Alex Morgan: 'The US was impatient with Vietnam'
"The 2023 World Cup does not have easy matches," Morgan told US media on July 25. "We knew the Vietnam match would be like this, 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 match."
On July 22, in the opening match of Group E, the United States completely dominated the game, finishing 28 times with seven of them directed at goal, while Vietnam did not have any finishing phase. However, contrary to pre-match predictions, the defending champions only scored three goals thanks to a double from Sophia Smith and a goal from Lindsey Horan. Morgan had a chance to increase the distance, but missed the penalty in the 44th minute.
Four years ago, also in the opening match at the World Cup, the US beat Thailand - another Southeast Asian representative - with a score of 13-0. That match, Morgan alone scored five goals. "I felt some of the balls were a bit forced, or rushed," Morgan added about the Vietnam match. "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 strongest teams can decide the top position of Group E. In the final match of 2019, the US defeated the Netherlands 2-0 to win the fourth time in the nine times the World Cup was held. "Like us, the Netherlands had many finalists four years ago," said Morgan. "The US team has 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. England had to scratch to beat Haiti 1-0. Sweden came back to beat South Africa 2-1 in the 90th minute, while France drew Jamaica 0-0.
Also on July 27, Vietnam met Portugal. Five days later, coach Mai Duc Chung's teachers and students will close the group stage of the 2023 World Cup with a match against the Netherlands.
