By Kenny Burgess
While the early stages of the Women’s 2023 World Cup saw their fair share of uneven matchups and blowouts, tonight’s contest should be one of the better matches of the competition. The United States is slated to face the Netherlands, a rematch of the 2019 Final, making it the marquee matchup of the group stage.
Both squads are coming off some disappointing efforts, even though they both earned wins in their first match. The United States defeated Vietnam 3-0, but they didn’t play their best as it seemed a bit sloppy as a whole. The Netherlands struggled to score against Portugal and didn’t look overly impressive in the 1-0 win.
The United States enter the match as -160 money line favorites. Previously, the United States defeated the Dutch squad the last two times they met on international stages (2019 World Cup and 2022 Olympics). The United States’ lineup is one of the best and deepest in the tournament, but the starting lineup has changed a bit from the ones we’ve been accustomed to.
Both Rose Lavelle and Megan Rapinoe came off the bench in their first match. Lavelle is still one of the best players in the world and the game against Vietnam was her first action since tweaking her knee more than three months ago. Lavelle should be inserted back into the starting lineup for the game against the Netherlands, but the same can’t be said for Rapinoe. The winger, who has announced her retirement at the end of the season, is 38 years old and is being used as a bench player.
The top goal-scoring threat for the Americans is Sophia Smith. The 22-year-old phenom had a hand in all three U.S. goals against Vietnam, scoring two goals and assisting on the other. Smith is the reigning NWSL MVP and doesn’t seem to be fazed by the big stage. It will be interesting how the new USA lineup continues to mesh, and the Netherlands should provide a good test.
The Netherlands come into the match as underdogs with a +470 money line, and if they’re able to defeat the defending champions, they’ll turn some heads. The Netherlands is a veteran squad and should be able to hang with the U.S., as they are led by Sheirda Spitse, who has been one of the best playmakers in the sport. Since 2019, Spitse has recorded five assists in international play, all in off-set plays. If the Netherlands gets a set piece, Spitse could be a game-changer.
Notably, the Dutch are down their top player and goal scorer, Vivianne Miedema, who has the most goals ever for a Dutch player; she will miss the whole tournament with a ruptured ACL. The Dutch had a tough time finishing in their first match and that could continue, largely due to Miedema’s absence.
This will be a good measuring stick game for both teams, and it should be a tightly contested matchup. The odds on a draw are +250 and the outcome of this match will likely determine the Group E winner. World Cup Final rematches don’t happen that often, so this is definitely a must-watch game.
Photo credits: USWNT & Netherlands National Teams’ Instagrams
