I love you bringing this up. Those morons comparing Julie Johnston's World Cup win to her husband's Super Bowl win 2.5 years later...
I'd start the vetting process now for the next crop of young players. Who I'd keep: Pugh, Lavelle, Horan, Mewis, Ertz, Davidson, Dunn, and O'Hara (to serve in a "Krieger" role). I'd keep Dahlkemper or Brian until the Olympics; not sure beyond that. There's a ton of talent in the NWSL, it's about time we start tapping that source. But I digress. I'm going to just enjoy it this week, and probably into next week.
All the U.S. players were good. The standouts for me were Lavelle and Rapinoe -- an opinion that few observers would disagree with. Regarding Lavelle, I previously have said that I thought a midfield of Ertz, Horan, and Mewis could not be improved upon. But Lavelle brought a flair, speed, and wicked left foot to the midfield. If that slight body of hers can endure the abuse, Lavelle may be the big star of the next World Cup cycle.
This is a pretty accurate depiction of my psychology for the remainder of the day [and week, if I'll be honest] struggling to stop basking in the glory of today's victory and return to reality/get on with life.
but this WC showed complete domination of the athletic/physical type teams & players with US, NE, SW coming in at 1,2,3 as well as players like Jakobsson, Renard, Bonansea using their excessive size or speed to dominate. in the meantime, it;s been a poor showing for Asia & South America, as well for Canada who ditched their southern neighbors for a more short passing type style but failed rather misreably at it I would say the US does bring a chess like mentality to the game as Ellis definately outsmarted Wiegman, but then again,she had the way stronger personal ot due so
I have to agree with you. Lavelle was the player of the match. Next was Ertz, followed by Dunn, then maybe Heath.
I find it difficult to award a golden ball award to a player who did not play in the semis and yet her team won. The golden ball has to go to a player who played all seven matches. And, since the US offense was not dominant, it should have either to a defender or a midfielder who helped control play. That means Lavelle or Ertz (especially since a big game in the final influences the selection).
The US has top level technique+the physical advantage, as was all the other teams. Even Norway and Sweden showed good pass combo attacks. Asllani has great skills.
100% Ertz lol She’s been ridiculously amazing this world cup as a defensive midfielder and was ridiculously amazing last world cup as a center back
Brandi Chastain is someone I respect personally. But I hope you did not have to think long about whether Dunn is a better defender. There is no doubt that she is. She played well this tournament and might have been a fitting Golden Ball choice had I not preferred Ertz or Lavelle.
I have some issues with Rapinoe off the field. Had the tournament ended after the France game, she would have been a legitimate candidate for the Golden Ball. And I am happy she converted the penalty kicks and scored other clutch goals. But the tournament is seven games, not five, and she was not in one game and one can point to at least four players who played better than her in the final (Lavelle, Ertz, Dunn and [pick almost anyone else on the pitch]), and the first three I listed could have been choices even had the tournament ended after the France game. Pointing out that Rapinoe should not have won the Golden Ball does not mean I diss the quality of her play that clearly helped the US get to the semifinals.
nooooooo, Rose Lavelle! & honestly, I thought previously Alex Morgan was a bit overrated, until the last couple of games proved me wrong. Surprisingly though, , my fav USWNT player, Tobin Heath got a bit overshadowed
That first game should not even be considered in any way about how good any player was for this tournament. Thailand was so bad my grandmother could have scored on them and she's been dead for nearly 70 years. Thailand improved through the group play and it helped them that each team they played was weaker than the one before but in that first game they looked like they were barely rec level.
Heath wasn’t that impressive really, but was a part of a seriously good team who deservedly won the WC
Monday’s @lequipe devotes first eight pages to #USAvNED. Says world of difference between #USWNT and everyone else. Coverage impressive given it was Day 2 of Tour de France (owned by its publisher) and France was playing in Euro basketball women’s final. pic.twitter.com/leZI5g7OXQ— Paul Kennedy (@pkedit) July 7, 2019