U.S. needs win to avoid elimination scenario in Women’s World Cup

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The United States arrived on the Women’s World Cup because the favorites to win an unprecedented third consecutive title. But after an underwhelming draw towards the Netherlands, there’s an actual probability the Americans might be eradicated in group play for the primary time in event historical past.

The U.S. performs Portugal within the third and last match of Group E play, and if Portugal pulls off an upset Tuesday at Eden Park in Auckland, the Americans could possibly be in huge hassle.

The United States must both win or draw towards Portugal, one in all eight groups enjoying in its first World Cup, to make sure the Americans proceed to play on this event.

“I think we feel like we have to win everything all the time,” stated American star Megan Rapinoe. “That’s the expectation for ourselves. That’s the expectation playing for U.S. national team. It’s just kind of like, `Why would you come into the World Cup if you don’t think that you should win it, and if you don’t think that you can win it?”’

The United States sits atop the group after a 3-0 victory over Vietnam within the event opener, and a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands final Thursday in Wellington. The Dutch are tied with the U.S. on factors, however the Americans have the tie-breaker on targets scored.

Portugal misplaced to the Dutch in its opener however then beat Vietnam 2-0. So if the Portuguese beat the United States, they’ll transfer on, and the Americans would then want Vietnam to beat the Dutch in Dunedin — whereas protecting their benefit on purpose differential — to advance.

“One thing is for sure, that we have a job to do and that’s first and foremost to take care of our game, so our main focus right now it our performance, our team, and Portugal,” stated U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski. “What happens on the other side is something we can’t control. We have to stay focused on the things we can control.”

Portugal may use a swarming protection to attempt to stop the United States from scoring the way in which Vietnam — unsuccessfully — performed the Americans within the opener.

Portugal defender Ana Borges stated her group will likely be ready.

“This is the stage where we want to be. It’s against these teams that we want to play because we’re going to learn and grow from them,” Borges stated. “Not saying anything about the other team, but if we weren’t prepared for this challenge, we wouldn’t be playing football.”

CHINA-ENGLAND

England is in excellent form headed into its Group D finale towards China, needing solely a draw Tuesday night time in Adelaide, Australia to win the group and advance to the spherical of 16.

Even a loss could be OK and push England via as group winners as long as Denmark doesn’t beat Haiti. If Denmark received and England misplaced, the group winner could be determined by FIFA tiebreakers.

England edged out a 1-0 victory over Haiti to open the event, then beat Denmark by the identical rating.

China misplaced 1-0 to Denmark within the opener however rebounded with a 1-0 win over Haiti and is now making an attempt to maintain its streak intact of advancing out of group play in all eight of its World Cup appearances.

It will likely be a troublesome activity: China can advance to the spherical of 16 if the Chinese beat England. But if Denmark beats Haiti, coupled with a China win, then FIFA tiebreakers would come right into a play. A loss would imply China’s solely probability at advancing could be if Haiti beat Denmark.

England and China meet for simply the fifth time, however first since a 2-1 China victory in 2015.

England has scored in every of its final 15 matches on the Women’s World Cup for a tally of 25 targets since 2015. A purpose towards China would make England the primary group to attain in 16 consecutive matches within the event.

China is seeking to win consecutive World Cup video games for the primary time since 1999.

VIETNAM-NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands need to win each match within the Women’s World Cup however none extra so than Tuesday’s sport towards Vietnam.

At stake: avoiding Sweden within the knockout spherical.

The Dutch, the event runner-up in 2019, want solely a win or a draw within the Group E match performed in Dunedin, New Zealand. And even a loss could be OK as long as the United States beats Portugal in a sport being performed concurrently.

But the Netherlands has mapped out the event and needs no a part of Sweden anytime quickly.

“The first aim is always to win and get to the last 16 and then after that if we can score goals we will, of course,” stated Dutch coach Andries Jonker. “But looking at our colleagues from the U.S. and Portugal, we’ve noticed it’s not all that easy. We’ve never shown any kind of arrogance, but if we get chances to score goals we will. We would prefer to play against the number two in this group and not Sweden.”

The Netherlands are tied with the United States for the highest spot within the group after enjoying to a 1-1 draw towards the Americans and a 1-0 win over Portugal.

Vietnam has already been eradicated from its first Women’s World Cup following losses to the United States and Portugal. Vietnam has misplaced its final 5 internationals by a mixed rating of 18-1.

“The Netherlands tries to have as many goals as possible, and I have to say we are at a low level,” stated Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung. “If we compare with Asia, we’re still at a low level. So if we compare with the world, we are still quite behind. It is a success for us already. In the past two matches we have tried our best. Great effort already.”

HAITI-DENMARK

First-time Women’s World Cup participant Haiti want to stick round a bit longer however wants a miracle towards within the Group D finale towards Denmark to have any shot to advance.

Haiti must beat Denmark within the Tuesday match performed in Perth, Australia, and hope England beats China. If each these issues occur, Haiti’s solely probability would nonetheless come right down to FIFA’s tiebreaker system.

It’s very lengthy odds for Haiti, which has performed higher on this event than its 0-2 file reveals. Haiti held each England and China to at least one purpose every within the first two matches.

Haiti is on a six-game dropping streak headed into what might be its last sport of this event.

Denmark, in the meantime, is making an attempt to advance to the group stage for the primary time since 1995. Denmark was a 1-0 winner over China to begin the event, then misplaced 1-0 to England and heads into the sport tied for second within the group with China with three factors every.

A win over Haiti pushes Denmark via to the subsequent spherical as long as England doesn’t lose to China. That state of affairs would put tiebreakers into play.

The Danes, within the event for the primary time since 2007, may also get via with a draw, however once more, provided that England beats China.

Denmark has received 5 of its final seven worldwide matches.