In a highly anticipated rematch of the 2019 Women's World Cup final, the United States women's national team (USWNT) will face the Netherlands in their Group E encounter on Thursday at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. The match is set to kick off at 1pm local time (01:00 GMT).
The USWNT, seeking an unprecedented three-peat and currently ranked as the world's top team, will look to continue their success in the tournament and secure a victory against one of the best teams in the world. The Netherlands, ranked ninth in FIFA women's rankings, will aim to prove themselves and close the gap on the dominant US team.
Both teams are no strangers to each other, having faced off multiple times in recent major tournaments. The Americans triumphed over the Dutch in the 2019 World Cup final, winning their fourth crown. They also defeated the Netherlands again in the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics, this time in a penalty shootout.
US head coach Vlatko Andonovski expressed confidence in his team, stating that they will do "whatever it takes" to win. He believes that the unknowns and unpredictability of the US squad, along with the freedom and lack of stress displayed by their young players, could give them an advantage. However, Netherlands coach Andries Jonker remains undaunted and believes his team has the ability to compete with the US. He expects the match to showcase an "example of modern women's football" as the closely-matched teams battle for top spot in Group E. Jonker also noted that the Netherlands, along with the rest of the world, are closing in on the United States in terms of development and skill.
The Dutch will be without their all-time leading goal scorer Vivianne Miedema, who is out injured. However, they can rely on the experience of their 2019 World Cup squad, which remains largely intact. In terms of team news, the defending champions, the USWNT, are expected to field an unchanged team after their convincing 3-0 win over Vietnam in their opening match of the tournament. Star forward Alex Morgan will be looking to find her scoring form after missing a penalty in the previous match. On the other hand, the Netherlands will likely go with the same squad that secured a 1-0 victory over Portugal in their first match.
The head-to-head record between the two teams heavily favors the United States, with the Americans having won eight out of their nine previous meetings. The Netherlands have not beaten the US since 1996.
The match between the USWNT and the Netherlands will be broadcast globally, and fans can also follow a live blog on the match day. In a previous Group E match, the USWNT kicked off their campaign against Vietnam, winning 3-0. The team's attention is now solely focused on their upcoming match against the Netherlands. The US players are determined not to underestimate Vietnam and will approach the game with full concentration and dedication. Vietnam, ranked 32nd in the world, are tournament debutants but have proven themselves as three-time ASEAN champions and reigning South East Asian champions. Despite being placed in a tough group, which also includes the Netherlands and Portugal, Vietnam will look to cause an upset and make their mark in their first World Cup appearance. The US team acknowledges that Vietnam's style of play may differ from what they have scouted, but they trust in their ability to adapt and overcome any challenges. The team is focused on taking one game at a time and not getting ahead of themselves.
While the US team is eager to perform well on the pitch, they also want to bid farewell to legendary player Megan Rapinoe, who has announced that this will be her last World Cup. Rapinoe, a key figure on and off the pitch, has been praised by coach Vlatko Andonovski for her creativity and impact on the game.
The USWNT's match against the Netherlands will be a highly anticipated and closely contested encounter. Both teams have a lot at stake, with the USWNT aiming to continue their dominance and the Netherlands looking to prove themselves as a strong force in women's football. As fans eagerly await the match, they can tune in to global listings or follow the live coverage provided by various platforms. The match will surely be a spectacle of skill, determination, and passion as these two powerhouse teams battle it out on the field.
