I thought maybe we should have one thread for all the Post-Olympics friendlies coming up. My first question is, does anyone know what time the US - Germany game will be on October 20 at Toyota Park in Chicago?
U.S. Soccer hasn't announced the details for October 20 in Chicago. The second Germany match, at Rentschler Field in Connecticut, kicks off at 7:30 EST. I'm excited to watch these games, given they're televised, with the U-20 World Cup final fresh in everyone's mind. I expect Germany will bring many players from that squad. Less likely with the United States, since its still technically the celebration tour, yes? But with a new coach at the helm by then, maybe they'll get crazy. Interesting to see how Dzenifer Maroszan fits into the senior squad. She would have made the 2011 WWC roster were it not for an ACL injury. She just won the golden ball (tournament's best player) with the U-20s, and deservedly so. She's a real talent with complete confidence on the ball, but she doesn't hog it, like Marta does sometimes. She's good at involving her teammates. I always assumed she was an out-and-out striker, but in Japan she was a roaming orchestrator, #10 type. I expect, long term, she'll line up slightly withdrawn behind Popp.
The new coach cannot get crazy with the roster. It is in the USWNT players contract that the members of the Olympic squad get paid a bonus based on a 10 game victory tour.
After the game vs. Costa Rica, a player told us that she did not when the remaining games post the 2 German games were to be but that the players' schedules were clear at least into November.
I would LOVE to play Canada... We play them all the time... any chances on this happening? or are they giving us the cold shoulder since they feel "robbed" on the Olympics? Speaking of which.... I found this video of the Canadian Press talking to some of the members... See how they refer to Carly Lloyd as "flat head" and Tancredi laughs...
Well 3 players from the U20 squad are on the main team. Marozsan, Lotzen and Wensing ( I call her the german Puyol,because she goes for those headers without any fear, no matter who or what is in her way ). Yes, Marozsan is something very special and a little correction...thank god she didn`t have an ACL injury,but " just " a intraarticular ligament crack that she had right before the tournament. She was sorely missed, but that is sport. I think the US should be very comfortable when it comes to playing Germany. The transition of that team isn`t even half way complete.
The U.S. should never be comfortable when they face Germany. If there's one (and only one) nation in the entire world that could beat the USA in a hypothetical 7-game series (best out of 7, first team to win 4), it would be Germany. Yes, that's a hypothetical question, but a very good one. Let's face it, anyone in the FIFA Top 30 can beat anyone (all it takes is just one match) on any given day (such as Mexico beating the USA in the 2011 WWC Qualifying match). However, nobody, and I mean nobody (except Germany) in the world "could" beat the USA 4 out of 7 times (and that includes Brazil, because Brazil is not consistent enough over a seven game stretch to pull it off, although there probably would be that one blowout win for Brazil in that seven game stretch somewhere when they're clicking at their finest, and Marta goes off with goals galore). However, Germany is a force with "consistency" over a seven game stint. In the 2007 WWC, they would probably beat the USA 4 games to 2 (in a best of seven match series). In 2003, they would win 4 games to 3 (if not 4 games to 2). The USA were too old then (with players like Joy Fawcett and Julie Foudy). Germany is still good enough to win 4 out of 7 against USA. Not saying they "would" with certainty. But they certainly "could". And are the only nation in the world that could do that to the U.S. women, if we were ever to see a World Series of Women's Soccer (which we won't). Germany is indeed USA's biggest threat in the 2015 WWC. It won't take a miracle (on any given day, like Mexico over USA) for them to do it. Germany can do it with ease, if they are playing their best, and the U.S. are not. And let's face it, Brazil is on the decline. And Marta is not getting any younger or better anymore (at this point). Her progression days are over. She's still the best female player in the world, but not by the margin she once was. Much respect to Brazil. The greatest futebol country in the world, ever, no doubt. But their women aren't what they were four and five years ago. And the USA are finally starting to figure out how to play against Japan better, after a three match non-wining streak against the Japanese recently. And France, well they are not a threat to the USA because they're defense and goalkeeping are so week, as that plays right into the hands of the U.S. forwards and attacking mids. Seven goals for the USA in the past two matches combined against France, and counting in their next match against them. It's Germany. Plain and simple, Germany is the #1 threat by far to USA. If the U.S. does lose in the 2015 WWC in the knockout round, you can bet your sweet arse that it will be to Germany. They are a machine when they bring their A+ game. Unfortunately for them, they haven't been bringing that A+ game in their biggest knockout round matches in recent years. Germany is due to bring that though again in 2015. The U.S. better be prepared. It won't easy. As someone that has some solid German blood inside of me, I can assure you... Germany wants that title just as bad as the U.S. in 2015. Wambach and crew will want it bad. Germany will want it just as much.
I'm glad negotiations for a game in the DC area fell apart. The opponents are a joke, but this is pathetic. There is no effort on the field.