Fansided

USWNT must be wary of complacency against Chile after record Thailand win

By Kristofer McCormack

HARRISON, NJ - MAY 26: Captain Carli Lloyd #10 of United States celebrates a goal during the International Friendly match the U.S. Women's National Team and Mexico as part of the Send Off Series prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup at Red Bull Arena on May 26 2019 in Harrison, NJ, The United States won the match with a score of 3 to 0. USA. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images)
HARRISON, NJ - MAY 26: Captain Carli Lloyd #10 of United States celebrates a goal during the International Friendly match the U.S. Women's National Team and Mexico as part of the Send Off Series prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup at Red Bull Arena on May 26 2019 in Harrison, NJ, The United States won the match with a score of 3 to 0. USA. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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After a historic World Cup opener, the USWNT can’t take its foot off the gas ahead of a match against Chile.

There wasn’t much more the United States could have done in their opening game blitz of Thailand. Starting group play by amassing 13 goals, American coach, Jill Ellis, will be eager to temper much of the reaction to the big win, but, the Thailand game will undoubtedly be a defining talking point for the USWNT heading into their next game against Chile as fans and pundits ponder how exactly the Americans can follow it up.

The Chileans pose quite a different threat to the little that Thailand posed on Tuesday. They have spent the last year playing the world’s top sides in preparation for the World Cup in France.

Since their last victory against Australia in November 2018, Chile have played Germany and the Netherlands as well as games against Scotland, Jamaica and Italy all of whom qualified for the tournament in France. An opening day loss to Sweden wasn’t exactly a vindication of their approach, but La Roja’s stubbornness till late on will be something they can take away from loss and bring into the game against America.

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Chile’s year worth of friendly losses were played out for moments like these, a chance to upset the holders and to give themselves a fighting chance in qualifying for the next round. Though the results so far suggest a gap in quality, performances and experiences from those defeats can only stand to Chile in the long run and that should be at the forefront of every player for the USWNT on Sunday.

Many of their fans will walk into the Parc de Princes in Paris wondering how close they can get 13 goals against Chile, that type of atmosphere can breed an infectious complacency and it will be up to Jill Ellis to have her team aiming for another big win against Chile, but, most importantly, have her side expecting a fight to get that big win.