Vietnam vs Netherlands
We all thought that the USA would win Women’s World Cup Group C, but the reigning champions drew 1-1 with the Netherlands, and now the Oranje have a great chance of winning Group C.
In the final round of games, there is plenty to play for. The USA face Portugal in Auckland on Tuesday, while the Netherlands face pointless Vietnam in Dunedin.
If, and it’s a big if, Portugal can spank the Yanks, they will proceed to the knockout phase and dump the Stars and Stripes out of the competition.
Meanwhile, in the other tie, the Netherlands can top the group by beating Vietnam providing the USA don’t win their game by a big enough margin.
I can see Portugal making it difficult and maybe even getting a draw.
In the second round of games, Vietnam crashed out of the tournament, losing 2-0 to Portugal, while the Netherlands picked up that crucial point against the tournament favourites.
With Women’s World Cup 2023 betting odds of around 75.00 to win this game, the Vietnam women are unlikely to upset the Oranje, but it won’t be for any lack of effort.
Talking Points
Oranje can match the very best
Ranked ninth in the world, the Netherlands are in a clutch of teams capable of going all the way in this competition and are now at SBOTOP odds of 1.95 to win this group, 10.00 to reach the final, and 21.00 to win the tournament.
Their clash with the USA was a repeat of the 2019 final, and the Dutch fully deserved their point and would have had all three if USA skipper Lindsey Horan hadn’t scored a second half equaliser.
Manchester City signing Jill Roord put the Oranje in charge with a sublime strike from the edge of the penalty area, and Sky Blues fans will be excited at the prospect of seeing her play at the City Academy Stadium next season.
USA had won their last 13 games, and the Oranje’s excellence has shown the other hopefuls that the favourites can be matched, and Spain in particular will be interested. Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker was delighted, saying: “We performed brilliantly and at times it was really fantastic. You have to be happy with 1-1,” he said. “We’re there, along with the US, and I’m very satisfied with that.”
Vietnam playing for pride
It would be unfair to describe them as the whipping girls of Group E, and Vietnam’s clash with Portugal was their only serious chance of avoiding bottom place, but they were never really at the races.
Vietnam had less than 30-per cent possession and lost the shot count by 28 to five and 10 to one on target.
The emerging football nation, , ranked 32nd in the world by FIFA, didn’t expect to post a spectacular set of Women’s World Cup 2023 results,but the Diamond Girls can hold their heads up high. They haven’t been slaughtered by either USA of Portugal, and the result against the Stars and Stripes, a 3-0 loss, was quite an achievement.
Vietnam are one of the least experienced teams in the tournament, making their very first appearance at the World Finals. Formed in 1990 and first playing an official match in 1997, the Diamond Girls have been crowned South East Asian Games champions four times. And remember, the USA were already World Champions back in 1991.
A lot of the credit for Vietnam’s rapid rise must go to head coach Mai Duc Chung. The 72-year-old manager will step down after this game, having first taken the reigns in 1997.
He has been with the Diamond Girls throughout their journey with a few breaks to coach the Vietnam men’s U19 and U22 sides, and he can be proud of his achievement to bring World Cup football to his nation.
History
While this is Vietnam’s first appearance at a World Cup finals, it is the third time the Netherlands have been at the finals. They were runners-up in 2019 and European Champions in 2017.
And in terms of recent form, the Netherlands are streets ahead too. While the Diamond Girls are on a five-match losing run, the Oranje have won three, drawn one, and lost one of their last five.
Betting Tip
In the run up to this tournament, the Netherlands spanked Belgium 5-0 and Portugal 4-1, and they will fancy a few more goals against Vietnam.
But they will meet an opponent determined to bow out with dignity and, having held USA to 3-0 and Portugal 2-0, they will hope to do the same against a team which will be keen to avoid injuries in advance of the knockout phase.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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