US 'lucky' to still be in World Cup: coach

 Andonovski says ‘time not right’ to doubt players’ commitment before last-16 match

Confrontation: The conflict in Melbourne will pit two highest level sides left in the competition - USA and Sweden - after Germany's shock early exit. Photograph: AFP

MELBOURNE:

US mentor Vlatko Andonovski conceded the underfire champions were fortunate to in any case be in the Ladies' Reality Cup, in front of a last-16 conflict with Sweden on Sunday.

The confrontation in Melbourne will pit the two highest-level sides left in the competition after world number two Germany's shock early exit.

It will be an enormous trial of the determination of the best group in ladies' football history subsequent to copping analysis for their dreary exhibitions up to this point.

The world number one just staggered out of their gathering in runner-up with only one win - against Vietnam - and brazen draws with the Netherlands and Portugal.

Conversely, third-positioned Sweden dominated every one of the three matches with clean sheets in the last two.

"The reality we are in, we are fortunate, however, we are continuing on," expressed Andonovski after they scratched through to the knockout rounds with a 0-0 draw against debutants Portugal.

"Presently we will do all that could be within reach so the same circumstance doesn't repeat. We are giving our best to give achievement and measure up to the assumptions for everybody."

While conceding they had been less than impressive as they go looking for a remarkable third title in succession, Andonovski said questioning his players' commitment was unreasonable.

"For somebody to scrutinize the norms, the attitude, the outlook of this group, after all, that they do, I don't think it is the perfect opportunity for that," he said.

'What's more, I don't think it is the correct thing too. I'm content with where they are at, content with how they consider themselves responsible and continue to increase expectations."

US ladies' group extraordinary Carli Lloyd, presently filling in as a TV savant, has marked Andonovski's side "dull", "unsatisfying" and recommended they look pompous.

The US will be constrained into somewhere around one change from the group which held tight against Portugal, with Rose Lavelle suspended subsequent to gathering her subsequent yellow card of the competition.

Savannah DeMelo began the initial two games in midfield and will expect a review.

Sweden and the US have met multiple times before at World Cups, but never in the knockout stages.

The USA won their last World Cup experience 2-0 in 2019 en route to the title, yet Sweden was 3-0 champs when they last met at the Tokyo Olympics.

Mentor Peter Gerhardsson said history will amount to nothing when they meet in the future and is certain the by failing to meet expectations champions can be bested.

"It's not something I check out, verifiable realities, I'm established in the present," he said.

"There are a lot of new players in both line-ups so history is less significant.

"It (Olympics) was quite a while back, everything unquestionably revolves around the physical and mental shape we are in now," he added.

"I have extraordinary trust in the crew. We have faith in this, accept we can win."

In the wake of protecting capability with a game in excess, Sweden rested central members, including strikers Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius, for their 2-0 journey against Argentina.

Gerhardsson is probably going to return to a group like what began the initial two games, against South Africa and Italy.

Be that as it may, long-lasting commander Caroline Seger, playing in her last World Cup, is set to be on the seat with a calf injury.

In any case, Gerhardsson throws a tantrum crew with the greatest choice of whether Jennifer Falk or Zecira Musovic will be in an objective, with the pair dividing the obligations up until this point. AFP