USA v Portugal: Women’s World Cup 2023 Group E – live | Women’s World Cup 2023

Francisco Neto has changed more than half the team that beat Vietnam 2-0 on Thursday.

In Ines Pereira, Diana Gomes, Catarina Amado, Andreia Norton, Dolores Silva, Diana Silva.

Out Patricia Morais, Ana Seica, Lucia Alves, Andreia Jacinto, Joana Marchao, Telma Encarnacao.

Portugal (possible 3-4-1-2) Pereira; Borges, C Costa, D Gomes; T Pinto, Norton, D Silva, Amado; Nazareth; J Silva, D Silva.
Substitutes: Morais, R Costa, Alves, Rebelo, Marchao, Jacinto, Rute, F Pinto, Seica, Mendes, Capeta, Encarnacao.

The US make two changes from the draw with the Netherlands. Lynn Williams and Rose Lavelle replace Savannah DeMelo and Trinity Rodman. It’s Lavelle’s first begin of this World Cup; she has been eased into the match by Vlatko Andonovski as she recovers from a knee damage.

We’ll have the Portugal crew information shortly.

USA (doable 4-2-1-3) Naeher; Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn; Sullivan, Horan; Lavelle; Williams, Morgan, Smith.
Substitutes: DeMelo, Rodman, Sanchez, Huerta, O’Hara, Thompson, Cook, Sonnett, Rapinoe, Murphy, Kingsbury, Mewis.

Hello and welcome … to live, minute-by-minute(ish) protection of Portugal v USA in Auckland. Life is binary today, and there are broadly two methods immediately’s match can go. Either the USA will proceed to the final 16 as anticipated, or Portugal will trigger one of many best earthquakes within the historical past of the ladies’s soccer.

Assuming the Netherlands beat Vietnam within the different Group E sport, this can be a straight shootout for a final 16 place: Portugal want a win, the USA will undergo with a draw.

The USA have by no means failed to succeed in the semi-finals of a World Cup, by no means thoughts the final 16. They’re chasing a 3rd consecutive World Cup win and a fifth total. A defeat immediately could be completely with out precedent.

Realistically they need to have an excessive amount of for Portugal; they’ve received all ten conferences between the perimeters, scoring 39 and conceding none. If so, the USA will then change into concerned in a shootout with the Netherlands to resolve who wins Group E. It received’t be confirmed till tomorrow, however the chances are the runners-up will meet Sweden within the final 16, with the winners going through both Italy or South Africa.

The group winners might additionally face Spain in a mouthwatering quarter-final. But we’re getting forward of ourselves now. Before we will discuss tomorrow, there’s somewhat essential enterprise to take care of.

Kick off 7pm in Auckland, 3am EST, 8am BST.

Rob can be right here shortly, within the meantime right here’s Jeff Kassouf with a preview of immediately’s match:

Four years in the past, the United States steamrolled their method via the Women’s World Cup, scoring within the opening 12 minutes of their first six video games on their march to a second straight title.

Their begin to the 2023 World Cup has been much less dominant. A 3-0 victory over Vietnam of their opener was passable for a brand-new beginning 11, even when they had been wasteful in entrance of objective. Then got here a horrendous first-half towards the Netherlands. USA captain Lindsey Horan ultimately salvaged some extent for her crew towards the Dutch, however the temper was one among disappointment not solely on the end result, but in addition the efficiency.

Now the Americans are in unfamiliar territory: they need to decide up not less than some extent towards Portugal on Tuesday in Auckland to safe passage to the knockout spherical. They are heavy favorites to win the sport, however their performances to this point have solely raised additional questions of a crew that has not appeared this uncertain of itself in a very long time.

“I think being on the US women’s national team kind of always feels like this,” mentioned Megan Rapinoe, who’s taking part in in her fourth and ultimate World Cup. “When was the last time anybody wrote a headline that was like: ‘They played the best game and that’s exactly what we were expecting them to’? No. When you’re at the top, you’re always looking to get better.”

You can learn the total article beneath: