Ellis can coach, this was an older team & so she paced them remarkably well. They've start a game on all cylinders. usually score within the first 15 min. then slow down the pace for while until recharged, then hit back again on all cylinders. That's why we might look like we get outplayed, but it's just strategy to lay low for a while/ France has had 4 coaching changes in 5 years. but this one(Diacre) really needs to go. I doubt if she get really long with her players. and likewise don't think they had that much repsect for her. You mentioned talented players but Diacre didn't bring a lot of them. France has had such promising youth squads, the only country to make it into the semis in the last 3 u20 WC's for example, yet so many of those names were missing from Diacre's squad; Katoto, Bacha, Baltimore, Leger, Lavogez, Tolleti, Tarrieu, Sarr........enough to start a seperate B team for France & would of done just as good
The difference seems to be the perception that the Japanese player was making herself bigger to block the shot? That’s the definitive view? I find that surprising. It looked like she was pulling her arm towards her body to avoid it but was too close to the ball. I don’t think either was a penalty.
Different ref might have given it. I'm surprised no VAR. Would of been nice for the game to go into extra time and pks... just saying lol
This game proved yet again what a tough sport soccer is: You can play well and have a lot of possession, but ultimately that doesn't count for squat if you can't score--and it is hard to score when your opponent is competent/good and has numbers behind the ball. We've all seen it 1,000 times. France should have known that Rapinoe has adopted the Bill Belichick style of play when it comes to throw-ins--that she's going to throw it in immediately, and yet M. Bathy wasn't ready and it ended up leading to a yellow card and then a fluky goal. France had to chase the rest of he way--and chase hard. Push hard for an equalizer and you risk getting burned on a counter. That eventually happened and proved the winner. France was the better team in this match, all things considered, from start to finish--anyone disagree?--but it doesn't matter if you don't get the goals. We've seen it a ton.
I thought France was pretty disappointing this tournament. They never looked like the dominant team I expected them to be and seemed primarily dangerous on set pieces. The saddest part of this is that they're also out of the Olympics due to this loss, but that's on UEFA for using the world cup as qualification.
Can I make a point about handballs? Did not see the one today--missed it. I don't believe there is any such thing as a "deliberate" handball--or deliberate action to stop the ball. That almost never happens. Most handballs are the result of a defensive reflex reaction by a defender whose eyes have spotted a ball traveling at her head or upper body--from a short distance away--at high speed. Your central nervous system makes the decision for you. Nobody consciously decides to raise his or her arms in protection if something is going to hit you--your body does it automatically. And that will happen if the defender does not have time to deliberately decide to hold her arms at her side--and that must be deliberate to overcome your instinctual reaction to protect yourself with your arms. Reflex reaction handballs are usually called.
I disagree. They were better in the midfield, but that's partly due to the early goal allowing the US to sit back and counter. The US was better in defense, and better in the attacking third. Outside of a brief flurry in the middle of the second half, France struggled to create any dangerous chances. And they were incredibly lucky not to be down by 3 before scoring on the set piece.
Yep. Guarantee that they're all going into the semifinal against England not taking anything for granted. You don't win 3 WC and 4 Olympic gold medals by overlooking your opposition.
They may be called, but that’s not what the law says. The law is very clear that there must be intent or playing in an unnatural position, such as stretching out your arms. In this case the US player had her arms at her side and was struck by a shot at point blank.
Like I told every girl I coached in high school. If you aren’t good on the pitch, you better be mentally stronger. It’s how you create luck more than your opponents.
I still don't understand why did France put themselves in such a difficult bracket half. They are the host come on! Also just asking, who is the lady in the big paint around 0:07 in this video?
I was all for Press starting this match, but no two players go for and successfully pull off quick throw-ins more than Rapinoe and Morgan in my opinion.
You can't ever expect France to be that dominant at a major tournament (World Cup, Olympics, Euro). They're a much better, more dominant team outside of those events.
Seriously. I made remarks on wrong calls consistently being made early in the Cup, but the ref forum set me straight. Apparently, the ref forum doesn't set everyone straight though. Don't even think about rules though. How the heck can anyone think the O'Hara handball is comparable to Kumagai's? A cross that you had no idea if it would have been dangerous versus a very clearly dangerous shot headed straight towards goal without Kumagai's intervention. I just don't see how you can be upset O'Hara's wasn't given and Kumagai's was. I also think Kumagai doesn't clearly pull back her arm until the ball actually hits it as well, but I know that's a very minority opinion. (Off-topic: Most people probably liked Japan's style of play better, but I also don't think Japan was clearly better than the Dutch outside of the minute 70 to 85 stretch. The Dutch also had their minute 2 to their goal stretch of clear dominance. The idea that Japan was so much better comes from how much they created in their period of dominance and the fact that their period of dominance came so late in the second half while the Dutch had theirs so early on. I'm fine with the praise given to Japan for their intricate chance creation plays; those were really good. However, they weren't much better than the Dutch for most of the match in my opinion; both teams had a roughly 15 minute period of dominance, and the rest of the match was fairly even.)
Didn't read the ref forum, but IMO: the issue with the Japanese infraction was that her arm actually wasn't anywhere near her body when contact was made with the ball. Do I think she was trying to pull it in? Yeah. But in the actual still frame where the ball was in contact with her arm she hadn't really moved it yet. Very unlucky, but the right call.
The ref forum on bigsoccer is mostly American refs. There are a few that can view these events without a patriotic lens, but they are the minority. The standard on handling and VAR in other matches at this WC suggests that should have been a PK.
She couldve moved Diani central when it was clear she wasnt getting anywhere with Dunn. She could've not started Gauvin and had a more pacey option on the field...she had several. She couldve brought Cascarino on much earlier and overloaded the US defense with 2 dangerous players instead of having Diani isolated.
You have no idea how many times I have said this (not just about football, but also about life). You really create your own luck, but then have to take advantage of it. Yes, I disagree. France had a ton of errors with their set up pass or final pass, where as the US didn't. The US also put on a clinic on how to counter attack, the little they were able. Finally, when France did attack and get forward and get that final ball in, they just could not finish. As I said in my wrap up, I think it was a fairly even match, considering the two teams played notably different tactics.