Vietnam hopeful of earning points at 2023 Women’s World Cup
VOV.VN - “For Vietnam, who will play their first-ever World Cup match against the US in Auckland on July 23, there were certainly kinder draws out there for a team ranked 34th in the world,” stated global sports website ESPN.
In a recent article published on its website the sports broadcaster outlined that, “Containing both the winners and the runners-up from the last Women's World Cup, Group E has the scales firmly tipped in favour of the seeded teams; four-time winners, the US are so far ahead of the rest in terms of ranking and women's football development.”
“Even against the winners from playoff A (Cameroon, Portugal or Thailand), Vietnam might have a mountain to climb - as do the Netherlands, who find themselves in another period of transition having only just brought in a new coach, and would be right to be fearful of a Cameroon or Portugal team who could make it through the playoffs,” it stressed.
According to ESPN, the Vietnamese team have been drawn in the most difficult group at the tournament, with their chances of progressing extremely low. The World Cup will therefore provide the country’s female footballers with an opportunity to experience playing in the globe’s biggest tournament for the first time against the best opponents that they rarely have the chance to face.
Vietnam have been drawn in Group E alongside defending champions the United States, the Netherlands, and a playoff winner, as announced at the draw held in New Zealand on October 22.
This represents a huge challenge for Vietnam as the US are four-time champions and are currently placed at the top of the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.
Elsewhere, the Netherlands were the runners-up at the 2019 Women’s World Cup and are now in eighth position in the global rankings.
The final team in Group E could be either Thailand, Cameroon, or Portugal, and they will be decided following a play-off match to be played in February 2023.
All fixtures in Group E will take place in New Zealand from July 22 to August 1 next year.
Vietnam are scheduled to take on the US on July 22, the play-off winner on July 27, and the Netherlands on August 1.
