The United States women’s national team faces its last take a look at of the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, taking up Portugal in Auckland, New Zealand.
After beating Vietnam, 3-0, and drawing with the Netherlands, 1-1, the U.S. can advance merely with a draw, however hopes to win Group E by defeating Portugal, although it would come down to aim differential.
If each the U.S. and the Netherlands win Tuesday (the groups have matches at the very same time), then aim differential will come into play as the primary tiebreaker. The U.S. presently holds a +2 benefit. Here’s more on the scenarios for the U.S. to win its group.
Portugal, in the meantime, lost a tight opener to the Netherlands, 1-0, earlier than notching its first-ever aim within the Women’s World Cup en route to a 2-0 elimination of Vietnam on Thursday (its first win, in fact). The U.S. is predicted to beat Portugal, but it surely doubtless will not be as simple because the group’s first sport in opposition to Vietnam.
We’ve put collectively every part you want to know forward of kickoff.
How to watch United States vs. Portugal:
+ The match will air on FOX and the FOX Sports app at 3 a.m. ET on Tuesday, with protection starting at 1 a.m. ET. Full replays of FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 shall be accessible on FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App. Here’s how to watch every game of the tournament.
What to know concerning the Portugal matchup:
+ What should USWNT supporters know about Portugal? Doug McIntyre breaks down what makes Portugal harmful, key gamers and matchups, and the historical past between the 2 groups.
+ The risk is nearly unfathomable. At each earlier Women’s World Cup, the United States has reached a minimum of the semifinals. Getting eradicated earlier than the knockout spherical even begins? For one of many biggest dynasties within the historical past of worldwide sports activities, the very thought may appear downright preposterous. Yet that is precisely what may occur if Portugal upsets the Americans — and a U.S. loss to Portugal isn’t farfetched. Portugal, for its half, is starting to believe it can pull off the upset.
+ The U.S. presently sits on prime of the group with a +3 aim distinction, the primary tiebreaker. Still, spending an excessive amount of time worrying about all the different potential scenarios could possibly be counterproductive. Playing in addition to their peerless roster is able to ought to be the lone goal. Do that, the thinking goes, and the rest will take care of itself.
+ Rarely has there been a World Cup on the boys’s or ladies’s facet the place the champion had issues all its personal method just about your complete time. Surviving some trials and tribulations, staving off some mini-crises, enduring difficulties each nice and small, is often all a part of the champion’s journey. That’s precisely what the U.S. went via in opposition to the Netherlands — the perfect test of its mettle.
+ The previous few days have introduced a predictable spherical of second-guessing of USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski. But simply because Andonovski didn’t press the panic button, rip up the script and throw on a bunch of replacements does not mean he was unreactive to what was an impressed Dutch sport plan.
+ On that observe, who ought to begin in Tuesday’s match? Should Alex Morgan come off the bench? We requested FOX Sports’ soccer analysts to decide their first XI for the USWNT’s group-stage finale — here’s who they went with.
+ By any common standards, Alex Morgan’s performances up to now have been simply advantageous. By Alex Morgan customary, they’ve been beneath what you may count on. But Morgan, named as co-captain alongside Lindsey Horan for the match, is essentially the most clutch performer the American group has. Heck, her propensity for popping up within the largest and most vital of moments is just about unmatched in your complete sport. That’s why the U.S. could sure use some Morgan Magic right about now.
+ Megan Rapinoe instructed this week that she “could’ve helped” the group in opposition to the Netherlands. But as she transitions from famous person to substitute, she’s not sweating the major role change. “It’s funny because I feel like I can totally still be everything I want to be, but obviously understanding that I’m not playing all the minutes,” Rapinoe advised FOX Sports earlier this yr. “I kind of just don’t really care. I don’t really want that. When I’m called upon, I’m ready and I love that.”
+ An hour into Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with the Netherlands, the U.S. ladies’s nationwide group seemed nicely on its method to a surprising first-round defeat on the World Cup. But whereas the near-death expertise Wednesday may need left U.S. followers questioning if their group is really able to pulling off a historic World Cup three-peat by profitable all of it at Australia-New Zealand 2023, it could also serve the American players well when the true do-or-die video games start within the knockout stage. “We learned a few lessons from this game,” captain (and the sport’s hero) Lindsay Horan stated.
+ Speaking of Horan, she saved the USWNT in opposition to the Netherlands. But it was first fueled by a very bodily deal with that was not referred to as. Horan got mad, then she got even. And in making a press release, Horan also set an example for the younger players who’re experiencing their first World Cup. After all, the USWNT co-captain had previous said her goal is to make these younger gamers “as confident as possible in their abilities.”
+ It was a type of World Cup moments that got here from nowhere and could not be predicted — the United States captain angrily stepping into it together with her good friend and membership teammate, then utilizing her fury to rating a vital equalizing aim. Except that Aly Wagner predicted it.
+ Will Rose Lavelle regain her beginning spot in opposition to Portugal after beginning the primary two video games on the bench? Turns out, she’s on a minutes restriction. “Her minutes limitation was around 45 minutes,” Andonovski stated. But after making an instantaneous affect substituting in each video games, the “World Cup NOW” crews believes she should start. “Just start Rose from the beginning,” 2015 World Cup champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather O’Reilly stated. “She came in and made a difference.” As for her teammates, they’ve motive to imagine the 2019 World Cup hero is primed for an encore. Off the pitch, nevertheless, Lavelle says she’s just the same old Rose.
+ Julie Ertz performed heart again on the 2015 World Cup, however has largely transitioned to enjoying as a holding defensive midfielder over the previous few years. But when Becky Sauerbrunn was dominated out of this match with an damage days earlier than the ultimate roster was introduced on the finish of June, Andonovski requested Ertz to play her place. For the U.S., she has been that commanding leader in the central defense. “It’s what we needed,” Andonovski stated.
Intro to the USWNT:
+ Just getting conversant in this model of the USWNT? Take a look at our full guide to the 23-woman roster and Carli Lloyd’s look at the 15 most important U.S. players. Our FOX Sports panel of specialists additionally debated the team’s most important player.
+ The U.S. ladies’s nationwide group has an opportunity to make extra historical past this summer time if it wins a file fifth title and third in a row. Only 4 groups have gone back-to-back. No nation has accomplished the three-peat. Here’s more on the U.S. quest. By the way in which, the entire U.S. title chase is being followed for a Netflix docuseries.
+ Wondering how the U.S. will get out of this opening stage? First, get to know the teams also in Group E. Then, check out which teams our experts feel pose the biggest threat to the United States’ three-peat hopes.
“World Cup NOW” crew discusses USWNT’s possibilities of profitable Group E
Editor’s picks — our favourite pregame reads:
+ The USWNT is rooted in a easy goal: Leave the sport higher than you discovered it for posterity. It’s constructed on a bond created and fostered by mentorship that’s proudly handed down via generations. This yr’s group has three gamers the superbly exemplify that. (Read Laken Litman on the USWNT mentorship circle)
+ Trinity Rodman is a candidate to be a breakout star for the USWNT — and, yep, she’s Dennis Rodman’s daughter. And not solely has she internet-binged Dennis’ basketball highlights for years, however she nonetheless makes use of his hardwood strategies to profit her personal soccer sport. “I watched my dad play a lot more than people really know,” she stated. “My brother [USC transfer DJ Rodman] lived for watching my dad’s clips.” (Read Martin Rogers on how Trinity is modeling her game after her father’s)
+ For the world champion 2015 U.S. ladies’s nationwide group, the ’99ers had been the inspiration. But for this model of the nationwide group, the 2015 squad is the touchstone. (Read Doug McIntyre on how this young roster was shaped by the 2015 squad)
+ Alex Morgan’s father, Mike, by no means misses his daughter’s video games. Literally. Since Alex was 14, Mike guesstimates he has been to each single match. “He’s literally at everything,” Megan Rapinoe stated. (Read Laken Litman on the ultimate soccer dad)
+ The 2023 model of the USWNT has three moms on the roster, matching a earlier file set in 2015. But it wasn’t all the time that method. “I’m just really grateful for the women before me that fought for mom athletes,” Alex Morgan stated. (Read Laken Litman on the “badass” OG moms of the USWNT)
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