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Oh so nearly from the set-piece.

Norway keeper Aurora Mikalsen comes for the cross but is beaten. Japan skipper Saki Kumagai can't nod the ball in though as a Norwegian defender desperately gets there first to head away.

Siobhan Chamberlain
Ex-England and Man Utd goalkeeper on ITV1

Japan are so comfortable with the ball in tight places.

They will play out from the back, one or two touch - all across the pitch, they are all technically excellent players.

Image source, Getty Images

Japan win an early corner. Will they make this count?

Norway continue to drop back so tournament top scorer Hinata Miyazawa has a pop from range.

Her dipping effort skids off target but it's another warning sign. Japan are ramping up the pressure.

Pink? Purple? Lilac?

Certainly colourful.

Fan of the Japan second kit? Hit the thumbs.

Image source, Getty Images

Japan keep the pressure up with two more dangerous crosses into the Norway box.

The first is just behind Mina Tanaka, while the second sees Risa Shimizu slice the ball over the head of keeper Aurora Mikalsen and narrowly wide of the goal.

It's one-way stuff.

Norway have dropped very deep already, it could be a very long morning/evening for their supporters.

Siobhan Chamberlain
Ex-England and Man Utd goalkeeper on ITV1

This has the potential to be a brilliant game.

Norway have had a really stuttering start to the tournament and Japan have been phenomenal.

For me, Norway have got to be physical, they've got to mix it up and disrupt this Japan side.

Early chance already for Japan as Norway don't clear the ball away and keeper Aurora Mikalsen just gets a hand to deflect away Aoba Fujino's low cross.

Top start for the 2011 champions.

Here we go! Japan, in their purple away kit, kick things off.

National anthems done. We're nearly ready!

A handy reminder, the winners of this tie will face Sweden or reigning champions the USA in the quarter-finals on Friday, 11 August.

I love this. The cameras in the tunnel briefly pick up Norway captain Maren Mjelde sharing a joke with a mascot.

The pair smile before Mjelde puts on her game face.

Image source, Getty Images

Japan's fans always bring colour and enthusiasm.

Image source, Getty Images

Eniola Aluko
Former England forward on ITV1

Japan have added a ruthlessness to their game that in past years wasn't there.

They are defensively very solid too - a complete team.

Japan will be super confident but Norway might have a siege mentality - I'm looking forward to seeing how it pans out.

Japan will be full of confidence after topping a difficult Group C with a 100% win record and without conceding.

"The atmosphere of the team, the strength of the team, is being realised well in this World Cup," Japan head coach Futoshi Ikeda said earlier this week.

"Each player is performing their role. They're not only performing to their own capacity, but they are working as a unit. It's all about the collective."

• This will be the second meeting between Japan and Norway at the Women's World Cup, after a 4-0 win for the Norwegians in the group stage in 1999 - current Norway coach Riise scored the opening goal from the penalty spot.
• Japan have scored 11 goals in three games at this Women's World Cup and are only one goal away from their best scoring performance of 12 in 2011 when they lifted the trophy (six games).
• Japan have progressed to the knockout stage for the fifth time and for the fourth time in a row. They have won four of their previous five games played against European sides in the knockout stage of the competition but lost the most recent one, 2-1 against the Netherlands in the last 16 in 2019.
• Norway have qualified for the knockout stage for the eighth time in nine appearances in the competition, only failing in 2011. They managed to progress to the next stage the last two times they faced teams from the AFC in the knockout stage, the most recent being in 2019 when they beat Australia in a penalty shootout in the last 16.

Image source, Getty Images

Star forward Ada Hegerberg is only fit enough to make the bench against Japan. Norway boss Hege Riise had been hopeful this week that the Lyon striker could play a full 90 minutes.

"We know we have two good number nine target forwards and that's a luxury for me as a coach," Riise said on Friday.

"The goal is to get her [Hegerberg] ready for the match and then we will have to see how ready she will be, whether she can play 90 minutes or shorter.

"We'll see who will be available and playing from the start."

Former Ballon d'Or winner Hegerberg made her only start of the tournament in Norway's opening defeat against New Zealand, a result Riise called a "devastating" wake-up call.

"But after that we got better step by step and when we needed a good win we went on to play Philippines and won 6-0. So confidence in the team is rising," Riise added.

I thought Norway were down and out after they lost their first game to New Zealand. They have turned it around, but still are a bit fortunate to be in the last 16.

Japan, in contrast, have been sensational. They have appeared unbeatable so far and look like one of the best teams in the tournament.

The way this World Cup has been going, with the number of shocks we have already seen, that probably means Japan are going out - but based on the way they have been playing, they will surely win this tie.

Japan 2-0 Norway.