World Cup Group B preview

FIFA ranking: 22

Nickname: The Girls in Green

Coach: Vera PauwHow they qualified: Ireland earned five wins in eight games, including a record 11-0 victory over Georgia, in Group A of the UEFA qualifiers, finishing second behind Sweden to enter the playoffs. In the playoffs, they beat Scotland 1-0 to seal qualification for their first major tournament.

Previous tournaments: Ireland have never previously played at the World Cup or the European Championship.

Prospects: Ireland have been drawn in a tough Group B featuring hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and 11-time Women's Africa Cup of Nations winners Nigeria. Vera Pauw's side face an uphill task in reaching the knockout stage, but a 1-1 draw with third-ranked Sweden in qualifying will give them cause for optimism.

FIFA ranking: 10

Nickname: The Matildas

Coach: Tony Gustavsson

How they qualified: As co-hosts the Aussies did not have to qualify. They come into the tournament on the back of some decent form having defeated Jamaica, Spain and Czech Republic at the Cup of Nations in February. They then beat European champions England 2-0 in a friendly, ending a 30-match unbeaten run for Sarina Wiegman's side.

Previous tournaments: Australia have reached all bar one of the finals, missing out on the opening instalment in 1991. Since 2007, they have got past the group stage but have only won one knockout game, when beating Brazil 1-0 in the round of 16 in 2015. At the same stage four years ago, the Matildas lost a penalty shootout to Norway.

Prospects: As hosts Australia will again be expected to make the knockout stages and begin with a game against Vera Pauw's Ireland, where a capacity crowd of 80,000 will be in situ.

Much focus will be on captain Sam Kerr, with the Chelsea