WORLD CUP TV
GROUP E
U.S. VS. THE NETHERLANDS
Where: Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand
Time: 6 p.m. PDT
TV: Ch. 11, Peacock, Telemundo
The buzz: This is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final, a game the U.S. won 2-0 on goals by Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, neither of whom started in the Americans’ opener here. The U.S. hasn’t lost a World Cup game since the final match of group play in 2011, though it was hardly impressive in last week’s sloppy 3-0 win over Vietnam. The U.S., which took 28 shots, wasted most of its opportunities but was bailed out by Sophia Smith, who had two goals and an assist in her first World Cup match. The Dutch, meanwhile, had a tougher time with Portugal despite building a 12-2 edge in shots. The game’s only goal came on defender Stefanie van der Gragt’s header off a corner kick in the 13th minute. These teams last met in the Tokyo Olympics quarterfinals, playing to a 2-2 draw. The U.S. then won a tiebreaking shootout to eliminate the Dutch.
PORTUGAL VS. VIETNAM
Where: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand
Time: 12:30 a.m., Thursday
TV: FS1, Peacock, Universo
The buzz: Both debutantes fell in their World Cup debuts,
Vietnam to the U.S. and Portugal against the Netherlands. But both impressed, with Vietnam and goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh bending but never breaking in a 3-0 loss to a U.S. team that got off 28 shots, and Portugal holding the Dutch to just a set-piece goal in a 1-0 loss. A win for either — or even a draw — keeps open a route to the second round.
GROUP B AUSTRALIA VS. NIGERIA
Where: Brisbane Stadium, Australia
Time: 3 a.m., Thursday
TV: FS1, Peacock, Universo
The buzz: Australia will again be without its top player in forward Sam Kerr, who is sidelined with a calf injury. Without its captain and leading scorer, Australia struggled to beat Ireland in its opener, putting just two shots on goal and needing a second-half penalty kick from Steph Catley to win 1-0. In Nigeria’s opener, keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stopped a second-half penalty try from Canada’s Christine Sinclair to preserve a scoreless draw. But the Africans lost midfielder Deborah Abiodun, who took a red card deep in stoppage time and will have to sit out against Australia. The Australians would be virtually assured of a spot in the round of 16 with a win. A loss would be devastating for Nigeria while a win would leave it no worse than tied for the group lead heading into the final match.