Holders United States battle Netherlands in a repeat of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final in the second Group E clash.
USA-W vs NED-W Match Details
Date: Thursday, 27 July 2023
Time: 06:30 (IST) / 22:00 (NZST)
Venue: Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth
USA-W vs NED-W Match Preview
United States had another fine start to a Women’s World Cup campaign with a 3-0 victory over debutants Vietnam. Star in the making, Sophia Smith announced herself on the world stage with a first-half brace before lending the ball to Lindsey Horan to wrap up the scoring in the 77th minute. While quite not like the demolition job they did against another Asian counterpart in Thailand to begin their 2019 previous, the win kept their unbeaten run of 16 matches against the side from AFC intact and also won an incredible 13 successive games at the tournament. Both are untouched records. The holders will now face a known opponent in the Netherlands in the second match whom they beat 2-0 in the final four years ago to clinch their fourth champions medal. Having won their last 10 matches and suffering defeat just once in 25 group stage games at the Women’s World Cup shows no problem for the side to grab another victory. They are also unbeaten against the Dutch in all meetings. But the USA have to be careful that complacency, not that it ever happened before but the losses to European heavyweights last year or the less convincing display at the Olympics will suggest, does not settle. They know the Netherlands will be up for revenge and dampening it will put them to the knockouts in each finals participation since the inauguration year.
It was by no means classic but the Netherlands grinding out a 1-0 victory over debutants Portugal gave them a positive beginning to the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Center-back Stefanie van der Gragt headed in from Sherida Spitse’s corner for the only goal of the match. Initially, the goal was ruled offside but VAR overturned the on-field decision to award the goal. The Selecao also did not provide much of a threat to the Dutch either managing just one touch in the opposition box. Daphne van Domselaar had little to do all evening although she will be forced to throw her gloves to a flamboyant USA attack in the next match. The Netherlands knows this is a colossal battle and the one which will arguably decide the group. The winners of this group will go on to face the runners-up of Group G in the round of 16. Anything less will land them with a tie against Sweden. Head coach Andries Jonker knows his side might be facing the toughest battle this early in the contest. Drawing a point will be nothing short of a victory and it will be a reminder of the 2-2 draw they played at the Olympics two years ago. That was the only time they collected any point in this meeting although they lost through penalties.
Recent Form (All Comp)
USA-W: WWWWW
NED-W: WWWLW
Recent Form (World Cup)
USA-W: W
NED-W: W
USA-W vs NED-W Predicted Lineups
USA-W: Alyssa Naeher; Emily Fox, Julie Ertz, Naomi Girma, Crystal Dunn; Savannah Demelo, Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan; Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan
NED-W: Van Domselaar; Sherida Spitse, Van der Gragt, Dominique Janssen; Victoria Pelova, Jill Roord, Jackie Groenen, Van de Donk, Esmee Brugts; Lineth Beerensteyn, Lieke Martens
USA-W vs NED-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Van Domselaar (7.5)
DEF: Spitse (9), Van der Gragt (8.5), Fox (8.5)
MID: Horan (8.5), Sullivan (7.5), Van de Donk (8.5), Roord (8)
FW: Martens (9), Morgan (9), Smith (9)
Vice-captain: Alex Morgan
Captain: Sophia Smith
