The key to the game: the U.S. must control its left side of the field with Dunn against Delie and/or Cascarino. (p.s. the pre-game prediction of the "key to the game" is rarely correct, because the U.S. will take steps to prevent Dunn from being exposed. So, I hope.) So, who starts in midfield? I would predict Horan-Ertz-Lavelle -- but I would rather see Mewis than Lavelle. Rapinoe should take all penalty kicks. But, can her aging legs recover in time for France? Will the French neutralize Morgan, as Spain did, by banging her to the ground every time the ball comes near her?
No. Here's the complete roster: 1 Solene DURAND GOALKEEPER Age: 24 16 Sarah BOUHADDI GOALKEEPER Age: 32 21 Pauline PEYRAUD-MAGNIN GOALKEEPER Age: 27 2 Eve PERISSET DEFENDER Age: 24 3 Wendie RENARD DEFENDER Age: 28 4 Marion TORRENT DEFENDER Age: 27 5 Aissatou TOUNKARA DEFENDER Age: 24 7 Sakina KARCHAOUI DEFENDER Age: 23 10 Amel MAJRI DEFENDER Age: 26 19 Griedge MBOCK BATHY DEFENDER Age: 24 22 Julie DEBEVER DEFENDER Age: 31 6 Amandine HENRY MIDFIELDER Age: 29 8 Grace GEYORO MIDFIELDER Age: 21 14 Charlotte BILBAULT MIDFIELDER Age: 29 15 Elise BUSSAGLIA MIDFIELDER Age: 33 17 Gaetane THINEY MIDFIELDER Age: 33 23 Maeva CLEMARON MIDFIELDER Age: 26 9 Eugenie LE SOMMER FORWARD Age: 30 11 Kadidiatou DIANI FORWARD Age: 24 12 Emelyne LAURENT FORWARD Age: 20 13 Valerie GAUVIN FORWARD Age: 23 18 Viviane ASSEYI FORWARD Age: 25 20 Delphine CASCARINO FORWARD Age: 22
I guess Marie-Laure Delie was dropped from NT since 2017 or 2018, about at the same time as when PSG didn't renew her contract. Not even sure in which club she's playing right now.
The 2 teams are so alike in just about everything. The deciding factor in this game will come down to keeper performances. Both teams will need big, big saves from their No.1's.
Well, for one thing, they're both women's teams. Give me a few minutes and I'll think of another similarity.
Ellis better do some serious thinking or our WC will end with France. We have had trouble scoring against better teams for some time now. Morgan is not what she once she once was and rolling her out yet again isnt going to change that. Maybe tire them out a little then bring her on late? Pino is pretty much done against faster, younger players. Heath didnt look good either last game. I never thought I'd say this but maybe we should start Lloyd? If our offense depends on crossing and heading, Morgan is not the answer. I am worried about this game and am worried that Ellis will add Horan and roll the same 10 others out yet again. We cannot hope to win on PKs either during the 90 or after the extra times have run out. Never having really developing a ground game will make our chances very difficult.
Wow! You really should have thought of all this years ago when you decided to retain Ellis. Now we have to dance with the women who brought us (to this point).
If your offense against us depends on crossing and heading, with Griedge & Wendie I'm pretty confident! In all honesty Torrent & Majri haven't looked great in this WC yet (very tired legs in that last game against Brasil), if I was the US coach that's where I would hit. I think Rapinoe can hurt Torrent who seems lacking in confidence as well right now. On the other hand, Diani will hurt your defense too imho, and I suspect there might be an "anti-Diani" plan, who knows? Do you guys think it's far fetched? She scored twice in our last confrontation, I think the US squad remembers. We'll see Anyway, so many of our players haven't had great games yet here. I hope our "mental curse" will not hit us again on Friday. Haven't seen Le Sommer or Cascarino looking like themselves yet for example, hope they'll show the World what they're capable of! By the way, do any of you guys realize red, white & blue are also our colors? Just curious
I NEVER wanted Ellis retained and have often been critical of her player selection, tactics and coaching. I think it will be a miracle if the USA even gets to the final this time Ellis has not moved this program forward and many other countries have caught up. I hope Im proven wrong but Im thinking I wont be.
Ours are Red, White and Blue - - technically, I think yours are Blue, White and Red......big difference
As if we needed more pressure in this match, the only hope of a non-European team winning the World Cup now rides on us.
Well I don't know about anyone else, but watching the USWNT exit a major tournament in the quarterfinal round once this decade was quite enough for me. To those who say it is France's destiny to win this cup and they will not let the U.S. stop them, I say (1:59): Let's give 'em hell. I BELIEVE.
I would like to see Jill Ellis put Alex Morgan back on the left side where her speed and strong left leg can help out instead of just letting her hang around the middle getting mugged.
I'm an old classic film buff and I've had all the major scenes in the most famous American epics in my head all this week. I have no idea why, Lawrence of Arabia is not about an American at all yet it has this very American attitude about it. I've prepared myself for the possibility that we may lose. I do this because last time we lost(the final in 2011) I was a little younger and inexperienced so I didn't prepare myself for that possibility, and I actually cried at the watch party all the way home and felt like crap for 3 days straight(I know I needed to get a life back then haha) I know this character is a southern belle during the Civil War/Post Reconstruction period but I couldn't help but think of her when I think of how people view of the USWNT in this particular tournament. If anyone has seen the film, Scarlett O'Hara is a polarizing figure for some. She somehow ends up getting her way, even if she has to manipulate people to save her family and their plantation, Tara. Despite these aspects that many find unlikeable, she is a deeply strong woman, and a survivor in every way. It doesn't matter what the chaotic task or the tragedy, she keeps going and never gives up. So if the USWNT loses, the critics will be like Clark Gable saying, "Quite frankly my dear, I don't give a damn". But the USWNT will collect together after the critics leave and say "Tomorrow, is another day..."
It’s funny McSkillz, along those same lines when I think of the Team over here (for both on and off the pitch) Tom Petty’s - I Won’t Back Down keeps playing in my head.
Funny how these US WWC threads are becoming some kind of a "film club". I mean "funny" in a positive way!
Coming in just in time for the quarters we have: https://nypost.com/2019/06/26/europe-braces-for-dangerous-record-setting-heat-wave/ I "think" the US handles the heat better but they have been in Europe for quite a while and adjusted to the weather there.