France v Brazil: Women’s World Cup 2023 – live

Brazil will make it through to the knockout stage if they win this one. They’ll not be the first team in yellow to get there, though. Australia Sweden have beaten them to it, having just completed a 5-0 demolition of Italy. Sarah Rendell reports on a tight tussle that suddenly morphed into a rout.

Edification dept. Our experts took a pre-tournament deep delve into the chances of both teams. Here’s what they had to say.

The big news for France: influential captain and defensive lynchpin Wendie Renard has shrugged off a calf injury and made it. Marta, the all-time top goalscorer at Women’s World Cups with 17, is on Brazil’s bench.

France: Peyraud-Magnin, Perisset, Lakrar, Renard, Karchaoui, Toletti, Geyoro, Dali, Diani, Le Sommer, Bacha.
Subs: Durand, Fazer, de Almeida, Majri, Mateo, Tounkara, Le Garrec, Asseyi, Feller, Cascarino, Becho, Picaud.

Brazil: Leticia, Antonia, Lauren, Rafaelle, Tamires, Ary Borges, Kerolin, Luana, Adriana, Debinha, Geyse Ferreira.
Subs: Barbara, Kathellen, Andressa, Ana Vitoria, Marta, Bruninha, Duda, Beatriz, Monica, Angelina, Gabi Nunes, Camila Gomes.

Referee: Kate Jacewicz (Australia).

According to the Fifa rankings, France are the fifth best team in the world, while Brazil are ranked eighth. This is quite the first-round showdown, then, partly as both countries harbour realistic hopes of winning their first World Cup, but mainly because France have suffered a cold start and will be in a little spot of bother if they lose today …

… while Brazil opened their campaign by trouncing Panama 4-0 and scoring a team goal of outrageous quality …

… so France boss Hervé Renard will desperately be hoping Wendie Renard recovers from injury in time to face Ary Borges, who already has three tournament goals to her name. This has the potential to be an absolute cracker. Kick off at Lang Park, Brisbane is at 8pm local time, 11am in the UK. It’s on!