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Fifa World Womens Cup 2023 Aust-NZ


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Organisers are scrambling to re-organise parts of the opening ceremony after the Prime Ministers recent resignation. She was due to score a goal during the opening ceremony similar to Diana Ross in 1994, however now the new PM is a man, organisers do not think this would go down well for the women's game. Apparently talks are under way to have Rita Ora take over this part of the ceremony instead.

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The opening ceremony is in doubt and may have to be moved following this weekends apocalyptic disaster in Auckland.

Flooding has caused events to be cancelled and billions of dollars worth of damage that media are reporting could take up to 5 years to fix. All flights have been cancelled, thousands are being evacuated out of the city and a state of emergency has been declared for at least 7 days. The new prime minister has visited and has had calls with world leaders for aid to be provided.

Auckland may not be ready to host the tournament.

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10 hours ago, Scotguy II said:

The opening ceremony is in doubt and may have to be moved following this weekends apocalyptic disaster in Auckland.

Flooding has caused events to be cancelled and billions of dollars worth of damage that media are reporting could take up to 5 years to fix. All flights have been cancelled, thousands are being evacuated out of the city and a state of emergency has been declared for at least 7 days. The new prime minister has visited and has had calls with world leaders for aid to be provided.

Auckland may not be ready to host the tournament.

I don't want to understate the seriousness of what's going on in Auckland right now, let alone from 9,000 miles away.  But maybe let's tamp down the "OMG, they might not be able to host the tournament" until there's a more proper assessment.  It's not like the tournament is a month away.  They have nearly 6 months to get things in order.

Speaking as a New Yorker, I'm well aware of the power of flood waters and how it can cripple a city causing damage that does in fact take years to fix.  And yes, this is a major problem that's going to take some time to fix (as if a sports arena is a priority).. 33665VVWZNBZVKUK3AX4TMVJHU.jpg

Let's wait for officials to weigh in before we start talking about any of the tournament having to be moved out of Auckland.  Especially since the basketball arena was able to host a game last night.  

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On 1/27/2023 at 3:34 PM, Scotguy II said:

Organisers are scrambling to re-organise parts of the opening ceremony after the Prime Ministers recent resignation. She was due to score a goal during the opening ceremony similar to Diana Ross in 1994, however now the new PM is a man, organisers do not think this would go down well for the women's game. Apparently talks are under way to have Rita Ora take over this part of the ceremony instead.

She still can

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I hope they do…

 

Quote

 

‘I know what these women stand for’: Matildas could protest Visit Saudi deal

Australia’s players union has not ruled out protest action from the Matildas – similar to the Socceroos’ statement on Qatar’s chequered human rights historybefore the men’s World Cup – if FIFA allows Saudi Arabia’s tourism arm to sponsor the Women’s World Cup.

Co-hosts Australia and New Zealand have demanded immediate answers from FIFA after reports emerged this week that Visit Saudi is to become one of the tournament’s major corporate partners, which the global governing body has not denied.

Sydney’s Morning Herald

 

 

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  • Sir Rols changed the title to Fifa World Womens Cup 2023 Aust-NZ
On 1/31/2023 at 10:22 AM, Sir Rols said:

Agreed that's a nice, major change. Stating the obvious, let's hope the major turnout at Sydney's Accor Stadium for the Matildas' opener versus debutants Ireland will result as one of the highest-attended women's soccer games ever. Hopefully, the fans will pack it in sporting lots of yellow...and some green in making a sea of that to inspire the Matildas onward!  

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We all knew for a time FIFA became too but dear god. Infantino has pretty much became the Sheikhs little pet.

He's embarassingly pathetic at this point, and he'll probably play the racist card again when confronted by everyone like he did in the WC.

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51 minutes ago, Ikarus360 said:

We all knew for a time FIFA became too but dear god. Infantino has pretty much became the Sheikhs little pet.

He's embarassingly pathetic at this point, and he'll probably play the racist card again when confronted by everyone like he did in the WC.

Stop picking on the poor little freckled red-head!

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Since we're getting rapidly close to the February 18-23 intercontinental playoffs in Auckland and Hamilton, New Zealand, I happily place my own personal extended predictions for those three spots. It would be a shame that some talented women's national soccer teams here will not taste the big stage later in June.

GROUP A (HAMILTON): Portugal will win to advance over Thailand

Just mentioned that some countries will miss out this time--and this includes some nations that actually are WWC vets. Certainly rings no more true in this case. It's unfortunate that both Thailand and Cameroon, recent experienced Women's World Cup nations here, will fight to the ultimate death of being Portugal's sacrificial lambs at the Group A final and miss out in perhaps the toughest group of them all. I give the edge to Thailand here over Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses because they seem more organized overall in its program and got more depth than them; the Chaba Kaew are still ruing they didn't directly qualify out of Asia behind newcomers Vietnam in India during the playoff stage. No doubt they're motivated to shock a fave to get in and would be nice to carry on that appearance streak to 3. Regardless, Portugal is the overall top seed for some very important reasons like playing and being tested in a deeper, more challenging, more consistent, more organized, and more lucrative continent--and all of that will show.    

GROUP B (AUCKLAND): Chile will win and advance over Haiti

The battle of two French-speaking would-be Women's World Cup debutants will serve as something to watch between Senegal and Haiti. And both are deserving to qualify. Both have players on their rosters who ply their professional soccer trade in France. I'm curious to see how Senegal would fare in international competition more consistently outside of Africa, like when knocking off Tunisia to get into this stage. Could be near even. However, Haiti has far more players on the national team roster based in France, and are always capable of springing up a surprise. Should they become the second West Indies nation to ever qualify to the Women's World Cup after Jamaica's Reggae Girlz, it would be tremendous and inspiring story for such an always beleaguered and downtrodden nation now descending into awful and tragic chaos. Nonetheless, it is anyway and is one of the more positive things right now for Haiti. But the dream will end once more experienced Chile's Los Rojas would take care of them. An international soccer tournament track record is now established for them with the WWC and Olympics, and they got one of the best women's soccer goalies around in Cristiane Endler, national team captain and playing at Olympique Lyonnais, one of the best teams  across Europe. They're way too experienced and strong for both Senegal and Haiti and will put up a strong defensive fight against them and generate offense as the #2 seed in learning from their recent international adventures against very difficult teams in group play that were at times heartbreaking. 

GROUP C (AUCKLAND/HAMILTON):  Paraguay will advance over Panama (could go either direction though)

Boy this is tough to predict with this group, I admit. Final winner remains a toss up. All three are newbies. However, I do think a Spanish-speaking Latin American nation will come through. But much easier in the single elimination stage. So I'll start with that. Chinese Taipei/Taiwanese soccer, both men and women, is so amateur with no big time pro leagues that the women will get overwhelmed versus Paraguay, who will be no doubt stronger and tougher against them as a South American team. I think there are plans in Taiwan to create top-flight men's and women's pro leagues in the aftermath of Taiwan advancing here as its soccer breakthrough so they can get stronger and deeper in the long run internationally, mostly in Asia. Papua New Guinea, the only other Oceania team outside of NZ at this stage and OFC winners, is definitely by far the weakest team of all the 41 teams being down under, so they're seriously not gonna contend here. Will be way outclassed. Just also got a new coach for the Lakatois (a Motuan sea vessel), a Brit named Spencer Prior in the hopes of boosting its level of play, tactical awareness, training, and competitive level. But it won't be like Morocco and won't have enough time. A penny for their thoughts. Panama has been banging on the door for this moment since 2014 out of CONCACAF. Paraguay is coming off fresh from the Colombia-hosted Copa Fememino as a serious contender enduring seriously good teams with them advancing and even was thought to directly qualify. Panama-Paraguay would certainly go either way and may ultimately come down to those heartbreaking penalty kicks. Like to see Panama progress and still could and rep for CONCACAF. But right now, it's Paraguay with more consistent opponents it sees and rapidly improving. 

Jamaica Football Federation ditches Umbro for Adidas in time to unveil the Reggae Boyz' and Girls' new soccer jerseys and kits in time for the pre-WWC games. Still will have Jamaica's yellow, green, and black for them but with "night brown, red, and navy" for other jerseys. Includes pinstripes. But I still like the last Umbro Jamaica jerseys.  Enlisted to make them by British-born designer Grace Wales Bonner, who has Jamaican heritage. The Reggae Girlz, will debut these new kits in the FFA Cup of Nations, being held in Australia February 13-25 (starting with Spain) ahead of the WWC later in June as the men will wear their away kit debut in their CONCACAF Nations League match against Mexico on March 26. Jamaica U17 men's team will sport them in between them on February 17 versus Cuba:

https://news.sportslogos.net/2023/02/06/jamaica-adidas-get-helping-hand-from-fashion-world-for-new-national-team-kits/soccer/

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/its-the-bomb/

Please welcome Adidas' new 2023 Women's World Cup official soccer ball: OCEAUNZ: 

https://www.soccerbible.com/performance/football-equipment/2023/01/adidas-unveil-official-match-ball-of-2023-womens-world-cup/

Just mentioned Spencer Prior was named by the PNGFA as the women's coach. And this was after firing its OFC Women's Nation Cup winning coach Nicola Demaine in November (and not renewing her contract) because of fears of the Lakatois, as Oceania's reigning soccer queens, being way out of their depth and being below par. They're going to be below par just by the competition anyway in New Zealand from that geographical isolation and lacking in budget and opportunities to face more consistently tougher and more experienced teams as PNG. Guess PNGFA needs a quick fix with someone coaching who is in the region for this for a short stint. Not helping matters was the Lakatois pulling out of Australia's 4 Nations Cup. Nevertheless, Prior brings wealth of experience and competition demands, but time isn't on his side:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/473909/demaine-says-ousting-as-png-football-coach-makes-no-sense

https://postcourier.com.pg/pacific-soccer-queens-withdraw-from-4-nations-cup/

https://postcourier.com.pg/williams-prior-bring-wealth-of-experience-to-team/

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/480559/png-women-s-coach-pushing-players-as-world-cup-playoffs-loom

 

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Additional looks at the upcoming 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Cup Intercontinental Playoff and the profiles of the 10 participating teams. Goes into greater details in this overview analysis about the state of these squads more so than I actually wrote like with its styles of play, pedigree, players, opportunities, experience, how they fare internationally at this stage, coaches, and issues. This way, we'll know what and who to watch for and expect:

https://equalizersoccer.com/2023/02/15/and-then-there-were-three-analyzing-the-teams-vying-for-a-spot-for-the-world-cup-at-the-inter-confederation-playoffs/

Which of the two African teams have a better chance of completely filling the 32-team field? Cameroon or Senegal? IMO, Senegal has better odds because Cameroon is mercurial would have to face Jessica Silva and Portugal. Senegal, however, doesn't have their overseas players playing in France professionally while largely domestic:

https://olympics.com/en/news/fifa-womens-world-cup-cameroon-senegal-preview

A more condensed outlook at the hopeful 10 teams in New Zealand right now from FIFA+. Just quotes, coaches, prior WWC participation, key player, road to get there, and schedule:

https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/articles/womens-world-cup-2023-play-off-tournament-hopefuls-in-focus

 

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Was wrong about Cameroon and Senegal, I guess. Cameroon can play physical, which helped them advance to see Portugal. But that Cameroonian supersub Gabrielle Onguene immediately fired her team up and delivered. As I said, Haiti isn't a slouch and certainly learned from playing all those years against the USA, Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, and even Trinidad & Tobago and improved their play as a result.

The Taiwan/Chinese Taipei-Paraguay match is set to play in little over 4 hours time with Papua New Guinea-Panama one coming in 9 hours.

Sorry about Thailand's Chaba Kaew's failed third consecutive World World Cup bid. They were capable and started out flying. But that ruing over not being the top Asian Women's Cup playoff team to get direct qualification instead of Taiwan seriously damaged them ultimately. Like losing to eventual qualifier Vietnam. Just couldn't adjust and adapt to the physicality and Onguene in a game that was evenly matched prior to the result and seemingly started out that way. Before leaving New Zealand, Thailand will play one more game, a Tuesday friendly versus also-eliminated Senegal in Hamilton:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/sports/2509500/thailand-miss-out-on-womens-world-cup-spot

Cameroon-Thailand highlights  

Haiti-Senegal highlights

 

 

 

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4 hours ago, Durban Sandshark said:

PS: PNG is going to be so out of their depth and woefully outclassed with NONE of their players playing outside their nation or in the whole Oceania region. No matter how short of a time they made changes in improving their overall quality, like changing coaches.

We'll they're about to face Panama who has a strong chance of qualifiying for the FIFA Women's World Cup.

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The finals of the inter-continental play-offs are set. Portugal will face Cameroon, while Chile will take on Haiti on Tuesday/Wednesday. Paraguay will battle against Panama on Wednesday/Thursday. These will determine the final three spots.

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The final matches of the qualifiers will start tomorrow beginning Chile vs. Haiti at 5:00 PM Pacific/8:00 PM Eastern. Then at 10:30 Pacific/1:30 AM Eastern it Portugal vs. Cameroon. After that next day, the last will be Paraguay vs. Panama.

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