US fighting for record third straight women's World Cup win

NEW YORK: The United States will have a super-sized target on their backs when the women's World Cup kicks off later this month, with their opponents pulling out all the stops to derail their hope of an unprecedented third consecutive title.

The top-ranked Americans will attempt a feat unequalled in the men's or women's game when the tournament begins on Jul 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

The US begin their campaign against Vietnam on Jul 22 before facing the Netherlands, who they beat 2-0 in the 2019 final, and Portugal in Group E.

"Teams fear playing the US," retired US great Carli Lloyd, an analyst for Fox Sports at the finals, told Reuters.

"What's been passed down from generation to generation is that DNA, that mentality of just never giving up."

But while some teams may fear the Americans, three critical contenders figured out how to beat them in the last year.

The US suffered three straight defeats for the first time since 1993 in October and November when they fell to rivals and European Champions England and then lost to Spain and Germany.

They regrouped in the new year, beating Olympic champions Canada, 2011 World Cup winners Japan and Brazil to lift the SheBelieves Cup thanks in large part to the attacking strength of Mallory Swanson.

But weeks after fans embraced Swanson as their new hero she tore her patella tendon, ruling her out of the tournament.

"If you had asked me before Mal Swanson went down, I would have said, (the US have) probably the highest potential possibility of winning that I have felt ever since I played," said Briana Scurry, whose critical penalty kick save at the 1999 World Cup helped the US to their second title.

Scurry, the host of the "Counterattack" podcast, told Reuters the tournament winners