TODAY’S GAMES

Norway vs. Canada

* Time--3 p.m. * TV--ESPN2.

* Site--Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Md.

* Update--The world champion Norwegians had trouble finishing against Russia, despite numerous scoring chances in a 2-1 victory. Chances are Coach Per-Mathias Hogmo will give Ann Kristin Aarones, the top scorer in the 1995 World Championships, the opportunity to remedy matters. Still recovering from an injury, she didn’t play against Russia. The Canadians played to a 1-1 tie in their opener with Japan, ostensibly the weakest team in Group C. “We came in expecting to win,” Canadian midfielder Charmaine Hooper said. Now, winning becomes even more difficult.

* Prediction--Norway by two goals.

Australia vs. Sweden

* Time--5:30 p.m. * TV--ESPN2.

* Site--Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover, Md.

* Update--There is more pressure on the Swedes than the Australians in this Group D match. Another loss, after a 2-1 defeat by China, will probably end Sweden’s quarterfinal--and therefore Olympic--hopes. The top seven finishers in the World Cup, plus Australia, qualify for the Summer Games next year. The Aussies have a point from their 1-1 tie with Ghana and qualify automatically as Sydney 2000 hosts, so they will be more relaxed. Swedish Coach Marika Domanski Lyfors said her team should have beaten China. “If we meet them [again] in the semifinals, we’ll beat them,” she said. Getting there is the difficult part.

* Prediction--Sweden by a goal.

Japan vs. Russia

* Time--6 p.m. * TV--ESPN2 (tape-delayed at 7:30).

* Site--Civic Stadium, Portland, Ore.

* Update--Having played a solid game, even in defeat, against Norway in Foxboro, Mass., Russia changes coasts and takes on a team that should pose less of a problem. Japan does not match up well in size with the Russians and although the Japanese have quick, skillful players, they are likely to find themselves bulldozed off the ball more often than not. A victory would put Russia in good stead to reach the quarterfinals at Canada’s expense in Group C.

* Prediction--Russia by three goals.

China vs. Ghana

* Time--8:30 p.m. * TV--ESPN2 (tape-delayed at 9:30).

* Site--Civic Stadium, Portland, Ore.

* Update--China’s coach, Ma Yuanan, was not satisfied with the opening victory over Sweden in which his team had to come from behind. “They played more aggressively than we did, and gave us a lot of trouble,” Ma said. Which is what Ghana will have to do tonight. Unfortunately, as shown in their tie with Australia, the Ghanaians have more heart than skill. The exception is forward Vivian Mensah, but she alone will not be able to delay China’s passage into the quarterfinals.

* Prediction--China by two goals.