Netherlands with highest World Cup victory
Weak USA just avert embarrassment
08/01/2023 10:57 am
Sluggish and unconvincing: The USA, as top favorites, struggled to a goalless draw against Portugal and trembled until the last second. Meanwhile, in the parallel game in World Cup Group E, the Netherlands against Vietnam provided a goal festival with several fantastic goals.
The dream of the USA defending their title again at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand lives on. Five days after the 1-1 draw with the Netherlands, the Americans again only managed a disappointing 0-0 draw against Portugal in Auckland, but still qualified as group runners-up for the round of 16. In the knockout round, the Swedes are expected to have a hammer task.
40,958 spectators at Auckland’s Eden Park watched an even game before the break. Portugal, who would have reached the round of 16 in place of the US girls if they had won, played courageously and set accents with quick transitions. The USA struggled with the conversion of chances, striker Alex Morgan (3rd/6th) and winger Lynn Williams (14th/27th) missed the goal in promising positions or were still decisively disturbed.
Shortly after the restart, a fire alarm in the stadium caused brief confusion, but had no effect on the game. Regrettable. Even the substitution of superstar Megan Rapinoe in the 61st minute did not change the status quo of midfield skirmishes on the USA side. In added time, Portugal’s Ana Capeta missed the sensation, her shot after a quick counterattack (90+1) hit the post.
Netherlands with peat festival
In the parallel game, co-favorites Netherlands stormed into the round of 16 again with a record win. The team of former Wolfsburg coach Andries Jonker easily defeated Vietnam, who were eliminated before the game, 7-0 (5-0). For the vice world champions from 2019, it was the highest win in their World Cup history and also higher than the previous highest win at this World Cup, which the DFB team managed 6-0 over Morocco.
The former Duisburg Lieke Martens (8th), Katja Snoeijs (11th), Esmee Brugts (18th), who once provided for Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg active Jill Roord (23rd) and Danielle van de Donk (45th). already at the break for clear conditions. Brugts (57th) and Roord (83rd) followed suit again. For outsiders Vietnam, who narrowly lost a friendly against Germany in Offenbach 2-1 before the World Cup, the first World Cup ended with zero points and 0:12 goals.
Jonker, once assistant coach at Bayern men and boss at VfL Wolfsburg, only took over the team in September 2022. In the third participation in the World Cup, the 2017 European champion is in the round of 16 for the third time. As the winners of Group E, Oranje will meet the runners-up in Group G – Sweden, Italy, South Africa or Argentina – in Sydney on Sunday. It was also the highest victory so far at the World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.