[ad_1]
The USA girls’s nationwide group will face off in opposition to Vietnam to start their play on the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand on Friday. (Fox Sports activities)
The USA return to the Women’s World Cup because the favorites to win the trophy for the third consecutive match – a feat that has by no means been completed.
Solely 4 groups in historical past have been in a position to go back-to-back as World Cup champions, which the USWNT has finished after their 2015 and 2019 victories. Italy’s men’s squad did so in 1934 and 1938, adopted by Brazil’s males’s group (1958, 1962) and Germany’s girls’s group (2003, 2007).
The expectations are stratospheric for this group, which implies a goal can also be on their backs as each group they face will wish to take them down.
That begins with Vietnam in Auckland, New Zealand, on Friday night time as their highway to historical past begins.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
![Lindsey Horan, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman celebrate](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/US-Womens-Soccer-4-copy.jpg)
United States midfielder Lindsey Horan, left, and Sophia Smith, heart, rejoice with ahead Trinity Rodman, proper, who scored within the second half of a FIFA Ladies’s World Cup send-off soccer match in opposition to Wales in San Jose, California, Sunday, July 9, 2023. (AP Photograph/Josie Lepe)
How will you watch USA vs. Vietnam?
USA vs. Vietnam will kick off at 9 p.m. ET Friday on FOX, with protection starting at 8 p.m. ET. Followers can tune in to observe the match here.
Who performs for the U.S. Staff?
A star-studded roster consists of:
- Goalkeepers: Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Murphy, Alyssa Naeher
- Defenders: Alana Cook dinner, Emily Fox, Crystal Dunn, Naomi Girma, Sofia Huerta, Kelley O’Hara, Emily Sonnett
- Midfielders: Savannah Demelo, Julie Ertz, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristia Mewis, Ashley Sanchez, Andi Sullivan
- Forwards: Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, Alyssa Thompson, Lynn Williams
CARLI LLOYD SAYS CHANCE AT WOMEN’S WORLD CUP HISTORY WON’T FAZE USWNT: ‘IT’S IN THE DNA’
Who performs for Vietnam?
The roster consists of:
- Goalkeepers: Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Khong Thi Dangle, Dao Thi Kieu Oanh
- Defenders: Churong Thi Kieu, Luong Thi Thu Thuong, Tran Thi Thu, Hoang Thi Mortgage, Tran Thi Thuy Nga, Le Thi Diem My, Tran Thi Thu Thao, Nguyen Thi My Anh, Tran Thi Hai Linh
- Midfielders: Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Tran Thi Thuy Trang, Thai Thi Thao, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Duong Thi Van, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha
- Forwards: Huynh Nhu, Pham Hai Yen, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha, Ngan Thi Van Su, Vu Thi Hoa
How has the U.S. fared in current World Cups?
As talked about, the USWNT is the group to beat, having received back-to-back World Cups after victories in 2015 and 2019.
![Sophia Smith portrait](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/Sophia-Smith.jpg)
Sophia Smith of USA poses for a portrait in the course of the official FIFA Ladies’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 portrait session at on July 17, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Hannah Peters – FIFA/FIFA through Getty Photos)
The newest victory got here after a 2-0 win over the Netherlands within the last, which passed off in France in 2019. Megan Rapinoe scored a penalty kick within the 61st minute of the match, and Rose Lavelle adopted that up with a objective eight minutes later to take a commanding lead within the second half.
In 2015, it was Carli Lloyd turning into the primary participant to ever hat trick in a World Cup finals match, scoring within the third, fifth and sixteenth minutes in opposition to Japan. Lauren Vacation (14th minute) and Tobin Heath (54th) minute added objectives of their very own within the 5-2 victory.
NEW ZEALAND WINS FIRST-EVER WOMEN’S WORLD CUP MATCH, HOURS AFTER GUNMAN KILLS 2 IN AUCKLAND SHOOTING
How has Vietnam fared within the World Cup?
That is overseas territory for Vietnam, who turned the primary group within the nation’s historical past – males’s, girls’s or senior stage – to qualify for the World Cup.
So, they are going to be making their World Cup debut on this Friday night time match. They certified in February 2022 and will definitely have a troublesome activity going in opposition to this seasoned USWNT squad.
![Megan Rapinoe introduced before a friendly match in July 2023](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/Megan_Rapinoe_2.jpg)
Megan Rapinoe, #15 of america, is launched throughout a submit sport ceremony after a global pleasant in opposition to Wales at PayPal Park on July 9, 2023 in San Jose, California. (Brad Smith/USSF/Getty Photos for USSF)
Rapinoe’s Legacy
This match can even be the begin to the top for Rapinoe, who introduced this could be her last World cup of her illustrious soccer profession.
Rapinoe has been an important piece of the success this USWNT group has seen over time, scoring eight whole World Cup objectives, together with six in 5 matches in 2019, in addition to 4 whole assists.
The 38-year-old is somebody Lloyd informed Fox Information Digital needs to be pleased with what she has been in a position to accomplish over time. Nonetheless, the journey isn’t over simply but – she needs to exit on high.
![Lynn Williams practices](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-lynn-williams-copy.jpg)
Lynn Williams, #6 of america, practices throughout a USWNT coaching session at Bay Metropolis Park on July 20, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Robin Alam/USSF/Getty Photos)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“There’s nobody like Megan Rapinoe. They’ll by no means be anybody like Megan Rapinoe,” Lloyd mentioned. “She’s helped this group be so profitable over time, and we had been part of some wonderful recollections collectively. Positively some disappointing moments as nicely collectively. However I believe that she’s going to stroll away feeling proud in what she’s meant to the group over time. It’s been nice to see her sport proceed to rise and was fortunate to play together with her for therefore lengthy.”
[ad_2]
Source link