Alex Morgan: 'The US team is impatient against Vietnam'

"The 2023 World Cup does not have easy matches," Morgan said on July 25. "We knew the match against Vietnam would be like that, but we were impatient. Sometimes we should hold the ball and be more decisive. The team has to learn from that experience, to apply it to the next game."

On July 22, in the opening match of Group E of the Women's World Cup 2023, the US defeated Vietnam 3-0. The defending champion finished 28 times, with 7 goals, while Vietnam did not finish the time. Morgan himself missed the penalty in the 44th minute. Sophia Smith scored twice for the US in the 14th and 45+7 minutes, before Lindsey Horan fixed the score in the 77th minute.

America's 3-0 victory over Vietnam is considered an unexpected result. In 2019, the US won against Thailand - another Southeast Asian representative - with a score of 13-0. In that match, Morgan alone scored five goals.

"I felt some of the ball was a bit forced, or rushed," Morgan added of the match against Vietnam. "We need to be more patient, switch states and play more in sync."

On July 27, the US will meet the Netherlands - the team also has three points thanks to a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the opening leg. The confrontation between the two teams that are considered the strongest in Group E can decide the leading position. Four years ago, in the final, the US beat the Netherlands 2-0.

"Like us, the Netherlands had many finalists four years ago," said Morgan. "The US team will have to do their best. We're doing everything we can. It's going to be a big game."

In the first series of matches, the US was not the only big name to achieve results that fell short of expectations. He had to scratch to beat Haiti 1-0. Sweden had to come back to beat South Africa 2-1 in the 90th minute, while France drew Jamaica 0-0.

Also on July 27, Vietnam will meet Portugal. Five days later, the girls in red will close the group stage of the 2023 World Cup with a match against the Netherlands.