New Zealand 1-0 Norway

This was always going to be a good game to see how New Zealand would do on home soil and how Norway would bounce back on the big stage after a disappointing Euros campaign last summer. Granted the game didn't get off to the best start with a bit of a scrappy first half but both sides really started to grow into the game, maybe the pressure was on both teams shoulders but they soon settled down and started to play some good football. The first half didn't really have anything to write home about however, as soon as the game restarted for the second half it is safe to say the teams were out fighting to try get those first points of the tournament. It didn't take long for New Zealand to score the opening goal with a brilliant strike from one of our ones to watch Hannah Wilkinson. It just had to be Wilkinson to open the scoring and no doubt we will see her name on the score sheet a few more times this tournament. 

VAR has been brought into the World Cup this time around and we saw it in action for the first time in the second half of the game when it was needed to determine if New Zealand should be awarded a penalty, in the end nothing was given however, not long after we did see VAR back in use and this time New Zealand got a penalty after a handball inside the area, the addition of VAR could prove to be useful but let's just hope we don't see lots of added time on games due to it's use. Unfortunately for New Zealand though the penalty they were awarded didn't find its way to the back of the net, instead Percival's shot ended up rattling the cross bar before finding its way out of play keeping the score line at 1-0. Both teams definitely kept pushing to change this score line and both teams had there chances to do so with the best chance falling to Norway however, a brilliant strike ended up hitting the cross bar before being cleared out of danger. Norway never sat back and admitted defeat though even when a player was down with cramp they literally picked her up and carried her to the physio on the touchline for treatment rather than slow down the game, they believed they could try get a goal back but unfortunately ran out of time.

Norway were definitely pushing but to be honest it felt like it did back in the summer of 2022 at the Euros, they just don't seem to be the brilliant Norway we were all so used to seeing, key players can't get into the game and they just can't seem to find the back of the net. New Zealand on the other hand really impressed especially in the second half when they settled into the game and found their rhythm. It is going to be interesting to watch them in this group as they really do have the potential to provide us viewers with some fantastic football to watch. 

The result is not only a victory for New Zealand on home soil in the World Cup opening game but it also a bit of a historic moment as it is the nations first World Cup win, showing just how far they have progressed since their last World Cup.

Australia 1 - 0 Republic of Ireland

The second game of the day saw joint hosts Australia take on the Republic of Ireland. This World Cup is the Republic of Ireland's debut in the competition and I think with the strength of the group a lot of people had already written them off however, we found out today they can hold their own and we could see a few surprises from them. A lot of people had them written off before a single ball was kicked, people were expecting a huge scoreline but Ireland held their own and kept Australia to a 1-0 score line, one that they had to fight for. The goal came from a second half penalty after Raso was brought to ground, captain Catley stepped up and riffled the ball into the top corner leaving Brosnan no chance of reaching it. The fact the only goal came from a penalty for Australia just goes to show how strong Ireland were with there defence, they had their own chances too but just couldn't quite hit the target. 

Both teams played really well throughout the full game which turned into a very physical game which I think everyone was expecting before kick off with those players you expect to throw in a challenge doing exactly that but credit to the referee she kept it flowing when she could although a lot of fouls were eventually called with just the one yellow card given all game. Let's hope a lot of referees throughout the competition have this mindset and we don't see cards handed out for the sake of it and games aren't constantly stop start. Ireland looked good on the attack but just need to work on the play in the final third where as Australia looked like a really strong side overall once they settled into the game and started moving the ball around a bit more freely. 

The game was a bit of the Sam Kerr show with the English commentary having to reference her injury far too many times but the 1-0 victory even with her on the sidelines just goes to show that Australia have grown in recent years and it is no longer just the Kerr show, other players are going to step up when needed and those players are more than capable of getting a result without Kerr on the pitch.

With both hosts recording 3 points in their opening fixtures and competition being quite tight with their opposition I think it is safe to say day one was some great viewing which has left us looking forward to just what is in store for us this summer. 

That might be day one over and done with but day two should be another great day of football with three more games to be played between some great teams.