WATCH Norway v Australia FIFA Women's World Cup round of 16 clash LIVE, FREE and in HD on SBS from 4:25am (AEST) Sunday morning or stream live via The World Game website / app.
From now on the calculus is simple: it’s do or die.
There are no more second chances. If the Matildas are going to meet their stated goal, of going further than ever before – to the semi-finals or beyond – they cannot afford slip ups.
“If, buts and maybes don’t wash with me,” a defiant Australian boss Ante Milicic said on Friday.
"I’m not interested in thinking about if we lose.”
But the world number 12 Norwegians are a stern round of 16 test.
Although missing star Ada Hegerberg, who has boycotted the tournament, Norway easily beat Korea Republic and Nigeria in Group A and were valiant in defeat against hosts France.
In recent encounters the Australians have had the edge against the Grasshoppers.
The Matildas knocked Norway out of the 2011 World Cup, and recorded a 4-3 win at the Algarve Cup last year.
But history will count for little when the two sides walk out on Saturday evening, with everything to play for.
Here’s what we will be looking for in Nice.
1. Who will win the battle between Kerr and Mjelde?
After Australian ace Sam Kerr scored four goals against Jamaica, it was hardly surprising that all Norwegian eyes turned to the striker in fear.
Kerr might meet her match in Norway’s Maren Mjelde, captain and the most-experienced player in the squad.
The Chelsea defender will likely spend her night in Nice marking Kerr, and whic player comes out ahead in that duel could be decisive to the overall outcome.
But Australian boss Milicic was at pains to stress the importance of a team performance when asked by a journalist whether the match would be “Sam Kerr v Norway”.
“We work as a team together,” he said.
“Our playing style and principles are about all 11 players being involved on and off the ball.”
2. Will Australia’s other attackers please stand up?
If Milicic’s words are to be more than just platitudes, he will need his entire strike force to shine – the Sam Kerr show might not be enough to overcome a compact Norway.
“They are a very well organised team – they have a very good structure,” the Matildas boss conceded.
“They are a completely different opponent to what we have come up against in the first three games.”
Australia started Kerr, Lisa De Vanna and Emily Gielnik up front against Jamaica, and Milicic indicated that revisions to the attacking line-up were likely.
“It’s very important to get some fresh legs into the line-up, especially in those wide areas,” he said.
“We’re looking at a couple of changes.”
3. Where will Norway’s goals come from?
It remains unclear whether Norway’s star striker, Caroline Graham Hansen, will play.
The 24-year-old injured her ankle against Korea, but returned to training on Friday.
Hansen’s attacking threat is critical for the Norwegians; their last four goals have come from penalties or own goals.
If Hansen doesn’t start, Norway boss Martin Sjogren might turn to former Canberra United player Elise Thorsnes or hope for goals from emerging midfield danger Guro Reiten.
Milicic wouldn’t be drawn on the injury speculation at the pre-match press conference.
“Whether [Hansen] plays or she doesn’t play, we can’t control that,” he said.
“We don’t change our playing style based on one world class player.
“We respect the opposition and the individual quality they have, but in the end we believe in our players and our playing style.”
4. How many fans will fill the Allianz Riviera?
With 36,178 seats, the venue for Sunday morning's (AEST) clash is the third largest stadium being used during the tournament, behind only Lyon and Paris.
And yet the crowds to date have been underwhelming.
While the stadium was almost full for France’s group stage clash with Norway, just 13,000 people turned up for England against Scotland and only a thousand more when England met Japan.
The crowd didn’t even reach five digits for Sweden’s match with Thailand.
These fan shortfalls are not unique to the Mediterranean hub – FIFA and the local organising committee can be blamed for an absence of engagement in many host cities.
But it is particularly noticeable at the cavernous arena.
Whether the hype of the knock-out round draws more fans, and provides an appropriate backdrop for this important clash, will be an indicator of the extent to which the French are being swept up by World Cup fever.
5. Will fitness be a factor?
The Matildas have been the walking wounded in recent games, with a number of players unavailable.
But Milicic was buoyant about his squad in the pre-match press conference, indicating that Tameka Yallop, Clare Polkinghorne, Emily van Egmond, Chloe Logarzo and Elise Kellond-Knight had all overcome injury or fatigue concerns.
“At this stage we have all 23 available for selection,” he said.
But after a gruelling playing and travel schedule over the past two weeks, the Australians will face a physical test.
Norway had an extra day’s rest, and that additional 24 hours could be crucial – particularly if the match extends to 120 minutes and possibly penalties.
However, midfielder Yallop has no concerns.
“Everyone is feeling pretty fresh and raring to go,” she said.
Kieran Pender is covering the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup for The World Game. Follow him on Twitter:
