Japan and Norway meet at the Wellington Regional Stadium, both hoping to successfully navigate the first knockout clash of the tournament and bag a last-eight place (9am KO).
World Cup winners in 2011, Japan, have been imperious throughout so far and confidence will be sky high after a flawless Group C showing which featured eleven goals scored and zero conceded.
That potency at both ends of the field led them to dominant 5-0 and 4-0 thrashings of Zambia and Spain, sandwiched by a professional 2-0 win over Costa Rica.
Whilst they are far from dependent on any one player, the scintillating scoring form of midfielder, Hinata Miyazawa cannot be overlooked, she has four goals from two braces and has been finishing fantastically.
Also doubling their tournament tallies against Spain were forward, Mina Tanaka and veteran, Riko Ueki who both have two strikes apiece.
The Japanese have made a habit of scoring swicftly in succession throughout the group, leaving their opponents struggling, it will be important that should Norway concede first, they don’t let Japan extend their lead.
Qualifying, just ahead of New Zealand on goal difference, Norway finished second in Group A but have fired blanks apart from sticking six past the Philippines.
To remedy that problem, they hope that star striker, Ada Hegerberg, will be passed fit for involvement today after a groin injury but they can also call upon forward, Sophie Roman Haug, hattrick hero against the Philippines and hope she can fill Hegerberg’s boots on a bigger stage.
In Japan’s team news, they are hopeful of a return for defender, Shiori Miyake, as respective managers, Futoshi Ikeda and Hege Riise await news from the treatment table.
Norway will know the dangers of conceding the opening goal and will want to score first to fully test Japan’s resolve. Even then though, the World Champions of twelve years ago, have already demonstrated enough to reassure us they won’t exit quietly.
