The middle game of Group E for the United States Women’s National Team in the 2023 Women’s World Cup is just about here. Heading into Wednesday’s match against The Netherlands (9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT, FOX Sports), the Stars and Stripes are just where they’d like to be, in a manageable situation.
According to the official clinching scenarios for the groups in the 32-team tournament, the USA can book its place in the last 16 with a victory on Matchday 2, coupled with a win or draw from Vietnam vs. Portugal later on in the day. They’ve been in this type of situation before, but the middle game of the group stage has special meaning for both the Americans and The Netherlands.
It was four years ago in the 2019 Women’s World Cup Final that the two sides last met. With everything at stake on that July day in France, the Stars and Stripes came out champs with a 2-0 victory.
Megan Rapinoe and Rose LaVelle accounted for the scoring in the trophy-lifting win four years ago. This is the first time ever where both participants from the previous Women’s World Cup championship match have faced off during group play.
It’s obvious that The Netherlands are out for revenge this time around, but will they be able to pull off a stunning upset? Let’s break this down.
We meet again.
Preview » https://t.co/U9CTyx9PNz#USWNT x @Visa pic.twitter.com/ooewsyxwF1
— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 25, 2023
We’re beginning to sound like a broken record when talking about the United States and its success on the soccer pitch. Don’t be fooled. This is a good thing.
In nine matches across all competitions so far in 2023, the Americans have held the lead at the final whistle every single time, getting the win via shutout in eight of the nine previous games, including the last four in a row. This continued last Saturday against Vietnam in the Group E opener.
That day, the Americans were buoyed by a brace from Sophia Smith en route to a 3-0 win against the No. 32 Vietnam side. Speaking of Smith, she’s using this World Cup run to pay tribute to a fallen comrade.
Last year, Smith’s teammate from the 2019 Stanford University National Championship squad, Katie Meyer, took her own life at the young age of 22. In tribute, Smith performed Meyer’s goal celebration when she netted her second tally of the match over the weekend.
“That was for Katie,” Smith mentioned during her postgame media availability. “Nai (Naomi Girma) and I talked about it before the game. We were like, ‘What can we do for Katie?’ It was pretty iconic what she did in the College Cup, and we just wanted to honor her in every way.”
Sophia Smith and Naomi Girma have found inspiration from their friend looking down on them from heaven. Can they win the title for her and for their country?
In the other corner, The Netherlands are currently No. 9 in all of FIFA for a reason. Since last November’s international window, the team has won six out of its eight matches, including an ongoing three-match winning streak.
On Matchday 1, The Netherlands took down Portugal by a 1-0 margin to begin group play. A 13th-minute goal from defender Stefanie van der Gragt accounted for the lone tally.
IT STANDS!
Stefanie van der Gragt finds the back of the net and scores the first goal for Netherlands at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/ubOFS2vmjN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 23, 2023
It was van der Gragt’s first goal in more than a year. Prior to the opening match of the group stage, she hadn’t scored since July 13, 2022 against the same Portugal side in UEFA Euro 2022.
Although Stefanie van der Gragt has now scored in successive Women’s World Cups, she’s been on somewhat of a cold streak for her national team. While this is undoubtedly good news for the USWNT and its fans, van der Gragt wants to change her fortunes.
If The Netherlands are able to create decent shots on goal and catch the Stars and Stripes napping during this match, consider the script flipped. This is going to be a tough challenge for the USWNT.
The story of this match could very well be told during the first 15 to 20 minutes of the first half. Whichever side gets out to a fast start is your likely winner. Will van der Gragt be able to help The Netherlands out?
On Matchday 2, we’ll find out what the Americans are made of. Sure, they’ve won every match they’ve played this year by a comfortable margin, but The Netherlands could give them everything they have here. It may not be another wire-to-wire victory.
Prediction: USWNT 2, The Netherlands 1.
