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12 min: Miyazawa works her way down the left and earns another Japanese corner. The ball is played back down the flank and floated into the box by Nagano. Kumagai competes on the right-hand edge of the six-yard box. Roman Haug is forced to concede another corner. Nothing comes of that one, but Japan is increasing the pressure.
10 min: Roman Haug, the hat-trick hero of Norway’s last match against the Philippines, makes her first touch of the evening. However, it’s not of the ball, but the back of Shimizu’s legs. Norway is struggling to get into the game.
8 min: The shots keep coming in from all angles. Miyazawa takes a long-range shot from 25 yards, but it goes wide right.
6 min: Endo makes progress down the left and delivers a low cross into the middle. Norway clears in a panic, but the ball finds Shimizu on the right. Shimizu attempts a speculative shot that goes far over the bar.
4 min: Japan is dominating possession in the early exchanges. It seems unlikely that the possession stats will be similar to their game against Spain.
2 min: The corner doesn’t result in a goal, but Japan immediately sets the tone. Norway’s defense looks shaky.
1 min: Japan starts off aggressively, with Fujino causing trouble down the inside-right channel. She crosses low, forcing Mikalsen to make a save. Japan quickly regains possession and earns the first corner of the game.
Japan gets the game started. There is a fantastic atmosphere in Wellington. Meanwhile, Rob Logie points out that the pennant is a Yatagarasu, a three-legged crow from East Asian mythology, which beats an eagle.
Updated at 09.08 BST
The teams are out. The national anthems, “Kimigayo” (His Imperial Majesty’s Reign) and “Ja, vi elsker dette landet” (Yes, we love this country), are performed with enthusiasm. Now, it’s time for football!
The players take the pitch.
Updated at 09.15 BST
The kits: Japan will switch from their first-choice blue shirt to pink and purple tonight.
The Japan shirt.
… but Norway gets to wear their favored red. However, Japan wins the pennant showdown easily; their eagle is not giving up that ball anytime soon.
The Norway kit.
Updated at 08.41 BST
Norway faces a challenge tonight. They are ranked number 16 in our power list, topped by Japan. For reference, Spain is in eighth place, and they recently defeated Switzerland 5-1.
Japan makes three changes to the lineup that won 4-0 against Spain. Mina Tanaka Aoba Fujino replace Hikaru Naomoto and Riko Ueki up front, while Yui Hasegawa gets the nod over Honoka Hayashi in midfield.
Norway makes one change to the team that started their 6-0 victory over the Philippines. Ingrid Syrstad Engen comes in for Frida Maanum. Sophie Roman Haug continues to play up front instead of Ada Hegerberg, who is back in training after her groin injury but not fit enough to start.
Updated at 08.35 BST
The teams:
Japan: Yamashita, Takahashi, Kumagai, Minami, Shimizu, Nagano, Hasegawa, Endo, Fujino, Mina Tanaka, Miyazawa.
Subs: Momoko Tanaka, Miyake, Sugita, Naomoto, Ueki, Hayashi, Seike, Moriya, Hamano, Chiba, Ishikawa, Hirao.
Norway: Mikalsen, Bjelde, Mjelde, Harviken, Tuva Hansen, Engen, Risa, Reiten, Caroline Hansen, Haug, Haavi.
Subs: Fiskerstrand, Sonstevold, Horte, Bergsvand, Saevik, Hegerberg, Eikeland, Blakstad, Maanum, Lund, Josendal, Pettersen.
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil).
Preamble:
Japan has brought their best game to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. They have a near-perfect record in the group stage, with a 5-0 victory over Zambia, a 2-0 win against Costa Rica, and a 4-0 triumph over Spain. With playmaker Riko Ueki and golden-boot favorite Hinata Miyazawa in great form, they are the favorites to win and add to their 2011 victory.
Norway has not been as impressive. They started the tournament with a surprising 1-0 loss to co-hosts New Zealand, followed by a shaky goalless draw with Switzerland. However, they bounced back with a 6-0 win against the Philippines, and star player Ada Hegerberg is fit again after a groin strain. Will Hegerberg replace Sophie Roman Haug, who scored a hat-trick against the Philippines? Coach Hege Riise faces the challenge of breaking through Japan’s strong defense.
The game kicks off at 8pm in Wellington, 5pm in Tokyo, 10am in Oslo, and 9am BST. Let the game begin!