The US media impressed by the development of Vietnamese women’s football. (Photo: VNA) It summarised the development of Vietnamese women's footballteam since 1997, noting that a quarter of a century later, Vietnam is one ofthe dominant teams in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam will play for the first time in the FIFAWomen’s World Cup, starting with a game against the US, the two-time defendingchampion, the article said.
Vietnam’s arrival is the culmination of itsnearly decade-long plan to develop women’s soccer, in part through expansion ofthe World Cup field from 16 to 24 and now to 32 teams, making this year’stournament the largest in history.
This will be the biggest soccer moment forVietnam and the other first-timers, a group that includes teams as diverse asHaiti, Ireland, Morocco and the Philippines.
The newspaper highly valued Huynh Nhu,especially spotlighting the journey of the Tra Vinh-born striker when she play forPortugal's Lank FC.
“More than any Vietnamese player, Huynh Nhu,31, represents possibility and inequality that coexist in her country and,effectively, for women’s soccer worldwide”, it said.
She is the first female player from Vietnam toplay for a club team in Europe, having scored seven goals in the recently completedseason for Lank F.C. Vilaverdense in Portugal’s second division.
According to CBS Sports of the US, Vietnam, ranked 32nd in the world, arrive at theWorld Cup with standout attackers Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha and Huynh Nhu who willno doubt want to impress during the tournament.
The pair will provide the first test for an US defence that is without veteran center back Becky Sauerbrunn throughinjury and has had limited time to build chemistry, it said.
Vietnammight also rely on its own defensive shape to keep out the US, which is wellknown for its attacking prowess but has recently struggled against teams whotake that approach, it added.
The newspaper has warned the USwomen’s football team about the ability of Thanh Nha, saying that Nha isa young star to watch at World Cup.
Nha stood out at the friendly match with Germany in preparationfor the World Cup. The 21-year-old striker, who scored the only goal in thematch, will be another choice in attack next to Huynh Nhu - Vietnam's topgoalscorer, the website said.
The goal helps shine her name. A club in Germany even wanted to inviteThanh Nha to play in Europe.
In the final round of the upcoming2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in New Zealand, Vietnam will meet theUS, Portugal and the Netherlands on July 22, July 28 and August 1 respectively./.
VNA
