The USWNT’s path to the Ladies’s World Cup closing Receive US

The knockout stage of the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup is all-but set, which implies United States’ path to the ultimate has been made clear.

After Tuesday’s shock 0-0 draw with Portugal, a match which noticed the USWNT come a submit’s width from exiting the event, Vlatko Andonovski’s facet completed second in Group E.

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The Netherlands smashed Vietnam 7-0 within the simultaneous kickoff to lock of their place atop the group, that means the U.S. should now take a special street to the one which they probably envisioned once they headed Down Beneath — and a more durable one, after simply their second runner’s-up end in Ladies’s World Cup group play.

Again in 2011, once they completed second to Sweden within the group stage, the USWNT nonetheless went on to achieve the ultimate of the event in Germany earlier than dropping to Japan. And maybe there’s some degree of serendipity to be discovered right here, given the probably opponents that await the USWNT this time round in the event that they hope to match that feat or, certainly, go one higher.

Who will the USWNT play within the Ladies’s World Cup Spherical of 16?

First up for the U.S. can be a gathering with a really, very acquainted foe: Sweden. Sure, them once more. No fixture has been performed extra at Ladies’s World Cups than this one, with Sunday’s assembly (5 a.m ET) representing the seventh time the 2 nations have locked horns on this stage, in addition to the sixth time in succession.

The united stateshandily leads the all-time World Cup sequence with 4 wins — Sweden have gained one sport, with one drawn — however the Europeans gained the final aggressive assembly between the 2 sides in 2021, once they ended the USWNT’s 44-game unbeaten streak by way of a complete 3-0 win within the group levels of the Tokyo Olympics.

Who would the USWNT play within the Ladies’s World Cup quarterfinals?

Ought to Vlatko Andonovski’s facet discover a well past their previous rivals they are going to then transfer on to a final-eight assembly towards both Norway or the facet that beat them within the 2011 closing, Japan.

Nadeshiko Japan has hardly set a foot improper throughout its opening three video games of the event, thrashing Zambia 5-0 in its opening sport, easing to a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in its second, after which firing an ominous warning shot to the remainder of the competitors once they outclassed contenders Spain 4-0 final Monday.

Futoshi Ikeda’s facet had solely had 22% of the ball in that contest, however in a masterclass of controlling video games with out the ball, they proved far more practical with it than the Europeans, their 5 photographs heading in the right direction in contrast with simply two from Spain only one telling instance.

Norway, in the meantime, has regarded removed from convincing via the event, dropping to New Zealand in its opening sport, grinding out a 0-0 draw with Switzerland in its second, and proving unable to masks indicators of effervescent discontent equivalent to when star participant Caroline Graham Hansen took public situation with coach Hege Riise’s resolution to bench her towards the Swiss.

Who would the USWNT play within the Ladies’s World Cup semifinals?

At this level, predicting who will emerge from the crucible of knockout soccer to satisfy the USWNT, ought to they show themselves able to doing that, is troublesome.

Spain, the Swiss, the Netherlands and South Africa are all on the facet of the draw that produces the opponent, with a conflict with Spain or a re-match with the Dutch the most probably of the doable eventualities.

The USWNT and the Netherlands performed out a 1-1 attract Wellington throughout the group levels of the event, whereas La Roja was one of many three European foes that mixed handy the U.S. its first three-game dropping run since 1993 final yr with Laia Codina and Esther Gonzalez lifting the Spaniards to a 2-0 win in Pamplona.

Who would the USWNT play within the Ladies’s World Cup closing?

If the USWNT is someway capable of flip its type round and attain this level they must face the decide of the litter from a facet of the bracket containing the likes of Germany, France, reigning European champion England and co-host Australia.

None can be straightforward. And based mostly on type proper now, backing the USWNT to get so far is not the great guess it as soon as may need been.

However successful World Cups is not alleged to be straightforward now, is it?