Switzerland wants to make their passage to the knockouts clear with a win against Norway in a huge clash in Group A.
SUI-W vs NOR-W Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Time: 01:30 (IST) / 15:30 (ACT)
Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
SUI-W vs NOR-W Match Preview
Just the start that they wanted, Switzerland registered a 2-0 victory over debutants Philippines in their 2023 Women’s World Cup opener. Ramona Bachmann from the spot right before the break and Saraina Piubel scored for the win with the Swiss in the mix to be in the last 16 with another win. Even a point can still keep their chances alive but they want to carry a winning momentum to the potential group winner deciding clash against New Zealand in the third match. They know Norway will be desperate to bounce back from their opening-day defeat to the co-hosts and that makes them dangerous. Switzerland have not won more than one game in the Women’s World Cup before. So this feels like an ideal situation to register back-to-back wins in the finals. This is the first meeting between the team in this competition and the one La Nati is willing to triumph on to match their feat of 2015.
Meanwhile, Norway failed to move away from their disappointments of the Euros by losing 1-0 in the opener to co-hosts New Zealand. Their second opening day defeat in the tournament after losing to another host in China back in 1991, the inaugural edition. It was a performance the Grasshoppers quickly want to forget if they want to keep their chances of knockout qualification alive. They cannot afford to exit from the group stages for successive major competitions so a win against Switzerland will be a must for the side. A point will not be of much beneficiary either as the Philippines failing to beat New Zealand will seal their faith. For a side that has reached the knockout rounds in seven of the previous eight World Cup finals, this will leave an even sour taste. Norway have to find solutions to work their front three, have midfield domination and stop repeating defensive mistakes. They have not gone winless in three successive Women’s World Cup games but haven’t won their second group stage game either since 1999.
Recent Form (All Comp)
SUI-W: WDDLD
NOR-W: LWDLD
Recent Form (World Cup)
SUI-W: W
NOR-W: L
SUI-W vs NOR-W Team News
Switzerland will field the same eleven from their opener with Noelle Maritz and Ramona Bachmann just one booking away from suspension. For Norway, Boe Risa will start in midfield to provide more cover and support for Ingrid Engen while Julie Blackstad will be benched.
SUI-W vs NOR-W Predicted Lineups
SUI-W: Thalmann; Aigbogun, Luana Buhler, Julia Stierli, Noelle Maritz; Coumba Sow, Lia Walti, Géraldine Reuteler; Seraina Piubel, Ramona Bachmann, Ana-Maria Crnogorčević
NOR-W: Aurora Mikalsen; Thea Bjelde, Maren Mjelde, Mathilde Harviken, Tuva Hansen; Ingrid Engen, Boe Risa, Frida Maanum; Graham Hansen, Ada Hegerberg, Guro Reiten
SUI-W vs NOR-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Thalmann (7)
DEF: Aigbogun (8), Mjelde (9), Maritz (8.5)
MID: Sow (8.5), Maanum (8.5), Walti (8), Reiten (9)
FW: Hansen (9), Bachmann (9), Crnogorčević (9)
Vice-captain: Coumba Sow
Captain: Ramona Bachmann
