just found out that Holland lost their 'behind closed doors' game. 1-4, to England, so you've made a good point about the Dutch. I would say though, 'a friendly is just a friendly, & Spain for instance, using a mostly Barcelona lineup who all ready having the chemistry indebted, will look the better side vs the Dutch, who's players are spread around many leagues. The Dutch obviously proved to be an excellent 'tourney' team(do to prior month(s) of training, but at the same time, they got to be careful with just the how strong/competitive the WC group qualifiers are & the rush/job practices before the game, simply might not do. note; after a great season at Bayern Munich(finished 2nd in league scoring) Miedema is having a hard time gelling over at Arsenal(only 3 goals so far as starting center/fwd) which was a slight problem as well at the Euro group stage. So probably a concern for the Dutch?
16.03 Senegal 1 - 0 Morocco 24.03 Jordan 1 - 1 Chinese Taipei (Stathli 15' - Chi Ting 58') 25.03 Zambia 0 - 3 Kenya (Adam 18', Aquino 78' (p), 83'(p)) 26.03 Australia 5 - 0 Thailand (Chidac 6', De Vanna 42' 52', Logarzo 44', Crummer 75')
here's high lights of the Australia/Thailand friendly, pretty much one sided as looked like the Matildas could of even scored more. Seems like Kerr is re emerging as a play maker. The Thia GK actually redeems herself at the end. But where the bleep are Raso & Catley?(not rostered). Is Staj saving them as a secret weapon? Or is the up coming Asian qualifiers such a easy tournament that you don't really everybody?(as even the Thais are expected to qualify)
March 23 Panama 2 - Trinidad & Tobago 1 http://ttfootball.org/2018/03/23/tt-women-fall-2-1-to-panama/ March 26 Trinidad & Tobago 1 - Panama 1 http://ttfootball.org/2018/03/26/tt-senior-women-battle-to-1-1-draw-with-panama/
It's superb that they're be back in good health but full month out of competitive play time...ought to take its toll. Considering article above only Catley may be somewhat ready to play in every match others probably will enter as subs or for one, one and a half game only and rather in later part of the tourney. Matildas are lucky though that this string of injuries didn't started just now - a week before AFC Cup. That's a wake up call for their fed to push more for bigger player base and for young players developemnet as well. Comming WWC 2019 and Tokyo 2020 simmilar situation during those tourneys may cost them a lot.
here' s the full Australia vs Thailand friendly commentary; despite the impressive goals, it's once again the high press that's really the star of the game, causing numerous turn overs that the Thai's couldn't recover from. Got to give the Aussies credit; they had some beautiful, short passing/give n go, combinations that set up the goals(which you just don't see much from Ellis/USA), but the Aussie commentator blasted them somewhat for not getting the ball to more wide open spaces/or for example from left to right side(something which the US/Ellis are way more masterful at). Seems like Sam Kerr's sizable reputation what scaring the Thai's back line from coming up as they were afraid that her speed would make it so much more easier to get behind their defense, but unfortunately when you condense your own team like that, your just making easier for the Matildas high press to take command, as well as the Thai's only option, long balling it, either had to few up field player/or so slow to latch on to them. So let's see how now the other AFC squads handle this dilemma.......
Well considering that Trinidad has been training for the past 13 months & that Panama is not even ranked , this was a terrible result for Trinidad. They were missing many of their top starting players for the match. The TTFA coaching staff has chosen to give recent U-20 players a chance as well one U-17 coupled with all available local based senior players. Not one North American foreign based player was brought in for the recent Panama friendlies , not sure whether it was due to the TTFA ongoing financial crisis or whether the players where not available. The most notable player missing was their GK Kimika Forbes who is nursing an ankle injury sustained in Colombian league play for her club Santa Fe. Ms. Forbes is probable for the CFU challenge series in April as well CFU 1st round in May. With the absence of " Ya Ya " Kordner playing professionally in Norway (noting that she is probable for the CFU 1st round as she has been feuding with the TTFA) , Akhella Mollen appears to have moved on as she has opened a successful youth academy on the island. Maylee-Attin Johnson also feuding with the TTFA as well are her knees capable of sustaining the rigors of another qualifying campaign. The defending CFU champions Soca Women' Warrior's will be in tough to defend their crown this go round for sure.
Yeah coach Diacre was criticized again by fans for not starting and selecting the right players... Nothing to read in that performance. Real test on Monday Vs Canada.
Not really surprising we beat Ghana 8-0 last year too.....African teams are too weak to really judge how much France has progressed, the real test will be on Monday against Canada. I remember Nigeria did well in the last World Cup even though Oshoala was missing but their team is lacking everything to compete against a team like France, the basic of defending (1vs1, positionl, marking) were shocking bad . I know is not the fault of the players but African federations really need to step their game up to help female football, it's about time. Nothing to note on the French side, even Gauvin three goals, because we play against a team so weak even France U17 could have won this game. Diacre doesn't want to rotate any more is she tired of trying new players or she's scared to loose?? ...who knows...I expect the same 11 against the Canadians with Bouhaddi starting over Benameur and may be Cascarino for Asseyi but that's it.
Well time is going short on her, even most talented collective needs 10-20 caps to look cohesive on the field and that's a year worth of friendly matches. I guess selection has to be done before this summer or else this team won't be ready for next summer.
here are highlights of France/Nigeria, a shame but whats missing is LeSommer's manifque bicycle kick/shot attempt , though that was saved debzy still got to keep exclaiming why Tinney's such a terrible player even though she started at the all important #10. Give coach Diacre credit; she don't give up on players, starting the same GK that flubbed vs England & still starts the two I've been hyping about, Gauvin & Torrent, plus finally gives some playing time to Cascarino, who got couple of nice assists. But it was against a sadly, regressed Nigerian squad, a country who made it to the u20 WC finals twice this decade It looked like it's defenders had no idea how to play the high line, nor clear the ball or close down the passing lanes, coupled that with an GK that don't seem to care to dive, as well with fwds that take out shots ever so blindly
Canada vs France is coming up in 15 min. This link should be live French feed https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5gv5v0 there might be an English language youtube feed, here's is France's starting lineup. One big note is that 2016 u20 WC MVP, Cascarino, is starting(this might be her first start for the A team) La composition de l’Equipe de France ! #FRACAN 🇫🇷🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/HRt3bZ7acr— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) April 9, 2018
It was a good win against the Canadian, a defensive one because despite Canada having the ball possession we never let Sinclair and co, shoot all game long or even come close to Bouhaddi. France under Diacre is a counter-attacking team, we barely can maintain possession as we lack a N10 , Thiney isn't the answer at all! Le Sommer is on fire lately but as usual with Eugenie she gets cold when things get real.....hope she improved on that aspect. This was France last friendly of the season and despite the very positive results lately I'm not satisfy with squad selection at all, Diacre basically never changed the starting eleven because she doesn't trust at all players SHE called....smh....Well I hope in September Lavogez, Bacha, Toletti and finally Katoto will get some precious experience. I like Canada, they have a very young but really talented bunch of players coming up Buchanan, Lawrence, Rose, Fleming excellent in the first half and the "babies" Huitema, Grosso are a solid foundation to build on. The team lacked verticality/sharpness yesterday (too many horizontal passes) because for the first time ever the worst Canadian on the pitch was Christine Sinclair...very very bad game for this legend of the game, her legs are gone, she can barely run anymore... I'm worry her time is up. Thiney is a fraud, now people are praising her because she scored against that Nigeria really....She is oo old, can't dribble anymore, can't run for 90 minutes, the only thing she is good at now is first intention passes that's it......not enough to be France N10, Diacre better start giving that osition to Lavogez or Toletti. By the way Cascarino was terrific against Nigeria and Canada and she wasn't even called for those games but took Diani's place when Kadi get injured (broken nose). Delphine proved to be better than both Asseyi and Diani which show you how far France is from selecting our best 23 for the WC....
Cascarino was pure fun to watch! With the Majri & Le Sommer duo perhaps the best 'left side attack' in the business, I can understand now Diacre going for the more double wide attack(which is pretty much the same as the US $ Dutch play it). That's possibly until the 'going up the center'(right now, Thiney/Gauvin) either gets stronger or replaced. I didn't think Canada looks too good playing the more techno/Euro version of their new Danish coach. They seemed to get better results under the brute/physical style of Herdman. Take away Lawrence/Buchanen(who play in France, their lineup is mostly compromised of average NWSL players(in fact, their best player yesterday, GK Labbe, either quit or got released from the NWSL club) Huitema is a long, long way off from being influential, as Renard took her to school Bienvenue 🤙🏽 #WR3 pic.twitter.com/s2omE8c9aX— Wendie Renard (@WRenard) April 10, 2018
Cascarino wasn't even supposed to be there as she wasn't called by Diacre but came as a replacement for the injured Diani.....Just like she incredibly wasn't called for the SBC cup so who knows how Diacre is rating her because all season she clearly was her third choice far behind Asseyi and Diani. Canada brute/aggressive/physical way to play gave away two penalties against France.....That style gave them two bronze medal but is obsolete now, their federation knows it and started producing better players (more technical) who will bring Canada higher. Labbé had a good game but their best player was by far Kadeisha Buchanan who kept in check both Gauvin and Le Sommer (when they faced each other). But one thing is sure the different style of the old guard and new generation could clash if their new coach doesn't take the right decision soon, I noticed Matheson, Scott, Schmidt were more keen to pass the ball at Sinclair while the youngest to Fleming......Canada has to decide which one of this two is the go-to-girl...imho despite all the respect and admiration I have to a true legend like Sinclair I can't deny the team was better with Fleming commanding and Prince/Beckie then Rose/Huitema making runs....without Sinclair being that much involved.... Last for Huitema/Renard, Wendie just wanted to tease Jordyn by "Welcoming" her (Bienvenue in French) at the highest level, Huitema responded with humility and intelligence because she understood it was not meant to offend her but quite the opposite...Knowing Renard's mentality she acknowledged Huitema's very high potential that's why she ended their conversation with "Au prochain rendez-vous" (To our next meeting)...Wendie knows they will meet in many other occassion and next time it could end in Jordyn's favour..
Another pair of games from April: April 4 - Turkey 3 Estonia 2 (Arzu Karabulut 19', Selen Altunkulak 58', 88' / Lisette Tammik 59', Vlada Kubassova 69'), see Ajans Besiktas / CNNTurk April 7 - Turkey 3 Estonia 0 (Ebru Topçu 52', Selen Altunkulak 56', Çağla Korkmaz 73'), see Bilgindefterli and April 8 - USA 6 Mexico 2 (Pugh 3', Horan 25', Lloyd 34', Morgan 44', 68', Rapinoe 64' / Ocampo 17', Palacios 24'), see U.S. Soccer site