AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The United States, considered the top contender for an unprecedented third consecutive Women’s World Cup title, faces an uncertain fate after a lackluster draw against the Netherlands. For the first time in tournament history, there is a real possibility that the Americans might not advance past the group stage.
In their last Group E match at Eden Park in Auckland, the U.S. will take on Portugal, one of the eight teams making their World Cup debut. If Portugal manages to upset the Americans on Tuesday, it could spell significant trouble for the U.S. team.
To secure their place in the tournament, the United States must either secure a victory or settle for a draw against Portugal. The stakes are high as they strive to continue their journey in this prestigious competition.
“I believe we have this constant feeling that we need to win every single time,” expressed American soccer star Megan Rapinoe. “It’s not only an expectation we set for ourselves, but it’s also the standard when representing the U.S. national team. It’s like asking, ‘Why participate in the World Cup if you don’t believe you can win it and should win it?'”
The United States currently leads the group standings following a convincing 3-0 win against Vietnam in their opening match of the tournament, and a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in Wellington last Thursday. Although the U.S. and the Netherlands are tied on points, the Americans hold the tiebreaker advantage due to their superior goal difference.
As for Portugal, they suffered a defeat in their opener against the Dutch but bounced back with a 2-0 victory over Vietnam. If Portugal manages to defeat the United States in their upcoming match, they will advance to the next stage. In that scenario, the U.S. would then need Vietnam to secure a win against the Netherlands in Dunedin while maintaining their advantage in goal differential to progress.
Despite the complex situation, U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski emphasized that the team’s primary focus remains on their own performance and the upcoming game against Portugal. The outcome of the other match is beyond their control, so they are fully committed to giving their best in their own match and dealing with what they can influence.
Portugal might adopt a swarming defense strategy to hinder the United States from scoring, much like how Vietnam attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, in the tournament opener.
Portuguese defender Ana Borges expressed her team’s readiness for the challenge, stating that this is precisely the stage they aspire to be in. Playing against strong teams like the United States provides valuable learning opportunities and facilitates their growth as a team. Borges emphasized that their preparedness for this demanding challenge is a testament to their passion for the sport and their commitment to football.
In a separate group, England enters its Group D finale against China in a favorable position. A mere draw on Tuesday night in Adelaide, Australia, would be sufficient for England to secure the top spot in the group and progress to the round of 16.
England finds itself in a favorable position heading into its Group D finale against China. Even if England were to lose the match, they would still advance as group winners, provided that Denmark doesn’t defeat Haiti. In such a scenario, the group winner would be determined based on FIFA tiebreakers.
In their earlier matches, England secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Haiti and repeated the same scoreline in their win against Denmark.
As for China, they started with a 1-0 loss to Denmark in the tournament opener but rebounded with a 1-0 victory over Haiti. With their eyes set on maintaining their impressive track record of advancing out of group play in all eight of their World Cup appearances, China is now faced with a challenging task. A win against England would guarantee their progress to the round of 16. However, if Denmark manages to defeat Haiti, and China secures a victory as well, the FIFA tiebreakers will be used to determine the group winner. On the other hand, a loss for China would leave their only chance at advancing dependent on Haiti defeating Denmark.
The encounter between England and China will mark their fifth meeting, with the most recent match resulting in a 2-1 victory for China in 2015.
England has been consistent in finding the net at the Women’s World Cup, having scored in each of its last 15 matches, accumulating a total of 25 goals since 2015. If they manage to score against China, England will achieve a remarkable feat, becoming the first team in the tournament’s history to score in 16 consecutive matches.
On the other hand, China is eager to achieve consecutive victories in the World Cup, a feat they haven’t accomplished since 1999.
In another match, the Netherlands is highly motivated to secure a victory against Vietnam. The Dutch team is determined to win every game in the Women’s World Cup, and Tuesday’s match against Vietnam holds particular significance as it could affect their knockout round opponent. Avoiding Sweden in the knockout round is a top priority for the Netherlands, and a win against Vietnam would play a crucial role in achieving that objective.
In Group E, the Netherlands, the runner-up in the 2019 Women’s World Cup, only needs a win or a draw in their match against an already eliminated Vietnam in Dunedin, New Zealand, to advance to the knockout stage. Even if they lose, they can still progress as long as the United States beats Portugal in a simultaneous game.
However, the Netherlands is determined to secure a win and avoid the possibility of facing Sweden in the knockout round. Dutch coach Andries Jonker expressed that their primary focus is to reach the last 16, and if opportunities to score goals arise, they will take them. Nevertheless, they do not underestimate their opponents and approach the game with respect and caution.
Meanwhile, Vietnam, in their debut Women’s World Cup appearance, has unfortunately been eliminated after consecutive losses to the United States and Portugal. Despite the challenging results, Vietnam’s coach, Mai Duc Chung, acknowledges that they are still at a lower level compared to other teams, especially on the global stage. Nevertheless, he is proud of their efforts and sees the experience as a success for Vietnam.
In Group D, Haiti, also making their Women’s World Cup debut, faces an uphill battle to advance. Haiti needs to defeat Denmark in their match in Perth, Australia, and hope that England secures a victory over China. Even with these outcomes, their advancement would depend on FIFA’s tiebreaker system, making it a tough task for the Haitian team.
Haiti has shown promise in the tournament, despite their 0-2 record, holding both England and China to one goal each in their matches. However, they are up against the odds in what might be their final game of the tournament.
For Denmark, the objective is to advance to the group stage for the first time since 1995. Having won their opening match against China and suffered a loss to England, Denmark finds itself tied for second place in the group with China, each with three points.
A victory against Haiti would secure Denmark’s progression, provided England doesn’t lose to China. In that scenario, tiebreakers would come into play. Alternatively, Denmark can also advance with a draw, but again, only if England wins their match against China.
Overall, Denmark’s recent form has been impressive, winning five of their last seven international matches.
