Tony Gustavsson’s Australia are in Group B along with Canada, Nigeria and the Republic of Ireland. Canada are the only other team in the top 10 of Fifa’s world rankings at seventh, while Ireland are in 22nd spot and Nigeria sit at 40th. The Matildas are ranked 10th, and will have to beat multiple teams ranked higher to reach the final.
It’s been called the “group of death” – lower-ranked Ireland and Nigeria are certainly capable of upsets – but Australia are expected to finish either first or second to move to the round of 16 along with Canada, which presents two speculative paths to the final to explore, both based heavily on Fifa’s current world rankings.
