Image copyright: Getty Images
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Group C
Zambia v Japan
Waikato Stadium
Hamilton, New Zealand
Saturday, 22 July 2023
Kick-off is at 07h00
Zambia will be looking to make a statement when they get their
2023 Women's World Cup campaign underway against Japan in Group C at the Waikato Stadium on Saturday, July 22.
The Copper Queens are making their tournament debut in Australia and New Zealand and will be viewed as underdogs in a group which also contains Spain and Costa Rica.
Bruce Mwape's side qualified for the global showpiece after finishing third at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, having been beaten 1-0 by eventual champions South Africa in the semi-finals.
Zambia were missing their talisman, Barbra Banda, who was banned from competing in Morocco as gender verification tests deemed her natural testosterone levels too high, although FIFA has since lifted the suspension.
Banda has been tipped to take the World Cup by storm and Mwape believes his players are capable of springing a few upsets Down Under after their WAFCON 2022 exploits, which included a 1-0 victory over powerhouses Nigeria in the third-place playoff.
"It's tough because we are playing some teams that have played in these competitions at a high level several times," he told FIFA. "They've got experience that we don't have, and their players have been exposed to these kind of tournaments.
"But although we are just coming up, what I will say is we don't just want to add numbers to the tournament. From the little experience we have gained, I think we are able to challenge any team. It won't be easy, but it's others thinking we'll go there as underdogs. As far as I'm concerned, we are going to compete.
"Success at the World Cup will actually shake the whole world, because if we do well, I'm sure people will be surprised. Some of them won't even know where Zambia is. For them, it will be a case of looking at a world map to find out. But nothing is impossible. The results can go either way - and victory is possible."
Japan have a good World Cup pedigree as former champions after winning football's biggest prize in 2011 and reaching the final again four years later.
Image copyright: Getty Images
They also dominated the Asian scene during that same period, claiming back-to-back AFC Women's Asian Cup titles in 2014 and 2018.
Futoshi Ikeda's side are keen to bring back the glory days after crashing out of the 2019 World Cup at the round of 16 and plan to take it game by game in a bid to challenge for the trophy.
"We want to inspire people who watch the game, make them feel how wonderful women's soccer is and let them enjoy the sport," Ikeda said. "We want to compete in each game with full energy and deliver the excitement when we win.
"We will absolutely aim for the top and fight for the trophy but it's a big challenge and there are also some obstacles that we really need to overcome. Rather than set a goal (for the tournament), our target is to win each game in front of us."
Banda will be raring to go after being forced to sit out the Copper Queens' 2022 WAFCON adventure. The 23-year-old striker hit the ground running on her return at the 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship, finding the back of the net a remarkable 10 times to help her country lift the trophy. She recently bagged a brace in a shock 3-2 victory over Germany earlier this month.
Mina Tanaka has amassed 63 caps for Japan since making her debut in March 2013, but wasn't part of the squad that travelled to France for the 2019 World Cup. The INAC Kobe Leonessa forward scored the winner against Portugal in April to register her 24th goal for the national team and will be determined to make an impact in Australia and New Zealand after missing out four years ago.
Head-to-Head:
Matches - 0
Zambia - 0
Japan - 0
Draws - 0
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