversial penalty right before half-time with Seraina Pubel doubling up in the second half. With that defeat, debutants in the FIFA Women’s World Cup has lost the last six opening games of the tournament. Despite conceding goals in crucial junctures of the match and allowing 19 attempts from the Swiss, Philippines will rely on their defensive method again to hope for a result. The front duo of Katrina Guillou and Sarina Bolden will hope to pounce on any opportunity to fall their way knowing the co-hosts are winless against Asian teams at this stage. Although tournament hosting nations has lost just once in eight games facing the side from that continent. In four of the previous eight editions, the home side of the tournament has also won their opening two games. So, the odds are very much stacked against Philippines here.
Recent Form (All Comp)
NZ-W: WLWLD
PHI-W: LLWWL
Recent Form (World Cup)
NZ-W: W
PHI-W: L
NZ-W vs PHI-W Predicted Lineups
NZ-W: Victoria Esson; Catherine Bott, Rebekah Stott, Katie Bowen, Ali Riley; Betsy Hassett, Ria Percival, Malia Steinmetz; Indiah-Paige Riley, Jacqueline Hand, Hannah Wilkinson
PHI-W: Olivia McDaniel; Angela Beard, Jessika Cowart, Hali Long; Alicia Barker; Quinley Quezada, Jaclyn Sawicki, Tahnai Annis, Sofia Harrison; Katrina Guillou, Sarina Bolden
Also check out New Zealand Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and Philippines Squad for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
NZ-W vs PHI-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Esson (6)
DEF: Bott (7.5), Stott (8), Long (8.5), Riley (8.5)
MID: Percival (9), Hassett (8.5), Annis (8), Guillou (8)
FW: Wilkinson (9), Bolden (8)
Vice-captain: Ria Percival
Captain: Hannah Wilkinson
