In the phrases of Vietnam’s coach, dealing with the U.S. nationwide crew within the Women’s World Cup is a frightening quest, one thing ‘like a mountain,’ stated Mai Duc Chung.
Vietnam makes its World Cup debut Saturday in opposition to the United States, the heavy favorites to win the event for an unprecedented third time. The Americans enter Saturday’s sport in Auckland at Eden Park with the identical confidence it carried by way of its final two World Cup-winning runs.
‘The U.S. is a really, very robust crew. It is sort of a mountain. But it does not imply that we’ll hand over,’ stated Mai.
But few consider Vietnam has an opportunity. The nationwide crew is similar to Thailand, which the Americans thumped 13-0 within the opener on the World Cup 4 years in the past in France. The United States went on to beat the Netherlands 2-0 for its second consecutive World Cup and fourth total, essentially the most of any nation.
‘Fear? We Believe,’ stated captain Nuynh Nhu. ‘We’ve already ready. Nothing to concern, nothing to be afraid of.’
Vietnam captain Huynh Nhu and crew coach Mai Duc Chung converse at a press convention a day forward of the crew’s first match within the Women’s World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand, July 21, 2023.
The Americans would not dare low cost an opponent, significantly after the criticism it took for working up the rating in opposition to Thailand 4 years in the past in France. They are taking Vietnam within the opening sport fairly critically.
‘We wish to present our respect by giving our greatest sport, and we all know that they’re going to do the identical for us,’ captain Lindsey Horan stated Friday, the eve of the match. ‘I believe everybody at all times provides us their finest sport.’
The United States has a brand new solid of gamers at this World Cup, together with 14 who’re making their first look in soccer’s largest event. Among them is 18-year-old phenom Alyssa Thompson and up-and-comer Trinity Rodman, the 20-year-old daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Another shortly rising star is Sophia Smith. Just 22, she was named National Women’s Soccer League’s Most Valuable Player and U.S. Soccer’s Player of the Year final yr.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski infused the United States with younger expertise after the crew completed with a disappointing bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics.
‘I believe that we’ve an excellent mixture of younger, energetic, enthusiastic gamers, and skilled gamers which were by way of powerful video games, which were in large tournaments and know how you can win large video games,’ Andonovski stated.
Megan Rapinoe is among the many veterans on the squad and may make her two hundredth look for the nationwide crew if she performs in opposition to Vietnam. Rapinoe, 38, introduced earlier than the crew left for New Zealand that this could be her final World Cup and he or she would retire from her skilled crew on the finish of the season.
Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle had been each restricted by accidents within the run-up to the event, however Andonovski stated each can be found to play.
There had been nonetheless a number of different gamers that weren’t out there for the U.S. roster. Mallory Swanson, the crew’s high scorer this yr, injured her patella tendon in her left knee throughout an exhibition match in opposition to Ireland in early April.
Catarina Macario tore an ACL final yr whereas taking part in for the French membership Lyon and was unable to get better in time. But the largest blow was the lack of captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who introduced {that a} proper foot damage suffered in April would hold her out of the World Cup.
Also in Group E are the Netherlands and Portugal, which meet Sunday in Dunedin. Portugal can be making its first World Cup look.
The groups play all of their matches in New Zealand, which is co-hosting the event with Australia. Should the United States high the group, the crew will head to Sydney for the spherical of 16.
Saturday’s sport would be the first assembly between the United States and Vietnam. The Vietnamese misplaced two exhibition matches forward of the event and fell 9-0 to Spain in a closed-door tune-up match in Auckland final Friday.
Andonovski was requested what would occur if the United States misplaced to Vietnam, much like how Argentina misplaced to Saudi Arabia at the start of the lads’s World Cup in Qatar final yr. Argentina recovered to win the World Cup.
‘Then we’ll should win the subsequent two video games and transfer ahead,’ the coach stated, ‘and hopefully find yourself like Argentina.’