London 2012 Football: 10 Bold Predictions for Great Britain vs. New Zealand

Hope Powell's Team Great Britain open up group play in the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games women's football tournament on Wednesday with an afternoon tilt against Tony Readings's New Zealand.

Team GB are the hosts, while New Zealand won the 2012 OFC Women's Pre-Olympic Football Tournament.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. BST at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Here are 10 Bold Predictions for Wednesday's Group E match.

1. Free-Flowing Football: Over Four Goals Scored

There are going to be a lot of goals in this contest. It might as well be a Commonwealth Games match, even though football is not on their programme. There will be at least five goals scored, and the action will be free-flowing.

2. Team Great Britain Strikes First

Team Great Britain will open up the scoring in this contest. Birmingham City's Eniola Aluko will be keen to establish the tempo within the first 15 minutes. Aluko has scored 11 goals in 61 appearances for England.

3. Kelly Smith with a Brace

Arguably the most prolific goal scorer in English women's football history, Arsenal's Kelly Smith will bag a brace for Team GB on Wednesday.

As a member of the Gunners, Smith has scored 73 goals in 66 appearances, and as a member of the England women's national team, Smith has scored 45 goals in 111 caps.

4. Anita Asante with 2 Assists

Midfielder Anita Asante of Goteborg has 55 international caps to her credit. This midfielder, who was a household name in the now-defunct WPS, is capable to creating opportunities for the likes of Aluko, Smith and Karen Carney. Asante will get two assists in this match.

5. Under Five Saves for Karen Bardsley

I am tipping Karen Bardsley of Linkopings to get the start for this match against New Zealand. Thanks to a competent back line that includes Ifeoma Dieke, Alex Scott, Sophie Bradley and Claire Rafferty, Bardsley won't be tested much on Wednesday in Wales.

Look for under five saves from the GB keeper.

6. Amber Hearn on the Scoresheet for New Zealand

Forward Amber Hearn of FF USV Jena has 23 goals in 49 appearances for the Football Ferns. Hearn is capable of sliding one past Bardsley, and she will do so but it won't be an easy look on goal.

7. Jenny Bindon Faces the Team GB Firing Squad

Poor Jenny Bindon.

A goalkeeper with 60 international caps to her credit, she could be hung out to dry from the firepower Team Great Britain possesses. Still, she will hold her own, if in a losing effort. Bindon will have at least five saves to her credit.

8. Under 15 Fouls and Three Yellows

The intensity in this match will be there, but it won't be as strong as in the men's tournament. The referee for this match will let the players play, it seems. So look for under 15 fouls and fewer than three yellow cards issued, if any.

9. Fast Start for Team Great Britain at Halftime

On paper, this looks like a mismatch. And it will be a mismatch. Goals from Eniola Aluko and Kelly Smith will pace Team Great Britain to a commanding 2-0 lead at halftime over New Zealand.

10. Team Great Britain Starts off the Olympics in Style

Team Great Britain is going to start these Olympics in emphatic fashion.

To be fair, their biggest test won't be until July 31, when they face Marta, Cristiane and Brazil. Team GB will be wise to treat this match as a warm-up for that contest, as well as the one against Cameroon on July 28. The home side with the rout.

Great Britain 4, New Zealand 1