Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With less than a year until the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Jordan, Asia’s two highest-ranked national teams are set to take on two of the world’s best national teams at the Tournament of Nations in the United States.
Australia and Japan – AFC Women’s Asian Cup winners in 2010 and 2014 respectively – will lock horns with current Women’s World Cup holders, the United States, and South American champions Brazil in the inaugural round-robin event.
With the tournament to begin in Seattle later on Thursday, we preview the opening matches.
Japan v Brazil
FIFA Rankings: Japan 6, Brazil 8
Head-to-head: 8 matches (Japan 4 wins, Brazil 3 wins, 1 draw)
Last meeting: Japan 2 Brazil 0 – 2012 Olympic Games; London, England.
Fresh from a fruitful European tour, Asako Takakura’s regenerated Japan squad begin their campaign with a first meeting against South American champions Brazil since 2012.
The youthful Nadeshiko scored an impressive 1-0 away over Women’s Euro 2017 hosts Netherlands last month with star forward Kumi Yokoyama continuing a goal-laden year at the international level, before being held 1-1 by Belgium four days later.
The striker - who emerged as the breakout star at this year’s Algarve Cup in Portugal - has found the net six times in her last seven appearances, accounting for half of Japan’s international goal tally in 2017.
Despite her tender age of 23, Yokoyama is one of the Japanese squad’s most experienced names. Along with 2011 Women’s World Cup winners Rumi Utsugi, Mizuho Sakaguchi and Aya Sameshima, the striker is one of only six squad members with more than 12 caps, while five members of the touring party are yet make their international debuts.
With next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup on the horizon, and places in the final squad up for grabs, the reigning Asian champions’ young brigade will have to contend with one of the women’s game’s biggest global stars - Brazil’s legendary forward Marta.
Now 15 years into a glittering career, despite only having turned 31 in February, the iconic forward has racked up over 100 international goals, and shows little sign of slowing; having notched eight goals for club side Orlando Pride so far this campaign.
Marta is one of six Brazilian squad members to ply their trade in the elite US-based National Women’s Soccer League, while Thursday’s match represents a home game of sorts for Japanese star Rumi Utsugi, who plays her club football in Seattle, with Seattle Reign FC.
United States v Australia
FIFA Rankings: United States 1, Australia 7
Head-to-head: 26 matches (United States 24 wins, 2 draws)
Last meeting: United States 3 Australia 1 – 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup; Winnipeg, Canada.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/auzys_jpg.html
