THE SQUIZ
The Matildas came out swinging in their first Women’s World Cup match last night, beating Ireland 1-0. The Aussies had a tough start, with captain Sam Kerr ruled out at the last minute with a calf injury, but she was still there to lead her team onto the field and cheer them on. The win sets them up for their game against Nigeria next Thursday… And across the ditch, the Kiwi Football Ferns made history in their game against Norway, also winning 1-0. It was New Zealand’s first win at a World Cup, giving the team plenty to celebrate in front of a record crowd. And we didn’t mention this yesterday, but PM Anthony Albanese raised the stakes this week – he reckons a public holiday could be on the cards if the Matildas win the ultimate trophy. We’re already one step closer…

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED YESTERDAY?
A bit happened off the field… For one, a gunman opened fire at a construction site in Auckland’s CBD yesterday morning. The unnamed 24yo killed 2 people and injured another 6 before he was killed in a shoot-out with police. It happened around 7.30am local time – less than 12 hours before the Football Ferns were due to kick off the tournament opener against Norway. Teams from Norway, the US, Italy and the Philippines are staying in hotels near the shooting, but NZ PM Chris Hipkins said there was “no identified political or ideological motivation for the shooting, and therefore no national security risk”. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the shooter worked at the construction site and had a history of domestic violence and mental health issues. Still, extra officers have been stationed in the area to reassure locals and visitors.

OK… SO WHAT’S COMING UP THIS WEEKEND?
The short answer is a lot more football. The group stage is well and truly underway with games between Nigeria/Canada, the Philippines/Switzerland, and Spain/Costa Rica – and that’s just today… The weekend’s schedule (and beyond) is here. Match times are scattered throughout the day, but for once, it’ll be our friends in the Northern Hemisphere pulling all-nighters to watch the action. Beyond that, several players and coaches are hoping to break some records throughout the tournament, and if you’ve got a bit of time over a cuppa, get up to speed with what they’re chasing. As for the Matildas, sportswear giant Nike (paywall) says the team’s official jerseys are flying off the racks and outselling the Socceroos’ 2022 World Cup kit. Not that it’s a competition, right?