AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) – According to the Vietnamese coach, he will face the US national team Women’s World Cup is a daunting task, something “like a mountain,” said Mai Duc Chung.
Vietnam make their World Cup debut against USA, the big favorites to win the tournament for an unprecedented third time on Saturday. The Americans enter The game on Saturday at Auckland’s Eden Park with the same confidence he’d displayed in his last two World Cup wins.
“The USA are a very, very strong team. It’s like a mountain. But that doesn’t mean we’re giving up,” Mai said.
But few believe that Vietnam has a chance. The national team is very similar to Thailand, which the Americans defeated 13-0 in France four years ago in the opening match of the World Cup. The United States defeated the Netherlands 2-0 for the second straight World Cup and fourth overall, the most of any nation.
“Fear? We believe,” said Captain Nuynh Nhu. “We have already prepared. Nothing to fear, nothing to fear.”
The Americans wouldn’t dare ignore an opponent, especially after the criticism they received in France four years ago for a better result against Thailand. They take Vietnam very seriously in the opening game.
“We want to show our respect by doing our best and we know they will do the same for us,” captain Lindsey Horan said on Friday, the eve of the game. “I think everyone always gives their best game.”
The United States have a new line-up at this World Cup, including 14 who are making their debut in football’s biggest tournament. Among them is an 18-year-old phenomenon Alyssa Thompson and the up-and-coming Trinity Rodman, the 20-year-old daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman.
Hannah Peters – FIFA via Getty Images
Another fast rising star is Sophia Smith. At just 22, she was named the National Women’s Soccer League’s Most Valuable Player Named US Soccer Player of the Year last year.
Coach Vlatko Andonovski provided the United States with young talent after the team won a disappointing bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
“I think we have a very good mix of young, energetic, enthusiastic players and experienced players who have been through tough games, played in big tournaments and know how to win big games,” Andonovski said.
Megan Rapinoe is one of the veterans in the squad and is set to make her 200th appearance for the national team when she plays Vietnam. Rapinoe, 38, announced before the team’s departure to New Zealand that this would be her last World Cup and she would retire from her professional team at the end of the season.
Both Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle were limited with injuries leading up to the tournament, but Andonovski said both were ready to play.
There were a few other players who weren’t available for the US squad. Mallory Swanson, the team’s top scorer that year, injured her Patellar tendon in left knee during a friendly against Ireland in early April.
Catarina Macario tore her cruciate ligament while playing for French club Lyon last year and was unable to recover in time. The biggest blow, however, was the loss of captain Becky Sauerbrunn, who announced that a right foot injury sustained in April would keep her away from the World Cup.
Also in Group E are the Netherlands and Portugal, who meet in Dunedin on Sunday. Portugal is also at a World Cup for the first time.
The teams play all their matches in New Zealand, where the tournament is co-hosted with Australia. Should the USA lead the group, the team will travel to Sydney for the round of 16.
Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between the United States and Vietnam. The Vietnamese lost two games in the run-up to the tournament and lost 9-0 to Spain in a closed-door pre-season game in Auckland last Friday.
Andonovski was asked what would happen if the United States lost to Vietnam, much like Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia at the start of the men’s World Cup in Qatar last year. Argentina recovered and won the World Cup.
“Then we have to win the next two games and progress,” said the coach, “and hopefully end up like Argentina.”
