United States vs Vietnam – Group Stage – Preview & Prediction | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
THE FACTS
When is United States vs Vietnam on and what time does it start? United States vs Vietnam will take place on Saturday 22nd July, 2023 – 02:00 (UK)
Where is United States vs Vietnam taking place? United States vs Vietnam will take place at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
Where can I get tickets for United States vs Vietnam? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for United States vs Vietnam
What channel is United States vs Vietnam on in the UK? United States vs Vietnam will be televised live on BBC One
Where can I stream United States vs Vietnam in the UK? United States vs Vietnam can be streamed on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website
THE LOWDOWN
UNITED STATES
- The reigning back-to-back world champions start up at Eden Park as firm favourites to defend their title and who can argue with that, when taking into account their strength-in-depth across the pitch and the plethora of quality within their squad, covering all departments, but do arrive at the tournament having lost numerous players through injury.
- Captain Becky Sauerbrunn has failed to recover from a foot problem in time to make the squad, whilst the experienced Christen Press, Sam Mewis, and Catarina Macario all miss out through knee injuries, as does Mallory Swanson, whose goals will be a big miss.
VIETNAM
- What a game for Vietnam to make their Women’s World Cup debut in, certainly a trial by fire against the holders, but the four-time South East Asian Games winners won’t be overawed with no pressure on their shoulders as everyone expects a comprehensive victory for the USWNT.
- Plenty of emphasis will no doubt be placed on their backline here, but the pace of Tuyet Dung and Thanh Nha on the counter-attack gives them something to work with on the counter attack.
THE TEAM NEWS
UNITED STATES
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Naeher; Fox, Cook, Girma, Dunn; Sullivan, Sanchez, Horan; Smith, Morgan, Rodman
UNAVAILABLE: Macario (Injured), Mewis (Injured), Press (Injured), Sauerbrunn (Injured), Swanson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VIETNAM
PREDICTED XI (5-4-1): Kim Tran; Thu Tran, Luong, Diem Le, T. Tran, Hoang; Dung, Doung, Nguyen, Nha; Nhu
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE KEY STATS
- The USA are currently unbeaten in a record 17 matches at the finals (excluding penalty shoot-outs), winning each of the last 12, which is also a record.
- The USA became the first team to feature in 50 Women’s World Cup matches when they faced the Netherlands in the final at France 2019. They have won more matches (40) and scored more goals (138) than any other nation.
- The USA’s record in their opening match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ is W6 D2.
- The USA have kept nine clean sheets in their last 11 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ group stage matches.
- The USA have only lost one of their previous 24 FIFA Women’s World Cup™ group stage matches (W20 D3).
- Vietnam earned their place at Australia & New Zealand in 2023 via the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in which they reached the quarter-finals before losing to the eventual champions China PR. They subsequently defeated Thailand and Chinese Taipei in the play-offs to seal their qualification to the global showpiece tournament for the first time.
- Vietnam have lost only two of their last eight international matches (W6).
THE PREDICTION
United States will happy to have been dealt on paper, a fairly straightforward start to their latest Women’s World Cup as they get to grips with the competition ahead of stiffer challenges down the line. This will prove a great learning experience for Vietnam and should stand them in good stead moving forward into their remaining two group stage fixtures. But ultimately, it’s hard to see them avoiding a heavy defeat in this one and the smart play is to back a United States victory by at least three clear goals.
TIP: UNITED STATES TO WIN WITH A -2 HANDICAP
