Netherlands want big win over Vietnam to avoid Sweden

After beating Portugal 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with the U.S., the Netherlands are second in group E. They have four points like the U.S. but are behind in goal difference. In the last group stage game on August 1, the U.S. will face Portugal, while the Netherlands meet Vietnam who are already eliminated after two consecutive defeats.

Number one Dutch striker Lieke Martens hopes to score three goals with her teammates against Vietnam. According to Martens, the team have carefully studied Vietnam and know they have a good defense.

"We will have to play our way, create a good game, put pressure and finish well to get the desired result," she said at a press conference Monday.

Coach Andries Jonker said the goal set for the Netherlands in the upcoming match was not just the three points.

"We need to do everything we can to win big and top the group," he told Dutch newspaper NOS.

He said his team might face Sweden, Italy or South Africa in the round of 16, adding that theoretically, Sweden are stronger.

The winner of group E will play the runner-up of group G. In this group, Sweden are leading after two consecutive victories against South Africa and Italy. It's most likely that Sweden will top the group when in the last game, they have to play Argentina, who have been eliminated.

The Netherlands finished as the runner-up at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, after losing to the U.S. in the final. They are currently ranked ninth in the world, 23 places above Vietnam.

Their match against Vietnam will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday (Hanoi time) at Forsyth Barr Stadium, New Zealand.

VnExpress International will report the game live.