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Captain obvious washington nationals10/5/2023 ![]() The Lank Vilaverdense attacker is the only player on this roster that doesn't play for a domestic club.Best thing about an O's fan is that even on my darkest day I don't have to support the Royals. X-Factor: Captain Huynh Nhu has scored 67 goals in 103 appearances for Vietnam. The team has club experience in Vietnam, but has never been on the world's stage. This will be a battle for the Vietnamese side, especially given its first game is against the mighty U.S. But beating Portugal in its second match would be something to build on.Īchilles' heel: Experience. What success looks like: Similarly to Portugal, it's going to be tough for Vietnam to advance out of a group that includes the U.S. 32 in the world by FIFA, be competitive against the reigning world champs? While that remains to be seen, Vietnam recently kept things tight in a tune-up friendly against Germany in June, losing just 2-1. Will this game be akin to the USWNT's opener in 2019 when it beat Thailand 13-0? Andonovski said gone are the days of those lopsided victories. What we're excited to watch: Vietnam is playing in its first World Cup and its first match is against who else but the United States. Key players: Huynh Nhu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha The dynamic 28-year-old Benfica attacker has 100 caps for the national team and has enough talent to be a breakout star for Portugal. Most of the players on Neto's roster play for Portuguese clubs, but none have ever been on this global stage before. But beating fellow debutant Vietnam in the second match would qualify as something to build on for the future.Īchilles' heel: Experience. What success looks like: Getting out of the group will be a tough ask for this squad playing in its first World Cup, especially when it has to play the Netherlands and the United States. And held on for a while in a 3-2 loss to the Netherlands in last year's Euros. After all, they did tie reigning European Champion England 0-0 in a recent World Cup tune-up match. What we're excited to watch: Despite the lack of major tournament experience, Portugal has the potential to be sneaky good and maybe even pull off an upset. Key players: Jessica Silva, Dolores Silva, Kika Nazareth The 30-year-old PSG forward is a former UEFA Player of the Year and Champions League winner is playing in her third World Cup. X-Factor: With Miedema out, the load will fall on Martens to lead the offense. The 26-year-old is a game-changer and the Dutch will miss her. In April, the Netherlands' record goal scorer Vivianne Miedema was ruled out of this summer's tournament after rupturing her ACL during a Champions League match for Arsenal. While they are an underdog to make the final and even win it all, this squad should be in the mix deep into the tournament.Īchilles' heel: Not having its best player. ![]() In its two previous World Cup appearances (20), the Dutch advanced into the knockout rounds. What success looks like: Expectations are high. 9 in the world by FIFA, pull off an upset in the second match and beat the Americans to win the group? Jonker has a talented team brimming with experience and a roster full of players at top European clubs. What we're excited to watch: The Dutch are out for revenge after losing to the USWNT in the 2019 World Cup final. Key players: Lieke Martens, Danielle van de Donk, Jill Roord Smith has a supreme confidence and one goal in mind, saying recently: "I just want to win." The 22-year-old phenom leads the NWSL with 10 goals in 13 matches and she's ready to perform on soccer's biggest stage. The world knows Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, but they don't know Smith yet. But perhaps we will see a rotating cast that also includes Julie Ertz (who played that position at the 2015 World Cup and only recently returned to the national team after giving birth to her son last August) and maybe Emily Sonnett, too. Girma and Alana Cook are obvious choices to fill the void. Sauerbrunn did not make the roster due to a nagging injury. It's probably unfair to single this position group out given the talent there, but we are about to see what this part of the field looks like without Becky Sauerbrunn. is hungry to return to the top of the podium.Īchilles' heel: Center back. After losing in the semifinal of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the most recent major tournament – the U.S. 20 would mean the Americans have won a record five World Cups and an unprecedented three in a row - a feat that no men's or women's team has ever done. ![]() Hoisting that championship trophy on Aug. The USWNT is on the cusp of making more history. ![]() What success looks like: Three-peat or bust.
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