Watch: Fifa Women’s World Cup – Australia v Italy

Tom Garry

BBC Sport at Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes

Widely tipped to shine this summer, Australia captain Sam Kerr is the all-time record scorer in both America and Australia’s professional leagues, but is yet to score at the World Cup finals.

Asked how much she has been thinking about getting her first finals goal in her third World Cup, the 25-year-old replied: “Every time I step on the field I want to score for my country but to do it at a World Cup would be a dream come true.

“But I feel like I’m a different player for this world cup. I feel like I’m a different person and better prepared. I hope to add some goals on the scoreboard but if I don’t tomorrow, the win is the most important thing.”

The Matildas, ranked sixth in the world, have reached at least the World Cup quarter-finals in their last three appearances.

They have a new coach, Ante Milicic, who replaced Alen Satjcic following a five-year reign, but it doesn’t seem to have affected the squad.

Australia have won their last three games under Milicic, scoring nine and conceding just one and won the Cup of Nations crown as a result.

They suffered a 5-3 defeat to defending world champions USA in April but there was plenty to be encouraged about by the performance.

They could go far in this tournament and will have their eyes on the final in Lyon if key player Sam Kerr hits the ground running.

Juventus’ attacking midfielder Barbara Bonansea is one to watch when she drives through defences with expert dribbling skills.

She has been compared to Italian skiing legend Alberto Tomba because of the way she slaloms through opponents.

A threat on set-pieces, Bonansea scored three and assisted six in qualifying. She studies economics outside of football too so is a woman of many talents!

Tom Garry

BBC Sport at Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes

This 22,600-seater stadium is starting to fill up nicely as kick-off gets closer.

Outside the ground earlier, Australia fans appeared to far, far outnumber Italian fans.

I’ve met many Aussies who’ve travelled all the way from down under, including these fans from Sydney. Similarly, here in the press box, Aussies are in the majority.

Italy are the underdogs today having only qualified for a third World Cup and their first in 20 years.

But they will fancy themselves to cause an upset and I think they could too.

Football is definitely on the up domestically in Italy with investment in the women’s teams. The national team also won seven out of eight games in qualifying.

Italy have targeted the knockout stages as a realistic goal in this World Cup. With outsiders Jamaica in Group C, a beatable Australian side and an ageing Brazilian squad as their opponents, it is certainly achievable.

The Azzurre are well organised at the back – conceding just four goals in qualifying – and many of the squad play together at club level for Juventus, Fiorentina and AC Milan.

This could be one of the most open groups in the tournament. Australia are the favourites to top Group C given their world ranking.

Brazil will expect to be challenging too but if six-time World Player of the Year Marta, who is a doubt for today’s match against Jamaica, misses out, they could struggle.

They are an ageing squad who have struggled for form in the last two years but they can’t be written off.

Italy will be eyeing up one of the lucky loser places but will fancy their chances against the higher-ranked teams.

Jamaica are the lowest ranked team in the whole competition at 53 in the world and it’s their first ever World Cup.

Anticipation and expectation in Italy have been rising before their opening game. Asked how the squad are feeling about their extra media interest, Italy and Juventus skipper Sara Game said: “We have our feet very much planted on the ground.

“We are, little by little, getting used to the extra recognition we’re getting, but we have to stay loyal to our values.

“We’re trained a lot, we’ve worked really hard and now all we feel like doing is playing.

“We’re as ready as can be. We’re going to do our best.”

The Australian squad is bursting with blends of youth and experience. Sam Kerr, a Ballon d’Or nominee, is their star player.

The 25-year-old scored the crucial equaliser against Japan which secured their qualification for the World Cup.

Kerr, who is the face of Nike in Australia, plays for NWSL side Chicago Red Stars and was top scorer in 2017 and 2018 before going out on loan to Perth Glory in the off-season and finishing top scorer in the W-League with Perth Glory.

She’s already bagged six goals in six NWSL games this season and is the league’s all-time top scorer with 65.

The striker has 23 goals in her last 22 internationals but has never scored in a World Cup.

Australia’s attacking trio of Sam Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Lisa de Vanna will be a huge threat to this Italy side.

Kerr’s goalscoring record speaks for itself and she is supported by the experienced De Vanna, who has 147 caps for Australia.

The Sydney FC striker is the country’s second-most capped player, behind Cheryl Salisbury on 151, and is their record goalscorer. She’s also the oldest member of the squad.

Foord played every minute of Australia’s quarter-final run in 2015 and also started three of the four games in 2011. She has five goals in her last five internationals.

The Matildas have experience at the back too. Clare Polkinghorne, who plays for Houston Dash, is at her fourth World Cup and has over 115 caps.

Tom Garry

BBC Sport at Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes

Valenciennes is a relatively sleepy city in the north east of France, close to the Belgian border, and this is the first of six matches that it’ll be hosting. It’s an old Roman settlement that later thrived when the French steel industry was at its peak.

With a population of about 45,000 people, it’s almost exactly the same size as Salisbury, and both have nice cathedrals, although here they have a men’s club in Ligue 2, the second tier, as opposed to a non-league club, albeit it a proud one managed by Steve Claridge.

The designated fan zone in the centre of Valenciennes (above) has been pretty quiet this morning, but plenty of fans have been relaxing in the cafes near the stadium itself.

Australia are without midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight – who plays for Seattle-based Reign FC – through a knock, but Sam Kerr starts as expected.

Italy have left the top scorer in last season’s Women’s Serie A – AC Milan’s Valentina Giacinti – on the bench.

Australia XI: Williams, Polkinghorne, Logarzo, Catley, Foord, Van Egmond, Yallop, Kennedy, Raso, Kerr, Carpenter.

Italy XI: Giuliani, Bergamaschi, Gama, Linari, Guagni, Girelli, Bonansea, Mauro, Cernoia, Giugliano.

Match day three. Game number four.

It’s the opening match in Group C between world number 15 Italy and Australia, ranked sixth, at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes.

The stage is set for Ballon d’Or nominee Sam Kerr to put a marker down but can Italy cause an upset?