How USA’s Tactical Flexibility Dismantled Vietnam at the 2023 Women’s World Cup
As the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off, the United States Women’s National Team entered the tournament as strong favorites. Their opening match against Vietnam not only showcased their remarkable depth and individual brilliance, but also revealed sophisticated tactical strategies that set them apart. Let’s explore the nuanced approaches the USA deployed to break down Vietnam’s marking system and control the game.
USA’s Dynamic Approach: Adapting to Vietnam’s Defensive Structure
From the outset, Vietnam presented a spirited and organized challenge, employing a dedicated player-to-player marking system. Unlike the USA’s previous World Cup opener against Thailand in 2019—which resulted in a one-sided victory—Vietnam’s disciplined pressing posed a more resilient obstacle. However, the Americans soon exploited the vulnerabilities inherent in such tight marking schemes.
Utilizing Width and Central Overloads
One key aspect of the USA’s approach was a deliberate use of the width of the pitch. Players such as Lindsey Horan and Savannah DeMelo frequently shifted into wide areas, dragging their markers along and creating significant gaps in central positions. This strategic stretching of Vietnam’s defensive shape allowed Alex Morgan to drop into vacated spaces, facilitating dangerous combinations—most notably linking with Sophia Smith for the opening goal.
Meanwhile, when Morgan positioned herself on the shoulder of defenders, she was able to slip behind the backline, capitalizing on moments when Vietnam’s strict marking faltered due to shifting responsibilities.
Positional Rotations: Interchanging Roles and Unbalancing Marking
A standout tactical feature for the USA was their seamless positional rotation, especially between the full-backs and central midfielders. Emily Fox often drifted into central lanes or advanced from deep, while Savannah DeMelo moved wider, pulling Vietnamese players out of position. This movement made it increasingly challenging for Vietnam to maintain their marking assignments, opening up channels for forwards like Trinity Rodman to attack space behind the defense.
This rotational flexibility was key in creating overloads on the flanks, as seen early in the second half when DeMelo and Rodman combined on the right flank and Fox surged through the half-space to generate a clear scoring chance for Horan.
Central Advancements and Fluid Forward Play
On the left, Lindsey Horan’s clever positioning deep and wide allowed Crystal Dunn to occupy an advanced wide role. By drawing Vietnamese defenders with her movement, Horan enabled Sophia Smith to operate in more central positions, often linking closely with Morgan. This interplay often bypassed the direct marking and gave the USA multiple options for progressing the ball through central channels.
Manipulating Defensive Reactions with Decoy Movements
A particularly effective tactic emerged on the USA’s first and third goals: multiple players would approach the ball, as if preparing for short passes and close-knit combinations. However, this movement was often a decoy, as the USA instead played incisive balls into space behind the pressed Vietnam defense. This approach forced Vietnam’s defenders to shift towards the ball, only for an attacker to exploit the space vacated behind them—an excellent example of attacking against a rigid man-marking defense.
Tactical Lessons for Coaches: Overcoming Tight Marking
The United States’ performance offers several practical lessons for coaches facing teams that utilize man-to-man marking systems:
– Encourage constant movement and positional interchanges among attackers to test defensive discipline.
– Use decoy runs to draw defenders away from key spaces.
– Employ wide overloads and rotations to destabilize defensive units.
– Direct play into the vacated space behind defenses when opponents over-commit to the ball.
By combining these elements, the USA made it exceedingly difficult for Vietnam to maintain their defensive shape, consistently unbalancing the opposition with both patience and precision.
Further Tactical Reading and Analysis
For those interested in exploring more about advanced tactics, positional play, and solutions against man-marking schemes, the following resources offer additional in-depth insights:
– Erik Ten Hag’s Positional Play Masterclass
– Conceptual Foundations of Positional Play and Rotation
– How Southampton Used Positional Automatisms Against Manchester United
These analyses provide both context and practical strategies for coaches, players, and enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of the modern game.
Conclusion
The United States laid down an early tactical marker at the 2023 Women’s World Cup with their intelligent use of positional rotations, width, and calculated movement off the ball. By manipulating Vietnam’s defensive setup and consistently finding ways to unbalance a disciplined marking scheme, the USA demonstrated not just their talent, but the tactical sophistication required to excel on the world stage.
For readers eager to expand their knowledge of tactical analysis and player development, exploring how top teams adapt to and dismantle tight defensive systems offers valuable lessons that transcend the Women’s World Cup.
