Battle of the Titans: USA and Netherlands Clash in Women’s World Cup 2023

Sports | Women’s World Cup USA vs Netherlands Preview

Both teams look to book their round-of-16 spot with a win in a highly-anticipated Women’s World Cup clash in Wellington

Published On 26 Jul 2023

When: Thursday, July 27

Where: Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand

Kickoff: 1pm local time (01:00 GMT)

There are no lack of talking points going into this replay of the 2019 Women’s World Cup final. Could revenge be on the minds of the Netherlands team? Can the US add to their authority in the tournament and beat one of the best teams in the world? Which will be the first team to progress to the round of 16 from the so-called “group of death”? Both teams will renew their rivalry when they meet in their group stage encounter on Thursday, four years after the Americans triumphed over the Oranje in the final to win a fourth crown.

US head coach Vlatko Andonovski ready for the challenge

In an interview, US head coach Vlatko Andonovski expressed his team’s determination to do “whatever it takes” to win. Despite the Netherlands‘ experience, Andonovski believes that the unknowns and unpredictability of the US squad could work to their advantage. He also highlighted the freedom with which the young players on the field play, stating that they are not stressed by the pressure of the game.

US midfielder Rose Lavelle echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the physicality and intensity of previous matches against the Dutch. She emphasized that every time they play, it is a challenge but also an opportunity to showcase their skills against one of the best teams in the world.

Dutch coach Andries Jonker confident in his team

Netherlands coach Andries Jonker stated that while his team respects the Americans, they do not fear them. He anticipates a fierce battle from the first minute to the last and believes that the match in Wellington will set an example of modern women’s football. Jonker acknowledged the absence of Vivianne Miedema, the Dutch team’s all-time leading goal scorer, due to injury. However, he pointed out that the team still has significant experience from the spine of the 2019 squad.

Jonker expressed confidence in the development of women’s football globally and believes that the Netherlands, along with other countries, are closing in on the United States. He sees this match as an opportunity to gauge their progress and determine if they are indeed getting closer to the reigning champions.

Head-to-head history and form

The head-to-head record heavily favors the United States, with eight victories in their nine previous meetings. The last time the Netherlands defeated the US was in 1996.

Both teams come into this match with impressive recent form. The United States has won all their previous matches in the tournament, including a convincing 3-0 victory over Vietnam. The Netherlands, despite their FIFA women’s ranking of ninth, are considered one of the best teams in Europe and have shown their strength with wins in their recent matches.

Where to watch

Global listings for the game can be found on livesoccertv.com. Alternatively, you can follow our live blog coverage on the match day.

Sources: News Agencies