the two host countries win, the shooting in Auckland mourns the World Cup… What to remember from Thursday

By July 20, 2023 Sports 0 Comments

For their first steps into the World Cup, the New Zealanders and Australians won against Norway and Ireland respectively on Thursday.

A surprise and a heartbreaking victory. The 2023 World Cup began on Thursday 20 July with New Zealand’s home success against Norway (1-0), while the Australians, also at home, managed to get the better of the brave Irish (1-0). Enough to guarantee the co-organizers of the tournament the first place in groups A and B pending the other matches.

On the sidelines of the sportsman, this World Cup start was marked by a deadly shooting in Auckland, where the opening match took place. Franceinfo: Sport summarizes what to remember from Thursday.

A shootout before New Zealand-Norway

In front of more than 42,000 spectators at Eden Park, a record figure for a New Zealand football match, the Ferns surprised Norway (1-0) early in the competition by picking up their first World Cup victory. Something to try and balm at Heart in a country devastated by a deadly shooting, which occurred a few hours earlier in downtown Auckland.


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‘New Zealand football shocked by this morning’s incident’, the Football Association of New Zealand said after a 24-year-old man opened fire in a building under construction. The drama took place near the hotels of several selections, including that of Norway. “At first we didn’t know what was going on, but eventually TV and local media let us know”explained captain Maren Mjelde in a press release, adding that the players had been woken up by a helicopter and “a large number of emergency vehicles”.

Before the start of the World Cup, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster reassured residents that it was safe to reach the stadium. Police believed the attack was not directly related to the competition. A minute of silence was observed before each meeting of the day.

Ahead of the match, FIFA has decided to impose a minute's silence in honor of the victims of the shooting that broke out in the city of Auckland.

Australia wins but loses Sam Kerr

If they won (1-0) against solid Irish thanks to a penalty from Steph Catley, the Australians have struggled in the absence of their star, Sam Kerr. Before the match, the selection announced the withdrawal of the Chelsea striker until at least the third group match, due to a calf injury contracted during training on the eve of the match on Wednesday.

“Sam will not be available for the next two games as the medical team will examine his condition after our second group stage match”we could read on the Twitter account of Matilda. The player will therefore miss the match against Nigeria, but she still has a chance of a comeback for the shock of group B against the Olympic champions Canada.

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