Women's World Cup Monday predictions: Brazil to seal statement win

Bobbie Jackson
Spotlight
This could be Marta's last ever World Cup and the Brazil legend will be desperate to make her mark
This could be Marta's last ever World Cup and the Brazil legend will be desperate to make her mark

It is day five of the 2023 Women's World Cup and there are a further three games to enjoy with fixtures taking place in Groups F, G and H.

Italy vs Argentina (Monday, 7am)

Monday's action begins in Group G with Italy taking on Argentina at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

Sweden sit top of the section after beating South Africa 2-1 on Sunday and it is up to Italy and Argentina to try and keep pace.

However, Argentina have failed to win a single game in three previous World Cup appearances, losing seven and drawing two.

Italy, meanwhile, reached the quarter-finals in 2019 and should be full of confidence as they prepare to face the South Americans.

Argentina recorded emphatic wins over Peru and Venezuela in the build up to the World Cup, but a 7-0 loss against Spain in November was their last appearance against one of the elite sides and suggests they still have a lot of improvement to make.

Le Azzurre come into this game on the back of successive clean sheets and look well placed to make it three in a row.

Germany vs Morocco (Monday, 9.30am)

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's Germany made it all the way to the final of last year's Euros
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's Germany made it all the way to the final of last year's Euros

Two-time World Cup winners Germany begin their campaign against minnows Morocco at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.

Morocco are making their debut at the World Cup and are the second lowest-ranked nation involved in this edition.

Germany reached the quarter-finals in 2019 and boast a plethora of talent which should carry them deep into this competition.

Anything but a win over a Morocco team that has failed to win in five games coming into the World Cup would be a major disappointment.

However, the North African nation should be afforded chances if Germany's recent record is anything to go by.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's side have conceded at least one goal in each of their last three games, including a 3-2 defeat to Zambia and a 2-1 win over Vietnam as they warmed up for the World Cup.

Brazil vs Panama (Monday, 12pm)

Brazil are perennial underachievers at the World Cup, having failed to win the competition and only once reaching the final.

But they have been handed a very winnable opener at the 2023 edition as they face debutants Panama, who squeezed into the competition after beating Paraguay in a play-off.

Panama's pre-tournament friendly results — losing 5-0 against Japan and 7-0 against Spain — gave a great indication as to how Monday's meeting with Brazil might play out.

The Selecao look good for a high-scoring victory to set them off on a positive path in Group F.

Tags

Brazil WItaly WArgentina WGermany WPanama WWomen's World Cup