On Monday evening at the Women’s World Cup 2019 in Group A is already the last matchday. After two games as expected, the host leads the table with two wins and has already reached the round of 16. Norway and Nigeria follow behind with three points each. The Republic of Korea still has zero points after two defeats.
The French team won after a 4-0 draw against South Korea on Wednesday, the second group match. Here Norway was defeated 2-1. Now it’s against Nigeria. Even in defeat, “Les Bleues” can not finish fourth and would be at least one of the top four third-placed teams.
The start of the women’s football team of Nigeria in the finals in 2019 went with a 0-3 defeat against Norway quite wrong. In the second group match, Nigeria won 2-0 against South Korea but won the first. Now, for the Africans, the heavy duel against the hosts and the big favorites for the World Cup title next to the United States. If the Super Falcons want to move into the last sixteen, they will probably have to score against France.
Looking ahead to the match Nigeria vs. France on the odds of bookmakers, the selection of Nigeria but not much hope. Also, the betting base comes to the same result in their preliminary report and sets in the third game of Group A Nigeria Vs. France even hinted at “France wins to zero”.
Nigeria:
Nigeria is one of the only nations besides Norway that have not missed a Women’s World Cup yet. Nevertheless, the Super Falcons are only 38th in the FIFA World Ranking. The Nigerians have never got beyond the quarter-finals (WM 1999). In Africa, Nigeria is the measure of all things with eleven titles in 13 continental championships. Since January 2018 the team is being looked after by the Swede Thomas Dennerby. He had led the Swedish women’s national team in 2011 to third place.
The national team of Nigeria has a strong squad and a dangerous offensive. The star is Asisat Oshoala from FC Barcelona. The striker became 2014, 2016 and 2017 Africa’s footballer of the year. In addition, she was with her country at the U20 World Cup 2014 Vice World Champion and won the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot. For the first time since 1999, Nigeria wants to survive the group stage again this year.
To kick off the finals in 2019, the Nigerian women ran against former World Champion Norway. The Super Falcons presented themselves courageously and enthusiastically. But after the gap in the 18th minute, Nigeria’s game became increasingly flawed. Norway took advantage of this mercilessly and put before the half-time break to 3: 0. Only in the second round could the team of coach Dennerby stabilize something. But the game was already decided.
In the second group game then the Republic of Korea was the opponent. Against the defense of Taegeuk Nangja Nigeria had great problems at first, but then used after half an hour a defensive blackout to the lead. The leadership did the Africans good. From there, they seemed safer and could use a counterattack in the second half-second to the final score of 2: 0.
France:
The French women’s football team is fourth in the current FIFA World Ranking. At the Women’s World Cup 2019 France is represented for the fourth time in a final tournament. But so far, the Equipe Tricolore did not get beyond a fourth place (2011 World Cup). At the 2015 World Cup, the 2016 Olympics and the European Championship 2017 was in the quarterfinals final stop. The U17 with the world title in 2012 and the U19 with the European Championship victories in 2013 and 2016 did better.
In European club football, French women’s football has set the tone for years. Here the French teams belong to the “cream of the cream”. Above all, Olympique Lyon won the Champions League six times between 2011 and 2019 alone. In the squad of French women are consequently also seven players of OL. As a goal, the French have set the title at the World Cup in their own country of course. For the first time men and women of a nation would be football world champions at the same time.
Of course, the pressure and the expectations are great. Since August 2017, the team is coached by coach Corinne Diacre, who made after the European Championship 2017 to a comprehensive reconstruction of the team. Star of the team is Amandine Henry of Lyon. For the start of the finals in 2019 there was a befitting 4: 0 against the defensively strong South Koreans. Things got a little tighter in the second game against the physically robust Norwegians.
After an initial phase that belonged to Norway, France became stronger, but only shortly after the break 1-0 lead. Then “Les Bleus” made life difficult for a very strange own goal. After that, there was a bit of sand in the transmission of the World Cup host. But thanks to a penalty by video assistant Felix Zwayer, the team of coach Diacre secured the 2-1 victory.
PREDICTION: Over 2,5 goals @ 1,40
