Well, it sucked for Abby, but it worked out for the team. We stopped playing Abby-ball and won the Gold Medal. Angela Hucles - who knew?
It's not rust, it's nobody wants to miss out on the trip this close to the tournament. The USMNT vs Scotland game at RFK in 1998 might've been the worst one of these send-off abominations ever played. Watching 22 people jog around a field trying not to get hurt has limited appeal.
If things go badly, we will see some Major League 2, references. The team is doing a ton of media and endorsements and the play of the field in this last game kind of hinted they haven't really practiced much. It is weird that Brian, McDonald, and Davidson didn't get on the field anywhere. If these are tune up games, shouldn't a player like Brian that has barely played in two years, play some? Everyone is hoping they are just saving it for France. They probably are, at least the players. South Africa New Zealand Mexico Thailand Chile That is nothing to hone your game against. Bad habits can be picked up when not pushed. The first decent team is Sweden, who will probably bunker. Then, maybe Germany in the Round of 16. Will they press the USA? Nobody but England or France have really tested the team that way. After months of patsies, with the pressure of elimination, it is a hard situation to find yourself in. Not really anything the USWNT and USSF could really do since you weren't going to get the 3-4 teams that might play that way to fly to the USA for these games. Maybe a closed door game with the U-17 USMNT? I think the U16 team is in Europe but they probably can't keep those kids there for days past their tournament.
That is the problem with playing in a horrible region like CONCACAF. When an upcoming tournament is not here or west of here no good team wants to travel here and then back to Europe in the run up weeks before the tournament starts and you are correct that a lot of playing bad teams hurts almost as much as it helps. Actually the same problem exists for the men and to some extent explains the men's problems in European tournaments are the result of it. The US Women have always been so much better than most others that it has made little difference but, mostly, if the US women are to have a tournament where they play poorly it will usually come in the European or western Asia time zones. Of course the US women are often so good that the drop in play, which is usually gone by the last group match, due to lack of good play in the run up is gone and any poor play after that is not due to the teams played in the run up at all. Then on top of that few teams that any good and are going to a tournament want to play matches where they are likely to be beaten, often badly, and cannot work on what they will need to do to beat most of the teams they play in the tournament. Having said all that I think it is a mistake for US national teams to wait as long as they do before traveling to an upcoming tournament's region unless that is forced by player availability. Two or three friendlies in Europe and then four or five days semi-rest in the south of France and then one warm-up match (possibly closed door) about three or four days before the tournament starts seems like a good plan to me.
Which of US or Sweden are you expecting to screw up in the two first games? Because if neither do they should both have 6 point, and if both play as they normaly do US will have a better goal difference. Wich mean Sweden will not bunker. The only reason to do so in a game that can end with a draw is if a draw gets your qualified or wins the group and it look rather unlikely it will for Sweden.
History shows that this particular comment will get you kicked out of your organization, federation, society and off the Planet.
I think people who don't have conflict in their lives are just trying to please people and not really living life to the fullest. You're not going to be liked by everybody when you speak the truth. I don't speak the truth to put people down; I don't speak the truth to show disrespect.
Cowards do NOT win battles and Sweden beat us fair and square. We just do not seem to respect those that do what is needed to win while we fail to do what is needed. We failed, Sweden succeeded and that is what happened. Name calling is the real coward's act.
I have a lot of critics; we all know that. I have an attitude. It's what I do. I'm edgy. I have an attitude. One thing I've learned in life is that I can speak for myself, that I can fight my own battles. I don't like anyone telling me how I'm supposed to feel or think or what I'm supposed to say.
It does not really matter. Sweden beat us and the act of calling them cowards is the act of a coward and a bully. It does not matter if the person calling names is Solo or not it is still the act of a coward.
I know that I'm breaking down barriers. I'm just going to embrace every experience. And I know that in the end I'm doing a great thing. I have given my life to the game and to the sport.
"A goalkeeper cannot win a game. She can only save it." I think you're missing the point of TimB4's posts. I thought they were hilarious.
Caitlin has a nice recap on Pages 273-275. Apology issued day of......and accepted by the Swedish Captain. Did that factoid make the rounds in the US press? First time and last time a human being uttered something questionable when frustrated, disappointed and upset.
Well said. Calling the Swedish team "cowards" is ridiculous. As is the endless self-congratulation of someone whose courage doesn't seem to involve using a real name.
That's only applicable to women. If you are a dude, do whatever TF you want. You can even bite people in a middle of a WC game and not get kicked off the team, organization, federation, etc.
I can't be the only person around who thought the Swedes disgracefully bunkered like some minnow 3rd world soccer team in that match. Cowards is not the right word to use. Can't say the correct word here or I'll go from yellow to getting my butt kicked off the forum.
I didn't think there was anything disgraceful about it. It's a legitimate tactic commonly used against superior opponents. It's boring as hell to watch and has to be frustrating to play against, but in the knockout stages of the World Cup you use whatever tactics you have to in order to win. The US was flat-out, out-coached in that game. It sucks to have to accept it, but the facts are the US had plenty of chances and help from the refs (incorrectly calling back a SWE goal for offside that was easily onside by a couple yards) and didn't get the job done thanks to poor coaching, poor tactics, poor substitutions and poor execution/finishing of their own.
Actually, I don't mind the result, but the USWNT players need to practice PK's. How is it that the Germans are so good at PK shootouts?
Yes, our performances in penalty shootouts has not been great. I have prayed several times this past year that Ellis is having the team work on this. Does anyone know how Naeher is on penalties? The Germans train all ages to be calm in front of goal. I'm sure this is part of their pk approach, but there is definitely more to it.
The other "disgraceful" tactic that is used by every good club and national team is the professional foul. If Brunn had simply taken the yellow and not allowed the break away, we win that game. However, the USWNT considers it cowardly or disgraceful to do it. We will see if that has changed since 2016. I think it has and you will see professional fouls from the ladies when needed.