Dutch coach: 'Confronting Vietnam is as stressful as meeting the US'

*Vietnam - Netherlands: 14:00 Tuesday, August 1, on MetaSports.

Before the match at Forsyth Barr, the two teams were in two opposite situations. The Netherlands owns four points after winning against Portugal and drawing with the US. They just need to win one more point to go next. Vietnam all lost to the US and Portugal, did not score any goals and was definitely eliminated.

In terms of correlation, coach Jonker believes the Netherlands is capable of winning, with an attractive and inspiring performance for home fans. However, he wants the players not to be complacent when meeting Vietnam. "Confronting Vietnam is equally stressful when meeting the US," coach Jonker said at the press conference before the morning of July 31. "We have a lot of respect for Vietnam. They played well in recent matches when they didn't lose too hard against Portugal and the US."

In fact, Coach Jonker doesn't just want three points. In previous press conferences, he always emphasized the goal of winning strongly Vietnam to improve the goal difference, thereby occupying the top of Group E to avoid the risk of facing Sweden - the team that is almost certainly at the top of the group. G - in round 1/8.

"We are not afraid of any opponent," coach Jonker explained. "Of course, everyone wants to meet a weaker opponent in theory, but the reality is different, and we have to be ready to face stronger opponents."

This is the first time Vietnam and the Netherlands have faced each other in history. Vietnam will try to avoid becoming the second Asian team to lose all of their group stage matches without scoring, after Japan in 1991. The Netherlands have won seven of their last nine matches at the Women's World Cup, two without won evenly against the US when drawing 1-1 this year and losing 0-2 in the final 2019.

Because it is located in the south of New Zealand, the temperature in Dunedin city is lower than the two places where Vietnam competed before. However, the Forsyth Barr yard is built closed, so it is warmer than outdoors, and is not affected by extreme weather conditions such as rain or snow. "Today, the sun has risen in Dunedin," said coach Jonker. "I think it's good weather conditions."