FIFA Women’s World Cup Group E Preview: U.S. looks to defend title amidst newcomers

The U.S. girls’s soccer program is without doubt one of the giants within the sport. Winning the Women’s World Cup in France in 2019 and in Canada in 2015, they are going to be aiming to three-peat as they arrive into the event ranked first on this planet within the newest FIFA rankings.

Standing of their means is the staff they defeated in that 2019 ultimate, Netherlands, who will probably be seeking to get their revenge from that 2-0 loss. On the opposite facet of the group are Vietnam and Portugal, two groups enjoying within the Women’s World Cup for the primary time.

GROUP A SCHEDULE

July 22: United States vs. Vietnam (9 p.m. ET)

July 23: Netherlands vs. Portugal (3:30 a.m. ET)

July 27: United States vs. Netherlands (9 p.m. ET)

July 27: Portugal vs. Vietnam (3:30 a.m. ET)

Aug 1: Portugal vs. United States (3 a.m. ET)

Aug. 1: Vietnam vs. Netherlands  (3 a.m. ET)

THE TEAMS

UNITED STATES

FIFA world rating: 1
Odds to win the World Cup: +239 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: -357 (by way of Sports Interaction)

Previous World Cup appearances: 8
Best displaying: 1991, 1995, 2015, 2019 (Champions)
2019 World Cup: Champions

Manager: Vlatko Andonovski
Probable formation: 4-4-3

Probable beginning XI: Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) — Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage), Alana Cook (OL Reign), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns) — Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Julie Ertz (Angel City FC), Lindsay Horan (Lyon) — Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns)

THE BIG QUESTION: Can the U.S. win the World Cup with Megan Rapinoe one final time?

THE PULSE: It’s no secret that two-time defending champion Americans are the perfect staff on this planet, consistently reloading with younger star expertise, with Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith seeking to be on the entrance traces scoring massive objectives, in addition to Naomi Girma controlling the backline.

They even have the veteran presence of Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara, Alyssa Naeher and the return of Julie Ertz, who all have at the least three World Cups below their belts coming to Australia and New Zealand.

However, the U.S. may have 14 World Cup first-timers on this competitors and lacking would be the likes of Mallory Swanson, Catarina Macario, Sam Mewis and captain Becky Sauerbrunn. While they nonetheless have energy of their depth, they should rely extra on younger stars with so many veterans sidelined.

THE X-FACTOR: In 2022, Smith turned the youngest NWSL MVP within the league’s historical past, main the Portland Thorns to a 3rd league title, whereas additionally including 11 worldwide objectives to turn into the youngest participant to guide the USWNT in scoring in a calendar yr since 1993.

With 10 objectives and 5 assists in 13 NWSL matches this season, and having each Swanson and Macario out of the World Cup, the U.S. will probably be counting on the 22-year-old to ship the highlight-worthy objectives as she makes her World Cup debut.

NETHERLANDS

FIFA world rating: 9
Odds to win the World Cup: +2,155 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +264 (by way of Sports Interaction)

Previous World Cup appearances: 2
Best displaying: France 2019 (Runners-up)
2019 World Cup: Lost 2-0 to U.S. in ultimate

Manager: Andries Jonker
Probable formation: 4-2-3-1

Probable beginning XI: Daphne van Domselaar    (Aston Villa), Stefanie van der Gragt (Inter Milan), Dominique Janssen (Wolfsburg), Sherida Spitse (Ajax), Jackie Groenen (PSG), Jill Roord (Manchester City), Daniëlle van de Donk (Lyon), Victoria Pelova (Arsenal), Esmee Brugts (PSV), Lineth Beerensteyn (Juventus), Lieke Martens (PSG)

THE BIG QUESTION: How will the OranjeLeeuwinnen fare with out all-time main scorer Vivianne Miedema?

THE PULSE: In their first-ever World Cup, Netherlands superior to the knockout stage, and adopted that efficiency up with a EURO 2017 title. In their second World Cup in France, they managed to make all of it the way in which to the ultimate, falling 2-0 to the U.S.

But after struggling an ACL harm that ended her membership season with Arsenal, the Dutch facet will probably be with out all-time main scorer Miedema, which implies that Lieke Martens, Jill Roord, and Daniëlle van de Donk will probably be anticipated to be attacking threats in her absence.

The Dutch not solely have prior expertise in opposition to the Americans in a high-stakes match, but additionally have current expertise in opposition to Portugal, defeating them within the group stage of the 2022 EURO. They are anticipated to make it out of the group with ease, however will probably be seeking to get the higher of U.S. this World Cup.

THE X-FACTOR: Coming off heartbreak within the Champions League ultimate with Wolfsburg, Roord will hope to have a happier ending representing her nation on the World Cup. She has already proven up in massive moments, scoring a stoppage time aim in opposition to New Zealand in 2019.

The technicality of Roord’s recreation consists of having the ability to use each of her ft and move with medical precision. She 21 objectives in 86 worldwide caps and will probably be relied on not solely to attain, however use her aggression and approach on the ball to create performs as nicely.

VIETNAM

FIFA world rating: 32
Odds to win the World Cup: +50,000 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +46,300 (by way of Sports Interaction)

Previous World Cup appearances: None
Best displaying: N/A
2019 World Cup: N/A 

Manager: Mai Duc Chung
Probable formation: 5-4-1

Probable beginning XI: GK: Tran Thi Kim Thanh (Ho Chi Minh City), Tran Thi Thu (Ho Chi Minh City), Hoang Thi Loan (Hanoi), Le Thi Diem My (Than KSVN), Tran Thi Thu Thao (Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Hanoi), Tran Nguyen Bao Chau (Ho Chi Minh City), Vu Thi Hoa (Ho Chi Minh City), Huynh Nhu (Lank Vilaverdense), Pham Hai Yen (Hanoi), Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha (Hanoi)

THE BIG QUESTION: Can Vietnam shock a gaggle with two girls’s soccer giants and make it to the knockout spherical of their first-ever Women’s World Cup?

THE PULSE: Vietnam joins a gaggle of nations who will probably be showcasing on the Women’s World Cup for the primary time, and must open their marketing campaign in opposition to two-time defending Women’s World Cup champion U.S.

Vietnam secured a gold medal in a 2-0 win over Myanmar on the Southeast Asian Games, and their squad comes into this World Cup with veteran expertise from gamers like captain Huỳnh Như and Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung.

They will definitely have an uphill climb in opposition to groups with current international triumph just like the U.S. and Netherlands, however they’ve seen success in Asia and hope to carry that to Australia and New Zealand.

THE X-FACTOR: Như is the staff’s predominant striker, profitable Vietnam’s Golden Ball 5 occasions. She continued to impress by scoring seven objectives with Länk in Portugal this previous season. As such, she has expertise in opposition to many gamers from one other of the groups in Group E.

She has netted netted 67 objectives in 72 appearances for Vietnam and would be the participant to lock down for any opposing staff defender.

PORTUGAL

FIFA world rating: 21
Odds to win the World Cup: +12,100 (by way of Sports Interaction)
Odds to win the group: +4,344 (by way of Sports Interaction)

Previous World Cup appearances: None
Best displaying: N/A
2019 World Cup: N/A

Manager: Francisco Neto
Probable formation: 4-4-2

Probable beginning XI: Ines Pereira (Servette), Carole Costa (Benfica), Diana Gomes (Sevilla), Catarina Amado (Benfica), Dolores Silva (Braga), Andreia Norton (Benfica), Tatiana Pinto (Levante), Kika Nazareth (Benfica), Diana Silva (Sporting), Ana Borges (Sporting), Jessica Silva (Benfica)

THE BIG QUESTION: Will Portugal have the ability to get their EURO revenge on Netherlands and make an exit out of Group E?

THE PULSE: No one needed to play extra qualification video games than Portugal to get to the Women’s World Cup, enjoying 13 and defeating Belgium and Iceland in European playoffs earlier than Carole Costa’s penalty in further time in opposition to Cameroon secured a spot.

The Portuguese solely made their first look on the EURO in 2017, and returned in 2022, consistently rising as a nationwide program. The staff has 19 gamers coming to the World Cup who performed within the 2022 EURO occasion.

Seven gamers even have 100 or extra worldwide caps, bringing chemistry and veteran expertise to the group that can face groups like Netherlands and United States.

THE X-FACTOR: With Levante UD final season, Tatiana Pinto scored 12 objectives and tallied three assists, serving to the staff end third within the Spanish league. Pinto was named participant of the match within the recreation that despatched Portugal to the World Cup.

A artistic midfielder who will drive her staff ahead and assist create offensive possibilities in opposition to powerful defenders, she will probably be anticipated to help in getting the ball within the web alongside Kika Nazareth and Ana Borges.