Well, like I keep pointing out every time this argument is made: We've been saying that for two decades, and this team just keeps on rolling. They're like Ohio State football; they don't re-build, they just re-load. Yes, this current crop of players may be aging out, but we always seem to have more where they came from. That's not me guaranteeing victory or anything. It's very possible that this World Cup just might land in that sweet spot with the veterans being too old and the youngsters being too experienced. But the program isn't going anywhere. As far as the bonuses go... I don't know if it really changes much once the whistle blows.
The program will still be solid because no one else has as many girls playing soccer as we do. There were a few teams in the past that had a chance at winning the Cup and USA was always in the mix even though the other teams have changed. There are so many better teams than five years ago, it's not so easy to pick a winner.
My earlier post left out Mewis. Aging attackers (Morgan, Rapinoe, Heath, Press) hurts. Sauerbrunn aging out hurts. O'Hara aging out hurts. Dunn being out hurts. Macario doing her knee hurts. All that at once really hurts. But losing Ertz and Mewis at the same time, on top og the other stuff, is catastrophic to hopes of winning the tournament. Arguably, the best #6 and best #8 in the world. Who both produce a lot of goals for there positions. Ertz has 20 goals & 6 assists in 116 caps and started out as a CB. Mewis has 24 G and 10 A in 83 caps. That is lot of goals coming from the #6 & #8 spots. Both are big & physical and are constant threats on set pieces.
So a couple things. First, It's never been easy, there have always been a few tough outs. Sometimes I think we forget that because of the huge disparity. There are (almost) no 8-0 games in men's World Cup. The flip side is that the US has been THE dominant team, finishing in the top 3 of every Women's World Cup. And, quite frankly, they were dominant at the last world cup. Won every game in regulation time. I think you're exaggerating about the impending demise being predicted for 20 years. More like 5-10. That said, looking at Olympic results, the USWNT has also finished in the top 3 until 2016. Then in the 2020 Olympics (in 2021), which is the most recent major tournament, they had a record of 2-2-2. They got the Bronze medal by going 1-1-1 in group stage, winning in PKs in the first stage of knockout round, losing to Canada, then winning the Bronze medal game 4-3 against Australia. So last 3 major tournaments: lost in QF (first round knockout stage) Won World Cup (resoundingly) 3rd place (with a 2-2-2 overall record)
usa-women-shebelieves-cup-roster-headlined-alex-morgan-megan-rapinoe Sheba Leaves roster U.S. women's national team roster by position (Club; Caps/Goals) -- 2023 SheBelieves Cup: GOALKEEPERS (3): Adrianna Franch (Kansas City Current; 10), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage; 12), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars; 87) DEFENDERS (7): Alana Cook (OL Reign; 21/0), Emily Fox (North Carolina Courage; 24/0), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC; 128/24), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC; 12/0), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign; 27/0), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC; 212/0), Emily Sonnett (OL Reign; 70/1) MIDFIELDERS (6): Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA; 123/26), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC; 9/2), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign; 86/24), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 47/7), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit; 19/3), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit; 39/3) FORWARDS (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit; 15/5), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC; 201/120), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 22/4), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign; 197/63), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit; 12/2), Mallory Swanson (Chicago Red Stars; 84/28), Lynn Williams (NJ/NY Gotham FC; 49/15)
Indeed so, and the change has been in the number of tough outs. Not long ago all you had to do was have a couple teams end up on the opposite side of the bracket and making the semis was a stroll in the park. There was some shifting of contenders as teams surged and ebbed based on a uniformly shallow pool of talent, but the number of teams in any given tournament that actually had a shot normally didn't go past 2 or 3. This time around there are at least six, maybe even eight teams that could get hot, and a couple breaks, win a shootout, and end up in the final. In 1995 the womens field was 12 teams. This year its going to be 32. There are certainly more legitimate contenders but they're going to play a similarly increasing number of teams that really shouldn't be there. Greed has almost guaranteed at least a few ugly blowouts. Still, if we can avoid the spectacle of some American celebrating, prancing and exulting over scoring the 7th unanswered goal against a basket case, lopsided games are a fact of life. ( I'd like to think our players have matured to the level of, say, Spain in SA vs. North Korea: player hits #7 or #8, points and nods at the guy who served him, then turns and trots beck to the halfway. Thats a pro.
The USWNT plays Vietnam and TBD. I'm not quite sure who the TBD team may be, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're on Vietnam's level, or at least much closer to them than the USWNT. That player very well might hit goal #7 in the 30th minute. The USWNT almost has no choice to run the score up because the Netherlands, the other opponent, almost certainly will. Thanks, FIFA! Your greed allows teams that shouldn't be in your tournament to get a GD of -60 after two games. Of course, FIFA wouldn't do anything like allow mercy subs of, say, unlimited numbers if the goal difference gets to be greater than 10. It wouldn't help...much, but at least it may do something. Maybe. Not even the NCAA would allow the fifth-place Big Sky team into the NCAA basketball tournament.
There is some truth here, but a some inaccuarcy as well. The number of contenders has been beyond 2 or 3 for QUITE some time. USA & Norway in 1991 & 1995. China & Germany & Sweden & Brazil & Japan & Canada all jumped in in the aughts. Some have faded, but now England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Australia are serious players. Bill is 100% right about ther being MORE tough outs now. Group is getting nasty now (Getmany, Spain & China in same group). The USA got a scare in the Rd16 vs Spain (2-1), in the quarters v. France (2-1), and the Semis vs England (2-1). But losing Ertz & Mewis (as now seems likely with Sam having another surgery) is losing two of the best in the world at their positions. And the best #6 + #8 combo in the world, IMHO. Both are terrors on set pieces, on O and D. Having Ertz, Mewis, LaVelle, and Horan to rotate through CM as the tournament progresses was a huge advantage as well. I did see that Dunn is back. And Sauerbrunn. Heath, Smith, and some others are getting close.
I've been led to believe that Sam Mewis will be back by the end of the month. Thats not as huge as Ertz, who is out for sure, but it's a lot.
Why is Ertz out? I know she had a baby last summer, but seems like she should be able to get back into gear in time (if she even wants to)
It should be noted that the next Men's World Cup is going to have 48 teams. Let's not kid ourselves; there's going to be some substandard competition in there as well. 8-0 drubbings are going to be more likely than we're used to.
Cameroon plays Thailand and the winner plays Portugal. Portugal has a couple of good players if memory serves but the US should handle them.
https://www.ussoccer.com/all-matches The TV info for the SheBelieves Cup is out. Game one is on HBO Max, while the second two are simulcast on HBO Max and TNT. All three are in Spanish on Universo and Peacock. It may be easy to miss that info at the above link because some nudnik decided to use a dark background for the dark TV logos, but it's there.
It's obviously my device then. Here's what I see from the next game on the schedule and one of the SheBelieves Cup matches:
Other nations seem to be playing these mini-tournaments, too. Does women's soccer have an aversion to friendlies?