Tag: Vietnam

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.

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.

Morgan admits USWNT wasn’t ‘always clicking’ against Vietnam

The USWNT will have to improve ahead of its second game against the Netherlands

Alex Morgan admitted that the U.S. women’s national team was not at its best in its World Cup opener against Vietnam.

The USWNT defeated Vietnam 3-0 in a game it controlled from start to finish, but it squandered a number of chances — including a missed penalty by Morgan — in a match it could have easily won by many more goals.

The U.S. will have to be sharper in its second game, a World Cup final rematch against the Netherlands on Wednesday night U.S. time, which is Thursday afternoon in New Zealand.

Speaking at a press conference, Morgan said the USWNT needs to work out some of the kinks from the Vietnam match moving forward.

“I think we saw a lot of glimpses of our potential, but I feel like we weren’t always clicking on the field,” the USWNT co-captain said.

“I feel like some of the plays that we had were a little forced or rushed. So I think it’s having a little more patience, switching a little bit more, having our movements be a little more synchronized. And so I think we’re looking to apply that for this next game and moving forward.”

Several of the underdogs at this World Cup have performed admirably against strong opponents, including CONCACAF sides Jamaica and Haiti, who tied France and narrowly lost to England, respectively.

“We’re seeing that every game is really competitive,” U.S. defender Sofia Huerta said. “We’re glad to see the CONCACAF teams come here and perform so well and make a name for themselves, because every time we have to qualify [for the World Cup] and we’re in the CONCACAF tournament, it’s difficult. I don’t think people realize how hard it is to play some of those teams.”

Morgan added: “There haven’t been many games where teams are able to break through easily against opponents.

“So we knew that would be the case with Vietnam, but we were trying to be patient. I feel like at times we could have just stood on the ball a little more and kind of been a little more decisive with our play. So I think that’s something we could apply to the next game.”

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Three things on the USWNT opening the World Cup in completely okay fashion

Vlatko Andonovski made some big calls against Vietnam, with some working better than others

The U.S. women’s national team got off to a winning start — if not an imperious one — at the World Cup.

A 3-0 victory over Vietnam didn’t quite live up to some outsized expectations, but when you consider that Alyssa Naeher barely even touched the ball with her feet, much less her hands, it was also a functional, easing-into-it kind of performance. Vietnam was more physical and more organized than Thailand (who infamously fell to the USWNT 13-0 at the last World Cup), and they recently gave Germany a more difficult time than they did the U.S.

In other words, while it wasn’t amazing, it also wasn’t bad. The USWNT got valuable World Cup debuts in for six starters and two substitutes, they didn’t have to run themselves into the ground to take the three points, and they showed no signs of weakness at the back. No one got hurt (though a couple of players probably have some bruises, because Vietnam got stuck the heck in), and potential knockout round opponents probably still don’t know exactly what they’re going to be facing in a couple of weeks.

With all of that glass half-full thinking in mind, here are some points worth digging deeper into from what the U.S. hopes is the first of seven straight wins.

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Day 3 Recap: USA, Japan pick up big wins

Japan made a statement, while the USWNT started with a solid win

The biggest day of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup thus far, Day 3 saw four games played, and there were some big names out and about, too. The United States took on Vietnam, Japan played Zambia, England faced off against Haiti, and Denmark battled it out with China PR.

But before we check out the action from Day 3, here’s your daily reminder that you can follow the entire World Cup right here at Pro Soccer Wire! We’ve got it all: the TV/streaming schedule, an updated list of the group stage standings, and the race for the Golden Boot.

Now, let’s see what happened on Day 3.

USWNT beat Vietnam to open World Cup — but was it by enough?

The U.S. could be vulnerable to a goal differential tiebreaker should they not beat the Netherlands and Portugal

Will the U.S. women’s national team rue only beating Vietnam by three goals?

Should the USWNT defeat the Netherlands and Portugal to close out group play at the World Cup, then it won’t matter. But anything less than two wins could open up the USWNT to a goal differential tiebreaker, and a possible second-place finish in Group E.

The U.S. most certainly dominated Vietnam at Eden Park, outshooting their opposition 28-0 as Sophia Smith turned in a star performance in her first World Cup match.

But as some pointed out, failing to beat the Netherlands could be damaging should the Dutch run up the score against Vietnam.

That could potentially set the USWNT up with a difficult round-of-16 match against Sweden, which Vlatko Andonovski’s side would definitely like to avoid if possible.

Here are some reactions from across Twitter after the USWNT’s opening-game win.

Smith stars as USWNT ‘only’ beats Vietnam 3-0 in World Cup opener

It wasn’t the hammering many feared, but the U.S. is off to a winning start at the World Cup

It was not the shellacking that many expected, or perhaps feared, but the U.S. women’s national team is still off to a winning start at the 2023 World Cup.

The USWNT defeated Vietnam 3-0 in its Group E opener at Eden Park in Auckland, as Sophia Smith scored a first-half double on her World Cup debut and assisted Lindsey Horan’s goal in the second half.

It was a far cry from four years ago, when the USWNT destroyed Thailand 13-0 to begin a 2019 World Cup run that would culminate in a second straight title.

The U.S. may be slightly disappointed with the margin of victory, with goal differential the first tiebreaker, but Vlatko Andonovski will likely be satisfied with his team’s performance in a game the U.S. still dominated to the tune of a 28-0 shot advantage.

Vietnam started the game off fairly well with some tight defending, but the USA’s quality told in a superb sequence for Smith’s opener.

Fourteen minutes in, Horan played an entry pass to Alex Morgan, whose lovely flicked layoff played Smith in for a composed finish.

The U.S. was in control but frustrated by the Vietnamese, who had a true moment to remember near the end of the first half after Trinity Rodman was fouled inside the box.

Up to the spot stepped Morgan, one of the most legendary players in international soccer history. But her spot kick was saved by Trần Thị Kim Thanh, sparking wild celebrations among Vietnam’s players.

The joy would be short-lived, however, as Smith got her second just before the half with a shot that snuck through traffic and went through Thanh.

The USWNT would be frustrated in the first 30 minutes of the second half, squandering several opportunities, before Smith once again proved the difference-maker.

The Portland Thorns forward beat her defender to a long ball before centering for Horan, who took a touch to collect before putting the ball home into an empty net.

The USWNT will be back in action on Wednesday night U.S. time, kicking off at 9 p.m. ET against the Netherlands in a 2019 final rematch.

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The USWNT’s attire was all business ahead of World Cup opener vs. Vietnam

Team USA decided to forego any flash as it prepared for its World Cup opener against Vietnam.

Team USA acted like it had been there before ahead of its 2023 World Cup opener against Vietnam.

As the two-time defending World Cup champion United States Women’s National Team began its run at winning soccer’s highest honor for the third time in a row, it decided to forego any flash as it arrived at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday (Friday night in the United States).

The team donned entirely business attire as it prepared for the match against Vietnam, in which the USWNT will be the heavy favorite. Check out this ice-cold, professional look as the top-ranked team in the world prepares to begin its World Cup journey.

It looks like the four-time World Cup winners are ready to chase title No. 5.

The United States and Vietnam are joined in Group E by the Netherlands and Portugal, which are set to face off against each other in an opening matchup on Sunday at 3:30 a.m. ET.

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USWNT lineup vs. Vietnam: Trinity Rodman, Julie Ertz start while Alana Cook surprisingly dropped

Some intriguing choices from Vlatko Andonovski

The U.S. women’s national team will start something of a surprising lineup against Vietnam, with Vlatko Andonovski taking some chances in his team selection for their World Cup opener.

Andonovski named eight of the players who started the USWNT’s 2-0 send-off win over Wales as starters at Eden Park in Auckland as the U.S. opened up their slate of Group E matches.

Julie Ertz, Trinity Rodman, and Savannah DeMelo were the new additions, with Ertz rather surprisingly chosen at center back over projected starter Alana Cook.

Rodman, meanwhile, came into the front line for Alyssa Thompson, while DeMelo was selected over Ashley Sanchez and Rose Lavelle, whose minutes are currently being limited as she completes her return from a knee injury.

USWNT lineup vs. Vietnam

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

Vietnam lineup (6-3-1): Tran Thi Kim Thanh; Tran Thi Thu Thao, Luong Thị Thu Thuong, Tran Thi Hai Linh, Tran Thi Thu, , Le Thi Diem My, Hoàng Thi Loan; Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Thai Thi Thao; Huynh Nhu

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USA vs Vietnam: How to watch USWNT’s Women’s World Cup opener

The USWNT will be heavily favored to start its World Cup campaign with victory

The U.S. women’s national team’s quest for a third straight World Cup begins with its Group E opener against Vietnam.

The two nations have never met before, and the USWNT is heavily favored to get its title defense off to a winning start against the World Cup debutants from Asia.

Following its opener, the USWNT will face the Netherlands and then Portugal to round off Group E play. The top two teams in the group will advance to the round of 16.

The match against Vietnam kicks off at 1 p.m. local time in Auckland on Saturday, July 22, which is 9 p.m. ET on Friday, July 21 in the United States.

Here’s everything you need to know to catch all the action from New Zealand:

USA vs. Vietnam

  • When: Friday, July 21
  • Where: Eden Park, Auckland
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: Fox, Telemundo, Universo, Peacock

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