I made a point on the Netherlands 2019 thread a couple days ago which I'll elaborate on here. It's about tactical substitutions available to Coach Wiegman beyond Lineth Beerensteyn and Jill Roord, who she's used freely so far in the World Cup and who will probably figure prominently in the championship match. One of Netherlands' weaknesses is a slow defensive line. Partly to correct that, Wiegman has started Dominique Bloodworth at CB in place of the veteran Anouk Dekker. But if Netherlands find themselves in the 2nd half down a goal or two and needing more in the attack, one solution, paradoxically, might be to bring in a slow defender, Dekker. This would allow Bloodworth, a natural midfielder, to play further up the pitch, either A) as defensive midfielder allowing Spitse or Groenen to support the attack, or, less likely, B) on the left wing where normally Martens would be. When I noted that the Dutch midfielders rarely or ever seemed to be combining together in an attacking move, Orange14 made this observation: It would be very risky, as some pointed out, to re-pair van der Gragt and Dekker in central defense, but we're talking about situations where you have to take chances, situations where Netherlands is at high risk of finding themselves anyway, down a goal or two in the 2nd half and needing to get players who can be gamechangers in places on the field where they can change the game. Judging from Coach Wiegman's use of her bench, it seems some players who are starting in deeper parts of the field - Spitse, Groenen, or Bloodworth - are more likely gamechangers than any other attackers on the bench, besides Beerensteyn or Roord who I assume will already be deployed.
If you have to press against a team that can execute a counter, I'd not put in a slower defender... But I am not a coach...
Mewis for Horan; Rapinoe for Press. Best two words in sports: GAME 7📝: https://t.co/91e8cyXWBnFor the Cup. #OneNationOneTeam pic.twitter.com/Gwk04FOPc4— U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (@USWNT) July 7, 2019 Dekker for van Dongen (and van der Gragt => LCB, Bloodworth => LB). Martens starts! 🚨 | De opstelling!Anouk Dekker staat in de basis, Merel van Dongen neemt plaats op de bank. Ook Lieke Martens start.#OnzeJacht #USANED pic.twitter.com/SWZT76aQZp— OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) July 7, 2019 The teams are in! #USANED 🇺🇸🇳🇱#FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/iCjt3NLAuj— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) July 7, 2019
I just want to say Bloodworth the Brave. A midfielder who's been asked to play center-back is now asked to play left back against Tobin Heath. They are asking a lot of her.
It's not ideal, but I gave the reasons. You have to take some chances in some situations... I didn't expect Wiegman to start the gamble with the opening lineup but it's also logical. She feels van Dongen can't handle Tobin Heath so she'd rather get Dekker on the pitch to begin with and Bloodworth in a position where maybe she can get forward at some point in the game.
Yes, but as @kolabear noticed, it somehow makes sense. Van Dongen has been the weak link of Netherlands' defense so far: I prefer by far the better player on the pitch, although out of position, over keeping the mediocre player who plays in her own role. We're going to see how effective it will be, but I like the move! Also, hoping Van de Sanden can be subbed in later in 2nd half: as seen in OL also, she's probably more effective as a super-sub than as a starter.
This for sure is going to be a match that will be physically demanding. When Shanice is being subbed in, she's going to face defenders and midfielders with legs that have been done alot of work.
Van de Sanden basically won the CL two years ago when she was subbed on against Wolfsburg Question for me is if Miedema will run this game and help her team out defensively more than she’s done
Stade de Lyon, Lyon. 31°C = 88°F, 35% humidity, some clouds. It started 5 weeks ago. It finishes today. It’s been a fun ride #FIFAWWC! #USANED pic.twitter.com/HE9RxPa3Hz— Ann Odong 🐨🇺🇬 (@AnnOdong) July 7, 2019 1147877722468864000 is not a valid tweet id
Anthems! I’m at the World Cup final with @morgantanswell. HUGE!!! #USANED pic.twitter.com/iG6cC7D2at— Adrian Todd Zuniga 🇺🇦 (@atzuniga) July 7, 2019 New one for the final. Looks ace. #FIFAWWC #USANED pic.twitter.com/X8IWirRuTD— Kieran Theivamanoharan (@KiersTheivam) July 7, 2019 Beyond excited ☺️🙌🏾 🇺🇲 vs 🇳🇱 #FIFAWWC #USANED #DREAMSCOMETRUE pic.twitter.com/2Oq8LjMgX9— Liseli Sitali (@ilesiL) July 7, 2019
No matter how many times I listen to it, Wilhelmus is always such a beautiful anthem to enjoy time and time again.
I second this, from a more personal perspective. My ex had that swagger in that everything she did was on point. It could easily be considered arrogance until one looked at how she phrased what she did, and how much effort she put in to do what she did. That is how I see the US team.