Average Group Ranking: 9.25
The average rank confirms it: Group G is the 2020 Olympics version of the group of death and it will make for absorbing, unmissable viewing. The top three ranked teams in this group have an astonishing average rank of 5 on their own, with the Football Ferns respectable ranking of 22 pulling the group’s overall number back to 9.25.
If there’s any group from which a top 10 team in the world will make an unlikely early exit from the tournament, it will come from this group.
There is also plenty of spice in Group G. The USA and Sweden have one of women’s football’s great rivalries (see the linked team previews below for more details) and of all international opponents, the organised and physical Sweden remains the team that seems most difficult for the USA to break down. The USA hasn’t lost since January 2019 (to France, 3-1, away) and Sweden was the last team (in April 2021) to prevent them from winning.
Prior to that, the USA had rampaged undefeated through a 28 game streak. That particular run of games came to an end against the Matildas, in a 2017 game that lives long in the memory of Matildas fans.
And let’s face it: Australia and New Zealand may be trans-Tasman cousins with many close ties and a shared sense of kinship, but neither team holds back against the other in any sporting contest.
The USA, Sweden and Australia were also in the same group in the 2015 World Cup, with all three teams advancing to the knockout stage in that tournament.
You won’t be able to keep your eyes off Group G.
Group Schedule
| Date | Local Time | AEST | Venue | Team A v Team B |
| 21/7/2021 | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM | Tokyo Stadium | Sweden v USA |
| 21/7/2021 | 8:30 PM | 9:30 PM | Tokyo Stadium | Australia v New Zealand |
| 24/7/2021 | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM | Saitama Stadium | Sweden v Australia |
| 24/7/2021 | 8:30 PM | 9:30 PM | Saitama Stadium | New Zealand v USA |
| 27/7/2021 | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | Miyagi Stadium | New Zealand v Sweden |
| 27/7/2021 | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | Kashima Stadium | USA v Australia |
United States of America (USA) – CONCACAF
The #Tokyo2020 #USWNT Olympic Roster is ! ⚽️#OneNationOneTeam #RoadToTokyo
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) June 23, 2021
| Coach: | Vlatko Andonovski | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain: | Becky Sauerbrunn | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking: | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Age: | 30.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Caps: | 111 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Olympics: | Group Stage
Quarter-Finals
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Last 5 Matches:
WWDWW |
|
Sweden (SWE) – UEFA
BOOM!
Här har vi -!
— Svensk Fotboll (@svenskfotboll) June 29, 2021
| Coach: | Peter Gerhardsson | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain: | Caroline Seger | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking: | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Age: | 27.4 years | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Caps: | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Olympics: | Group Stage:
Quarter-Finals 1-1 (4-3) win v USA Semi-Finals 0-0 (4-3) win Brazil Gold Medal game 2-1 loss v Germany |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Last 5 Matches:
WWDWW |
|
Australia (AUS) – AFC
Bring on #Tokyo2020 #GoAustralia #TokyoTogether pic.twitter.com/VTLdC1nIZ5
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 30, 2021
| Coach: | Tony Gustavsson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain: | Sam Kerr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking: | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Age: | 26.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Caps: | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Olympics: | Group Stage
Quarter-Finals
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last 5 Matches:
LLL–WW |
|
New Zealand (NZL) – OFC
The @NZ_Football team has been announced for #Tokyo2020
@officialcwood and @_waineo “Waine Train” selected for the OlyWhites 🚂
While Ria Percival and @MeikaylaMoore headline the Ferns’ squad ✨
#UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | @TheNZTeam
https://t.co/bcrUVVpMgF
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) June 25, 2021
| Coach: | Tom Sermanni | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Captain: | Ali Riley | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking: | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Age: | 26.3 years | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Average Caps: | 49 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous Olympics: | Group Stage
|
||||||||||||||||||||
| Last 5 Matches:
LLDLL |
|
Prediction
The USA will be amongst the tournament favourites and should top Group G, with Sweden and Australia fighting it out for second and third in the group. The Football Ferns will look to force their way into the top three and progression to the next round at the expense of either Sweden or Australia.
Follow Beyond 90's coverage of the Olympics.
Related Images:
