Rio Olympics: USWNT v France, August 6, pre/pbp/post

so excited for this match up.... I'm not sure our defense is organized enough right now to win this. And the French team is incredibly experienced. Plus, I have a bad feeling Pugh will sit this match out.

I'm thinking a tie; 2-2.

 

I think we'll see Dunn and Krieger this time out. Possibly Rapinoe.

 

Dunn starting makes things interesting for me. First I like Dunn on the right as much as I like Pugh over there assuming Heath stays on the left. Second, no matter how this one turns out it is quite possible the US and France meet again for a medal. Not using Pugh here not only gives her recovery time but it give Ellis a different card to play if they meet France later on.

 

Do we know Pugh is actually hurt? The kid should have the best recovery time of any of those players.

 

one thing to know is that LeSommer won't whiff on any balls in front of goal like she did in Sheba leaves - and I don't expect the woodwork will be as helpful against Les Bleus this time either.

 

They r saying Day to Day but I doubt they push it if they can have her at 100% for the knockout rounds.

 

This game will most likely be for first place of the group with the USA behind France at this point. France won 4-0 while we won 2-0. That gives them the edge in goals differential and goals scored. Two of the three tiebreakers. Not sure how much Ellis wants to push for this win but coming in first means we could avoid the top team from another group. It might be worth trying to win this since the top team from other groups could be Germany/Canada or Brazil. None of those are pushovers and Im not sure which group we would play but I would not want to play Germany until the final. Winning our group should be enough to put that to rest

 

On the other hand Brazil may be a stronger side than Germany in Rio. Germany have lost Laudehr and haven't beat the USWNT since the Pleistocene. Winning the group probably means meeting Brazil in the Semi.

 

----------------------Solo----------------------
Krieger--Sauerbrun--Johnston--Klingy
----------------Long------Brian-------------
Dunn---------------Lloyd------------Heath
---------------------Morgan------------------

I think Krieger is better defensively, and I think Dunn is the obvious replacement for Pugh.

I went with a 4-5-1 look because I think we'll need to focus more on defending the midfield. Keep Lloyd, Brian and Long compact and allow Dunn and Heath to work the wings.

 

I'm wishy-washy on whether Horan should start. She knows the French players; they know her. She will also understand their communications, which might be helpful. Of course, I'm sure many of the French players understand English enough to know what our team is saying to each other too. I like Horan's ball control. Midfield will be tight. Neither she nor Brian are speedy, though, and I remember our problems with France's pace merchants in the friendly there.

 

Virtually the same conditions as the New Zealand Match - 78 for the high 45% humidity.

Victory Tour – Nice
Olympic Qualifying – Essential
Tune-up Games - Necessary Building Blocks
NOW its serious, without a doubt the most important Match in 398 days. Opponent was circled milliseconds after the Draw was announced.

A couple of predictions while gazing through my Red, White and Blue spectacles:
Defensively – Aggressive, stifling pressure – think 1st half WWC Semi vs. Germany.
These documented Female Bad A**es will not yield.



And BTW………Hope says NO.

Offensively -



22 hours and 3 minutes to Kick my little soccer buddies.

2016 W I L L B E G L O R I O U S

Strong alone.
Unstoppable together.​

 

Shouldn't we try to win regardless? Playing for a tie generally guarantees a loss.

 

According to Coach E, everyone practiced and Pugh is available for the match.

Jill Ellis says no player has been held out of training and that Mallory Pugh will be available for #USAvFRA. #USWNT #Rio2016 #football

— Sebastian Salazar (@SebiSalazarFUT) August 5, 2016

 

Força Tobinha. !!!!

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2016/08/05/14/35/160805-wnt-tobinha-feature

 

So no Goal-line technology or Goal-line referees.
I heard that the IOC rejected these steps because it would have cut into their Lobster and Caviar Budget.

 

We will have to win to win the group.... Only scoring 2 in our first game makes it virtually impossible to win the group unless we win out.

Unlike many, I give Ellis no credit for any success we have. It is basically we win inspite of her. So it comes down to how much are we willing to risk to try and get this win? Does she rest Pugh for later or play her. Is Rapino even ready to play at all?

 

I think we risk a lot to win. It gives us essentially a rest/easy/meaningless match versus Colombia. I would start Dunn and if the game is still in the balance in 2nd half (which it likely will be), I bring Pugh on to help deliver the fatal blow when the French are wearing down. Rapinoe is not ready to play and won't be able to defend the flank. We don't need her anyway. Heath is proving to be equally awesome on freekicks / corner kicks....which should be a surprise to no one. I'm with you that I give JE very little credit ... except for getting some good assistant coaches who can design creative set pieces. It would be the time to pull some out of the bag. And I like Swanson a lot, but doubt JE really does what he would do if he were head coach...especially in terms of player selection, starters, etc.

 

#USA line-up (v #FRA): Solo, Long, Sauerbrunn, O'Hara, Engen, Klingenberg, Lloyd (c), Morgan, Brian, Dunn, Heath #uswnt #USAFRA #Rio2016

— Womens Soccer United (@WomensSoccerUtd) August 6, 2016

 

Really surprised at no Johnston for France from an offensive standpoint.