With a couple games played, I bet the knockouts will look like this: E: Canada, China, Sweden F: Brazil, GDR, N Korea G: Norway, USA So if I've got the chart right, we first face Brazil, then the winner of China/Germany-- from the group of sleep into the valley of death!! Yikes! It is incredible how much damage we did to ourselves by coming out flat against Norway. This is a good week to be Canadian. That side of the bracket looks like a much easier trip to the medals. I wish we could be there! I continue to think that if the USA shows up, we can beat Brazil! Go USA! But after watching the Germany-Nigeria game, I don't see how we can earn a win against Germany. Even when they are off, they are better. By any metric (except keeper skill- and Angerer is great!) they are the stronger team. We will need angels on our shoulders to get by. If we should win, then I think we will be so jazzed the gold will surely be ours. Best of luck! However, I think it is more likely that we will struggle to squeek by Brazil to face Canada or N Korea for the bronze.... We'll see....
i think if we show up we can beat them both!! i have no evidence for this 'cause we've been playing like crap. but my support for the uswnt cannot be extinguished!
Wow, -- I have no idea what I was thinking when I typed that. Clearly, not much. Complete brain freeze. Obviously I was thinking Germany (BD). Regrets.
Thanks. Actually, I think BRD is discouraged, and to be correct I probably should not have abreviated Bundesrepublik Deutschland (BD) either. I think FRG is what we are both looking for. But before I offend anyone further, I think i'll cut my losses, stick to my own language, and call them Germany from here on in. Sorry to have created this distraction. Whatever we call them, they are going to hard to beat.
I doubt that anyone here was offended. At least I wasn't. hrhr It just fit with reports in the news in Germany over the last couple of weeks that a large percentage of German youths, particularly from Brandenburg, has an pretty contorted (rosy) image of the GDR.
The US has an easier path to the final, IMO. They play Canada, then if they win, face the China-Japan winner. The other semi would be the Brazil/Norway winner vs. the Germany/Sweden survivor. Japan really did us a major-league favor.
http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/matches/index.html Looking at this bracket, the US can't have it any easier. Not that China, Canada, or Japan are easy. The US could very well go out against Canada, especially since Wambach and co. are missing. We can just hope that US is able to step it up a notch or three, and hope that the teams on the other side of the bracket destroy each other and whomever makes to the final goes in there limping.
The US has played Canada very well in several friendlies in 2008 and we are the odds-on favorite against all others, til the final. The trick was to win the group of sleep (against all odds-- after our first loss-- we did!) After that, we get an "easy track" to the gold metal match. All the teams in this year's Oly. are bringing it, but now, thanks to Japan, we have the easiest path to gold of any highly seeded team. Time for the gals to step it up! I am amazed and happy we got this group result! Now we really need to focus! From here on in, it is time to make our own luck! I am so happy to have been so WRONG !! I never dreamed we could salvage group. GO USA!
I would bring up the old adage of counting chickens before they hatch. Canada has played US pretty tight 2 of the last 3 (going to PK's in the actual Olympic qualifying and a 90th minute 1-0 loss in the Peace Cup). That was with Wambach leading the charge. The Cdn team were not so motivated yesterday, as their coach. for reasons known only to him, gave the girls the news that they were through to the knockout round before the Sweden match got underway. Sweden were desperate for a result and they got it. The Cdn women are pumped for this game. Melissa Tancredi, asked about meeting the USA on Friday by CBC in an on-field interview at the end of the Sweden game: "Bring it!!" Christine Sinclair, from the FIFA site: "We have played the Americans so many times, and they always manage to beat us in the important matches. But they have some injury problems right now so this could be our time." Candace Chapman from the FIFA site: Meeting the US at the Olympics is awesome for us. We'll give it everything to get a result off them." Should be a great match for North American honours.