Norway vs. Nigeria: Time, TV schedule and how to watch 2019 Women’s World Cup online

The 2019 women’s World Cup got underway yesterday with just one game. Today, we dive into the deep end, with both games in Group B kicking the day off before we finish with the back half of Group A’s first set. There’s the potential for some really fun games to watch as a neutral, too: Germany, one of the three most talented teams on the planet, will need to break down a stubborn China side with the delightful Wang Shuang pulling the strings. Spain is in a similar situation against South Africa, while Nigeria (featuring former Spirit forward Francisca Ordega) and Norway know that a win today will go a long way towards putting them into the knockout round.

Before we really dive in though...did you see this goal yesterday?!

Let’s start with the opening game between Germany and China. Germany has arguably the best playmaker on earth in Dzsenifer Marozsan, whose injury-shortened appearance in the 2015 semifinal against the United States didn’t really get enough attention in this part of the world. Sara Däbritz provides endless energy behind her as the no. 8, Alexandra Popp is a physical force up top, and virtually everyone on the roster is in their prime. There’s a reason they’re being talked up by the smarter pundits as a savvy bet to get to the final.

China is not expected to upset them, but this shouldn’t be a walk in the park either. The Steel Roses are organized and quick, and between the Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year Wang’s left foot and striker Li Ying, they do have the ability to pounce if the Germans aren’t focused and ready.

Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)

Kickoff time: 9:00am Eastern

Available TV: Fox Sports 1, Telemundo

Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!

Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo

For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.

Recommended reading: Wang and Ying are going up against a German central defense that is also their main question mark. That’s a great litmus test for their prospects as a favorite. If the German defense can’t contain China, how are they going to fare in a potential quarterfinal against Canada or the Netherlands? Our preview of the Steel Roses foresees a struggle in Group B, while we’ve got Lina Magull as a player to watch for Germany.

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Spain’s match with South Africa may well end up looking like an offense vs. defense battle. The Spanish approach is pretty much exactly what the stereotype of their men’s team is: tiki-taka, high possession figures, tons of technique. Banyana Banyana, on the other hand, have largely leaned on a defense that conceded just 2 goals in their 7 qualifying matches. However, with former Houston Dash trio Janine van Wyk — whose club team, JVW FC, is literally a club she built from the ground up to find and develop talent in South Africa — Linda Motlhalo, and Thembi Kgatlana, there is real experience and ability in their ranks.

Given that the knock on Spain is a lack of killer instinct in the final third, this game could get very tense if South Africa’s defense can hang on for the first hour or so. Forward Jenni Hermoso, aside from having a good name, scored 24 goals in the Spanish top flight this season, so it’s not like they’re lacking in ability.

Location: Stade Océane (Le Havre)

Kickoff time: 12:00pm Eastern

Available TV: Fox Sports 1, Telemundo

Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!

Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo

For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.

Recommended reading: Hermoso, van Wyk, and Spanish defender Marta Torrejon are all in Kim McCauley’s list of the top 50 players in the tournament. Our preview of Spain also hypes Alexia Putellas, while for South Africa...well, they’re likable at least?

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The final game of the day may also be the one that matters the most down the road. Group A is obviously France’s to win, leaving Nigeria, Norway, and South Korea scrapping for second and third (which could possibly be good enough to get a spot in the Round of 16). A win for either side this afternoon would make it virtually impossible to finish fourth.

There’s certainly a contrast in styles here. The Super Falcons have some high-end attacking talent. We’re officially Frannylovers at B&RU, so of course we want to see Ordega (who now plays with Shanghai WFC in China) bring the rambunctious style that made her a Maryland SoccerPlex favorite. Throw in Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie, and you have a front three that would worry any back line. This is a team that might struggle to keep a hold of the tempo of games, and they might find themselves in a ton of shootouts, as they’re far better going forward than they are defensively. So, in other words, they’re fun.

Norway, without Ada Hegerberg up front, is mostly known for a stern defense. They won their qualifying group by only conceding four times in eight games, pushing the highly-touted Dutch into the playoff phase of UEFA’s qualifying process, and aside from winger Caroline Graham Hansen — who just signed with Champions League finalist Barcelona — are leaning heavily on domestic players in their attack. Striker Isabell Herlovsen has over ¹⁄₃ of the entire squad’s international goals (60 out of 173), but her goalscoring record at the club level outside of Norway is tepid.

Location: Stade Auguste-Delaune (Reims)

Kickoff time: 3:00pm Eastern

Available TV: Fox (the big one), NBC Universo

Available streaming: If you subscribe to fuboTV via this link, your friends at B&RU get some cash!

Here are your other options: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer Match Pass, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, NBC Universo Now

For listings in other countries, check out LiveSoccerTV.com.

Recommended reading: Our Norway preview has Guro Reiten as a player to keep an eye on, while we’ve also got more on Africa’s top team.

What are you drinking?: During the first game, probably iced coffee. Second game, water. Third game? No Way Jose gose from DuClaw, which is a gose made with pineapple, lime, and salt, and aged with tequila barrels. It’s summertime in a can.

This is the place for all your pre-game, in-game, and post-game discussion.

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