7/28 USWNT vs Colombia (Olys Group G)

I expect a big win. 5-1 or the like. Colombia might even get the first goal, but I fully expect annihilation.

 

I thought neither NK nor Columbia looked that good in that game.
Columbia clearly had fitness issues.

 

Are you spelling it that way so they won't go on the field?

 

No, it's that those Ivy League teams don't get that much practice time.

 

We should have had a how many posts over/under bet on blowing the spelling.

 

I'm thinking it could look like a blowout. US could potentially score as high as 5 goals due to their offense. However US has a really mediocre defense right now, and that's why a goal or two can sneak in. Colombia has a lot of potential in the future but it's not looking like a great team right now.

 

Let us hope NBC gets their audio/video act together.....

 

If Boxxy is out for the tournament (and I really hope not), Lori or Kling may get the call.

 

From Grant Wahl (on Twitter @GrantWahl)

Paul Carr (stats expert at ESPN):

 

I am comfortable with Lloyd taking Boxx's spot. Cheney did much better after Boxx left the field on Wednesday. Yeah, it would have been great to have Becky Edward or a Brittany Bock, but I think that Lloyd will be serviceable in that postion. If Lloyd's not disciplined, the yank her for Sauerbrunn or Rapinoe.

 

Hey, I just post here,
and this is crazy,
but here's my score (8-0)
so call me crazy...

 

Sorry, typo.
I don't think Colombia has much of a chance but I don't see 8 goals either.
Too bad about Boxx - hopefully that isn't her last USWNT match.

 

What time is the game actually?

I've seen noon, 5pm, and 4am all listed in my local papers!!!

 

This is PST (West Coast) so you can adjust accordingly.

 

We have played them once in history. That was last year and the score was 3-0.

Their only wins in the last couple years that I see were perhaps 3 wins over teams like T&T, Wales, and Chile.

And their best result was a 1-1 tie with Denmark.

They lost to Canada, Brasil, and NZ this year, which coupled with the Korea loss makes them winless in 2012.

But what strikes me is they have played several good teams and their losses are all by one goal except our 3-0 result in the WWC and a 2-4 result against Mexico. That includes the teams I have mentioned and Sweden and another match with Mexico

It looks to me like they have trouble scoring, but their defense looks pretty good on paper ( 20th in the World, at under 2 GPG). I think a huge blowout is unlikely, especially if they bunker, which I think they will.

 

This seems like a "must win" game for them, so maybe they won't bunker.

 

Yeah, maybe. But you have to consider what their goals are. I dont think anybody on either team thinks they can hang with the USA head to head. You bunker and hope for a fluke counter, or something like a send off foul that gets the numbers in your favor.

Their chances of getting out of the group were always slim, so just being competitive on the scoreboard against the USA may be what they think is in their best interest for the future.


If they do bunker, I would not be surprised if we went to a 3-4-3 or the 4-3-3 we have experimented with.

 

Not that there is a lot of info on the Colombian team, but I was able to find an interview with the Colombian captain Natalia Gaitain: (it's in spanish, though) http://www.elespectador.com/especia...tan-colombia-espera-sorprender-futbol-femenin

Interesting comments, since basically she is saying that they are aware of the short soccer history they have as a country, but they feel like there are better prepared than last year and one of the biggest goals they have is to come out with a better ranking after the Olympic games. (which is why I doubt they will bunker from the get go)

 

From the USWNT "Opening Ceremonies" in Glasgow

 

nice article. the coach's quote at the end is a bit more nuanced. he says they want to get better each tournament, which can be measured in several ways, including just score lines.

but I don't really have a strong feeling that they will bunker, just exploring that there is that possibility. its just my hunch that going for broke and getting blown out might not be in their interests. it would be difficult to claim progress if they did.

when they face France, they will face a team that is surely interested in pouring it on. France will want to win and win big.

 

More from the Glasgow unofficial opening ceremonies:

http://instagram.com/p/NmVaPXGdyZ

(sorry couldn't embed the photo - I'm inept that way with social media)

 

Nice pictures of the French team. Got any of the Americans?