New Zealand v Norway Prediction, Preview & Odds – Women’s World Cup
We have a New Zealand v Norway prediction, preview plus betting odds for you ahead of Thursday morning’s Women’s World Cup opening game.
New Zealand v Norway Match Info
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
When? 8.00 am, Thursday the 20th of July
What Channel? RTÉ 2 and BBC One
New Zealand v Norway Betting Odds
New Zealand Women – 9/1
Norway Women – 1/4
The Draw – 4/1
The oddsmakers make Norway 1/4 favourites for this match. Co-hosts New Zealand can be backed at odds of 9/1 while the draw is 4/1.
The Form – New Zealand vs Norway
New Zealand’s Form
New Zealand have nine defeats, three wins and two draws in their last fifteen matches dating back to the end of 2022. In those outings they’ve scored seven goals while conceding twenty-seven.
Their last two official matches in preparation for this World Cup shows better signs than their recent poor form. They secured a 2-0 victory against Vietnam at the start of the month and wer only narrowly defeated 0-1 against Italy.
Jitka Klimková became the first woman to be appointed to coach the Football Ferns on a full-time basis in 2021, following 17 years of coaching experience, which included spells at underage level with New Zealand and the USA. They qualified for this tournament back on the 25th of June 2020, when they were confirmed as co-hosts with Australia.
Norway’s Form
Norway has five wins, five defeats and two draws in their last twelve matches dating back to July 2022. However, while their form on the surface seems hit-and-miss, they can still boast some decent results including a 0-2 win over The Netherlands, a 1-1 draw with England and a 0-0 against France.
Hege Riise was appointed as Norway’s head coach, replacing Martin Sjögren in August 2022 after 15 years of coaching experience, including being the interim manager for England in 2021 and a spell with Norway U19 between 2021-2022.
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New Zealand v Norway Predicted Lineups
New Zealand’s Predicted XI
Formation: 4-4-2
GK: Nayler
RB: Riley, CB: Stott, CB: Bowen LB: Bott
RM: Jale, CM: Hassett , CM: Percival, LM: Chance
CF: Rennie CF: Wilkinson
Norway’s Predicted XI
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Mikalsen
RB: Hansen, CB: Mjelde, CB: Harviken, LB: Lund
RCM: Maanum, CM: Boe Risa, LCM: Reiten
RW: Graham Hansen, CF: Hegerberg, LW: Blakstad
New Zealand vs Norway Preview
New Zealand Tactics
Seldom seen in “Modern Football” these days, (whatever that is) New Zealand employ a traditional 4-4-2 formation favoured by Jitka Klimkova with some minor variations at times.
A Key Player for them will be captain Ali Riley (35) who can play anywhere along the right-hand side of the pitch but is most likely to start in her favoured RB position where she has 2.15 Shot Creating Actions P/90 ranks in the 77th percentile, 3.73 Tackles P/90 in the 94th percentile and 0.83 Aerials Won P/90 ranking in the 84th percentile against all full-backs.
Stott, Bowen and Bott will likely round off the back five with Nayler nailed for starting spot in the net. Hassett is a certainty to start with her 3.56 Progressive Carries P/90 in the 99th percentile and 4.43 Progressive Passes Received P/90 ranking in the 90th percentile of all midfielders. The more defensive Percival (33) who is also vice-captain could be her midfield partner.
The flanks will likely be led by Jale and Chance with Wilkinson (31) and Rennie (22) a mix of youth and experience up-front.
Norway’s Tactics
Norway will likely set up in an attacking 4-3-3 with genuine star-quality sprinkled across the team which is highlighted most in the midfield.
Manchester United’s Vilde Boe Risa will play in the deeper role with Reiten who’s 2.44 Progressive Carries P/90 in the 96th percentile and 4.96 Shot-Creating-Action P/90 in the 94th percentile partnered by Maanum whose attacking prowess shows up in the stats with 2.73 Progressive Carries P/90 in the 97th percentile and 4.31 Shot-Creating-Action P/90 in the 92nd percentile.
The player I am expecting to have a huge World Cup and rival the top-scorer list is Ada Hegerberg supported by Graham-Hansen and either Blakstad or Eikeland on the flanks.
The back-four is settled especially with Thorisdottir ruled out due to injury but they will gain solace in the form of Mjelde toward the end of the season with Chelsea. Her centre-back partner is likely to be Mathilde Harviken, with Tuva Hansen and Marit Bratberg Lund as the full-backs.
The goalkeeping position is a weak point but Mikalsen appears to be favoured ever so slightly, ahead of Pettersen.
New Zealand v Norway Head-to-Head Record
They have faced off on seven occasions with New Zealand winning once, Norway winning five times and one draw occurring. Norway won their last encounter in June 2022 2-0.
New Zealand v Norway Prediction
Prediction: New Zealand 0-3 Norway
I’m predicting that this won’t be a happy opening fixture for the hosts. I fancy this Norway side to do well at the tournament and I think they will start this tournament in red-hot form with Hegerberg getting at least one if not more goals.
Best Bet: Total Goals Over 2.5 @ 13/10
The other big game this Thursday is Australia v Ireland as the other Women’s World Cup hosts get their campaign under way against an Ireland team that is making their debut at the Women’s World Cup. We previewed Australia v Ireland in a recent post.
Click Below For All Our New Zealand v Norway Betting Odds
*Prices subject to fluctuation
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