Key events
Half-time in the other game is 0-0, that would be enough to see the US through. If Portugal can find a winner though it will be them going through with the Netherlands – as things stand.
Half-time! Vietnam 0-5 Netherlands
What a half it has been! As things stand the Netherlands are through after five goals from five different scorers. The best of the bunch was Brugts – what an effort that was!
45+ 2 min: There are four minutes added, I do not know where that amount of time has come from – we’ve had hardly any stoppage. Thi Bich Thuy Nguyen takes a shot, it’s on target but Van Domselaar saves.
GOAL! Vietnam 0-5 Netherlands (Van de Donk, 45′)
It was a great initial save on a Roord shot but Van de Donk picks up the rebound.
44 min: We haven’t had a goal for 20 minutes, the defence has been a lot better from Vietnam. They are tighter on their marked players and the keeper is finding her groove – she makes another save as Van de Donk shoots.
42 min: Bas has got in touch and said: “Re: the muted celebrations of the Dutch: they have a saying in the Netherlands: ‘doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg’ (just act normal, that’s crazy enough) They can party like any other nation, but as long as there is business to be finished, that comes first.” Ah that is a good saying! They have started to celebrate a bit more but they aren’t huge celebrations. Back to the match and Vietnam have a free kick in their own half, it’s cleared by the Netherlands.
40 min: A scream comes from Spitse after a foul from Hai Yen Pham, the Dutch captain is okay to continue though. Martens gets a shot away but it is deflected for a corner. Spitse takes once more, it pinballs around until Snoeijs takes a shot – a great save from Thi Kim Thanh Tran.
38 min: Vietnam’s defence is back in a good formation after allowing the Netherlands too much space on the ball. Spitse wins a corner and the captain is over the ball. It’s another good delivery, no one can initially connect but it comes to Brugts – her shot is wide.
36 min: The crowd come to life with Vietnam having some possession but they quickly lose out and here come the Netherlands. Snoeijs makes a great run but her last touch has too much on it and
Thi Kim Thanh Tran collects. She sends her team on the attack and it comes to Thi Thu Thao Tran, her shot it way wide.
34 min: The Netherlands win a free kick and Spitse is over this. It’s a great delivery but Van der Gragt’s header is over the bar.
32 min: A lovely one-two touch sees Roord in a great position, her shot is well saved by
Thi Kim Thanh Tran.
31 min: A heavy touch from Roord sees a chance go but their ball recovery is so fast and they are back on the attack. Van de Donk loses out with a good interception but again, they have it back.
29 min: Here come the changes with Thi Kieu Chuong and Thi My Anh Nguyen on for Thi Loan Hoang and Thi Thu Thuong Luong – shows just how dominant this Netherlands side have been.
27 min: A really good tackle there as Vietnam peel forward, they win a throw in but it is thrown straight out of play. Vietnam look they are going to make changes already, that is so early!
24 min: They are scoring so quickly I am struggling to keep up! The clinical edge of this team is scary. Vietnam get into Netherlands half but they lose the ball, such a tricky match for them after such a bright start.
GOAL! Vietnam 0-4 Netherlands (Roord, 23′)
Janssen crosses a beautiful ball and Roord has her goal!
22 min: The Netherlands just keep coming, they aren’t taking the foot off the gas at all. Martens is fed the ball in the box but her final touch is weak.
20 min: It is worth remembering the US beat Vietnam 3-0, this scoreline should be a lot higher than that. Roord has a shot but it is marginally wide.
GOAL! Vietnam 0-3 Netherlands (Brugts, 18′)
What a hit! She is outside the area, she whips it and it bends into the top right corner. This time the team do celebrate and it’s a goal that deserves it.
17 min: Okay Roord wants goal of the tournament, her effort is thunderous! She is way outside the area and smashes it but it’s wide. Janssen wants to get in on the scoring action too but her effort is way wide.
15 min: Vietnam had such a good start, now they look more panicked. If they can have some sustained time on the ball they could get something but the Netherlands are running rings around them at the moment.
13 min: Snoeijs celebrated a little when she scored but she soon stopped – they are looking for a cricket score it seems. They have another corner but Roord sees it over the bar.
GOAL! Vietnam 0-2 Netherlands (Snoeijs, 11′)
Gosh this could be a huge score! Spitse crosses the corner in, it’s a good delivery but Vietnam are able to clear, however it comes straight back to the Netherlands. They get it in the box, Van de Donk with a lovely pass and she shoots and scores!
10 min: So interesting to see the celebrations for that goal so muted, they are in the mood for a flood of scores! They win a corner.
GOAL! Vietnam 0-1 Netherlands (Martens, 8′)
There it is! Martens with a great touch and finish! Her 60th for the Netherlands.
7 min: Really high press from Vietnam, the back five doing their job but Martens manages to get a ball in – it is cleared but the Netherlands are right back in attack. Brugts gets a cross in but it’s over the bar.
5 min: Here come Vietnam again but Hai Yen can’t keep it in play. The Netherlands look to put together an attack with Pelova with great footwork but Vietnam anticipate it, Thuy Nguyen’s shot is over the bar.
3 min: Thuy Nguyen takes the corner short, it eventually comes in and the Netherlands don’t deal with it well. Groenen gets it clear but it’s a great start from Vietnam.
2 min: The Vietnam supporters definitely making themselves heard! They come to life as their team launch an attack and then win an early corner.
Kick-off! Vietnam 0-0 Netherlands
Here we go then! Group E will be decided shortly, remember Vietnam are already out and the Netherlands only need a point to go through.
The stadium does not look busy in the stands at all, hopefully the ones that are there are able to make themselves heard.
The players are out on the pitch and the anthems will follow shortly! The Netherlands will be the favourites to win this but Vietnam will cause them a few issues!
I’d love to hear from you! Where are you reading from? And how do you see this group shaking out? Get in touch via Twitter or email.
And Vietnam boss Mai Duc Chung said about his final match: “We have started a journey and I have done my best but it is time for me to bid farewell. I am hopeful that it will be a strong farewell against opponents who are of very high quality. The Netherlands are not only the 2019 runners-up but are also chasing a place in the knockout stage and we have to be on top of our game to stop them.”
Back to the teams at hand and the Netherlands’ coach Andries Jonker has said: “(We have) a lot of respect for Vietnam, they are a good team. We have seen against the United States and Portugal that it is really not that easy. We have never shown any arrogance and we won’t now either.”
And here is another great piece on the US:
The back-to-back defending champions the USA head into their final group match against Portugal with the potential of being knocked out from the tournament.
And here’s a slice from the Netherlands’ guide: “After the Euro 2022 debacle under Mark Parsons, Andries Jonker has revitalised the team. The Orange Lionesses are once again showing traits of Sarina Wiegman’s golden generation, which peaked in grand fashion in 2017 with European Championship gold and won silver at the World Cup two years later. Unlike Parsons, who only worked part-time in the Netherlands in his first months because of club commitments in Portland, Jonker threw himself into the team 24 hours a day from the start. Moreover, he kept his ear to the ground with his players, each of whom he visited, including the contingent of internationals active abroad.” Read the full piece:
Here is some information on Vietnam’s coach, who will be bowing out of the role after today’s match: “The World Cup will be Mai Duc Chung’s last tournament as the head coach, closing the curtain on a glorious career with the women’s and men’s national teams. Various foreign coaches had been hired, but no one could make Vietnam’s World Cup dream come true until Chung. He is famous for being a “stuntman” (or emergency caretaker) as he has, far too many times, been temporarily placed in charge of Vietnam’s men’s and under-23 teams in times of crisis, until a new coach could be found.” Read our full guide here:
Vietnam have now put their line-up forward. The team make two changes with Thi Hai Linh Tran and Hai Yen Pham coming in for Thi Thao Thai and Nhu Huynh. They set up defensively with five at the back.
Starting XI: Thi Kim Thanh Tran; Thi Thu Thuong Luong, Thi Thu Tran, Thi Loan Hoang, Thi Diem My Le, Thi Thu Thao Tran; Thi Hai Linh Tran, Thi Van Duong, Thi Thanh Nha Nguyen, Thi Bich Thuy Nguyen; Hai yen Pham.
The Netherlands’ team news is in! They have made no changes to the team that drew with the US.
Starting XI: Van Domselaar, Van der Gragt, Roord, Spitse, Snoeijs, Van de Donk, Martens, Groenen, Pelova, Janssen, Brugts
Preamble
Hello and welcome to one of the games which will decide Group E! We will be focusing on Vietnam v Netherlands but USA and Portugal will also kick-off at the same time.
The only thing that is certain in this group is that Vietnam are out after losing their first two games. That means the other three nations have the potential to take one of the two spots for the knock-out stage.
The Netherlands will qualify if they win or draw against Vietnam today. If they lose they will need the USA to beat Portugal to go through.
The other permutations in this concern the other match. The USA will qualify with a win or a draw against Portugal. While Portugal will go through if they defeat USA but a draw would be enough to qualify if Vietnam beat the Netherlands.
And do not worry about working out the maths and permutations as we go, I’ll be updating you as the goals go in (or don’t) about what that means for the group. First up we have the team news so stay tuned for all the updates!
