Women's World Cup: United States seeks fourth title
The Women's World Cup final is here, and the defending champions will go up against a team making its first World Cup final appearance. Who will have the edge and lift the trophy?
The Netherlands also has been playing well and earned a chance to win its first World Cup title. To do that the Dutch will need to have the game of their lives. Lieke Martens has to play like one of the best players in the world, Sari van Veenendaal will need to make no mistakes in net and the defense has to be fundamentally sound. If the Dutch can do that, they have the ability to shock the world.
But the Americans have stormed through the tournament with one purpose, and despite all the questions and controversy swirling around them, they've taken care of business. They will do it one last time Sunday. Three goals in the first half will make it a 3-0 U.S. lead at halftime (+1825), and another goal coupled with a Martens consolation goal (+375) will make this a 4-1 final for the United States.
United States vs. Netherlands
(USA -270, Netherlands +700, Draw +360)
World Cup free play: USA 4-1 (+2250)
Only Germany has won two Women's World Cup titles in a row (2003 and 2007), and the United States will look to do the same thing Sunday in Lyon. The Americans have destroyed teams and beaten some of the world's best on the way to this point, and their road has not been easy. They've had some injuries along the way, most notably a hamstring injury that kept co-captain Megan Rapinoe on the bench for the semifinal win against England. Still, they are the world's best team, and if they play like they have throughout the tournament, they can add a fourth star above their crest. They will need their front three of Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath to play huge and finish the chances they create. The defense also needs to have its best performance to keep Alyssa Naeher from having to make a ton of saves.The Netherlands also has been playing well and earned a chance to win its first World Cup title. To do that the Dutch will need to have the game of their lives. Lieke Martens has to play like one of the best players in the world, Sari van Veenendaal will need to make no mistakes in net and the defense has to be fundamentally sound. If the Dutch can do that, they have the ability to shock the world.
But the Americans have stormed through the tournament with one purpose, and despite all the questions and controversy swirling around them, they've taken care of business. They will do it one last time Sunday. Three goals in the first half will make it a 3-0 U.S. lead at halftime (+1825), and another goal coupled with a Martens consolation goal (+375) will make this a 4-1 final for the United States.
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