2023 Women’s World Cup Day 1 Recap | ESPN FC

We start with a

women

's

world

cup which of course started yesterday and started brilliantly for the host as they beat Norway by one goal to nil. For more on this, let's go to New Zealand Alexis Nunes, is he there? Alexis, how was this result received? Yeah So honestly, I don't want to disrespect Norway, but I think it was the perfect way to start the World Cup, at least here in New Zealand, because it's no secret that New Zealand or the Ferns are probably the biggest hosts. ignored given Australia's pedigree in the

world

. football and it is not a surprise because the ferns well actually New Zealand has never won a World Cup match for men or

women

and yesterday the women managed to do it and they did it in style beating Hegerberg and Norway who are former champions a As a result, not many people saw it coming in front of a record home crowd.

I was watching the local broadcast and a lot of the former Ferns players were also crying and saying they never really dreamed this would happen. Such an important moment for the country, it was the perfect way, I would say, to start the tournament and end the day that actually began in tragedy, yes, let's talk about that, Alexis, it's something extraordinary, of course, three died in that shooting. Was there ever any talk? of the game that didn't take place and what were the circumstances that led to this, yes Dan, it was a very surreal moment, it was just after 7am. when we were outside filming getting ready to do our FC Women's World Cup special when our security team notified us that there was an active shooter situation, something that is quite rare in New Zealand.

We heard that there were three deaths, the shooter was one of them and many other people were injured and what was even more terrifying was the fact that this. was happening in the US women's national team hotel area, it was just a few blocks away, then we were able to talk to some of the players and they said they were getting up and getting ready for breakfast when they also found out about that. They had to be locked in the hotel, it delayed the time they left to go to training, but they really felt for the people of New Zealand.

Unfortunately, you're used to seeing headlines like that in the United States, but in New Zealand, like I said. It is a rare occasion for this to happen. FIFA came out quickly afterwards and said the games would still go ahead. US Soccer also contacted us and said their training session was still ongoing. His press conference was still ongoing. We pushed it back an hour and the girls were able to talk to us in the press and said it was just a massive shock to the system that reminded them of the reality outside of football. In fact, as you mentioned, Alexis, of course, is co. -host of this world cup, New Zealand, which started with victory, Australia and beat Island by one goal, which is zero.

I guess the big talking point at that game was that Sam Kerr wasn't a foreigner and she recently spearheaded our FC's girl power. Rankings heading into this world cup and she is probably the best player in the world right now. I say it all the time, you just have to look back a few weeks ago at the FA Cup final when Manchester United were playing Chelsea. The united man was improving. from Chelsea and Sam Curry just found a moment of brilliance that changed the game for Chelsea and Chelsea ended up winning the FA Cup final, so Australia definitely thought they would want to need it.

She is also the most recognizable name around these parts when she comes to women's football, but she made that announcement on her social media just hours before Australia's first match that she was not going to take part due to injury, she was also ruled out for the second and van To evaluate, I suppose his injury after these first two matches of the World Cup, but it is still a big loss. The Matildas, I still think are strong enough to manage without her, but it's like Argentina playing without Leonel Messi. You always want your best player and your leader.

The team that was could excite those who watched the game Alex has 75,000 fans, uh, filling the stadium, yes, an absolute place, a record crowd too, which I still think even surprised a lot of people in Australia and an incredibly atmosphere animated. I know a couple of the journalists who covered Australia and Ireland and they said there was an electric atmosphere there. I compare it to, like I said, New Zealand, when we've been driving around here all week, you don't really get to see a lot of what's behind me, which is a lot of football fields, you see a lot of rugby fields. , but women's football in Australia is actually very, very good, it's a very good program, it's one of the best sports for women, so people are waiting.

I saw a lot of the Matildas recently in action against England, where they beat England in Brentford and I think that helped raise the level of expectations for this Matilda Squad, especially being coached by Sam Kerr, who is also having a phenomenal season, so it was an amazing atmosphere in Australia doing exactly what they needed to do starting this tournament with a bang. Well, thank you so much for watching ESPN on YouTube for more sports highlights and analysis. Be sure to download the ESPN app and watch premium live content. Let's not also forget ESPN FC seven days a week subscribe to ESPN Plus