Foudy just talked about how great it was that Barnie was being so vocal. I think this is the first game where i've continuously heard her. Didn't hear her say a single thing first match, and very little last match. Some set piece organization but other then that she's been quiet.
90+2' (of 2') 3-0 USA fouls at midfield right. #11 Raquel Rodríguez Cedeño dribbles it to 24m slightly right, sails her shot high left. Restart, couple of touches, full time.
The hearse has been put away for now and the obituary writers relieved for the time being. Bring on Italy.
better game, still not acceptable, by any means. backline: Kreiger was most solid, got forward the most. was probably the quickest as well. Amy was fine. caught off her line a few times. Rampone fine, nothing great. has lost a step. not that game sharp. Buehler i thought was worst person on the feild. that says something with this group. Lloyd played a full 90 again and did really nothing the entire game. Lori assisted on two goals, was completely gassed by end of game. Boxxy didn't do anything. Averbuch was slow and i don't think has a high work rate. Barney doesn't convince me in goal, at all. Arod non existant, except for the point blank shot she missed. Hao, Abby played well. Cheney played well, but I'm not sure she's a 90 minute player either. I want to see more Morgan. back line and middle of the feild HAVE to change. Bhuehler, Mitts, maybe even Amy are not starters. LLoyd and Boxxy PLEASE i don't want you two to start either. I don't really need to see a few of them ever again in a US jersey, not to be harsh, but I really would be fine with that.
Kelly O'Hara is at this point, a better choice than Leroux or Press...was her quad injury what kept her off the roster?? Much more of a threat than Aim is Off Rodgriguez.
I see Ohara as a winger for the national team. Yes, she was injured though. Leroux and Press are quicker, ala Arod, that's why I said they could replace her. They are both better finishers in my opinion. Leroux has proven herself numerous times on the world stage before, just never had the chance with senior team.
Hope's twitter fingers are alive and well: Positive regarding the team: "Here we go guys. 1 down, 2 to go! It doesn't matter how we get there, our journey is our journey. Let's do this!" and later .... "Great usa win!" But negative regarding the announcer: "Oh foudy, please stop talking about goalkeeping. Just stick with lil, abby and 99. You got that down to a T!"
Team played good enuf to win. Still many problems, will they be fixed, who knows? like Press a lot, has a very high work rate. O'Hara to left back. Bywaters would bring good speed to midfield, but is she ready. Rapinoe good creatively, but needs to understand true meaning of the game. US women should spend several hours watching the Mens team from Spain"s play in the last Mens World Cup, to understand what the game is about.
I'd like to see this and Lilly give it a shot. I'm certain Lilly would right now be much better than buehler. no question.
I agree completely. Although I also feel that Lil could probably slot into any position (except, perhaps, keeper) and succeed!
Kreiger, Wambach, and Cheney played well. The rest of the performances were middling at best, but they got the job done. For me, Lloyd and Buehler were the worst on the field. As we've all said ad nauseum, Buehler isn't a left fullback. And Lloyd seems incapable of passing the ball to people wearing the same jersey. Should they get past Italy, does anyone think it might be possible to play more creative, competent soccer by next summer?
I must be in the minority here. I thought Krieger's defense was more than a little suspect. Her touch was very heavy early and she got caught out of position several times, even when she hadn't been making a run forward. Better than Mitts, to be sure, but that's really not saying much. I was surprised to see Cheney get the nod to start this game, but she played pretty well. Her cut back to earn her shot was crafty, one that might even work against a credible defense, and she had some nice low bending service behind the back line that could have been dangerous, had she a strike partner with any speed and finesse. (O'Hara, Leroux, and Kai are the only ones that come to mind, unfortunately.) I wholeheartedly agree that Lloyd and Beuhler were, and have been, consistently bad. I would love to see Casey Nogeria get a chance to play in Lloyd's spot.
Can someone tell me how long CONCACAF has had the half qualifier spot for the women's world cup, shared with Europe? Is this the first time? I don't recall the half spot from previous world cups.
This is probably not a very analytical comment, but from the matches I watched at the WCQ, the US team is lacking joyfulness/wit/creativity in its play. It looks like work and drudgery because they are playing that way. I know they're not a team known for creativity, but I just get the feeling something is amiss--chemistry, spirit? They looked tense which surprises me because the take on Sundhage is always about how mellow and positive she is. I wish they looked like they were having some fun.
Since the expansion to 16 teams after WWC'95, CONCACAF usually gets the .5 qualifying spot shared with whatever association that is hosting the WWC (not counting WWC'99; top two CONCACAF qualified straight out along with host USA). Last time around, CONCACAF #3 had to face off with AFC #3, with Japan beating Mexico to qualify for China WWC'07 (the same happened in 2003 since China was supposed to host but tourney got moved b/c of SARS last minute...Japan beat Mexico for the spot b/t their conferences.) This is the first time the .5 spot has been shared with UEFA.
CONCACAF shared a half berth with CONMEBOL in 1999. CONMEBOL had only 1.5 qualifying berths that year. Mexico won the home-and-away series with Argentina.