USA Women Draw Netherlands But Expected to Advance

While the Men's World Cup gears up for the first fall tournament, the Women's WC recently had their Final Draw a few weeks ago where the four-time champion #1 E1-USWNT drew #8 E3-Netherlands (who USA beat 2-0 in the 2019 final) but then got #34 first-timers E2-Vietnam and then the Group A playoff-winner.  USA, playing all matches in New Zealand, will play its last group match against either #41 Thailand (which the USA won 13-0 four years ago), #58 Cameroon, or #23 Portugal.  

In addition to Group E, Groups C and F also feature two powerhouses (#6 C1-Spain & #11 C4-Japan and #5 F1-France & #9 F3-Brazil).  The hosts #22 A1-New Zealand and #13 B1-Australia drew decent groups and should make it out.  #2 G1-Sweden and #3 H1-Germany have easy groups while #4 D1-England got two teams in the teens (#15 D4-China PR and #18 D3-Denmark) in the closest Group of Death candidate.

So the reason this post came up is that USA is in the midst of a 3-match losing streak, their first since 1993.  Three.  Losses.  Granted, they were against top-tier teams (2-1 @ENG Oct 7, 2-0 @ESP Oct 11, and 2-1 vGER Nov 10) but it is unnerving because you don't want the team to be used to losing.  USA did go 9-0 against teams such as ENG, NED, JPN, ESP, and CAN in 2020 but last year had to settle for bronze in the Olympics after losing to CAN in the semifinals in their only loss of 2021 (but with 5 ties).  

Our 3rd HWCI Women's World Cup pool will be next July.