The U.S. women’s national team has been in New Zealand for the past 10 days, acclimating themselves to the environment and getting to know their teammates. As they approach their first game in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, they finally have an opponent to focus on: World Cup debutantes Vietnam. Vietnam, managed by Mai Duc Chung, is somewhat of a wild card in this tournament. They qualified through the Asian Confederation playoffs, defeating both Chinese Taipei and Thailand. While their recent friendly results have been mixed, with a 2-1 loss to Germany followed by a 2-0 defeat to New Zealand and a 9-0 thrashing by Spain, the U.S. team is preparing for the best version of Vietnam they have seen so far. U.S. manager Vlatko Andonovski has emphasized the importance of being ready for any challenge and not underestimating their opponents.
Underdogs with Determination: Vietnam’s Strategy
Vietnam is well aware of the magnitude of the task ahead of them. They are the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, while the U.S. is ranked first. However, they have no intention of being pushovers. While Mai acknowledges the strength of the U.S. team, he also mentions that Vietnam will employ suitable tactics to minimize goals conceded and injuries. They are not afraid of their opponent and believe in their ability to perform well. The expectation is that Vietnam will adopt a defensive strategy, sitting deep and looking for opportunities to counterattack through forward Huynh Nhu. This approach has proven challenging for the U.S. team in the past, as seen in their friendly against Wales. The U.S. players understand the need to adapt to different playing styles and trust each other’s judgment during the game.
The U.S. team has experienced a similar situation in the past when they faced Thailand in their opener during the previous World Cup. They secured a resounding 13-0 victory. This time, the U.S. players are not getting ahead of themselves and remain focused on their first game against Vietnam. Crystal Dunn, a U.S. defender, emphasizes the importance of taking one game at a time and not underestimating their opponents. She highlights the need to concentrate on the task at hand and secure the three points, regardless of the scoreline.
While expectations are high for the U.S. team to dominate the match against Vietnam, the players are determined to remain unaffected by outside noise. They aim to create a bubble similar to the one they established during the 2019 World Cup, where they block out distractions and external expectations. They understand that victory doesn’t always come in the form of a lopsided scoreline and that a well-defended opponent should be anticipated. The U.S. players want to celebrate their goals and achievements in the tournament, just as their male counterparts would.
The U.S. women’s national team is preparing for their first game against Vietnam in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Vietnam’s performance has been unpredictable, but the U.S. team is ready to face any challenge. Vietnam, despite being the underdogs, is determined to give their best performance and not back down. The U.S. players are focused on taking one game at a time and securing the necessary points. They understand the importance of adapting to different playing styles and trusting their teammates. While expectations are high for the U.S. team to dominate, they are focused on their own performance and treating Vietnam like any other opponent.
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