Match Preview – United States Women vs Holland

Follow the final of the 2019 Women's World Cup starting at 3pm with the Sky Sports app and skysports.com; Coup de send at 4 pm

The United States can only become the second nation in history to defend the Women's World Cup in Sunday's final against the Netherlands.

The Netherlands make the difference between holders and history in Lyon, the United States seeking to win a fourth World Cup record four years after their third victory in Canada.

The last team to retain the Women's World Cup was Germany in 2009, and the form suggests it, after extending its unbeaten run in the competition to 16 games – of which 11 were won – with a win over the # 39, England in the semi-finals.

However, US head coach Jill Ellis does not have any illusions about the threat posed by Holland, who won the European championships on her home soil in 2017 .

"The Netherlands are a great team, they are champions of Europe, they have a lot of talented players and a coach who knows what she's doing," she said.

"They move the ball very well, they are very disciplined in their work, so I think it will be a very good match."

Upset the cards?

The United States are undeniably the favorites to win the trophy for the fourth time in Lyon, but Dutch head coach Sarina Wiegman believes her team may be upset and plans to surprise.

"We will have to stay focused and clear throughout the match," she said. "We have to do even better than we have done so far.

"We want to surprise the United States, they have a very strong team, a lot of qualities and skills, but they have also struggled.

"The expectations are different now, they are the favorites and we are the underdogs and we agree with that."

Go for the gold

American striker Alex Morgan could leave Lyon with two medals around his neck. Morgan has scored six goals in France – tied with England striker Ellen White – but he still has one game to play. She will insure the Golden Boot if she finds the bottom of the nets.

Morgan's six World Cup goals were scored by just eight shots. The last American player to have scored more in a single tournament was Michelle Akers in 1991, who scored 10 goals.

Rapinoe to reject Trump's invitation

American co-captain Megan Rapinoe does not believe that "many, if any of them," would accept an invitation to visit the White House after the World Cup final.

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, wrote on Twitter that he "would invite the TEAM, that he wins or that he loses".

Rapinoe held a press conference pre-game and before the final on Sunday. He was asked if the team was planning to accept the invitation.

"I do not know," she replied. "I did not tell anyone about it, not myself, not Ali Krieger, and I suspect there are few, if any, other players, but I have not spoken to anyone at all. world."

"Horrible schedule"

Rapinoe should be in shape for the final after missing the semifinal win over England with an elongated thigh.

The midfielder was less impressed by Sunday's match at the Stade de Lyon, played on the same day as the Copa America final and the CONCACAF gold cup final of the men's team. American against Mexico in Chicago.

"It's horrible for everyone, as footballers it's a very bad idea to put everything on the same day," she said.

"Obviously, there are two other finals but it's the World Cup final – it's like canceling all that day." I do not know how it went, I think. I read somewhere that they said they just did not think – it's a bit of a problem. "

Statistics of the Women's World Cup

• The United States reached the Women's World Cup final for the fifth time, at least twice more than any other nation (Germany, 3).
• The United States seeks to retain the Women's World Cup after winning in 2015 against Japan. only one other country won two consecutive titles: Germany in 2003 and 2007.
• The Netherlands are the eighth different team to participate in the Women's World Cup final – the only European countries to win the trophy are Germany (2003 and 2007) and Norway (1995).
• The United States are undefeated in 16 World Cup matches (W13, D3), winning the last 11 games in a row. No team in the history of the FIFA World Cup has embarked on a series of victories longer than the 11-game winning streak of the United States (tied with the Brazilians between 2002 and 2006 ).
• The Netherlands remained 10 undefeated games in all competitions (W9 D1), conceding only four goals. The Dutch have won their last nine consecutive games.
• In all competitions, the United States have lost only one of their last 44 matches (W38 D5 L1), a 1 to 3 defeat against France in January 2019.
• Vivianne Miedema (32) from the Netherlands took part in the most shots at the 2019 Women's World Cup with 24 shots (3 goals) and 8 scoring opportunities (0 badists).