The Vitality Netball World Cup 2019 – New Zealand vs Malawi Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is New Zealand vs Malawi taking place? Friday 12th July, 2019 – 09:00 (UK)
Where is New Zealand vs Malawi taking place? M&S Banks Arena, Liverpool
What television channel is New Zealand vs Malawi on? This match will be televised live on Sky Sports Arena
Where can I stream New Zealand vs Malawi? Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match via Sky Go
Where can I get tickets for New Zealand vs Malawi? Tickets for this session can still be purchased via Stubhub!
THE TEAM NEWS
NEW ZEALAND
- New Zealand last won the World Cup in 2003 and they have finished second to rivals Australia in the previous three World Cups so they will be desperate to go one better in Liverpool.
- New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua has named a 12-strong team, featuring the return of defenders Katrina Rore and Phoenix Karaka, midcourter Shannon Saunders and shooter Bailey Mes while Maria Folau - the wife of controversial Rugby player Israel Folau – has also been named in the squad.
- The Silver Ferns have suffered recent dips in form that included a fourth-place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games which is their worst ever finish, and with several players coming into this tournament way below their best form, they will need to show a big improvement to challenge this time around.
MALAWI
- Malawi won all of their three group games at the 2015 World Cup in Sydney and they finished sixth overall in the competition, and they will be confident of springing an upset or two in the tournament.
- The 2019 World Cup will be the Queens’ sixth appearance at a World Cup and their highest ever finish was fifth place at the 1995 World Cup which they will be motivated to surpass and they will never have a better chance than with this group of players.
- Malawi are the sixth seeds in the tournament and they automatically qualified for Liverpool as one of the top ranked teams in the world, and preparations for Liverpool have been going well and they come off a resounding 53-37 warm-up win over Northern Ireland.
THE PREDICTION
Malawi stunned New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games by claiming a historic 57-53 win over the Silver Ferns and they will fancy their chances of springing another upset here. Another close contest is anticipated between two of the top six seeds in the tournament but New Zealand are seemingly on the decline unlike their opponents here. There is every chance that New Zealand will bounce back from last year’s loss to Malawi to claim the victory at the M&S Banks Arena but Malawi are capable of edging them out in what will be another extremely close game – arguably the best of the opening round of matches.
