China PR vs Haiti will be looking to claim their first points of the Women's World Cup 2023 when they face off at the Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday.

China PR vs Haiti: Match Preview

Having both suffered opening-day defeats to Denmark and England respectively, Friday's match-up between China PR and Haiti is of paramount importance. 

Victory for either side would set up a winner-takes-all clash from their last game and condemn the other to group-stage elimination, while a draw does precious little for either side. 

China are looking to continue their record of making it to the knockout stage of every Women's World Cup they've taken part in, while Haiti are still searching for their first goal and point at the global finals. It's all to play for in Adelaide.

Team News:

China PR:

Wang Shanshan is expected to feature in the centre of the China defence with Yao Wei, while Li Mengwen and Chen Qiaozhu will operate as the two full-backs.

After being introduced at half time against Denmark, Wang Shuang could be presented with a place in the starting lineup.

Although they were unable to find the net on Saturday, China head coach Shui Qingxia is likely to persist with the forward pairing of Wu Chengshu and Lou Jiahui.

Haiti:

As for the visitors, Jennyfer Limage has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury against England.

With Limage unavailable, Ruthny Mathurin is expected to come into the backline and partner Tabita Joseph in central defence.

Melchie Dumornay gained plaudits for her performance on Matchday One, and she will be key to Haiti's chances of picking up a positive result on Friday.

China PR vs Haiti: Head to Head

• The two teams are meeting for the first time.
• China have won twice in their last ten games across competitions.
• China are making their eighth appearance as opposed to one for Haiti.
• Haiti have scored three goals and conceded 12 in five games.
• China have won twice, drawn once and lost twice in their last five games, while Haiti have lost their last five games.

All You Need Know:

• From seven global finals, China have never failed to make it out of the group stage. 
• China's defeat to Denmark means the nation have now lost their last three opening-day fixtures 1-0. At Canada 2015 and France 2019, they won the subsequent fixture by the same scoreline.
• Women's World Cup debutants Haiti have the youngest squad in the 2023 finals with an average age of 22.3 (at the start of the tournament). They had four teenagers in their starting XI in their opening match against England.
• Les Grenadieres are one of eight debutants at these global finals. 

2023 saw many iconic sporting moments throughout the 12 months. From Cristiano Ronaldo's welcome in Saudi, to Spain winning the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023, or, from Virat Kohli scoring his 50th ODI ton to Sheetal Devi shooting an archery with her legs, we have seen it all. Here's 20 iconic sports photos from the year 2023.

#20 | Healy, the photographer

#19 | Spain win the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023

#18 |Australia loves football

#17 | Messi magic in Miami

#16 |Lauren Hemp breaks Colombian hearts

#15 | Selfie of the year in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Zimbabwe 2023

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#14 | Danielle Collins' iconic serve

#13 | Postigo can do it on one foot

#12 | Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic

#11 | Cummins silences the Indian crowd

#10 | Chloe Kelly's bicycle kick

#9 | Kohli gets past the GOD

#8 | Saudi welcomes Cristiano Ronaldo

#7 | Wrestlers Protest

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#6 | Bou Samnang's inspiring last-place finish

#5 | Mad-Max-Well's double ton

#4 | Neeraj's gold and praise for Arshad

#3 | Australia crowned World Champions for sixth time

#2 | Armless archer Sheetal Devi creates history

#1 | Messi infinity

New coach Montse Tome was about to announce her squad on Friday for the Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland on September 22 and 26. Spanish Women's Football team continue to reject national team call-ups as they want more changes at the Spanish football federation following the scandal over Luis Rubiales' kiss."

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Spanish football is in the mud since Rubiales forcibly kissed midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips in front of the world's media after Spain defeated England in the Women's World Cup final on August 20 in Australia. 81 Spanish players, including the 23 world champions wrote a letter last month stating they would not play for the national team without significant changes at the head of the federation.

Since then Rubiales has resigned and the football federation sacked their controversial coach Jorge Vilda. Spanish media said the players would release a statement outlining the changes that they still expect to see before they return to the pitch.

World Cup-winning Spain midfielder Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual and a Spanish judge has summoned Rubiales to appear in court on Friday in a sexual assault investigation. Luis Rubiales stood down from his post on Sunday, three weeks after the incident during the final medal ceremony following Spain's World Cup triumph. He continued to insist on his kiss on Hermoso's lips to be consensual.

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"What we had is a spontaneous act, a mutual act, an act that both consented to, which was driven by the emotion of the moment, the happiness, so I maintain that that is the truth of what happened," Luis Rubiales told TalkTV show Piers Morgan Uncensored.

The 46-year-old described the kiss as "non-sexual". He also compared his behaviour to how he would act with his daughters. "My intentions were noble, enthusiastic, 100 percent non-sexual, 100 percent, I repeat, 100 percent," said Rubiales.

"You can imagine if you win the lottery or hopefully soon one day the war in Ukraine finishes, I mean celebrations will go on up and down the globe," he added. "People don't ask permission, it's just a happy, happy time and people celebrate. Of course, I have said it from the beginning, I made a mistake, and I apologized in a sincere manner," he further added.

Over 80 women's players went on strike from the national team. Spanish Football Federation sacked the controversial coach Jorge Vilda. The former chief stepped down on Sunday to help Spain's 2030 men's World Cup bid, as well as his family who came under pressure after his actions.

Spanish public prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against football chief Luis Rubiales for sexual assault after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent. Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rubiales faced backlash after a video went viral on the internet. Rubiales kissed Hermoso during the medal ceremony of Spain's Women's World Cup triumph in Sydney on August 20.

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"The prosecutors request that Luis Rubiales be questioned as an accused and Jenni Hermoso as a victim," the prosecutors' office said in a statement. It happened after Hermoso filed a complaint at the National Court on Tuesday, formally accusing Rubiales of sexual assault.

If the judge accepts the request, a magistrate will be assigned to head an investigation. It will end either with a recommendation for the case to go to trial or dismissed. Under Spanish law, sexual assault includes a wide array of crimes from online abuse and groping to rape, each with different penalties. The punishment for a non-consensual kiss can range from a fine to four years in prison.

Hermoso's complaint against Luis Rubiales:

Hermoso said the unwanted kiss had left her feeling "vulnerable and like the victim of an assault". On social media, she described it as "an impulsive, macho act, out of place. There were no type of consent on her part.

She also accused Rubiales of pressuring her to speak in his defense immediately after it went viral on social media. World football governing body FIFA provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days after he refused to resign from his post. 81 players went on strike from the women's side in protest after Rubiales' "false feminism" speech.

In a statement last week Rubiales reiterated that the kiss was "a mutual and consensual act" with "overflowing jubilation on both sides". The RFEF apologized for the "totally unacceptable behaviour" of Rubiales on Tuesday and fired Jorge Vilda.

The Spanish soccer federation fired Women's National Team coach Jorge Vilda, just three weeks after his team won the Women's World Cup title and the controversy involving suspended federation president Luis Rubiales.

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Jorge Vilda was among those who applauded Luis Rubiales when he refused to resign despite facing widespread criticism for kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the title celebrations in Sydney last month.

Rubiales, who also grabbed his crotch in a lewd victory gesture after the final, has been provisionally suspended by FIFA and is facing a Spanish government case against him for the conduct that prompted a storm of criticism and led to widespread calls for his resignation.