The Netherlands will begin their Women's World Cup 2023 campaign on Sunday when they face Portugal at Dunedin Stadium.
The Dutch are making their third appearance at the tournament, while Portugal are preparing for their first-ever Women's World Cup.
Match preview
After falling at the quarter-final stage in their first World Cup in 2015, the Netherlands went close to claiming the top prize in the 2019 tournament.
They ousted Japan, Sweden and Italy to advance to the final, where they were subsequently beaten 2-0 by the USA.
While they will be hoping to challenge for the trophy in Australia and New Zealand, their immediate priority will be negotiating a group that contains the USA, Portugal and Vietnam.
In their final warm-up game, the Netherlands cruised to a 5-0 victory over Belgium, representing their third win in their last four games.
The Netherlands began both the 2015 and 2019 tournaments with a 1-0 win over New Zealand, and they will be looking to maintain their 100% record in World Cup openers.
Portugal, meanwhile, finished behind Germany in their qualifying group, ensuring their World Cup fate would be decided by the intercontinental playoffs.
After getting the better of Belgium in the first round, Portugal went on to face Iceland in the final round with a place at the World Cup on the line.
With the contest level at one apiece after regulation time, Portugal move through the gears in the additional 30 minutes, netting three goals to claim a 4-1 victory and secure qualification to their first Women's World Cup finals.
While the USA and the Netherlands will be favourites to progress to the knockout rounds, Portugal will believe they have the quality to spring a surprise, having lost just one of their last 12 matches.
They will at least be confident of troubling the scorers after finding the net in 17 of their previous 19 internationals.
Team News
The Netherlands go into the tournament without their all-time leading scorer Vivianne Miedema, who is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury she sustained in December.
New Manchester City signing Jill Roord is expected to start in a midfield three alongside Danielle van de Donk and Damaris Egurolla.
With 59 international goals to her name Paris Saint-Germain's Lieke Martens will be crucial to the Netherlands' attacking threat.
As for Portugal, they have doubts over the fitness of their all-time record appearance holder Ana Borges.
Kika Nazareth is also an injury concern as she continues to recover from a knee issue she picked up against England earlier this month
With 150 international caps to her, Dolores Silva will provide valuable experience to the Portugal midfield, and she could be joined in the middle of the park by Tatiana Pinto and Andreia Norton.
Netherlands Women possible starting lineup:
Van Domselaar; Casparij, Van der Gragt, Janssen, Brugts; Roord, Van de Donk, Egurolla; Pelova, Martens, Beerensteyn
Portugal Women possible starting lineup:
Morais; Amado, Gomes, Costa, Alves; T. Pinto, D. Silva, Norton; Capeta; J. Silva, Di. Silva
We say: Netherlands Women 2-1 Portugal Women
Despite losing just one of their last 12 games, Portugal will go into Sunday's contest as the underdogs, and we think they will be edged out by the Netherlands.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
