Not sure what Sonnet is supposed to do on the goal. I guess just don’t get sucked over by the ball, but when Nighswonger gets beat in the air that bad it’s tough. Defenders don’t have the luxury that Smith has to just quit playing whenever she likes. Smith doesn’t have great vision or control, but she can beat others to the ball. Well, when she feels like it. Williams looked awful. This team needs Macario and Shaw. Rodman had one of her better games and a goal to boot. Still don’t think she and Smith both should play against a low block, with Macario and Shaw out, what options are there. And Japan won’t sit, so doesn’t matter for the rest of the way. Sort of surprised Australia played so deep for most of the game. But then it almost worked too. Horan as the 6 against Japan is scary. Hope Emma considers other options.
i think I was one of the first to complain about the camera work. I am watching Colombia vs Canada and they have been doing a LOT of the stupid cutaways and closeups that show nothing of the match. I did, however, find a situation where the broadcast was almost watchable. It seems there was a technical failure that reduced the commentator's volume to just a little above zero but kept the crowd noise at a good level. So, for about 10-12 minutes we had only crown noise and the match showing. It was VERY pleasant for those 10 minutes. They did still do some stupid cutaways but the viewing experience was much better with just stadium sound along with the picture. Even the cutaways were not as bad without the announcer's voices stinking up the place.
Except that on all but two of the US goals so far, she has either scored, assisted, or made the pass that preceded the assist.
The players looked really tired at the end, especially some of them who have had a lot of minutes so far. A game every fourth day, at this level, is a lot. Plus the players need to be saving some energy for upcoming games. This is something any analysis should take into account.
Yes but the entire time they were in the locker room waiting for play to resume no one had been told there was a review still to come. That's a decent size screw up...
Now, this is a truly bizarre moment, I vented and posted this below at halftime on an official US Soccer post and thread about the game on Facebook: I know they have clinched Advancement and this is for seeding but I am not convinced the women are playing that well. The way they were trying to break the low block was just wrong and way too conservative. Plus the player getting suspended by a yellow in the first three minutes when she knew going in she could not get a yellow is brain dead. And the allegedly best Women's coach in the world even starting two players with yellows is actually dumber. And Emma Hayes "loved it", and I think it might actually be really her when I clicked her name link and went to her page, LOL. I'm guessing the love was sarcastic… This might be my all-time strangest social media interaction! EDIT: upon reflection it could be a publicist posting in her name…
I agree on 1 thing: Emma should not have started Coffey and Rodman. Coffey getting a yellow was a right call but harsh. Watch it again, call her dumb is a bit out of line.
No, Sams was called in for Davidson. The teenager was called in for Shaw, and Williams for Macario. And Kreuger can play up front, and Dunn, and Rose...
USA just eliminated Australia and Canada made it facing Germnay in the quarterfinal....wow...We might play against Canada in the semifinal...
Noone can play the 6 as well. She saved us on defense n helped starting attacks better than anyone we have.
Sure feels good to cruise out of a group at a major tournament!!! Didn’t have to rely on a post this time. Plenty to improve on and wring hands over, and it’s not goal achieved yet, but still, congrats to the team!
Aww yeah, great stuff. Horan? Dunn? Sonnett? Yes yes yes, we do have some issues to fix but in the meantime, I’ll enjoy this max 9 points with a +7 GD…
Yeah, Smith and Rodman were fine. For me, Swanson was the one who was really off today. Her last touch today was a consistent mess.
Their good on the counter, that's why I'm hoping Davidson will be back because she has the speed to track players on the break.
I do not know what anybody else thinks but I actually hope Canada manages to beat Germany. I feel that a second meeting with Germany could go badly while, with Canada, we should be dominate unless things go horribly wrong or we get an early red. I think the quarters will have some fun matches but I would just a soon the USA vs Germany match lead to a boring 2 or 3 to 1 0r 2 victory by the USA. I am a bit concerned that the players "might" be accumulating little dings and knocks that will adversely impact performance. But Japan may have the same issue. I guess the remaining matches, however many there are, will be a test of the training staffs of the teams. I remember trainers doing "magic" to get me ready for a match and the modern trainers are much more accomplished. I expect an interesting match in every since of the word. The other matches are actually not as interesting and i expect Spain to beat Colombia and France to beat Brazil. However the Canada vs Germany match could go either way as both teams, in different way, are kind of Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde type situation. If both teams play their best the match will be close but i think Germany wins. If either team is off then that will result in a loss by that team. If both are off the winner will either be the one with the best training staff or the luckiest. I actually do not like that we play the first match of the day. I think the players would do better knowing exactly who they face on a win. Somehow this team seems better if they have no extraneous info to think about. They will be focused on winning but they could be distracted if they do not know who they will face with a win. Remember: "The brain is a terrible thing to use."