Philippines grab result of the tournament so far

Welcome to The Women’s Game, our new email newsletter, designed to deliver a concise, intelligent framing of every day of football during the World Cup so you can maximize your viewing pleasure. If you like what you read below, our only request is you forward it to a football-loving (or football-curious) friend.

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It’s Tuesday, July 25th. Give us four minutes, we give you everything World Cup.

CASEY PHAIR MAKES HISTORY: Sixteen-year-old Pingry School student and New Jersey native Casey Phair becomes the youngest player ever to appear at the World Cup, subbing in for South Korea in the 78th minute against Colombia. Best Phair since Liz?

I. USA vs Netherlands. 2019 World Cup Final Rematch (9 p.m. ET, FOX Peacock, Telemundo) 🇺🇸🇳🇱

In what’s predicted to be the toughest test of group E, the USA meet the Netherlands tomorrow evening in Wellington in a rematch of 2019’s World Cup Final.

Reflecting on the Dutch team the US beat 2-0 in Lyon four years ago, Alex Morgan told press in Auckland today that the US can expect to see a familiar force, and one that will be threatening due to their team chemistry:

“We watched the Netherlands the other night, and they have a lot of the same players we played in the World Cup four years ago. A little bit different formation, but still the same personnel. And that's important for team chemistry. So just knowing that, we know that we have to be at our best.”

Morgan continued, describing the details of what they may face:

“They're incredibly organized. They have a very expansive shape in the attack. They don't give you much space at all to receive and turn, or get on the dribble. They're very quick to close down space. Their midfielders- Groenen (PSG), van de Donk (Lyon), Spitse (Ajax), who may be playing in the backline now - are just very aggressive players. And they transition very quickly as well. Their defenders are very physical, very aggressive in pressing what's in front of them. So I know I'm gonna have a lot of pressure on my back.”

Today Rog previewed the Netherlands clash with USWNT hero and our World Cup Co-Host Sam Mewis. LISTEN TO THEIR PREDICTIONS HERE. Also, a tactical breakdown of whether cereal is a dessert. And, tomorrow, it’s a new episode of “Direct from Down Under” Presented by Bud Light. Our guest, none other than Captain Lindsey Horan, said the following. Watch the Pod feed for that.

“I think this game is going to be an absolute battle. I think we have so many threats that we can impose on this team, but we have to respect them and watch out for certain things. They have so many strengths, and especially on set pieces and little things in and around the box, but we're prepared."

Programming Alert: 🚨US Women’s National Team World Cup Winner Sam Mewis and Rog will Do It Live! on Amp tomorrow - Wednesday - right at the final whistle of the USWNT’s second group stage match against the Dutch. We cannot wait to raise a victory pint with you and answer your questions live on the Pod. Download the AMP app or listen on your laptop HERE. You can also tell your Alexa, “Hey Alexa, play Men in Blazers” while we’re live and you can listen in.

II. The Philippines Stuns New Zealand🇵🇭 🇺🇸 🇳🇿

The Filipino-American diaspora played an integral role in the Philippines history-making last evening in Wellington, New Zealand. The debutante Southeast Asian nation, which features 18 American-born players, snuck by co-hosts New Zealand 1-0 to claim their country’s first-ever World Cup victory.

The milestone of glory was propelled in part by Santa Clara-born striker, Sarina Bolden (Western Sydney Wanderers), whose 24th minute goal made the difference on the evening, as she headed home the first ever World Cup goal for the Philippines.

The striker’s jubilant response is a goosebump inducing encapsulation of what it meant to an entire nation, and Filipinos the worldover. But Bolden wasn’t alone in her heroics. With just 31% of the ball and outshot by the Football Ferns 16-4, Laguna Beach-born goalkeeper Olivia Davies McDaniel (So Cal Union) made four major saves to keep victory in the debutantes’ favor. That includes some last-second stoppage time heroics, keeping history safe in the diving, outstretched palm of her hand.

III. While you were sleeping: Norway in trouble and Colombia victorious 🇳🇴🇨🇭🇨🇴🇰🇷

Norway 0 - 0 Switzerland; Group A look poised to break on goal differential 🇳🇴🇨🇭

Stumbling forward from a surprise upset to co-hosts New Zealand, Norway played their second match to a 0-0 draw against a Swiss side that now sits in first place. Exceptional talent Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona) was rather inexplicably used from the bench for “tactical reasons”, and two-time Ballon D’or winner Ada Hegerberg was cruelly struck from the line-up as she suffered a groin injury warming up. Hegerberg posted to her Twitter to comment on the precautionary decision, adding, “we move on”.

Colombia 2 - 0 South Korea; Linda Caicedo gets first World Cup goal 🇨🇴 🇰🇷

While South Korea launched into the match with some momentum, a penalty collected in the 30th minute shifted pace in Colombia’s favor where it remained for most of the match. Catalina Usme (America de Cali) secured the penalty to make it 1-0 and nine minutes later, the 18-year-old cancer survivor, human wonder and ascendant football star Linda Caicedo (Real Madrid) notched her first goal of the tournament. The match ended with a bit of history on South Korea’s end, as 16-year-old Casey Phair of the Pingry School in New Jersey ran into the match as the youngest ever World Cup player in the 78th minute.

IV. NEXT UP 🌏 🏆

Japan vs. Costa Rica (1 AM ET, FS1, Peacock, Universo) 🇯🇵 🇨🇷

Nadeshiko Japan stuck five goals on a threatening Zambia side last week and look to continue that pace against Las Ticas, who’ve yet to unleash Portland Thorns veteran Rocky Rodriguez.

Spain vs. Zambia (330 AM ET, FS1, Peacock, Telemundo) 🇪🇸 🇿🇲

La Roja’s offensive production is at the top of the World Cup pack, though with 46 shots against Costa Rica, they scored “just” three goals. Zambia will look to recover their potential against a Spanish side looking to make an even bigger mark.

MORE: What the Spanish team has dealt with behind the scenes and the “truce” that makes this possible.

Canada vs. Republic of Ireland (8 AM ET, FS1, Peacock, Universo) 🇨🇦 🇮🇪

Both Canada and Ireland greet their second test of the tournament in dire need of the points. Canada’s 0-0 draw with Nigeria was a disappointment for reigning Olympic gold-medalists looking to send a message, and Ireland’s gridlocked opening match with Australia resulted in a loss. Result of this match could determine who progresses from their group.

V. News and Notes

1. Sam Mewis penned a reflection in The Athletic regarding the impact of the World Cup. (For more insight from Sam, check out our Do it Live! World Cup series with the veteran star. Download the AMP app or listen on your laptop HERE)

2. Alex Morgan comments on USA 3 - 0 Vietnam, saying the US need to find more patience in the final third.

VI. Parting Shots

KRISTIE MEWIS WOULD WIN THE HUNGER GAMES: Emily Sonnett tells Rog what a USWNT-Hunger-Games scenario would look like, as part of our Direct from Down Under Series, Presented by Bud Light.

🇺🇸🍻 We have continued getting up at 1 in the morning to spend time one-on-one with our US stars, starting with young rock Naomi Girma, game-changer Trinity Rodman, the perpetual glue-person Emily Sonnett for our series “Direct from Down Under,” Presented by our friends at Bud Light. Later today, we’ll have an episode with Savannah DeMelo that is just lovely. These interviews have been a blast to tape – these players are so singular, their personalities so distinct, and perhaps it is something to do with the middle of the night taping-time, but they have often been hilarious. Know this: we asked each as many of your questions as we could. Keep sending them. LISTEN TO OUR FIRST EPISODES WITH NAOMI GIRMA, TRINITY RODMAN, AND EMILY SONNETT. 🇺🇸🍻

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