Thursday’s World Cup matches feature unlikely upstarts who faced top contenders in their opening games and fared better than most expectations. Portugal and Vietnam, both World Cup debutantes, will be vying on Thursday for their first-ever wins. Australia vs. Nigeria Australia will be without star striker Sam Kerr for a second straight game. Nigeria is emerging as a threat after its performance against Canada, but is also no stranger to the World Cup stage — the Nigerians advanced to the round of 16 in 2019 and have qualified for all nine World Cup tournaments. Playing in its fourth World Cup, Argentina is still hunting for its first-ever win.

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Persons: Bradley Kanaris, Sam Kerr, Kerr, upstarts, Thi Kim Thanh Tran, Alex Morgan, Simply, Mary Fowler, Aivi Luik, Tony Gustavsson, Fowler, Luik Organizations: Australia, Canada, ., Nigeria, Ireland, South Locations: Portugal, Vietnam, Nigeria, Australia, Nigerian, Vietnam Portugal, Netherlands, United States, American, . Nigeria Australia, Argentina, Africa South Africa, Sweden, South Africa, Dunedin , New Zealand, Italy