Japan W vs Norway W prediction: WORLD: World Cup Women – Play Offs betting tips on match 2023-08-04 08:00.
Japan topped their group in a Women’s World Cup (WWC) for the second time in their history by registering a 4-0 win over Spain despite enjoying just 23% possession, the lowest figure recorded by a winning side in WWC history! That ruthlessly efficient performance helped the 2011 champions to a fourth consecutive victory without conceding, raising hopes that a repeat of their success 12 years ago could be on the cards.
Their 2011 run to the final included wins over European opponents in the first knockout round (1-0 vs Germany) and Scandinavian opponents (3-1 vs Sweden) in the semi-finals. That should boost confidence ahead of playing Norway, against whom they’ve lost only one of the last seven H2Hs (W6), although they did lose their only previous World Cup meeting 4-0 in 1999.
That was back when Norway were reigning champions, having won the 1995 edition, but the Norwegians have enjoyed considerably less success since, only confirming their progress into the last 16 here by thumping the Philippines 6-0 in their last group game. Despite their prior struggles, their biggest WWC win in terms of victory margin since 2003 was comfortably enough to knock out co-hosts New Zealand on goal difference (W1, D1, L1).
Having ended a run of six official matches without a win (D3, L3), Norway coach Hege Riise must be hoping it proves to be a turning point, especially as they’ve won their last five WWC fixtures against Asian nations. Already going into this match as underdogs, their chances of extending that run may rely on others stepping up if star striker Ada Hegerberg isn’t fit and firing after suffering a groin injury in the group stages.
Players to watch: Hinata Miyazawa scored twice in two of Japan’s group games, on both occasions netting the first and third goals of the game before the 65th minute. Norway’s Sophie Román Haug bagged a hat-trick against the Philippines and has netted her country’s first of the game in all four of her international goalscoring outings.
Hot streak: Norway have collected fewer than two yellow cards in each of their last eight games (W2, D3, L3).