Tag: Portugal

2023 Women’s World Cup Day 13 Recap: USWNT barely scrapes by

The USWNT barely made it through after a lackluster draw against Portugal

On Day 13 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there were four games, all of which were crucial in determining which teams would be making it through to the knockout stage. The Netherlands took on Vietnam, Portugal faced off against the USA, Haiti played Denmark, and China battled it out against England.

But before we discuss the games, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! You can find the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Let’s check out what happened on Day 13.

Andonovski hits back at ‘insane’ Lloyd criticism of USWNT mentality

The USWNT head coach wasn’t having any of his former player’s criticism

U.S. women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has hit back at Carli Lloyd, saying his former player questioning his team’s mentality is “insane.”

Andonovski’s side only managed a 0-0 draw with Portugal on Tuesday, advancing to the World Cup knockout stage as the Group E runner-up after a disappointing performance.

In addition to calling out USWNT players for their over-exuberant post-game celebrations, Lloyd also questioned the team’s mentality, saying on Fox after the game: “I’m just not seeing that passion. I’m just seeing a very lackluster, uninspiring, taking it for granted, where winning and training and doing all that you can to be the best possible individual player is not happening.”

In his post-game press conference, a reporter relayed Lloyd’s criticism to Andonovski. The USWNT coach admitted his side was far from its best against Portugal, but bristled at the notion that it was lacking desire.

“The one thing I want to say is that this team wanted to win this game more than anything else,” Andonovski said. “They’ve put everything they could in preparation for this tournament and every game that they go into, so to question the mentality of this team, to question the willingness to win, to compete, I think it’s insane.

“I’ve never seen this team step on the field and not try hard or not compete. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, they can say whatever they want, but I just know how this team feels.

“It’s not like we played well by any means. We owned it. We know it’s not good enough. We’re not happy with our performance, but we qualified for the next round. We’re moving on.”

Andonovski was named USWNT head coach in 2019, coaching Lloyd for two years before her retirement in 2021.

Upon Lloyd’s retirement announcement, Andonovski said: “Carli Lloyd is a true legend. Her career was unique, and her success on the field is something all current and future national team players should aspire to achieve. The way she approached her everyday training and career as a professional is truly impressive and I’ve been honored to coach her.”

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Carli Lloyd wasn’t having the USWNT’s celebrations after Portugal draw

Seeing her ex-teammates dancing and singing after a dismal performance was too much for Lloyd to take

Carli Lloyd was not pleased to see some U.S. women’s national team players celebrating after scraping a 0-0 draw with Portugal to secure World Cup advancement.

The U.S. reached the round of 16 as Group E runner-up after barely managing to draw in a game it was expected to win handily.

In a subpar performance, the USWNT was very nearly eliminated when Portugal’s Ana Capeta hit the post in second-half stoppage time.

After the game, Fox showed some U.S. players looking jubilant on the pitch, with Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn among the players briefly shown dancing.

For Lloyd, who now works as a Fox analyst, seeing her ex-teammates dancing and singing after a disappointing performance was too much to take.

“I’m just seeing these images for the first time right now on the desk,” Lloyd said. “I’ve never witnessed something like that. There’s a difference between being respectful of the fans and saying hello to your family, but to be dancing, to be smiling. I mean, the player of the match was that post. You’re lucky to not be going home right now.”

Watch Lloyd’s USWNT comments

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‘Vlatko out of his depth’ – USWNT slated for dismal display in Portugal draw

There were plenty of reactions — none of them good! — to the USWNT’s scoreless draw

The U.S. women’s national team has reached the World Cup last 16, but the manner in which they did so should set off major alarm bells.

In one of the worst performances in recent World Cup history, the USWNT had to hold on for a 0-0 draw against underdogs Portugal in their Group E finale.

The result was only good enough for second place in the group, and the performance was even more worrisome. The U.S. was slow, lacking ideas and disconnected, looking like a shadow of the team that entered as World Cup favorites.

Portugal’s Ana Capeta hit the post in second-half stoppage time, narrowly avoiding the biggest shock in recent World Cup history.

There were plenty of reactions — none of them good! — to the USWNT’s scoreless draw against Portugal.

The USWNT is through — but this team looks lost

The USNWT drew Portugal 0-0 in a horrible display that barely saw them advance

The U.S. women’s national team may have achieved the bare minimum in the World Cup group stage — advancement — but it doesn’t appear this team is capable of doing much more.

The USWNT went into Tuesday’s group stage finale against Portugal with a decent chance of finishing atop Group E. They ended the game thanking their lucky stars that Portugal’s Ana Capeta could only hit the post in stoppage time to avoid the biggest shock in women’s soccer history.

In one of the worst World Cup performances in recent U.S. history, Vlatko Andonovski’s team only managed a 0-0 draw that saw it reach the last 16 with a second-place finish in Group E.

While the U.S. was struggling against the Portuguese, the Netherlands hammered Vietnam 7-0 to lock down first place in the group.

For the USWNT, it was a limp, disconnected, uninspired display, which will likely now be rewarded with a matchup against old nemesis Sweden in the round of 16 on Sunday.

As the U.S. started slowly against Portugal at Eden Park, news of Netherlands goals against Vietnam kept coming. And coming. And coming. Each goal made it less likely the USWNT would top the group, and each drove home the USWNT’s failure to run up the score on Vietnam.

But as the match wore on it became clear that whatever was going on in the group’s other game was the least of the USWNT’s concerns.

Portugal, like the Netherlands, dropped an extra attacker into midfield when the U.S. had possession, which completely stifled the team’s build-up. Even when they did bypass midfield, the U.S. seemed to have few options other than hoofing crosses into the box or praying for a moment of individual brilliance.

The USWNT had six shots on target but shockingly few real dangerous opportunities. Alex Morgan being played in by Lindsey Horan and rounding the goalkeeper early in the second half, only to see her shot blocked, may somehow qualify as the best scoring chance of the night.

There were very few positive individual performances but the USWNT fell stunningly short as a collective. That will result in some difficult questions for Andonovski.

In one of the more telling moments of a dismal evening, Andonovski subbed in defender Emily Sonnett for Horan in the 84th minute. In a game his team was expected to win handily, the coach opted to park the bus to scrape out a draw and progression to the last 16.

That move almost backfired spectacularly. Capeta was headed in behind the U.S. defense and her shot rang off the post, narrowly avoiding a true doomsday scenario for the USWNT.

Portugal nearly eliminated the U.S. on Tuesday but unless something changes drastically soon, this team will be exiting the World Cup sooner rather than later.

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USWNT lineup vs. Portugal: Rose Lavelle, Lynn Williams in for high-pressure Group E clash

Not many changes, but both likely popular ones for the USWNT

The U.S. women’s national team has made two changes for a decisive World Cup group stage match against Portugal.

Rose Lavelle and Lynn Williams represent all of the changes Vlatko Andonovski has made to the USWNT starting 11 that drew 1-1 with the Netherlands last week (a selection that was unchanged from the team’s opening 3-0 win over Vietnam). Lavelle will replace Savannah DeMelo in the U.S. midfield, while Williams replaces Trinity Rodman on the front line.

Lavelle has performed well in two substitute appearances, but has not started a game for club or country since doing so for OL Reign on April 1 in NWSL regular season play. It is unclear how long she can play after getting 27 minutes off the bench against Vietnam, and then entering at halftime against the Dutch.

Sophia Smith has, after spending most of the last two years on the right wing, been playing on the left with Rodman more comfortable on the opposite side. It wasn’t clear until kickoff, but Andonovski has simply replaced Rodman with Williams, keeping Smith on the left for a third straight game.

For the USWNT, this match against Portugal has huge importance. A win may or may not be enough to secure the top spot in Group E: the Netherlands could overtake them if they can beat Vietnam by three more goals than the U.S. margin of victory at Eden Park.

A shock loss would — barring an even more monumental upset win for Vietnam in the other game — end the USWNT’s World Cup far earlier than expected.

All 23 players in the U.S. squad are, per U.S. Soccer’s game notes, listed as available and in uniform.

USWNT lineup vs. Portugal

(4-3-3): Naeher; Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn; Lavelle, Sullivan, Horan; Williams, Morgan, Smith

Portugal lineup (4-3-1-2): Inês Pereira; Ana Borges, Carole Costa, Diana Gomes, Catarina Amado; Andreia Norton, Tatiana Pinto, Dolores Silva; Kika Nazareth; Jéssica Silva, Diana Silva

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USWNT vs Portugal: How to watch World Cup group finale

There will be some very sleep deprived USWNT fans come Tuesday morning.

There are going to be some very sleep deprived U.S. women’s national team fans come Tuesday morning.

After relatively reasonable kickoff times of 9 p.m. ET for the team’s first two World Cup matches, the USWNT will face Portugal in a vital Group E finale on Tuesday at 3 a.m. ET.

For fans brave enough to watch live, they’ll witness a match that sees the USWNT with their backs to the wall.

After beating Vietnam 3-0 to open the tournament, the U.S. only managed a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in their second match. That leaves the U.S. in first place in Group E, level with the Dutch on four points and with a two-goal advantage on goal differential.

There is now a huge degree of importance on the match with Portugal, which enters on three points after losing to the Netherlands and beating Vietnam.

A loss would almost certainly see the USWNT shockingly eliminated at the group stage, while a draw would likely only be good enough for second place and a more difficult path in the knockout round.

Even a narrow win over Portugal may not be enough for first place if the Dutch beat Vietnam by enough goals.

With so much on the line, there may be even more fans who reject sleep to watch the USWNT live in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.

USWNT vs. Portugal

  • When: Tuesday, August 1
  • Where: Eden Park, Auckland, NZ
  • Time: 3 a.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fox, Telemundo, Peacock

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USWNT seeking consistency in World Cup group finale vs. Portugal: ‘We know what’s on the line’

“We’re gonna need to play fast and score a lot of goals”

The U.S. women’s national team is gearing up for a potentially pivotal World Cup group stage finale, and the watchword is consistency.

An intense 1-1 draw with the Netherlands saw the USWNT struggle for a long stretch before proceeding to dominate the game’s final half-hour. With Portugal — the final Group E foe for the U.S. — winning a few hours later, the standings have tightened significantly, with the USWNT able to finish anywhere between first (assuring the easiest path through the knockout rounds) and third (a stunning early elimination).

Midfielders Savannah DeMelo and Andi Sullivan both agreed that the team wasn’t “in sync” against the Dutch, but expressed optimism that they’re on track to sort that out against a Portugal side known for its defensive organization.

“I think we have shown a lot of pieces, and it’s just a matter of stringing all those pieces together and being very in sync,” Sullivan told reporters at a team press conference. “I think we had a lot of great moments during the Netherlands game, and I just think we want to build off those and make those more consistent, and bring that to the Portugal game.

“They’re a strong team, gonna be a tough game. We know what’s on the line. So, we know we need to bring our best, that they’re gonna bring their best.”

Per both players, one particular focus was the USWNT’s pressing structure, which couldn’t consistently be applied against the Netherlands. At times, attempts from the forwards to lead a higher press weren’t paired with the required step forward from the rest of the team, and in other instances the defense and midfield wanted to push higher while the front line wasn’t ready to take that risk.

“It’s always like a chicken-egg situation, right?” said Sullivan. “If you don’t step high enough, then it’s hard for people behind you to read, and if people behind you aren’t reading it, then it’s hard for you to go [press]. So I think we were all just kind of…we weren’t in sync, and that happens.”

“I think we went in halftime talking about all those things and what we wanted to do, and I think that’s why in the second half, we came out a lot more on the same page,” added DeMelo. “We all needed to go together, we all needed to stay together, and I think it was just more about being in sync with one another.”

The halftime adjustments, along with the emotional charge that came from Lindsey Horan scoring an emphatic equalizer just moments after the U.S. captain clashed with Daniëlle van de Donk, appeared to pay off. However, the USWNT knows that a loss at Eden Park could send them home, and they want to make sure they’re able to hit the ground running against Portugal.

“Hopefully we can [be in sync] earlier in the future,” said Sullivan. “Sometimes when you adjust, it’s going to take a second to get on the same page, and we have full confidence in each other that no matter what we do, we will figure it out, and we will execute.”

USWNT looking for a win, and goals, vs. Portugal

DeMelo and Sullivan also discussed the prospect of not just needing to defeat Portugal to guarantee a first-place finish, but possibly having to pile a few goals on. The USWNT will enter their group finale level on four points with the Netherlands, and hold a two-goal edge on the first tiebreaker (goal difference).

With the Netherlands taking on Vietnam, there is a distinct possibility that the U.S. will need a multi-goal win to keep hold of the top spot in Group E.

“I think the conversation began after the game for us, when we kind of debrief as a team,” said Sullivan, adding that the team is fully aware “that we’re gonna need to play fast and score a lot of goals.”

“We also just want that for ourselves, regardless of the game and the situation,” added Sullivan. “We know our first two performances have been solid, but we know we have more to give, especially in [terms of] putting goals up. And so that conversation has kind of been bubbling, just because we expect that high standard from ourselves.”

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2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 8 Recap: Horan, Van de Donk go at it

The eighth day at the World Cup saw the USWNT (but not Australia) avoid an upset

On Day 8 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there were plenty of interesting storylines to follow, including a shocking draw and an improbable upset with huge ramifications. There were three games on Day 8. The U.S. women’s national team took on the Netherlands, Portugal faced off against Vietnam, and Australia battled it out against Nigeria.

As usual, here is your daily reminder that you can follow the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We have you covered will the full TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the rankings in this year’s race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see what happened on Day 8.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 4 Recap: Jamaica earns shocking draw

Jamaica’s surprising draw against mighty France highlighed the fourth day of action

On Day 4 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, there was plenty to get excited about. From marquee matchups to surprising finishes, there was a lot of intrigue. In the opening match, Sweden took on South Africa. That was followed by Netherlands against Portugal, while France and Jamaica wrapped up the day.

But before we get into the games, here is a quick reminder that you can keep up with the entirety of the World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire. Make sure to check out the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and a look at the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see how Day 4 went down.