Norway takes care of Thailand with 4-0 win World Cup opener

OTTAWA — FIFA's decision to expand the women's World Cup field looks like it will tune up the tournament contenders just fine.

Norway beat Thailand 4-0 on Sunday to open Group B with a resounding victory that could have been even more lopsided if not for some sloppy finishing by the victors.

Thailand, making its debut as the tournament stretches from 16 to 24 teams, was easily outmatched against the 1995 champion.

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There was little doubt from kickoff that a Thai victory would be a gargantuan task.

"It did not feel like a warm-up match. We were nervous about the quality of the Thailand team," said Norway coach Even Pellerud, whose team has never missed out on qualifying for the finals. "I thought they challenged us in the beginning of the match. But our physical strength was better and we are more tactically mature team, which brought us the win."

Thailand coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian said her team's inexperience was omnipresent in its World Cup debut.

"We saw different tactics at this level. They play many different ways, they play differently than how we do in Asia. We will play a different style in the next game," Srathongvian said through a translator.

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Thailand had three shots on goal but even an early miss that would have given them the lead would not have changed the final outcome.

"It would not be that much different because we are playing with a superior team," said Srathongvian, whose team had lost 7-0 to Netherlands in a friendly earlier this year. "Getting the first goal would have been a morale boost more than anything."

Fans at Lansdowne Stadium were treated to many more goals later Sunday as two-time champion and top-ranked Germany played newcomer Ivory Coast. The German side led 5-0 at the half.

"There is going to be a transition period where the gap between the higher ranked and lower ranked teams is big. Playing at the World Cup will help that," Norway defender Nora Holstad said. "They have learned a lot since playing the Netherlands in January, they don't play as romantically. Just give them a couple of years."

GALLERY: Defining images from the Women's World Cup opening day

2015 Women's World Cup: Defining images from the opening day

Shuéme, the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup official mascot, roams the sidelines at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Dancers take to the field with flags representing the different participating nations during the opening ceremony at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

Children perform on the field at Commonwealth Stadium during the opening ceremony ahead of Canada's match vs. China.

Fireworks go off at one of the ends of Commonwealth Stadium during the Women's World Cup opening ceremony.

Canada captain Christine Sinclair's jersey and armband hang in her locker at Commonwealth Stadium.

Canada and China's starting lineups take to the field ahead of the national anthems.

A crowd of 53,058 was on hand for Canada-China, a Canadian record for any national team in any sport.

Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod makes a first-half save on Gu Yasha to keep the upstart visitors off the board.

Christine Sinclair takes the penalty kick in stoppage time, after Ukrainian referee Natalia Rachynska ruled that Adriana Leon was fouled by Rong Zhao.

Weng Fei watches as Christine Sinclair's penalty kick sneaks by her and just inside the post in stoppage time of a 1-0 Canada win over China.

Christine Sinclair celebrates her converted penalty, to the dismay of her Chinese counterparts.

Christine Sinclair runs over to the bench, led by manager John Herdman, after giving Canada a 1-0 lead over China.

Canada players run over to the corner to celebrate with their home fans after opening the Women's World Cup with a 1-0 win over China.

Canada players take a group bow in front of the home support.

It's thumbs up for Christine Sinclair, whose late penalty gave Canada the opening three points of the Women's World Cup.

Netherlands and New Zealand players walk through the tunnel out to the Commonwealth Stadium field for their Group A encounter in the Women's World Cup.

Lieke Martens is mobbed by her teammates after lacing a 20-yard rocket for the Netherlands' first Women's World Cup goal in the nation's debut match in the competition.

Netherlands players pile on Lieke Martens after her sensational goal.

Netherlands goalkeeper Loes Geurts defends a corner kick against New Zealand's Hannah Wilkinson and Sarah Gregorius.

Netherlands players celebrate a 1-0 win over New Zealand, the nation's first win in a Women's World Cup.