The 2023 Women’s World Cup is in full swing, and these daily files will give you the latest reporting from around the 2023 World Cup as well as betting lines, what-to-watch-for information and best reads. Check in with ESPN throughout the tournament as we bring you the latest from Australia and New Zealand.
THE LEAD: USWNT start strong with 3-0 win over Vietnam
The U.S. women’s national team got the result it expected, though perhaps not the margin of victory it anticipated going in, defeating Vietnam 3-0 in the teams’ 2023 FIFA World Cup opener. Sophie Smith scored two first-half goals and Lindsey Horan added a third on a day when the U.S. defense was untroubled.
Smith scored the opener in the 14th minute, finishing through the legs of Vietnam keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh after she was put through thanks to Alex Morgan‘s layoff. Morgan should have added to the U.S. scoreline, but her 44th-minute penalty was saved by Tran. It was left to Smith to extend the Americans’ lead, scoring deep into first-half stoppage time as she fired home after a weak attempted punch by Tran.
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The U.S. kept up its territorial dominance in the second half, and finally broke through in the 77th minute with Smith assisting on Lindsey Horan’s goal.
More than just keeping the ball and going forward well, Japan managed to stop the supply lines to the Copper Queens’ talismanic Barbra Banda, taking the captain out of the game and muting the entire opposition in the process. With a potentially long journey ahead of them, their commanding 5-0 win should provide firm foundations for the team to build on as they work their way through the tournament. For now the win takes them top of the table, ahead of Spain on goal difference. — Sophie Lawson
Penalties, VAR an early theme of this World Cup
The penalties keep on coming in Australia and New Zealand. By the end of England’s narrow win over Haiti on Saturday, all eight games played had seen one awarded. Only half of them have been scored, though, with some big players missing from 12 yards.
New Zealand’s Ria Percival, Canada‘s Christine Sinclair, Spain’s Jenni Hermoso and USA’s Alex Morgan have all squandered spot kicks, although only Sinclair’s miss proved crucial as Canada dropped two points against Nigeria. England’s Georgia Stanway and Japan’s Riko Ueki also saw penalties saved, although they were handed a second chance by VAR because the goalkeepers had encroached. Both then converted their second efforts.
It is the use of VAR that has led to the spike in penalties. Five of the eight given in the tournament were not spotted in real time; instead, the referees awarded them after reviewing the pitch-side monitor, announcing the decision over the microphone as FIFA trials a new method of keeping fans informed. Perhaps the most controversial call came in Switzerland‘s win over the Philippines when Jessika Cowart was deemed to have fouled Coumba Sow, although play had continued without any protest from the Swiss.
At the current rate of one per game, the record for penalties at a Women’s World Cup will be smashed. Four years ago, 26 were given in 52 games, setting the current high at an average of 0.5 penalties per game. In 2015, 22 were awarded (0.42 per game), but prior to that the average had never gone beyond 0.35 and the count never higher than 11, although the number of games played in the finals has continued to increase. — Sam Marsden
MATCH PREVIEWS
Group G: Sweden vs. South Africa (Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington; 5 p.m. local / 1 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. UK)
Odds: Sweden -1400, Draw +750, South Africa +3500
Sweden’s hugely talented team will look to lay down a marker when they open their campaign against South Africa at Wellington Regional Stadium. Milan’s Kosovare Asllani, Barcelona‘s Fridolina Rolfo and Bayern Munich‘s Magdalena Eriksson are all hugely experienced and form the spine of a side looking to go one better than 2019, when they reached the semifinals. “Sweden are at their best when we have a clear identity — and we have that this tournament,” Eriksson warned Saturday.
South Africa’s preparations, meanwhile, were hampered by a pay dispute, but captain Refiloe Jane insists “everything is revolved” and the players are focused on football. Coach Desiree Ellis wants Morocco‘s men’s World Cup semifial run to serve as inspiration. “They were in a tough group and no one gave them a chance,” she said. “We take a lot of heart from that.”
Group E: Netherlands vs. Portugal (Forsyth Barr, Dunedin; 7.30 p.m. local / 3.30 a.m. ET / 8.30 a.m. UK)
Odds: Netherlands -215, Draw +320, Portugal +550
Finalists four years ago, the Netherlands have been flattering to deceive for some time. Even in France 2019, the Oranje reached the final without really hitting top gear. This time around the considerations are different: the squad is younger, star striker Vivianne Miedema is still rehabbing an ACL injury, and next most important player (Lieke Martens) has been battling with her own injuries this year.
Despite the context, the pressure will still be on the Dutch to deliver, especially against a debuting, but evolving Portugal team and in an unforgiving group, there is little room for error. — Sophie Lawson
Crystal Dunn playing with freedom and fury
Motherhood and finding her voice have helped the U.S. women’s national team veteran liberate herself from the pressure to perform.
England’s turbulent World Cup prep
It’s been a difficult year for the Lionesses since winning the Euros at home last summer. Can they rally, shrugging off key injuries and off-field conflict, to make a strong run at the World Cup?
Why are so many Women’s World Cup stars missing due to torn ACLs?
The list of absentees is depressingly long. Why is this long-term injury so much more prevalent in the women’s game?
AND FINALLY…
When you score (twice) in your first ever World Cup game, chances are you are going to be named the player of the match. So when Sophia Smith was tabbed as the top player from the USWNT’s 3-0 win over Vietnam, she got the snazzy trophy — from her dad!
