2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Portugal W Vs USA Preview
Written by Olaleye Oluwadamilola
The USA beat the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final, but both are battling out in Group E this time around. They have four points each and will be looking for convincing wins against Portugal and Vietnam respectively on day 13 of the tournament in an effort to progress as group winners.
Portugal
Portugal are set to face USA at Eden Park on Tuesday in their final group game of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament debutants beat Vietnam 2-0 for their first victory, with the Netherlands facing the Asian nation in their last group match. If both the United States and the Netherlands win, it will come down to goal difference to see who tops the group.
A Seleccaoo das Quinas opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands, conceding a 15th-minute winner. Portugal, though, returned to winning ways, beating debutants Vietnam 2-0, thanks to goals from Telma Encarnacao and Benfica’s Francisca Nazareth.
Chasing more history, a win for the tournament debutants against the USA would guarantee their progress, although a draw would be enough in the unlikely event that Vietnam beat the Netherlands.
Form
Portugal’s 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands remains their only loss across their last five official matches (W2, D2), which included holding European champions England to a goalless draw earlier this month. That should give them cause for cautious optimism as they go up against FIFA’s No 1 ranked ride aiming to bridge the 20 place deficit.
Portugal have won two of their last three games after going winless in three. They have failed to score in ten games in the fixture.
Players to watch
Portugal will want Telma Encarnação to give them a good start after she opened the scoring in two of their last five official games, including in the seventh minute against Vietnam.
USA
The USA beat the Netherlands in the 2019 World Cup final, but both are battling out in Group E this time around. They have four points each and will be looking for convincing wins against Portugal and Vietnam respectively on day 13 of the tournament in an effort to progress as group winners.
The United States are the top-ranked nation and have always reached at least the semi-finals, winning the World Cup four times, including the past two tournaments in 2015 and 2019.
They began the 2023 campaign with a 3-0 win over Vietnam before being held to a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands in a repeat of the 2019 final.
If the Dutch avoid defeat against already-eliminated Vietnam, then the United States would be out if they lose to Portugal, ranked 21st in the world.
Read Also – Goalkeeping Records At FIFA Women’s World Cup
Form
Meanwhile, USA are on a brilliant 11-game unbeaten streak, winning ten. The sheer gulf in class and quality between the two teams should see the two-time defending champions come out on top.
Players to watch
Lindsey Horan has scored after the 60th minute of three of USA’s last five games, including both fixtures at this tournament. She snatched a late winner for the reigning champions and four-time WWC winners in the thrilling clash against The Netherlands.
Hot streak
The United States women have scored a goal in 14 straight Women’s World Cup matches, dating back to a 0-0 draw with Sweden in the 2015 group stage and in 10 all-time matches between these two clubs, the U.S. has won all 10, by a combined 39-0 scoreline.
Head-to-head
There have been ten meetings between Portugal and the USA, who have won all ten matches, scoring 39 goals without reply. The two sides last faced off in a friendly in June 2021, which USA won 1-0, via a second-half strike from Samantha Mewis.
Verdict
Portugal will be looking to cause one of the biggest shocks in Women’s World Cup history, but their hopes of reaching the last 16 will be quashed by Vlatko Andonovski’s record winners, who should have enough quality to claim all three points with minimum fuss.
Kindly Email: keepup@bettitude.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube
About Author
