I'm a FL girl and last night temperatures were hovering around 80 soemthing degrees. Mind you this was at 11pm ish..
27' 0-0 van de Donk turns to arc top right post, left foot shot blocked by Linari's body. Linari reads shots very well! Italy longball from midfield right touch to 16m center, Giacinti has 1/2 step lead but van Veenendaal comes out and collects just ahead of her. 28' 0-0 Cernoia cross from ~box top wide left to 4m 2/5 left, van Veenendaal catches just over Giacinti's head. 29' 0-0 Martens square pass right to Miedema at 22m arc left. Miedema cuts back to arc top left, shoots left instep to 1/3 left, Giuliani catches face-high. Missed opportunity for the Netherlands! Miedema creates some space for the shot, but doesn't get enough on it. Best chance of the half so far. #ITANED👀 Martens had made a nice run... pic.twitter.com/0QWK63EtYk— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 29, 2019 31' 0-0 1H hydration break. The temperature on the field is 92°F = 33°C.
36' 0-0 Italy long serve to arc top mid-right, van Dongen(?) sideheads down. Bergamaschi collects at 25m arc right, diagonal pass between 2 to Giacinti at 13m 6-left, Giacinti shoots left foot through van der Gragt's legs, wide right low. SO CLOSE! This time it's Italy with a good chance but Giacinti just misses the far post. #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/tlkhIR9oPW— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 29, 2019 37' 0-0 Martens cuts inside from 14m box left to 16m mid-left, soft right foot shot skips harmlessly to Giuliani. 38' 0-0 van Lunteren overlaps and rolls a ground cross to 4m right post, Giuliani dives on it.
The Dutch are enjoying the bulk of the posession but Italy looks more threatening going forward when they have the ball. Interesting.
The Dutch are not clicking in attack--and really haven't all tourney. They do a lot of good things in the middle of the pitch, win balls, control possession--but they have faced a lot of defensive-minded teams and just can't find space--or the right combinations--to generate quality shots. I think they need to go at goal more. Meanwhile, they will get careless or caught out in the back on counters, and Italy has had the more dangerous chances or half-chances. Von Dongen is useless in attack on the left and does not help Martens at all; Von de Donk has under-performed, Van de Sanden has struggled to beat her mark. Beerensteyn needs to come in for one of the wingers in the second half. She has been effective and The Netherlands may need her to come through again.
41' 0-0 van Dongen longball from midfield left touch, just over Gama's head, to 18m arc left. Miedema stoops for ball, Linari chest-bumps her down, both overshoot ball. Foul just outside box, yellow card on Linari. 42' 0-0 Netherlands fk at 18m arc left. Miedema(?) dummies over, Spitse shoots right instep through the wall, medium roller to 1/6 right low, Giuliani smothers easily.
I liked the assertiveness of the ref making the call. Same with the card. VAR has made refs more ..... introspective. And I don't know if it's actually been better as a result.