JAPAN v NORWAY
The knockout stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup gets underway with former champions Japan locking horns with Norway at the Wellington Regional Stadium, for a chance to seal a place in the quarterfinals.
Nadeshiko Japan made it out of the group stage in impressive fashion, winning all three games, scoring 11 goals and conceding none while The Grasshoppers of Norway who needed a win against Philippines to advance claimed a convincing 6-0 win over their opposition to set up the meeting with Japan.
Futoshi Ikeda’s team have out scored all other teams in the group stage and head into the knockout stages high on momentum while Hege Riise’s side who secured their 8th appearance in the next phase of the tournament albeit under more strenuous circumstances will aim to reach the quarterfinals in consecutive tournaments.
In the last three meeting between both sides in all competitions, Japan have won all three games and will look to make it a fourth this weekend.
PREDICTION: Japan, given their dominance in the group stage ahead of this tie, come in as clear favorites against their European counterparts. Meanwhile, Norway would be expected to draw inspiration from their comfortable win over the Philippines, but the Asians will prove to be a much tougher opponent and will most likely produce another strong performance to book their place in the quarter-finals, so we predict a win for Japan (1) at a sweet 1.78 odds @Bestbet360.
MANCHESTER UNITED v LENS
Manchester United have ended their preseason tour of USA and prepare to host Ligue 1 outfit Lens and play their first preseason game at Old Trafford this Saturday ahead of the 2023/2024 season.
The Reds succumbed to three straight defeats ahead of this clash, with the last one being the 5-goal thriller against Borussia Dortmund while Les Sang er Or have drawn their last two games ahead of this clash.
Frank Haise’s side are unbeaten so far this pre-season (W2 D4) but have not played teams of the magnitude of Man United yet and will aim to entertain and give a good account of themselves on Saturday.
This is the first ever meeting between both sides.
PREDICTION: Although Lens may have lost some key members of the squad who helped clinch UCL qualification last season, the team are undefeated so far in their preseason endeavors and face gargantuan opposition in the form of a Manchester United side in dire need of confidence. A cause of concern for the visiting side is their lack of victories in England in the club’s history. It’s difficult to ascertain how this game will play out given how United have another game the next day (on Sunday) against Athletic Bilbao but given how United have the home court advantage, we predict a win for the hosts at 1.62 odds @Bestbet360.
SWEDEN v USA
Reigning champions USA set to clash with Sweden this weekend in the last-16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Blågult cruised past the group stages in impressive fashion with three wins from three, with the last coming in the form of a 2-0 win over Argentina while the top ranked side in the competition struggled but managed to scale through to the last-16 after their goalless draw against debutants, Portugal.
Peter Gerhardsson’s team have lost just three of the last 28 games they’ve played across all competitions and will fancy a go at the less-than convincing champions who seemed underwhelming in the group stage of the competition.
The last five meetings between both sides has seen the Americans win thrice, draw once and lose once to the Swedes.
PREDICTION: Vlatko Andonovski’s side may not have displayed the kind of form that has seen them be crowned champions in the previous two editions of the competition but that should not take away the threats the side possess as they remain unbeaten in their last 12 games across all competitions and could yet make life difficult for the offensively menacing Swedes. Although Sweden recorded a 3-0 win over USA in their previous meeting in the 2021 Olympics, this has been Sweden’s only success against the States in recent exchanges and given the stakes in this game, the pendulum could swing both ways but not without goals, so we predict a GG outcome at 1.95 odds @Bestbet360.
ENGLAND v NIGERIA
England aim to book their place in the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they face Africa’s top ranked side Nigeria in the last-16 of the competition at Brisbane Stadium on Monday.
The three Lionessess ended the group stage on the back of three wins from three, with the final win being the 6-1 thumping of China, meanwhile The Super Falcons of Nigeria required only a draw over debutants Ireland to book their spot but played out a goalless draw to finish second.
Sarina Weigman’s side may not have begun their campaign like a “house on fire” but the European champions eventually settled in nicely, showing the gulf in quality in the decimation of China while Randy Waldrum’s charges booked their place in the knockout stages for the third time in the nation’s history.
This is the first meeting between both sides in this phase of the competition.
PREDICTION: The odds are highly in favour of the Lionesses ahead of this clash against African opposition; given how England have conceded just once in the tournament thus far, they have shown themselves to be defensively solid but have, on the flip side struggled in front of goal in recent months bar the 6-1 win over China. The Lionesses have scored under 1.5 goals in five of their last six matches, including the Women’s Finalissima final against Brazil. Five of those matches ended with less than 2.5 goals. Meanwhile, Nigeria have been good at the back, keeping two clean sheets so far in this tournament, and both matches ended goalless so we predict an under 3.5 goals outcome at 1.23 odds @Bestbet360.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND v AJAX
Borussia Dortmund and Ajax Are set to clash on Sunday at the Signal Iduna Park in each team’s final preseason game ahead of the 2023/2024 campaign.
Dortmund head into the tie undefeated in their last five games, failing to win against Chelsea in the 1-1 draw while Ajax have recorded two wins from their last five (2L, 2W, 1D) and lost their last game 3-1 to Augsburg.
Both sides have faced each other four times and have each shared the spoils, claiming two wins apiece.
PREDICTION: Ajax have recorded high profile exits in key areas without replacements and could yet struggle against astute German opposition. Borussia Dortmund meanwhile, seem the more confident side ahead of this clash and given how they will have the home course advantage against Ajax, we predict a win for the die Schwarzgelben, hence a home win (1) at 1.66 odds @Bestbet360 should be just what the punter ordered.
This week’s entire selection leaves you with a sempe ACCA combo of 8.24 odds thanks to your preferred bookmakers Bestbet360.
Remember to always bet responsibly and may the odds surely be in your favor this weekend. Kpoko!!!!!