Four meetings are taking place on Saturday, culminating in meetings between the Americans, winners of the last World Cup, and the reigning European champion, England.
The program for the 2023 World Cup intensifies on Saturday July 22, the first day with four matches scheduled. And the posters look good, with the debut of Team USA, winners of the last two editions, and England, in unbalanced meetings on paper. Unlike the Zambia-Japan match, between two selections aiming for the round of 16.
3h00: United States-Vietnam (M6)
A shock to the oh so strong historical context, here is the introduction offered to the American selection in its quest for a third consecutive world title. The outcome of the match seems to be written, between the big favorite of the event and a Vietnamese team which is about to play its first match in major international competition. The United States will seek to send a message to the competition, but also to perfect their automatisms.
Absences are numerous for Team USA in this World Cup between the usual captain Becky Sauerbrunn, Mallory Swanson, Christen Press or the Lyonnaise Catarina Macario. Coach Vlatko Andonovski will have to compose between the last dance of certain executives like Alex Morgan (34 years old) and Megan Rapinoe (38 years old), and the emergence of a new generation led by Trinity Rodman (21 years old), daughter of the former basketball star in the 90s, Dennis Rodman. His first composition could give first indications on his recipe towards the title.
9 a.m.: Zambia-Japan (France 3)
After the Spanish display in the first match of Group C, Japan and Zambia begin their distance duel for the qualification in the round of 16. The Japanese have for them a greater experience in the World Cup and players accustomed to the very high level like Yui Hasegawa, very convincing at the heart of the Manchester City game. But they should not underestimate a Zambian team in serious progress.
Third in the last African Cup of Nations, the Copper Queens want to confirm internationally. They have just offered themselves Germany for their last preparation match (3-2). Barbra Banda had scored a brace and has revenge to take after being banned from CAN for high testosterone. Banda notably scored two hat-tricks in a row for Zambia’s debut at the Tokyo Games. Bis repetita in Hamilton on Saturday?
11:30 am: England-Haiti (W9)
Winner of the Euro disputed in front of its public last year, England is expected at the turn of this World Cup. THE Three Lionesses must confirm that they have passed a milestone under the orders of the Dutch Sarina Wiegman. It starts by getting out of the group stage without fear, especially against Haiti. But Wiegman has almost everything to rebuild, after the cascade of serious injuries that have affected his major players in recent months: Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby and Beth Mead are all absent with knee injuries.
However, the English do not have the right to make mistakes against the Haitians, qualified for the World Cup after coming out of the play-offs. The opportunity to see Melchie Dumornay (19), a great promise of international football playing at the Stade de Reims, at work.
2 p.m.: Denmark-China (W9)
In the same group as England and Haiti, Denmark and China will face each other in the last match of this third day of the World Cup. Qualified for their first World Cup since 2007, Denmark are led by striker Pernille Harder, captain of the team. The Danes hope to win this first match to take a step towards qualification in the eighth.
They will have a hard time facing a Chinese selection which won the Asian Cup in 2022. Regular at high level, the Chinese have ambitions for this World Cup after stopping in the quarterfinals at the 2015 World Cup and in eighth in 2019.