So far all of the talk that the world has caught up or catching up to the US, has it really? I recall this talk the last World Cup as well but we still have the same result.
It depends on how you define catching up. There are more quality non-US teams now than ever but probably not a team as good as some of the past non-US WC champions. If catching up means closing the gap then I think it’s been achieved. Over the past three U17 and U20 WWC’s there have been teams (Euro and Asian) of very high quality (usually Japan and Spain). It’s the lower age groups that are a good gauge because they will gain most from the new investment and infrastructure. Most of the players actually playing now at this WC came through when the investment in the game was bad. So they didn’t really get the support that they deserved and are still competing well.
Nice Equalizer article on the world "catching up": https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/07/07/the-world-is-catching-up-but-not-to-the-uswnt/
Well, the WWC is now over, but let's relive it a bit. What were everyone's favorite moments of this WWC, not involving the team you were cheering for? The first two that immediately come to mind for me are the Thai coaches getting teary when they scored a goal against Sweden and Marta's speech in the post-game match interview after the loss to France to all young girls out there.
Personally I loved the fighting spirit of the Argentinian team, really played their hearts out in every match.
Wasn't there--sad--but it will take some doing to beat France as a host of the WWC. Just a lot to like about the country as host--interesting cities, some travel but not too arduous for teams and fans, good, soccer-specific stadiums, excellent atmosphere in Lyon. Well done to France.
A few: I would add Plummer and Shaw for Jamiaca as well. Well, their whole squad has me really excited. Jacobsson for Sweden Hermoso from Spain Cometti form Argentina really showed promise. Holy cow, Cuthbert is only 20?!?! But, on the down side, Kerr underwhelmed, as did Le Sommer to me.
An additional note...I liked seeing the increased number of women of color, both from within and outside Europe/US.
I feel like a lot of people have both Kerr and Le Sommer very high up on their lists of best strikers in the world, and I agree that they both underperformed.
I would have included Shaw if I’d seen anything like the performance hinted at by announcers. Kerr has moments of greatness and may have underwhelmed...but expectations were set very high for her. I though Le Sommer was really good at the start of the tournament. Faded later.
Yes, even Italy, that doesn't use to have many players of color, had Sara Gama ruling the defense-line!
Reminded me quite a bit of Hermoso. Lots of good movement, understanding of field presence, but the finishing was less than impressive. The difference is that Le Sommer has more pedigree
The game has come a long way from where it was 8 years ago. No question about that. In terms of what it did for the women's game moving forward and the overall talent level on display, then yes this year's was clearly the greatest. But the course of events during the games themselves also matters. There was no single match at this WWC as memorable as the 2011 quarterfinal or final, and for me that is still the tipping point in favor of 2011. Also there were no 13-0 blowouts in the group stages back then when only 16 teams qualified and I think the group stages back then were actually more exciting to watch. That said, the US did win this one and beat 4 European teams in the knockout stages of a tournament in Europe to do so and repeat as champs. I'll never forget this year's WWC simply because of that. But even as a diehard fan of USWNT, I still have no problem ranking a tournament they didn't win higher.
Japan deserved that finals win, but it should have never gotten to the point of being memorable. All the domination and missed chances in the first half, and Rampone, Buehler, and Krieger all messing up on a single play. Haven't taken another look recently, but I always thought Marta either embellished quite a bit or was in the air and falling regardless of Buehler's play on her penalty win. I suppose VAR may not have changed the call though. VAR definitely would have ruled out Marta's second though. There was a clear and obvious offside in the buildup. Of course, maybe we would have still gotten the dramatic Rapinoe to Wambach goal, but at 1-1 instead of 1-2, I don't know if the US pushes up quite as much as it did in those final couple of minutes.
Why didn't Pia start Becky Sauerbrunn in the final? She is a better defender and played well in the semi. I just don't get it.
Hermoso was excellent. She's more of a playmaker than a finisher, which is what Le Sommer is. Le Sommer was very disappointing but I heard she was injured somewhere in the months leading up to the World Cup so she may have been far from 100%. (But then Diacre should've played Asseyi more, who was pretty good when she came off the bench)
The list of all 2-time WWC champions: Michelle Akers (USA, 1991 and 1999) Nadine Angerer (GER, 2003 and 2007) Linda Bresonik (GER, 2003 and 2007) Morgan Brian (USA, 2015 and 2019) Brandi Chastain (USA, 1991 and 1999) Julie Ertz (USA, 2015 and 2019) Joy Fawcett (USA, 1991 and 1999) Julie Foudy (USA, 1991 and 1999) Sonja Fuss (GER, 2003 and 2007) Kersten Garefrekas (GER, 2003 and 2007) Mia Hamm (USA, 1991 and 1999) Ashlyn Harris (USA, 2015 and 2019) Tobin Heath (USA, 2015 and 2019) Ariane Hingst (GER, 2003 and 2007) Ali Krieger (USA, 2015 and 2019) Kristine Lilly (USA, 1991 and 1999) Carli Lloyd (USA, 2015 and 2019) Renate Lingor (GER, 2003 and 2007) Sandra Minnert (GER, 2003 and 2007) Alex Morgan (USA, 2015 and 2019) Martina Müller (GER, 2003 and 2007) Alyssa Naeher (USA, 2015 and 2019) Kelly O'Hara (USA, 2015 and 2019) Carla Overbeck (USA, 1991 and 1999) Christie Pearce (USA, 1999 and 2015) Christen Press (USA, 2015 and 2019) Birgit Prinz (GER, 2003 and 2007) Megan Rapinoe (USA, 2015 and 2019) Silke Rottenberg (GER, 2003 and 2007) Becky Sauerbrunn (USA, 2015 and 2019) Sandra Smisek (GER, 2003 and 2007) Kerstin Stegemann (GER, 2003 and 2007)