Preview: USA Women vs. Netherlands Women - prediction, team news, lineups

The Stars and Stripes began the Women's World Cup 2023 with a comfortable win over Vietnam, while the Dutch managed to edge out Portugal.

Match preview

The five-time world champions began the defence of their trophy with a commanding 3-0 victory against Vietnam in Auckland.

Sophia Smith netted a first-half brace to give her side a two-goal cushion at the break, before Lindsey Horan found the net in the 77th minute to wrap up all three points.

Impressively, the USA have now recorded 10 consecutive victories, racking up 24 goals and only conceding on two occasions.

They have also won 14 and drawn one of their previous 15 World Cup games, since losing on penalties to Japan in the 2011 final.

The USA will be confident of continuing their fine form on Thursday, having lost just one of their 25 group stages matches at the World Cup finals.

The Netherlands got their campaign up and running with a narrow victory over Portugal thanks to Stephanie van der Gragt's 13th-minute effort.

After recording a third consecutive victory, the Netherlands will now prepare for a difficult test against the defending champions.

Since losing 2-0 to the USA in the 2019 World Cup final, the Dutch have faced the Stars and Stripes on two occasions.

They were beaten in a friendly in November 2020, before running the USA close in the quarter-finals at the Tokyo Olympics, but the contest ultimately ended in a penalty shootout defeat.

Although the Netherlands will be aware of the tough test that awaits them on Thursday, they will at least be confident of troubling the scorers after finding the net in six of their seven group games at the World Cup finals.

USA Women Women's World Cup form:

W

USA Women form (all competitions):

Netherlands Women Women's World Cup form:

W

Netherlands Women form (all competitions):

Team News

After getting off to a winning start, USA boss Vlatko Andonovski is expected to name an unchanged lineup for Matchday two.

Portland Thorns midfielder Horan picked up a booking in the win over Vietnam, leaving her one yellow card away from a suspension.

Alex Morgan was unable to convert from the penalty spot in the first half of Saturday's encounter, but she will have another chance to open her account when she leads the line on Thursday.

As for their opponents, Netherlands boss Andries Jonker may also opt for consistency and name an unchanged starting XI.

Daphne van Domselaar will be tested in goal, and she will be shielded by the back three of Sherida Spitse, Dominique Janssen and Van der Gragt.

After scoring 11 goals in 21 Serie A appearances for Juventus last term, Lineth Beerensteyn will look to bring her club form onto the international stage when she features in the forward line alongside Lieke Martens.

USA Women possible starting lineup:

Naeher; Fox, Ertz, Girma, Dunn; Demelo, Sullivan, Horan; Rodman, Smith, Morgan

Netherlands Women possible starting lineup:

Van Domselaar; Spitse, Van der Gragt, Janssen; Pelova, Roord, Groenen, Van de Donk, Brugts; Beerensteyn, Martens

We say: USA Women 2-1 Netherlands Women

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