Looks like a favorable group draw, but a pretty unfavorable later round draw. The teams playing 3rd place teams in the Round of 16 (not the US) have a huge advantage. Spain winning Group B is very possible IMO. So we could be looking at the following if we win our group. Round of 16: Germany Quarterfinals: France Semifinals: England/Japan Ouch.
Doesn't much matter. In order to win the thing, you have to beat all those teams, or beat the team(s) that just beat them anyway. Would you rather avoid all those teams, but face Brazil, or Canada, or the Netherlands in the final?
Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyep! Finally got hotels secured, just now diving into the Groups. Selfishly, as previously mentioned, travel wise a great draw - - two matches in Paris me likey. Something has to happen for my prediction of a US/England final with Princess Kate in attendance to materialize. ULTIMATE SOCCER MOM
Groups A and C are definitely tough. I like the draw; it seems like things are balanced pretty well. GO USA!
The US clearly has the easiest group. In ESPN's article on the draw the USWNT coach mentions not being familiar with two of the teams. I assume she's talking about Chile and Thailand, but we have played both twice in the past two years. http://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-wom...ace-thailand-chile-sweden-in-womens-world-cup
Don’t know where to put this but it’s a hellava cute story and worth reading. Lindsey Horan-This is Happening https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/lindsey-horan-uswnt-this-is-happening
The oft mentioned US DNA isn't about tactics it about winning. The only way I could see the US thinking second in their group is if they entered the final with Sweden holding the tie breaker. Then I could see the US settling for a tactical draw if the match is even after 60 minutes. Still the best course is win them all.
Interesting group matches for me will be A South Korea v. Norway B Germany v. Spain C Any match not including Jamaica D Scotland v. Japan E Canada v. Netherlands While group F looks easy it does feature two of the better GKs.
Visa Presale - Individual Ticket Sales Phase 10 DEC to 23 DEC Anyone know what time tomorrow/tonight this period starts?? Looking to upgrade from tickets obtained from US Soccer allotment. Thanks in advance.
If we have to play France in the quarterfinal, history gives us a massive edge. Every previous non-US host has been eliminated at that stage.
France has never won two knockout matches ever in a single major tournament. They've never done it in a World Cup, Olympics, or even in a Euro tournament. If they face USA in the Quarterfinal, that forces them to break that trend.
It’s not much of a sample size though. A grand total of 5 WCs not played in the US. Of those hosts only Germany in 2011 started as one of the favorites. Yes I’d rather be pessimistic and not jinx us. One person’s optimism is another’s overconfidence. France would be a tough obstacle in front of their home fans. I wouldn’t lean too much on the past to make the prospect seem less formidable. Certainly for the players the more they respect it as a big challenge the more likely they will rise to it. At the same time Norway in top form is a dark horse. They could potentially suprise and win group A. And they may not require more than a draw with France to accomplish that. They have some goal scoring power on that team.
This tournament will be BOOM or BUST for France. Either they bomb out by no later than the Quarterfinal. Or they win it all.
To me, the Quarterfinal against France in Paris is by far the toughest possible game. It is possibly the hardest game the USWNT could play except by playing Australia in Sydney in a World Cup. The USWNT has not matched up well with France when Renard has played. Winning the tournament and losing in the quarterfinal to France could be equal outcomes. What a difference for Ellis. She could go down as: 1. Winner of two World Cups with a hiccup in the 2016 Olympics that led her to make successful changes to the team. 2. A coach that lucked into a midfield after injuries and suspensions to win a World Cup; but then got knocked out in the quarterfinals of the next two tournaments. The two worst finishes in USWNT history, back to back.
I just ran the World Cup simulation, and this is how it came out: Group A France-2 Korea-0 Norway-1 Nigeria-1 Nigeria-0 Korea-0 France-1 Norway-2 Nigeria-2 France-3 Korea-1 Norway-1 (France-6, Norway-5, Nigeria-2, Korea-2) Group B Germany-1 China-0 Spain-2 South Africa-0 Germany-1 Spain-1 South Africa-0 China-1 China-1 Spain-2 South Africa-1 Germany-4 (Germany-7, Spain-7, China-3, South Africa-0) Group C Australia-3 Italy-2 Brazil-5 Jamaica-1 Australia-2 Brazil-1 Jamaica-0 Italy-2 Jamaica-1 Australia-6 Italy-1 Brazil-1 (Australia-9, Brazil-4, Italy-4, Jamaica-0) Group D England-1 Scotland-0 Argentina-1 Japan-4 Japan-3 Scotland-1 England-3 Argentina-0 Japan-1 England-2 Scotland-2 Argentina-1 (England-9, Japan-6, Scotland-3, Argentina-0) Group E Canada-3 Cameroon-1 New Zealand-1 Netherlands-2 Netherlands-2 Cameroon-1 Canada-1 New Zealand-1 Cameroon-0 New Zealand-1 Netherlands-3 Canada-2 (Netherlands-9, Canada-4, New Zealand-4, Cameroon-0) Group F Chile-0 Sweden-3 USA-4 Thailand-0 Sweden-3 Thailand-1 USA-7 Chile-0 Sweden-1 USA-2 Thailand-4 Chile-3 (similar to Thailand vs. Ivory Coast game in 2015 WWC?) (USA-9, Sweden-6, Thailand-3, Chile-0) Round of 16 Germany-2 vs. Italy-3 (Extra Time) Norway-1 vs. Brazil-2 (Extra Time, Marta goal) England-2 vs. New Zealand-1 France-3 vs. Scotland-0 Spain-1 vs. USA-2 (Extra Time, Christen Press goal) Sweden-1 vs. Canada-2 Australia-3 vs. China-1 Netherlands-1 vs. Japan-1 (Penalties: Netherlands advances 5-4) Quarterfinals Brazil-1 vs. England-2 France-2 vs. USA-3 (Extra Time, Carli Lloyd goal) Australia-3 vs. Netherlands-2 (Sam Kerr bicycle goal in stoppage time) Italy-1 vs. Canada-1 (Penalties: Italy advances 4-3) Semifinals England-1 vs. USA-1 (Penalties: USA advances 12-11) (Wild Shootout) Australia-1 vs. Italy-0 (Extra Time, Caitlin Foord goal) 3rd Place Match England-2 vs. Italy-2 (Penalties: Italy wins Bronze 8-7) Final Australia-4 vs. USA-3 (Extra Time: Sam Kerr scores 2 goals in ET) Golden Ball: Sam Kerr (Australia) Golden Boot: Sam Kerr (Australia) Silver Boot: Alex Morgan (USA) Bronze Boot: llaria Mauro (Italy) Golden Glove: Lydia Williams (Australia) Best Young Player: Mallory Pugh (USA) Best Coach: Alen Stajcic (Australia) Best Goal: Sam Kerr scores amazing bicycle goal against Netherlands in 92nd min. Best Moment: Alyssa Naeher guesses wrong but stones England with her extended leg backwards in shootout, preserving the 12-11 victory in penalties. Ball deflects straight up off her twisted leg, hits the underneath of the crossbar, comes back down and lands on her butt as she's laying on the ground, and then squirts from underneath her butt sideways and ricochets off the side post and out as she dives and gets it before it goes back in. Most memorable save in soccer history.
Lol, I wish! I would be content to see a good tournament from Italy, I don't think bronze is a realistic chance at the moment.
I don’t know what any of that means but it’s worth reading as Caitlin is the best writer we’ve got. theathlete.com is paying good journalists to do what they usually have to do for free or next to nothing. So slap down a penny or two and support good writing. .. ya cheap bastard. ( )