Eight more teams including Germany and Brazil get underway in the 2023 FIFA World Cup on Monday – making Day 5 another session of late night or early morning viewing, depending on where you tune in.
Italy, which is ranked No. 16 in the world, plays Argentina, ranked No. 28. Italy is looking for a resurgence on the world stage. After its best performance at a World Cup in 2019 – making the quarterfinals and losing to the Netherlands 2-0 – Italy then finished last in its group at the 2022 European Championship. Meanwhile, Argentina is looking to win its first World Cup match. The two teams are in Group G with favorite Sweden and South Africa.
Another favorite, Germany, ranked No. 2, starts its action in Group H against unranked Morocco. Germany has won two World Cups (2003 and 2007) and made it to the 2022 Euro final, losing to England. But it lost to Brazil and Zambia in pre-Cup tune-ups. Morocco, which failed to qualify for the 2019 World Cup, will be a huge underdog. Its record against World Cup teams this year is 0-2-0 with no goals scored, but none surrendered.
The other two teams in Group H: South Korea (No. 17) and Colombia (No. 25) play each other later in the day. South Korea did not make it out of the group stage at the 2019 World Cup, netting zero points in its three games. However, it did beat Haiti 2-1 in a July 8 tune-up. U.S.-born Casey Phair, 16, who has a Korean mother and an American father, is on the South Korea squad.
Colombia may try to play physical. Its pre-Cup warm-up on July 14 against Ireland was stopped 20 minutes into the game after the Irish decried the “overly physical” nature of the match. Colombia made it to the 2022 Copa America Femenina final before losing to Brazil 1-0.
Brazil, the No. 8-ranked team, will be the favorite against unranked Panama. But Brazil faces some challenges in winning its first World Cup (best result: runner-up to Germany in 2007). Marta, the team’s 37-year-old star, is playing in her last World Cup and may start on the bench as she’s recovering from a knee injury. And the team resides in Group F with France, another powerhouse.
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The Italy vs. Argentina match starts at 2 a.m. ET Monday/11 p.m. PT Sunday at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. That kickoff is 6 p.m. New Zealand Standard Time, which is 16 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, and 12 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), according to TimeandDate.com.
The game will air live on Fox Sports 1, with a Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo.
You can also stream Fox Sports 1 on the Fox Sports app and FoxSports.com (Reminder: You need pay TV provider credentials to watch). Stream Spanish-language broadcasts on Peacock. Fox, Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Telemundo and Universo can be found on streaming subscription services such as DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, and YouTube TV. Fox Soccer Plus is on most services, also.
The game will be replayed at 11 a.m. ET on Fox Soccer Plus and 1 p.m. ET on FS2. Replays of all games will also be available in the Fox Sports app and on Peacock sometime after the matches have concluded.
Germany vs. Morocco kick off at 4:30 a.m. ET/1:30 a.m. PT Monday at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. That kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Australia Eastern Standard Time, which is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, and 10 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), according to TimeandDate.com.
The game will air live on Fox Sports 1, with a Spanish-language broadcast on Universo. It will be replayed at 1 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Plus, at 3 p.m. ET on FS2, and on Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. on FS1.
The group stage match between Brazil and Panama starts at 7 a.m. ET/ 4 a.m. PT in Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, Australia. That kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. Australian Central Standard Time, which is 13.5 hours ahead of EDT.
The game will air live on Fox Sports 1, with a Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo. It will be replayed at 3 p.m. on Fox Soccer Plus, again at 7 p.m. on FS1 and at 6 a.m. Tuesday on FSP.
The Colombia vs. South Korea match begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT in the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia. That kickoff is at noon Australia Eastern Standard Time, which is 14 hours ahead of EDT.
The game will air live on Fox Sports 2, with a Spanish-language broadcast on Universo. It will be replayed Tuesday at 11 a.m. on FS2 and at 6:30 p.m. on FSP.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
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