Emerging Netherlands star Esmee Brugts had a transparent message for the United States prematurely of Wednesday’s essential World Cup Group E conflict between the 2019 finalists (coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET, kickoff at 9 p.m. on FOX and the FOX Sports app).
Never thoughts that the majority impartial observers, specialists and oddsmakers make the Dutch an underdog for the conflict at Wellington Regional Stadium. Brugts, fairly merely, does not agree.
“I think we can beat anyone,” Brugts instructed FIFA.com lately. “We work hard. If we take our chances, I think we will have good odds.”
[USWNT’s edge against the Netherlands? Instilling fear]
The thought of the Netherlands rebutting any ideas of an inferiority advanced in opposition to the USA, which received the title 4 years in the past because of a Megan Rapinoe penalty and a Rose Lavelle strike within the second half, is a rising theme.
The Netherlands received its opening sport in opposition to Portugal with a hard-earned 1-0 efficiency. Despite the shut rating line, it by no means regarded in deep trouble in opposition to its fellow European opponent.
That contest was seen as the best potential obstacle to a minimum of reserving a spot within the spherical of 16, and the Dutch may very well be forgiven for believing they now have already got one foot within the second spherical.
“Winning this game was the most important thing by far,” head coach Andries Jonker instructed reporters. “We are not afraid of the USA, but this was the most important game, and Portugal proved they were a difficult opponent.”
“First time that the US team will be tested defensively” – Ari Hingst on the USWNT’s upcoming matchup vs. Netherlands
[Why USWNT believes Rose Lavelle is primed for World Cup encore]
History says there isn’t a motive they need to be afraid. The Olympic quarterfinal in opposition to the USA in 2021 resulted in a decent affair, ending 2-2 after additional time earlier than the Americans prevailed on penalties.
Brugts needs her teammates to rise to the problem and made no try to downplay the sport’s significance to the Dutch program. By any cheap metric, a tie can be thought of a stable outcome for the Netherlands. However, goal-scoring midfielder Brugts, 19, who has performed just for PSV Eindhoven on the senior membership stage however is now being chased by some of Europe’s greatest golf equipment, has no real interest in seeing the match finish deadlocked.
“For me, that will be the biggest game of my life,” she added. “So, I am enthusiastic about the ability to play them. It’s better to play them earlier and see where we stand. We will have to go all out to win that match.”
Did the Netherlands show to be a critical menace to the USWNT?
And although the lads’s and girls’s World Cups are their very own separate occasions with little direct correlation, there may be nonetheless some added intrigue for followers given the soccer hyperlinks between the nations. The Netherlands defeated the Americans 3-1 within the spherical of 16 within the males’s event in Qatar, a efficiency that left little doubt as to the technical diligence that runs completely all through the Dutch soccer system.
[United States vs. Netherlands: Everything to know, how to watch USWNT match 2]
The Netherlands’ harm report can also be within the highlight. Leading ahead Vivianne Miedema is lacking from the event via harm, and striker Lineth Beerensteyn limped off after a late knock in opposition to Portugal.
Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and the writer of the FOX Sports Insider publication. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.
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