USWNT score, World Cup highlights
The U.S. women’s national team will combat to maintain their 2023 World Cup marketing campaign alive Sunday against Sweden in a spherical of 16 match that’s win-or-go-home. The People are vying for a 3rd straight World Cup victory, which might be a file, and fifth total.
With columnist Nancy Armour on the bottom, USA TODAY Sports will provide the newest updates, highlights, evaluation and extra all through the USWNT’s Group E finale match. Observe alongside.
When does the USWNT play subsequent?
The People play Sweden within the World Cup knockout round of 16 at 5 a.m. ET Sunday.
USWNT beginning lineup vs. Sweden
MELBOURNE, Australia − We have got the beginning lineup for the USWNT’s first match of the knockout spherical vs. Sweden. Only a reminder that Sweden is one of the USWNT’s biggest rivals and the People are right here after ending second of their group.
WORLD CUP CENTRAL: 2023 Women’s World Cup Live Scores, Schedules, Standings, Bracket and More
To say this lineup is … fascinating is placing it mildly. Emily Sonnett is making her first begin in a 12 months within the midfield, and Trinity Rodman is again within the beginning lineup after being changed by Lynn Williams in opposition to Portugal.
This is the total lineup:
Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
Defenders: Crystal Dunn, Julie Ertz, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox
Midfielders: Andi Sullivan, Lindsey Horan, Emily Sonnett
Forwards: Sophia Smith, Alex Morgan, Trinity Rodman
Find out how to watch: What channel is recreation on, the right way to stream
All 2023 World Cup video games will be broadcast within the U.S. by Fox, on each its essential channel and FS1. It’s additionally accessible to stream on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports activities app. Spanish-language protection will probably be on Telemundo.
USA ladies World Cup schedule
If the USWNT beats Sweden on Sunday, the workforce will play at 3:30 a.m. ET Friday, August 11 in opposition to Japan.
What time is it in Melbourne?
Melbourne is 14 hours forward of the East Coast of america. The sport kicked off at 7 p.m. Melbourne time.
Megan Rapinoe in several function for USWNT at 2023 World Cup
The Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner from the 2019 World Cup is suiting up for the U.S. for the 2023 World Cup, which will probably be her final.
Few athletes have met the moment like Megan Rapinoe. The U.S. ladies shouldn’t have a fourth World Cup title with out her, nor gold (London) and bronze (Tokyo) medals from the Olympics. She, and Abby Wambach, saved the USWNT from making its earliest exit ever at a significant worldwide event within the quarterfinals of the 2011 World Cup.
It’s what Rapinoe has performed off the sphere, nonetheless, that has remodeled this distinctive athlete into an icon whose affect will proceed lengthy after she retires. Because it was with Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King earlier than her, there’s the world because it existed earlier than Megan Rapinoe and the world because it exists now, due to what she’s performed and the stands she’s taken. Gender fairness, LGBTQ rights and racial equality — good points have been made in these areas and others due to her willingness to make use of her platform.
“For me and for this workforce, it is at all times been the vibe of leaving every thing higher than the place you discovered it,” Rapinoe told USA TODAY Sports in June. “Undeniably we have modified the sport and been part of these multi actions which are all form of occurring on the identical time and have left the world in a greater place.”
USA vs. Sweden predictions
Nancy Armour, columnist: I may make a case for the sport going both means. If the USWNT will get a objective early, I believe they win handily. If it is one other slog at halftime, Sweden advances.
Lindsay Schnell, reporter: I’m undecided if I’m overly optimistic or naive, however I’ve to suppose that purely based mostly on the legislation of averages, the quite a few appears to be like the U.S. has been getting will go in ultimately. So I’m selecting the People, 2-1.
Alex Morgan begins fifteenth profession World Cup recreation
Most of America is aware of Alex Morgan because the USWNT’s energetic main objective scorer, No. 5 on the all-time record. Or as one in every of its most marketable stars: Enticing and wholesome-looking, interesting to each soccer diehards and people who don’t know the very first thing in regards to the sport.
However Morgan can be a disruptor. Keenly conscious of the benefits her stardom has afforded her, she actively makes use of them to advocate for others.
“She deserves a ton extra credit score than she will get on this regard,” stated Becca Roux, govt director of the USWNT Gamers Affiliation. “Lots of people discuss,” Roux added. “She does a variety of work that folks by no means see.”
Sophia Smith is the following face of the USWNT. And she or he is aware of it.
When 14-year-old Sophia Smith instructed her household she was giving up basketball to pay attention totally on soccer, her dad, who performed school hoops at Wyoming, took the information onerous.
“Man, Soph, you may actually be one thing in basketball,” Kenny Smith instructed his youngest daughter.
Sophia’s matter-of-fact response: “I’m going to be particular in soccer.”
Discuss prescient.
Now 22, Smith is ready to make her World Cup debut this summer with the U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce and present worldwide audiences what a rising home fan base has recognized for some time: She’s about to take over.
“Her means to show and go 1-on-1 is subsequent degree,” stated USWNT teammate Naomi Girma, who performs for the NWSL’s San Diego Wave and was Smith’s teammate at Stanford. “To a defender, she’s annoying.”
Read Lindsay Schnell’s full piece here.
Emily Sonnett will get first profession World Cup begin
Emily Sonnett is making her first-ever World Cup begin vs. Sweden, filling in at midfield for the lacking Rose Lavelle, who’s suspended as a consequence of yellow card accumulation in group play.
This will probably be Sonnett’s 77th look with the USWNT, and her first begin since July 14, 2022, within the semifinals of the Concacaf championship, the place the USWNT certified for each the World Cup and subsequent 12 months’s Paris Olympics. And she or he scored, her solely profession objective with the USWNT.
Sonnett, 29, at present performs for the NSWL’s OL Reign in Seattle, however used to play with fellow USWNT midfield Andi Sullivan for the Washington Spirit.
Trinity Rodman attempting to make World Cup historical past
Trinity Rodman typically has to remind herself that she is just not dreaming.
4 years in the past, she watched U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce stars like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan win the World Cup in France. Forward of the 2023 tournament in Australia/New Zealand, Rodman — sure, she is the daughter of NBA champion and Corridor of Famer Dennis — finds herself calling Rapinoe and Morgan teammates, feeding them passes from the left wing.
“To be part of it, to even speak about Trinity Rodman in a World Cup and placing my identify with different names, I can’t even wrap my head round it,” Rodman instructed USA TODAY Sports activities in June, just a few days after her twenty first birthday. “Nevertheless it’s so thrilling.”
Rodman is among the many youngest of the 23 gamers U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovksi chosen for the World Cup, which begins July 20, offering Rodman a possibility to point out the nation — and the world — there’s much more to her than the final identify.
Read Chris Bumbaca’s full story here.
Sweden vs. United States odds
Regardless of their uninspiring play to date, World Cup betting odds nonetheless favor america of their spherical of 16 matchup in opposition to Sweden. However the hole has closed, with most of the top online sportsbooks pessimistic in regards to the People’ possibilities.
The USWNT continues to be slight +120 favorites to defeat Sweden (+230) this weekend, a slim margin that may be a results of the People’ inauspicious begin to the event, in accordance with BetMGM. For instance, BetMGM had america as -350 favorites to defeat Portugal of their remaining group stage match that resulted in a scoreless draw.
The People are additionally now not the favorites to win the World Cup. England (+300) has handed the USWNT (+400) in that class, per BetMGM.
Understanding the present state of the USWNT and its affect on betting tendencies is paramount to understanding how to bet on sports. For those who nonetheless consider america can win a 3rd consecutive title, USA TODAY readers can get entry to exclusive sportsbook promo codes to redeem on the best mobile sports betting apps that provide World Cup wagering. — Richard Morin, Sporting betting partnerships editor
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Carli Lloyd criticizes USWNT
Two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd had some harsh words for the USWNT after the Americans’ 0-0 draw against Portugal.
In accordance with Lloyd, her former workforce isn’t headed for the championship game anyway.
“(The draw in opposition to Portugal) was uninspiring. Disappointing. They don’t look match. They’re enjoying as people and the techniques are too predictable,” Lloyd said on FOX Sports activities postgame present. “(They’re) fortunate to not be going house proper now.”
She reiterated some criticism she’s leveled at U.S. soccer since retiring in 2021, saying “the successful doesn’t matter as a lot anymore” as a lot as “a variety of the off the sphere issues which are occurring.”
USWNT captain Lindsey Horan dismisses Carli Lloyd’s criticism as noise: ‘You don’t have any concept’
Carli Lloyd’s criticisms would possibly make for good TV. To her old teammates, they’re little greater than noise.
The previous workforce captain, who’s now with FOX Sports activities, has spent a number of days ripping the U.S. women. She’s questioned their preparation as well as their passion, saying the USWNT is now not dedicated to successful.
Current captain Lindsey Horan pushed again on these opinions Thursday when asked specifically about Lloyd’s feedback.
“I at all times wish to defend my workforce and say, ‘You don’t have any concept what’s happening behind the scenes. You don’t have any concept, each single coaching, what we’re doing. Individually, collectively,’” Horan said. “For anybody to query our mentality hurts slightly bit. However on the finish of the day, it doesn’t actually matter. I don’t actually care. It’s what’s happening inside right here, what’s happening inside the workforce.”
USWNT followers make themselves heard in Melbourne
MELBOURNE, Australia − It was onerous to know what to anticipate from the gang tonight, and what number of USWNT supporters could be on the town. Most American followers seemingly anticipated the USWNT to be enjoying in Sydney and acquired tickets accordingly, and switching gears would have taken some doing. It will have required altering flights and resorts, in addition to shopping for new tickets. And in contrast to Auckland and Wellington, which had been crawling with USWNT followers on recreation days, you did not see many People in Melbourne this weekend.
However early on, the American Outlaws are making themselves heard right here. They’re main rounds of chants from one facet of the sphere and so they’re echoing all through Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
− Nancy Armour
Is Rose Lavelle enjoying tonight?
No. The U.S. midfielder is suspended for the match in opposition to Sweden due to yellow card accumulation in group play.
How can USWNT beat Sweden at World Cup? Begin with these three lineup adjustments
The USWNT’s World Cup run, to say nothing of its hopes of changing into the first-ever workforce to win three consecutive titles, is already on fumes, and now they face a round-of-16 recreation Sunday evening in opposition to Sweden. You understand, the workforce that bounced the People out of the Rio Video games in 2016, the one time they’ve not reached the semifinals at a World Cup or Olympics, after which thrashed them within the opener in Tokyo.
To say the U.S. prospects of advancing usually are not nice is placing it properly. However the USWNT has by no means been recognized to surrender − 2011 quarterfinals, anybody? − and wacky, sudden issues have develop into the norm at this World Cup.
So how can the USWNT reverse its fortunes? Here are a few lineup ideas.
USWNT must channel Ted Lasso: ¡Mucho, mucho pleasure!
AUCKLAND, New Zealand − The U.S. women bought away from what bought them right here.
Not the techniques or the rotation and even private performances. Return additional. All the way in which again, to after they first fell in love with this recreation. The gleeful abandon they felt in working up and down the sphere, chasing a ball or scoring a objective. Their enjoyment of enjoying with their buddies.
That’s what’s been lacking on this slog of a World Cup, one during which the USWNT has regarded laden and misplaced as they’ve fallen short of everyone’s expectations together with their very own.
Pleasure.
Read Nancy Armour’s full column.
World Cup bracket 2023
Here’s how the 2023 World Cup bracket is set up.
World Cup schedule, knockout stage
Here’s the full schedule for the knockout rounds.
Saturday, Aug. 5
- Spain 5, Switzerland 1 … Spain advances to play Netherlands
- Japan 3, Norway 1 … Japan advances to play winner of USWNT-Sweden
Sunday, Aug. 6
- Netherlands 2, South Africa 0 … Netherlands advances to play Spain
- Sweden (Group G winner) vs. USA (Group E runner-up) in Melbourne Rectangular at 5 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 7
- England (Group D winner) vs. Nigeria (Group B runner-up) in Lang Park, Brisbane at 6.30 a.m.
- Australia (Group B winner) vs. Denmark (Group D runner-up) in Stadium Australia, Sydney at 3.30 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 8
- Colombia (Group H winner) vs. Jamaica (Group F runner-up) in Hindmarsh, Adelaide at 4 a.m.
- France (Group F winner) vs. Morocco (Group H runner-up) in Melbourne Rectangular at 7 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 11
- Spain vs. Netherlands in Wellington Regional at 9 p.m. ET Thursday
- Japan vs. Sweden/USWNT in Eden Park, Auckland at 3.30 a.m.