The 2024 Paris Olympics officially get underway this week and the women’s football tournament kicks off on Thursday, July 25.
Matchday one of the group stages will take place at stadiums across France with kick-off times staggered at 5pm and 9pm. Among the nations competing at this year’s tournament are Tokyo 2020 gold medalists Canada, four-time gold medalists USA and 2023 Women’s World Cup winners Spain.
The group stage will conclude on July 31, with the quarter-finals scheduled for August 3. The semi-finals will be on August 6, followed by the bronze medal match on August 9 and the gold medal match on August 10.
The opening round of matches includes some mouthwatering ties between huge nations, including Germany vs Australia, Spain vs Japan and France vs Colombia.
90min has taken a look at Thursday’s games and predicted who will come out on top…
France vs Colombia
Hosts France take on World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia at the Stade de Lyon on Thursday evening. Neither nation has ever medalled at an Olympic Games, but Herve Renard’s side will hope to make an impact on home soil.
Chelsea’s Mayra Ramirez and Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo are in the Colombia squad, meaning they will be a tough opponent for whoever they face at this summer’s tournament.
Prediction: France 2-1 Colombia
Canada vs New Zealand
Holders Canada take on New Zealand for their opening game, but a lot has changed since Tokyo 2020. At the World Cup last year, Canada failed to qualify from their group having won just one game.
New Zealand also failed to qualify from their group at the World Cup, despite being co-hosts of the tournament. This will, however, be a fifth successive Olympic Games for the Football Ferns.
Prediction: Canada 2-2 New Zealand
Germany vs Australia
Another tough game to call given Australia’s recent success in the women’s game. The Matildas reached a World Cup semi-final only 12 months ago and have been in solid form, although they will be without star striker Sam Kerr.
Germany, on the other hand, had a disappointing World Cup last year after failing to qualify from their group, but they certainly made amends by reaching the latter stages of the inaugural women’s Nations League. Germany have won a gold medal on just one occasion at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Prediction: Germany 1-1 Australia
United States vs Zambia
Four-time gold medalists USA will hope to make it five at this summer’s Olympics in France. They will be led by former Chelsea manager Emma Hayes and the aim will be to re-establish themselves as one of the world’s elite teams after a round of 16 exit at the World Cup in 2023.
Zambia, on the other hand, will hope Orlando Pride’s Barbra Banda and Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji can propel them to new heights this year. At the World Cup in Australia, they failed to qualify from a group consisting of Spain, Japan and Costa Rica.
Prediction: USA 4-1 Zambia
Spain vs Japan
2023 World Cup winners Spain have never medalled at an Olympic Games, but as the current world number one in the FIFA rankings, they will believe this is their year. They have a star-studded squad, which consists of Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati and another Barcelona star in Salma Paralluelo.
Japan’s best-ever finish at an Olympic Games was a silver medal at London 2012. However, at the World Cup last year they were one of the most impressive teams prior to their quarter-final defeat and they also have a squad full of stars, including Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa and Liverpool’s Fuka Nagano.
Prediction: Spain 2-1 Japan
Nigeria were one of the shock performers at the World Cup last year as they held finalists England to a 0-0 draw in the round of 16 before they were narrowly beaten on penalties. Brazil, on the other hand, failed to qualify from their group behind France and Jamaica.
Brazil will hope legend Marta, as well as North Carolina Courage’s Kerolin, can inspire a return to the form that has earned them two silver medals in the past.
Prediction: Nigeria 0-1 Brazil
