What if Team USA, chasing a historic treble, were eliminated in the group stage? The scenario, which would be the biggest surprise in the history of the World Cup, is not ruled out until the last day.
Due to their draw against the Netherlands (1-1) last Thursday, the United States (4 pts) have a reduced margin of maneuver which prevents them from making the slightest mistake, against a novice opponent. in the competition that seems well within their reach.
Megan Rapinoe’s teammates will qualify in case of success or draw, but a defeat would send them back to the country, where no one dares to imagine such an outcome.
Accustomed to winning all the awards, Team USA only has first place in mind, which can prevent it from facing Sweden, the reigning Olympic vice-champion, in the round of 16.
The new American generation, which dominates a talented but inexperienced workforce, finds itself for the first time at a crossroads, in a tournament which has already played tricks on confirmed nations for the benefit of outsiders.
Against the Dutch, during the remake of the 2019 final, coach Vlatko Andonovski’s players showed that they could create danger at any time, but also collective shortcomings linked to a group that is still getting to know each other.
‘Score a lot of goals’
“The most important thing is to qualify (…) We don’t want to look two, three or four stages further. If we anticipate too much, our chance may never come”, assured the technician of of North Macedonian origin.
Author of a double in the opening round against Vietnam (3-0), star striker Sophia Smith, 22, embodied the lack of efficiency of a selection which, in 2019, had crushed its chicken (18 goals scored, 0 conceded).
“Our first two games have been solid, but we know we have to give more, especially to score goals,” conceded midfielder Andi Sullivan.
Against Portugal, the 21st nation in the world, “we are going to have to play fast and score a lot of goals, because that’s what we want for us, regardless of the match and the context”, she assured.
A big victory could, indeed, offer the first place to the Americans, who have a better goal difference than their Dutch rivals (+3 against +1).
But the Oranje (4 pts) face at the same time Vietnam (0 pt), the weakest team in the group, with the hope of coming back ahead at the finish.
The stakes are high, since the team that finishes second risks facing Sweden in 8th, which has impressed since the start of the competition. The one in the lead will play against opponents of less standing, Italy, South Africa or Argentina.
“There will always be a preference to play against a weaker team on paper,” admitted Dutch coach Andries Jonker.
2023-08-01 06:00:18
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