The Dutch will get destroyed. The American girls play a different game. The pace is so much higher, I doubt anyone from the Dutch team would play in the US team. Maybe Jacky Groenen.
In general good it's getting more popular though, the view rates in the traditional countries are great. 12 million viewers in the UK (semi's) (18%, out of 66 million) >5 million viewers in the Netherlands (29%, out of 17 million) It's pretty good, these rates would convert to an amount between 70 and 100 million viewers in the USA.
So we will slow down the pace, field Beerensteyn on the left instead of Lieke (toe issue) to make the wingback that loves to push and press think twice to leave much space behind her (just think what would happen if she presses on the Dutch half and Bloodworth intercepts the ball and wacks it into the US half for Beerensteyn to go after it. She'll have an open pitch to galop in and with the high line of the USA Miedema and van de Sanden can make a run into open space too to get into the box and score the goal. I just described how we score in the same minute as Johan Neesken scored against Germany exactly 45 years ago.
You're talking about the physical part of the game. How good is the tactical part of the players or the coach? Miedema for instance forsaw that the Orange Lionesses were going to meet completely different style of play compared to the Euros, where the way of play was open, so the Orange Lionesses could go on the attack. She made changes in the Orange Lionesses way of play to battle the bunkering and physical way of play of the WC opponents. The foreign press are moaning that this isnot the Euro Orange Lionesses. That's correct, but it's not the Euros. We can assume coach Wiegman with her staff has analysed the USA matches and for sure knows the MO of the USA. The question is whether the USA can play a tactical game, or are they a one trick pony. When you're accustomed to play against opponents that are less in quality (which goes hand in hand with not very good tactically too), you can steamroll your opponents with one MO. It also means you're not used to make amandments to your game if your MO doesnot work. And you know that Miedema, coming from a Dutch tradition in coaching is very well versed in the tactical side of the game. Doesnot mean the expected onslaught of the USA is less of a worry, it still is.
The US is tactical offensively. The way they play today is vastly different from 4 years ago. So they've changed their scheme. Also, I firmly believe that the person behind this tactical "evolution" and refinement is Tony Gustavsson (assistant coach/right hand man). Jill Ellis doesn't really strike me as someone who is tactically astute. So she depends on him heavily. Also tactics don't mean much if your defenders aren't marking inside the box and allowing free headers. I'm looking at you England
@Colima24 media saying Alex Morgan is the first US player to score on their birthday was as meaningless as her receiving praise for clearing that corner
Spain has given the blueprint for this WWC. Will the Dutch follow or will they play a different game?
If we can let them rage the first 15=20 minutes without conceiding a goal so we come at an even playing level energy wise (we had a more exhausting path with one day less to recover) the match can become interesting. Still a hell of a task to do.
Nope. They aren’t physically fit nor mentally strong enough to defeat a team like the US. Plus, they’ve played some sh*tty football for the last month. That’s why I hate it when these sides make it to final. They don’t compete. Sweden would have been a better match up.
Spain didn't press the whole game though. They only pressed when necessary, and they also defended pretty deep. They almost always had 10 women in their half. Also, the Dutch needs to harass the front 3 of the US. Spain was taking no prisoners on that front. Either way, I just don't see the Dutch winning. The US has been here before and they also played top class opponents (in KO stages) to get there, so they're on a roll physically and mentally. Dutch could probably take them to over time though. Just shoot at the keeper, something I saw them do a lot vs Sweden btw.
Yeah, preserves energy to not running with it towards the goal. Goal in sight within 20 meters ..fire. Or draw fouls near the box.
The @Alipay Foundation, Jack Ma Foundation, Joe Tsai Foundation (PRC), will put US$145 million toward making soccer “more sustainable and accessible to girls and women" across China: https://t.co/er8cKBdYbr pic.twitter.com/e4tt4e7GVm— Alibaba Group (@AlibabaGroup) July 5, 2019