Co-hosts, New Zealand is searching for her fist win at any women world cup final in five appearances as the team has never won a game or gone beyond group stage yet has her first match against former Champions Norway in the opening match of the tournament on Thursday 20th July at the Eden Park Stadium, Auckland.
New Zealand was there in 1991; 2007; 2011; 2015 and the last tournament in 2019 but made zero impact.
Six times New Zealand met Norway but had only a win on 9th April 2019 at 1-0. She lost thrice; 27th November 2014 0-2; 10th March 2020 1-2; and 25th June 2022 0-2. She earned two draws against Norway on 5th April 2019 1-1; and another 1-1 on 25th November 2014. All matches were international friendly matches.
Norway has a better record in 8th appearances of 1991; 1995; 1999; 2003; 2007; 2011; 2015 and 2019 meaning the Norwegians appeared in every competition from 1991.
Norway was runners-up in 1991 when she beat Sweden 4-1 in the Semifinal and lost to USA 1-2 in the final. Norway won at Sweden 95 after pummeling Nigeria’s Super Falcon 8-0 in the group B games winning all matches to top the group where England was 2nd, Canada 3rd and Nigeria 4th. Norway piped USA 1-0 in the semifinal and lashed Germany 2-0 in the finals before a crowd of 17,158 fans in the match handled by Ref Ingrid Jonsson of Sweden.
In 1999, Norway lost to China 0-5 in the semifinal but lost the Bronze Medal to Brazil via penalty shootout after a goalless match 4-5. In 2007, in China, Norway lost to Germany 0-3 in the semifinal and again lost the Bronze medal 1-4 to USA.
It will be a Herculean task for the Coach Jitka Klimkova Australian girls to beat Norway in the early morning match of Nigerian time. It will be like a Cyclist having to climb his bicycle up Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Ogun State of Nigeria.
By Eniola Olatunji
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