AustralianFan Posted August 23, 2022 Report Share Posted August 23, 2022 “The works at the rectangular stadium, which will be the first major upgrades since it opened in 2010, will include upgraded LED field lighting, improved video screens, upgraded player, corporate, spectator and broadcast facilities and enhanced Wi-Fi connectivity.“ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted September 10, 2022 Report Share Posted September 10, 2022 Qualified Teams: AFC: Australia (Co-Host) New Zealand (Co-Host) Japan South Korea China PR Philippines Vietnam Sweden Spain France Denmark United States Costa Rica Canada Jamaica Zambia Morocco Nigeria South Africa Colombia Brazil Argentina Norway Germany England Italy Netherlands We now have five spots left. Two European teams will qualify before the final draw will take place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AustralianFan Posted September 27, 2022 Report Share Posted September 27, 2022 “New Zealand and Australia will split the group stage games between the two countries and the Kiwis will also be host to five of the knockout round stage games.” ”Upgrades to the venues will include gender-neutral changing areas, lights, general improvements around the stadiums and, most importantly, maintenance on the playing fields.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted September 28, 2022 Report Share Posted September 28, 2022 A lot of upgrading to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 On 9/9/2022 at 7:22 PM, SportLightning said: Qualified Teams: AFC: Australia (Co-Host) New Zealand (Co-Host) Japan South Korea China PR Philippines Vietnam Sweden Spain France Denmark United States Costa Rica Canada Jamaica Zambia Morocco Nigeria South Africa Colombia Brazil Argentina Norway Germany England Italy Netherlands We now have five spots left. Two European teams will qualify before the final draw will take place. Back here after a while. Got busy at work. No surprise at all that EURO 2022 Women's champs England, Germany, Norway (The Grasshoppers), 2018 EURO Women champs and 2019 FIFA WWC runnerup The Netherlands, and Italy's Azzurra all qualified to Australia and New Zealand as they're the perennial powerhouses in European international women's soccer on the September 3-6 international soccer window. England's Lionesses' good times just keep rolling as they're certainly expected to advance here. Just yesterday, Switzerland's Nati and Ireland both qualified as UEFA best playoffs winners after defeating Wales (2-1) and Scotland (1-0), respectively. Ireland heads into this for the first time while Switzerland returns after a 4-year absence stemming from losing in a home and home UEFA playoff with the Dutch in 2018. Both got those two direct European spots. With Portugal heading into the FIFA WWC Intercontinental playoffs in Auckland and Hamilton New Zealand as the sole European rep in beating Iceland 4-1 at home as the third best UEFA playoff team, taking advantage of the meaningful inertia and building from getting into England this summer thanks to UEFA kicking out actual EURO 2022 Women playoff winner Russia for invading Ukraine. So all that completely rounds out yesterday not just the European qualification field and the 2023 FIFA WWC direct continental/regional qualification field but also completes the 8-team NZ-based 2023 FIFA WWC Intercontinental playoff field: Portugal (Europe/UEFA) Senegal (Africa/CAF) Chile (South America/CONMEBOL) Thailand (Asia/AFC) Panama (North America/CONCACAF) Paraguay (South America/CONMEBOL) Haiti (North America/CONCACAF) Taiwan/Chinese Taipei (Asia/AFC) Cameroon (Africa/CAF) Papua New Guinea (Oceania/OFC) Out of the 8 teams playing in February, three teams will head directly in as they possess varied degrees in team quality, experience, talent, and pedigree. My very early predictions on who will be the 3 national teams entering to stay there down in Australia and New Zealand because of the draw yet TBA: Portugal, Chile, and Thailand. Portugal because of being from Europe and the tough competition they come from (and will likely acquire the top seed because of that). Chile and Thailand because of their recent WWC experience with Chile's Las Rojas also having the Tokyo 2020 Olympics experience too and some world class talent like goalie Kristina Endler from PSG. Senegal and Panama could both capably shock and upset things from Africa and North America. Cameroon could qualify too with its FIFA WWC 2019 experience in France. But do the Cameroonian Indomitable Lionesses have the overall team depth and talent? Now it's unfortunate time to infamously list those nations who were capable of qualifying but sadly fell short and would've like to have done so while ruing this...and may not want to watch it for that would be too painful. Some would have world class players who would not be admired at the Women's World Cup--and that's a great pity not to see them there. Some teams didn't even participate to play due to COVID striking them. Called the Wish You Were Here While Russia sports some nice talent (like Nadya Bykova, Nadezha Smirnova, Nelli Kirovkova, Alsu Abdullina, Tatiana Scherbak, Marina Federova, Lina Yakupova, and Margarita Chernomyrdina), it's not included here because of the invasion of Ukraine--and all their qualification games involving the Football Union of Russia were swiftly annulled. Just a shame the players are paying the price over something they didn't personally start or create. Don't know how many of them on the roster actually and honestly support the invasion; my guess is many privately don't based on younger Russians, especially in the bigger Russian cities, don't like Putin or support "the special military operation". Wish You Were Here Belgium Scotland Mexico Trinidad & Tobago Venezuela Wales Iceland Austria Tunisia Finland Poland Zimbabwe Jordan Northern Ireland Ukraine Czech Republic Serbia Greece Slovenia Turkey Croatia Bosnia-Herzegovina North Korea Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Hungary Romania Botswana Ivory Coast Mali Fiji Togo Burkina Faso Gabon Indonesia Algeria Hong Kong Ghana Uzbekistan Iraq Singapore Uruguay Albania India Solomon Islands Cook Islands Tonga New Caledonia American Samoa Dominican Republic Myanmar Puerto Rico St. Kitts-Nevis Guyana El Salvador Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 With Belgium out of the 2023 qualifiers, that means the Red Flames will wait until the 2027 edition if they can co-host. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 Qualified Teams: Australia (Co-Host) New Zealand (Co-Host) Japan South Korea China PR Philippines Vietnam Sweden Spain France Denmark United States Costa Rica Canada Jamaica Zambia Morocco Nigeria South Africa Colombia Brazil Argentina Norway Germany England Italy Netherlands Switzerland Ireland Ireland will make their FIFA Women's World Cup debut. It will be their first time they have ever took part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 Morocco (already mentioned here but worth repeating, first Arab nation to qualify), Ireland, Zambia, and The Philippines are all making their FIFA Women's World Cup debuts next year. We could see at least one more once the dust settles in New Zealand in February. My bet is on Portugal for what I just mentioned on my last post. Denmark comes back after 16 years away. Colombia, Switzerland, and Costa Rica all return after missing the previous Women's World Cup in France in 2019 thanks in no small part to an expanded 32-team field. Some additional thoughts: So we only have two teams from the British Isles again with England already leading the charge. I hoped we will see the Scottish women back again at this to build upon their disappointing collapse to Argentina in France that cost them a shot into the Round of 16. We could've had three last night with England already qualified had either Scotland/Ireland and Wales both done so. Ireland did, of course. But this was at Scotland's heartbreaking expense, typical of Scottish national sports teams it seems. Wales could've defeated Switzerland in Zurich, but Nati perhaps has better talent and WWC qualifying experience coming out of Switzerland as faves than Wales, who were hoping to duplicate what the men just accomplished several months ago. Game was tied with Wales striking first with Rhiannon Roberts' goal and Wales certainly has some talent. Most notably in Jess Fishlock, certainly a world class talent and well-experienced. You immediately start to wonder at her 35 years now, and having never tasted any major international tournaments and no Team GB representations during the Olympics, she's in serious danger of being one of the greatest women's soccer players never having tasted a WWC, a EURO Women, or an Olympics and whether she'll ever have further chances at those. It would be a shame; she does seem to be transitioning into coaching as a player-coach in the NWSL for example If you want to see the dejected Icelandic reaction to not being able to qualify for even the WWC intercontinental playoffs in New Zealand. Read these links below from Iceland's national public broadcaster RUV that covered the qualification game. Starting with RUV's Twitter links. We could have another potential debutant in Iceland, who certainly deserved to go down under too and was just at EURO 2022 Women in England. Portugal was just too good at home. Iceland was down a player right as it was about to substitute. Head coach Borsteinn Halldorsson (sp?) says "it had an effect in being one less". The Icelandic women were playing well and had the game tied until Áslaugu Mundu Gunnlaugsdóttir's red card at the 52nd minute, resulting in Carole Costa's successful penalty shot and eventually taking a lot of energy out of them. Then, all broke loose with Diana Silva, Tatiana Pinto, and Francisca Nazereth each scored three unanswered goals. But not before Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir equalized for Iceland at 1-1 four minutes later until the extra time collapse: https://www.ruv.is/frett/2022/10/11/tap-i-portugal-og-island-fer-ekki-a-hm Glodis, who scored Iceland's only goal in the game, talks about how "sorry" she is after the disappointing result that sees them failing to qualify. "This is incredibly painful. The dream is gone," she adds including there will many players on the team who will never see another opportunity to reach the World Cup and "it hurts" being denied that joy and experience. It will be a team to watch after this WWC cycles concludes in see who will come in and replace the older players and whether they can be competitive straight away in the face of bigger, more experienced, and tougher European nations: https://www.ruv.is/frett/2022/10/11/glodis-thetta-er-otrulega-sart-draumurinn-er-farinn Iceland's national team captain Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir is dispirited after the match, calling the elimination "the biggest disappointment in her career". She felt her team did had the energy to keep up following the red card and maybe pull a victory "with fresh legs and creating" had they also scored again but was things were "too difficult to fall behind in extra time": https://www.ruv.is/frett/2022/10/11/sara-bjork-mestu-vonbrigdin-a-ferlinum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 For the Play-off spots. I think Portugal, Senegal and Chile could qualify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 The play-off tournament draw is two days left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 What's your guess for the three spots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted October 15, 2022 Report Share Posted October 15, 2022 The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Intercontinental Playoff Draw GROUP A (Hamilton, New Zealand) February 18 Thailand vs. Cameroon February 22 Portugal vs. Cameroon/Thailand winner GROUP B (Auckland, New Zealand) February 18 Senegal vs. Haiti February 22 Chile vs. Senegal/Haiti winner GROUP C February 19 Taiwan/Chinese Taipei vs. Paraguay (Hamilton) Panama vs. Papua New Guinea (Auckland) February 23 (Hamilton) Chinese Taipei/Paraguay winner vs. Panama/Papua New Guinea winner Doesn't shock me at all that both Portugal and Chile got the higher seeds and byes into their respective group finals partially out of their FIFA Rankings and are the strongest teams in it with their recent tournament experiences. Do certainly think both will advance into the proper tournament. But my early prediction of Thailand carrying on their third consecutive WWC participation streak will come to end because they're in the same group with Portugal. The Thailand-Cameroon and Senegal-Haiti games can go either way, but ultimately the byed teams will qualify there. Now with the draw made. my predictions are... GROUP A: Thailand beats Cameroon/Portugal defeats Thailand GROUP B: Senegal beats Haiti/Chile defeats Senegal GROUP C: Paraguay beats Taiwan/Chinese Taipei Panama beats Papua New Guinea Panama beats Paraguay Portugal, Chile, and Panama all will continue playing next summer down under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 15, 2022 Report Share Posted October 15, 2022 We'll see about that. I Think Portugal, Chile and Paraguay could qualify Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Now the event's official mascot of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia-New Zealand has been unveiled. And her name is Tazuni the Tasman Sea pengiun. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 2 hours ago, SportLightning said: Now the event's official mascot of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia-New Zealand has been unveiled. And her name is Tazuni the Tasman Sea pengiun. When I think of Australia and NZ, I instantly think of penguins! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Well, it’s not like we have any wildlife in common, except pests. And sheep can be a touchy proposition both sides of the Tasman. Penguins though? Fair enough. Almost a main attraction in Melbourne even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 8 minutes ago, Sir Rols said: Well, it’s not like we have any wildlife in common, except pests. And sheep can be a touchy proposition both sides of the Tasman. Penguins though? Fair enough. Almost a main attraction in Melbourne even. Could have had two mascots! Also, the penguins are not Melbourne. Penguins are from Philip Island that is in regional Victoria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Rols Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 Meh, it’s a Melbourne day trip. Like the Blue Mountains to Sydney. And when I used to take the ferry to work daily, I did see penguins in the harbour on a few occasions. As much as I usually dislike human-kiddie mascots, I wouldn’t have been bothered if it was a Māori girl and Aboriginal Boy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 19, 2022 Report Share Posted October 19, 2022 They chose the Tasman Sea penguin since it's like close to Antartica. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotguy II Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 The draw for this tournament takes place today in Auckland. The draw will be the biggest event ever staged in New Zealand with Kiwi superstar Rita Ora performing, alongside a cast of 800 - the event will finish with the biggest ever fireworks display in NZ, spread over 30 sites across Auckland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulu Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 57 minutes ago, Scotguy II said: The draw for this tournament takes place today in Auckland. The draw will be the biggest event ever staged in New Zealand with Kiwi superstar Rita Ora performing, alongside a cast of 800 - the event will finish with the biggest ever fireworks display in NZ, spread over 30 sites across Auckland. Since when is Rita Ora a Kiwi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Victorian Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 Just now, ulu said: Since when is Rita Ora a Kiwi? her husband is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotguy II Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 38 minutes ago, ulu said: Since when is Rita Ora a Kiwi? She married Taika Waititi and she now lives in NZ. The NZ public and media have claimed her as their own. She headlined the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup 2022, she will perform at the final ceremony and also present the trophy to the winning team alongside the PM, and will headline the FIFA World Cup 2023 draw. She has also been tipped to headline the Opening Ceremony of that tournament next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportLightning Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 The groups are all set for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Australia-New Zealand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durban Sandshark Posted January 27, 2023 Report Share Posted January 27, 2023 Adidas presents to us its new 2023 Women's World Cup Official Game Ball--introducing the Oceaunz (with a nod to Australia's AU and New Zealand's NZ at the end obviously). From Sportslogos.net: "Covering its white pearlescent base is a pattern of blue and green shapes “inspired by the unique Australasian landscape, with visuals nodding to the vast mountains of New Zealand and Australia’s connection with the Indian Ocean." Co-designed by indigenious artists (Aboriginal artist Chern’ee Sutton for the Australian patterns while those representing New Zealand created by Māori artist Fiona Colliswith cultural markings. Both also created the 2023 WWC logo.) Good looking ball--with connected ball technology of course: At the Sydney Harbour Somewhere in New Zealand (don't know exactly where) https://news.sportslogos.net/2023/01/24/adidas-unveils-match-ball-for-2023-womens-world-cup/soccer/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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