The FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 will kick-off on Friday 7 June, where the Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women's National Team) will compete in Group D at the group stage. Here we will introduce the three rival teams of the Nadeshiko Japan.

Argentina

Japan’s first opponent is the Argentina Women's National Team (37th in FIFA rankings). After finishing third in the final round of the South American qualifiers, Argentina advanced to the continental playoffs to face the fourth place finisher of the CONCACAF qualifiers, Panama Women's National Team, and won the match with a aggregate score of 5-1 (4-0, 1-1) to clinch their third ever Women’s World Cup.

Japan and Argentina have faced each other four times in the past, where Japan won all four of them. The two sides have clashed in the 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cup, and Japan won the two matches with a score of 6-0 and 1-0.

37-year-old, Mariela CORONEL, has played in the match against Japan in the 2003 tournament and she is in the current roster for Argentina. At age 17, Dalila IPPOLITO is the third youngest player of this World Cup. This will be the third Women’s World Cup appearance for Coach Carlos BORRELLO, as he was the coach for the Argentinian side who faced Japan for the first time in the 2003 tournament. Argentina will seek to make their first knockout stage appearance with their squad consisting many players with quality individual skills.

Scotland

The opponent of the second group stage match will be the Scotland Women's National Team (20th in FIFA rankings). At the final round of the European qualifiers, Scotland withheld the Switzerland Women's National Team, who has shown great improvements over the recent years, to win their way into the World Cup. Japan has faced Scotland twice in the past where they won both matches.

Many of their players have the experience playing in the English FA Women's Super League, including Kim LITTLE, who has over 130 caps with the national team, Jane ROSS, who recorded four goals and an assist in the eight matches played at the final round of the European qualifiers, and Erin CUTHBERT, who also scored four goals in the same span.

Ahead of this World Cup, Scotland played numbers of match against the world’s best teams. In November 2018, the team faced the USA Women's National Team, followed by the Canada Women's National Team in March 2019, where they lost both matches 0-1. In April, the team won against the Brazil Women's National Team 1-0 to prove that they can compete with the top teams of the World.

England

At the third group stage match, Japan will face the highly anticipated England Women's National Team (3rd in FIFA rankings).

Japan has a record of one win, two draws, and three losses against England, and the two sides have clashed head to head in the recent three World Cups. Japan won their match 2-1 against England at the semi-finals of the previous World Cup but lost 0-3 at the 2019 SheBelieves Cup held in March.

Former member of the England Men's National Team, Philip NEVILLE leads the team that has heightened their position in the FIFA rankings in the recent years. The team has qualified through the final round of the European qualifiers with a dominating record of seven wins and one draw, scoring 29 goals while conceding just one goal.

Nikita PARRIS led the team with her six goals at the final qualification round, while Fran KIRBY provided five assists along with her two goals. Veteran player Lucy BRONZE will lead the defence with Steph HOUGHTON, and the youngster Georgia STANWAY, who scored six goals at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup France 2018, is also listed in their squad. The team will carry the momentum from their championship campaign at the 2019 SheBelieves Cup, to seek for another international title.

Schedule

Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team) Squad, Schedule

FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019

Tournament Dates: Fri. 7 June - Sun. 7 July 2019

Group Stage:
Tue. 11 June 2019 01:00 (Japan time)
vs Argentina Women's National Team

Fri. 14 June 2019 22:00 (Japan time)
vs Scotland Women's National Team

Thu. 20 June 2019 04:00 (Japan time)
vs England Women's National Team

Tournament Information