WWC 2023: Group E Preview
Here's the tea: all Alex Morgan and the U.S. do is win, no matter what. But winning a 3rd consecutive World Cup, amidst a generational change, a new manager, and the highest levels of competition yet, will be tougher than any challenge this group has faced.
United States
FIFA Rank: #1
Qualified as: Champions of 2022 CONCACAF W Championship
The Skinny
As someone who, and I expect I would be far from alone in saying this, fell in love with the USWNT during the 2011 World Cup, where they came up just short of the title, it really does feel surreal just how fast they've become the big bad bullies of women's football. After that heartbreaking Final defeat to Japan in 2011, came revenge in the 2012 Summer Olympics Gold Medal match, and then two straight World Cup titles; the Stars and Stripes have been ranked #1 in the World for as far back as I can remember. But, dating back to the 2021 Summer Olympics, which saw them settle for a scrappy Bronze medal, there have been signs of chinks in the armor for the States. Play has been very inconsistent under manager Vlatko Andonovski, who took the reins from two-time World Cup winner Jill Ellis, and the generational shifts that plagued such titans in the men's game as Italy of 12 years ago, Spain of a decade ago, and Germany of the last 5 years, might be underway here, as Andonovski has found it awkward and difficult to balance the indisputable dynamic talent of the young new generation, with the experience of the aging generation. There was mild panic among American fans with a rare three-match losing streak in friendlies last Fall, though it's hard to imagine they haven't been somewhat soothed by a nine-match winning streak (and SheBelieves Cup trophy) since then. All this leads me to two assertions I feel confident in: 1. You'd be foolish not to tab the U.S. as an odds-on favorite to win the World Cup. But 2. As far as undisputed #1, two-time defending champions go, the 'three-peat' is on somewhat shaky ground.
Vietnam
FIFA Rank: #32
Qualified as: Quarterfinalists in 2022 Asian Cup; defeated Thailand 2-0 and Chinese Taipei 2-1 in playoffs
The Skinny
Another surprise qualifier to this tournament, Vietnam finds themselves in their first-ever World Cup after a first-ever trip to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup last summer. The Golden Star Woman Warriors (great nickname, by the way), lost in the quarterfinals, forcing a 'survival playoff' with the other quarterfinal losers. They were able to upset both fellow East Asian foes, both of whom had appeared in World Cups before, which booked their trip to New Zealand. It's a remarkable accomplishment for the young national team, and it seems a bit of a cruel reward to pit them up against the United States immediately, much as their neighbors Thailand were four years ago, resulting in the infamous 13-0 match. For the sake of everyone here and there, here's hoping they withstand the matchup (and their others in Group E) a little better.
The Netherlands
FIFA Rank: #9
Qualified as: Winners of UEFA Group C
The Skinny
It's not too often that you have two teams that played a World Cup Final pitted together in the same group in the next tournament-- the 2014 men's World Cup is the only other instance that comes to mind, and on that occasion, the male Dutch exacted enormous revenge and demolished the then-great dynasty of Spain. Might their women do the same in this tournament to the Americans? It's a tall task for the defending runners-up, made more difficult by the loss of star forward Vivianne Miedema to injury, but talent abounds on this roster still. The Oranje were eliminated in the quarterfinals of both last summer's Euros and the Olympics in 2021, but in each instance, it was on penalties, first to the U.S., and last summer to the French. The core of the side that won the European competition in 2017, and reached the World Cup final two years later is largely still intact, and that makes them a tough out for anyone.
Portugal
FIFA Rank: #21
Qualified as: Runners-up of UEFA Group H; defeated Belgium 2-1, Iceland 4-1, and Cameroon 2-1 in playoffs
The Skinny
The Portuguese make their first-ever World Cup appearance via an extraordinarily winding, mazy qualification path. After 10 matches, they finished 2nd place in Group H to Germany, placing them in a playoff with the other 2nd-place finishers. In this first playoff, they dispatched of Belgium and Iceland, but their total record (with playoff matches included) was slightly inferior to fellow '2nd-place playoff' winners Switzerland and Ireland, which sent A Selecaõ das Quinas to the inter-confederational playoffs. Finally, in these playoffs, they defeated Cameroon to clinch their spot in the tournament. It was a long journey, representative of the long road to get to this point: not only have the Portuguese never played in a World Cup or Summer Olympics, they hadn't qualified for the European Championship until 2017. And now, here they are. After a decent outing in the Group of Death at last summer's Euros, and an even more impressive performance in qualification, Portugal arrive at the World Cup ready to make noise.
Group E Best XI
It will surprise nobody to see how America-centric this Best XI is, but anyone expecting a full team of the red, white, and blue is forgetting about two things: one, some rare deficiencies in the champions' side, and two, how good the Netherlands are. "Thanks" to unfortunate injuries in the American talent pool, Holland's Dominique Janssen of Wolfsburg might legitimately be the best CB in this group, and attacking mids Jill Roord (also of Wolfsburg) and Lieke Martens (Paris Saint-Germain) could walk into most starting lineups in the world. (Their midfield companion Danielle Van de Donk also could be included without dropping off the quality at all, but if you think I'm supplanting the love of my life Rose Lavelle, then brother, you've got another thing comin'.) Still, much like England in the last group, it speaks to how deep the Untied States goes that they can place 8 starters on a Best XI despite their crazy slew of injuries. In testament to the generational changes underway, stars both old (Alex Morgan, Crystal Dunn, Alyssa Naeher) and new (Sophia Smith, Sofia Huerta, and Alana Cook) will take the field atop the attack, flanking the defense, and in the middle of the back line, respectively.
Group Prediction
If this isn't the easiest "first and last" prediction I'll do, it's a very very close second to Group D's yesterday. Vietnam is a great story, but will be the bullied in this group, especially if goal differential comes into consideration. And while I think the U.S. is more vulnerable than they have been in some time, I just don't know if anybody in this group is going to be the ones to trip them up. The Dutch, though, while having enough holes to possibly stumble against Portugal are the only ones that could possibly get points off them, I think, and for that reason, they're an obvious choice for #2.
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