I believe that it is 2:06 AM in Japan right now so kick-off will be at 3:45 AM over there. I remember the WC'94 here in the States where very few games were shown live on TV, mostly in the early AM hours. There was still enough of an audience to convince the networks to broadcast most games live in '98. Given that it is already Monday in Japan, shouldn't they know the result?
Upset special in the making. A-Rod has success vs Japan scoring and is now on the bench when she should be starting, is no super-sub. Pia is playing with fire 1. lima 2. powell 3. bruno 4. rozo 5. ?
Japan is a team of destiny. They're going to pass around the US players. And Rapinoe is starting but has a habit of not tracking back properly & of reckless, yellow card earning fouls. Of course, I hope none of that happens today. I'm more than a tad worried. Buehler is back and let's hope that's a good defensive adjustment. The rest of the world is cheering for Japan (and their story is so amazing, of course everyone else is cheering for them).
Best feet on the USA team on the bench vs a team with GREAT feet. that makes sense. you've been batting .1000 Pia. what's the joke?
Pia probably is figuring that Rampinoe will just send a couple of crosses to Abby at the start to knock Japan out early. Arod best feet on Team USA? eh..
Japan (Norio Sasaki): - Same lineup as for the semis, with lightning-in-bottle #9 Nahomi Kawasumi (MF) at LF. [LINEUP-4-4-2] 9 Nahomi Kawasumi:M, 7 Kozue Ando:M , 8 Aya Miyama, 10c Homare Sawa, 6 M.Sakaguchi, 11 Shinobu Ohno:F , 15 Aya Sameshima, 4 Saki Kumagai, 3 Azusa Iwashimizu, 2 Yukari Kinga , 21 Ayumi Kaihori [/LINEUP-4-4-2] United States (Pia Sundhage): - More like a 4-5-1 in defense , 4-3-3 on attack. - #15 Megan Rapinoe (LM) for #8 Amy Rodriguez (RF), bumping #12 Lauren Cheney from LM to AM. - #19 Rachel Buehler (CB) returns for #4 Becky Sauerbrunn. Guessing that she'll stay in the RCB slot, with #3(c) Rampone at LCB. [LINEUP-4-5-1] 20 Abby Wambach , 15 M.Rapinoe, 9 H.O'Reilly , 7 S.Boxx, 12 L.Cheney, 10 C.Lloyd , 6 Amy LePeilbet, 3c Christie Rampone, 19 Rachel Buehler, 11 Ali Krieger , 1 Hope Solo [/LINEUP-4-5-1]
Go to 4:38. Not one player on this roster would have taken that pass down like she did, got it under control and shot. Why does she play well against japan? Only 5'4", quick, not fast, undersized herself. where japan defenders might be able to pick the pocket of a bigger girl, she plays a similar, and very good at fighting defenders for balls like marta, another short undersize forward . based on her pluses, i'd keep her in the starting line up. also, very strong for her size. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKO4aEy5VO8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKO4aEy5VO8[/ame]
I don't like the line-up change....not so much for the seeming tactical reasons but why change a good thing?
I honestly didn't know a person had to be dead 10 years to get a stamp in the US. I learned something today.
Wow A Rod on the bench.....finally. A little concerned that Cheney doesn't see as much of the ball to control midfield. Worried about Lloyd being exposed once again by faster midfielders.
That was a nice goals. Most of her shots this tournament have been off target all tournament. Maybe she comes in the 2nd half, who knows.
is picking pockets a crime at the WC? smaller japanese defenders will take everything off of the feet of abby and cheney? i'm guessing everything will be air balls inside the 25. Nice move taking out your player upfront with the lowest center of gravity.