The USA ladies’s nationwide group will sq. off in opposition to Sweden on Sunday within the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup. The knockout stage begins with the Spherical of 16 the place the 2 groups are long-time rivals and can meet for the seventh time in a World Cup event. Regardless of the prolonged historical past between them, that is the primary assembly within the knockout rounds.

It has been a disappointing event up to now for the USWNT, who exit Group G in second place after profitable solely certainly one of three matches and drawing the opposite two. Issues began out promising with a 3-0 win over Vietnam earlier than any individual took away the group’s scoring boots. A 1-1 draw in opposition to the Netherlands required a second-half comeback, with Lindsey Horan scoring the equalizer, and most surprisingly a 0-0 draw in opposition to Portugal left the U.S. behind the Netherlands within the group.

The outcome signifies that the USWNT has a a lot more durable spherical of 16 match than they could have anticipated. Nonetheless, they head into this sport as favorites, and, alongside England, stay one of many two groups bookmakers have because the favorites to win the event. However their path is far more durable than it might have been. Even when they do handle to get by Sweden, a troublesome job, particularly when you think about that this the aspect that beat them on the Olympics, Japan, maybe the World Cup’s greatest shock, await them within the quarterfinals.

Here is how one can watch the large sport:

Viewing data

  • Date: Sunday, August 6 | Time: 5 a.m. ET
  • Location: AMII Park — Melbourne, Australia
  • TV: Fox | Dwell stream: fubo (attempt at no cost) and Fox Sports activities app   
  • Odds: USA +115; Draw +215; Sweden +245

Projected beginning lineup

Head coach Vlatko Andonovski hasn’t made many changes within the event however now he’s going to have his hand pressured. Rose Lavelle is unavailable and can miss the match on yellow card accumulation. Knockout rounds introduce the potential of further time and penalty kicks and the teaching workers will put together for each situations. It is now or by no means for daring changes. 

USWNT projected beginning XI: Naeher, Fox, Girma, Ertz, Dunn, Mewis, Horan, Sanchez, Rodman, Smith, Williams.

Meet up with all the most recent information and notes from the gorgeous sport all world wide with Morning Footy, now additionally out there as a podcast!

Storylines

USWNT: The celebrities and stripes head into the Spherical of 16 chilly in entrance of aim. Sophia Smith bagged a brace and an help in opposition to Vietnam on matchday one, and group captain Lindsey Horan offered heroics in opposition to the Netherlands, however no manufacturing since. It is positively not for lack of effort because the USWNT have outshot opponents and generated numerous seems on aim. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski has been criticized for his lack of substitutions, tactical changes, and poor participant rotation throughout the group stage. So if the group and coach can embrace shaking issues up they could simply get previous Sweden.

Sweden: The Europeans could not have the profitable World Cup file in opposition to USA, however they’re no strangers to delivering a defeat. They introduced the hammer down on the USWNT throughout the Tokyo Olympics with a 3-0 win and are able to beautiful the No. 1 ranked group. They’ve proven they’re deadly on set items, and Amanda IIestedt leads the group with three targets, every one coming off nook kicks. Additionally they have a deep bench and supervisor Peter Gerhardsson is not afraid to make use of it, he made 9 adjustments to the beginning lineup within the last group match in opposition to Argentina. 

Prediction

In a historic assembly between the long-time rivals, there shall be some thrilling and even tense soccer performed on the pitch. So do not be shocked if this goes a bit longer than anticipated. The USWNT choose up the win in further time on a comeback. Decide: USA 2-1 Sweden

In, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

More Stories