2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup – China W vs England W Match Preview
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
European champions England snatched 1-0 victories from their first two games and will move into the last 16 as Group D winners if they avoid defeat against China, but a heavy loss could see the Lionesses eliminated with two knock-out berth ( round-16 ) available for picks as Sarina Wiegman’s ladies get all set to lock horns with the reigning Asian Champions for the last game of the group at the Hindmarsh Stadium.
China PR
China won their last match ( 1-0) against Haiti despite playing with 10 men for more than an hour, but currently sit third in the group despite having the same number of points, goal difference and goals scored as Denmark in second. The Danes are ranked higher in the group on head-to-head record after they beat China on Matchday 1, so the likeliest way China can progress is to better Denmark’s result when Lars Søndergaard’s side take on Haiti later today.
The 2022 Asian Cup winners head into the final matchday in third position, but they are level with Denmark on points, goal difference and number of goals scored.
China know that a victory will give them the best possible chance of reaching the knockout stages, and as a result, they will be looking to claim consecutive wins at a Women’s World Cup for the first time since 1999.
They have reached the knockout rounds in all seven appearances at the Women’s World Cup, but they have work to do if they are to maintain their 100% record.
Form
The Asian side have a good record against England, having lost just one of their five games against the Lionesses to date (W3 D1), with that defeat coming in April 2015 (2-1). China have not beaten European opposition at the Women’s World Cup since a 2015 win against the Netherlands, but a two-goal victory over England would move them above Wiegman’s side.
Player to watch
China’s Shuang Wang scored both of China’s goals in their latest victory over England and it was also her penalty goal which sealed their only win at this WWC against Haiti. She will have to be on her best game today to beat the England’s defense line who are yet to concede a goal so far in this tournament.
England W
England’s performances at the 2023 Women’s World Cup have been solid rather than spectacular so far, but we all know tournament success is about how you finish, not how you start. Two 1-0 wins against Haiti and Denmark in their opening two group games see them sit atop Group D on six points, and Sarina Wiegman’s side are in a commanding position to progress as group winners. They require just a point against China in Adelaide to do just that.
England need just a point against China in the final round of Group D games to secure their place in the Women’s World Cup knockout rounds for the fifth successive tournament. Defeat would leave the Lionesses extremely vulnerable to going home early, even with six points to their name, as long as Denmark also beat Haiti as expected.
The England boss Sarina Wiegman has a selection headache after the influential Barcelona midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off before half-time in round two, yet Wiegman will hope her Lionesses have enough to beat a side she says are “in transition”. The Barcelona midfielder did not suffer an ACL injury against Denmark as first feared and has remained with the squad in the hope she could yet feature again at the tournament.
Form
England have won their last seven Women’s World Cup group stage matches, and six of those wins have come by a one-goal margin. The omens for England in this game are good. They’ve won their final group stage game at each of the previous five Women’s World Cups they’ve appeared in and have scored in each of their last 15 matches in the tournament.
Read Also – FIFA Women’s World Cup Streaks
Player to watch
Barcelona and England full-back Lucy Bronze was part of the 2015 side that lost to China, yet she still needs a goal to maintain her record of scoring at every WWC she’s featured in (G3, A2). Likewise, Lauren James will be hoping to keep her from after her match winning wonder goal against Denmark last time out.
Hot stat
The Lionesses have won each of their last seven group-stage matches, keeping a clean sheet in their last four such games.
Head-to-head
This is the first time these two teams are meeting since 2015 and it is not a head to head in which England have a good record. This will be the sixth meeting between China and England across all competitions and the first since October 2015 in the Dewellbon Cup (a 2-1 victory for China). The Asian side have a good record against England, having lost just one of their five games against the Lionesses to date (W3 D1), with that defeat coming in April 2015 (2-1).
Verdict
Despite China’s good head-to-head record against England, the Lionesses have a fearsome recent World Cup record and should be too good in this one. Wiegman’s side are given a 65.1% of topping the group with a perfect record. A point would be enough to still top the group, and that comes in at 21.9%. A China victory – which would be a shock – is 13%.
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