Women’s World Cup Group E Preview: Miedema Less Dutch Eye Revenge Against Mighty USA

• The United States of America remain a very formidable team despite the departure of Jill Ellis
• They will be pursuing a third consecutive title win backed by their shining star Megan Rapinoe
• The Netherlands will miss Viviane Miedema greatly in a group that has two newcomers

The Women's World Cup Group E will feature a lot of storylines, key of which will be fans seeing Megan Rapinoe put on the United States jersey for the last time.

Just before she calls it quits on her career, she will be angling for that historic three-peat when she heads Down Under.

The USA Women's Team will play the Netherlands in what will be a repeat of last edition's final, with two debutants - Portugal and Vietnam - filling the other spots.

Sports Brief has previewed Group A, Group B, Group C, and Group D, with more on the way.

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USA

No men's or women's side in the history of the tournament, including Pele's famous Brazil, has ever won three FIFA World Cups in a row.

The USA, galvanised by a blend of veterans and fledglings, will head to Australia looking to rewrite history after their 2015 and 2019 triumphs.

Talking of ageing stars, this will be Megan Rapinoe's last dance. Few women have graced the sport with such splendour and bowing out with three World Cups will be monumental for the 2019 Ballon d'Or winner.

Vlatko Andonovski will be pleased to welcome Julie Ertz back into the fold. There is no woman who does what Ertz does in midfield for the World Champions.

The glory days of Jill Ellis are behind them and Andonovski must chart a new path.

Player(s) to watch: Sophia Smith, Megan Rapinoe, Trinity Rodman

The Netherlands

The absence of Vivianne Miedema will be a big blow to the Dutch. The Arsenal star is only getting back to her feet after damaging her ACL.

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Whether Andries Jonker has enough firepower to propel this side that has looked different since Sarina Wiegman's departure remains to be seen.

In Miedema's absence, goals will have to come from somewhere else and Lieke Martens looks like a perfect place to start from.

However, Jill Roord will have to bear the burden of the team with the newly signed Manchester City midfielder an adept creator and goal-scorer.

Revenge against the USA in their second group match could also be a proper motivation for the side.

Player(s) to watch; Jill Roord, Lieke Martens

Vietnam

This is another team making its first-ever appearance at the World Cup. However, facing the reigning champions is not how one would like to start the tournament.

Mai Duc Chung's side won the South East Asian games, but it will be a different ball game at the World Cup. He has actually won five gold medals in the SEA Games in a reign that started in 1997 (he however took breaks to manage other Vietnamese clubs).

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Huynh Nhu will be Duc Chung's go-to player after the striker became the first Vietnamese woman to play for a European side.

She is her country's record goal-scorer and she will be keen on adding to her tally on the grandest stage of them all.

Player(s) to watch; Huynh Nhu

Portugal

It has taken Francisco Neto nine years to finally qualify his country for their first World Cup and there is no doubt he will savour the moment.

Facing the 2019 finalists seems like a daunting task altogether, but their never say never attitude might land them surprise results.

Jessica Silva will bear the weight of a nation, just like Cristiano Ronaldo does for the men's team.

Formerly at the famous Lyon, the dynamic striker is an interesting player to watch and she will be relied upon to lead her country to the knockout stage on their first attempt.

Player(s) to watch; Jessica Silva