MADRID, 4 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The teams from Japan and Norway will be the protagonists of the other round of 16 duel this Saturday (10:00 am) in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a game with some favoritism for the Asian team after what was seen in the first phase.
After Switzerland-Spain, Japan and Norway will experience the second meeting of the tournament, which pits two of the world champions who are still in contention towards the final on August 20, since the Japanese were crowned in 2011, while the Norwegians did. they did in 1995.
However, both arrive with different feelings. The ‘Nadeshiko’ have signed plenty of victories in the group stage and certified first place in Group C with a win against Spain (4-0), a result and performance that have fueled their dream of once again being protagonists in a World Cup four years after losing in the first meeting in France against the Netherlands.
On the other hand, Norway has not been so solid in their group, where they already started badly with a defeat against co-hosts New Zealand (1-0) and a goalless draw against Switzerland, and with some tension in their ranks, personified by the blaugrana Caroline Graham Hansen, who had to apologize for some statements after being a substitute against the Swiss. In the end, the win against the Philippines (6-0) gave him a place in the top 16 and encouragement to try to get back to the quarterfinals like in 2019.
The team coached by Futoshi Ikeda, who has not yet conceded a goal in this World Cup, starts with a certain favoritism for a clash where they could return to their best-known style and which they hid to control Spain, with the return of more associative players in the middle like Yui Hasegawa, Fuka Nagano or Aoba Fujino.
For his part, Hege Riise’s man hopes to maintain his good offensive success to do damage behind a Japanese team that has barely been demanded up to now. The coach is still watching the physical condition of Ada Hegerberg, who withdrew minutes before the game against Switzerland and did not play against the Philippines either, although Sophie Roman Haug shone there with a hat-trick. Graham Hansen, who regained ownership in that game, will be Norway’s other great attacking asset.