I completely disagree, mostly with the last sentence. Its a part of the game and keeping possession to set up your own offense as well and find the better pass. Moreover, its better to keep the ball and probe than give away the ball and constantly be chasing the ball, which is tiring. It sets the tempo, and is part of the "chess match" of soccer. I don't like seeing it on every free kick, but I don't mind it occasionally, especially from a free kick that is near the halfway line.
So far, this has been the most fun game to watch in this SheBelieves tournament. I hope I'm not jinxing the team by saying that.
I was not talking about Spain. the "worthless" is any shot or pass by either team that misses its target. Every shot cannot score and every pass cannot be completed BUT every shot should at least hit the goal and every pass should be directed to where it can reach a player in a better position to shoot or make an attacking pass. When the ball is passed backward it should be to open something up so the next pass can be made to get an attack going. Whenever there are several passes around the back it simply means that the team making them has no plan to attack and they are just waiting for the other team to get organized. Also I do not agree that Spain is truly playing "beautiful" soccer. It is not beautiful to string a bunch of passes together and then fail to get a shot on goal.
I'd like to see Press in the 2nd half; she does well in tight spaces. I guess Press for Rapinoe as I feel Rapinoe's best weapon is her set piece service, which has not gone our way today.
Well we dont string many together often and dont get a shot on goal either. When we do manage to get a chance... Lloyd chokes
I agree but I would like to see Press and Rapinoe on the field together. I think we lose a LOT by not having Rapinoe on the field for her set pieces. In this match a true center forward is kind of useless so I would like to see Press in for Lloyd. Rapinoe is still recovering from minor injury so your sub pattern is probably what will happen.
I wish someone would inform our announcers that it's "favored" left/right foot, not "favorite" left/right foot.
Only if Lavelle actually hits the goal. A shot over the top is no better than a pass to the other team and when you have a team like Spain that possesses the ball so well you do not want to waste a chance to actually press them by hitting the goal and a shot over the top is wasted.
USA playing in front of a sold out crowd has no excuse for not winning this one. This is an exciting game, however. We should play Spain every year.
Everyone should notice that Mewis hit her shot well and forced a save and won a corner. She did the one thing that most players fail to do, she landed back or her shooting foot that really helps to keep the ball down no matter how hard it is struck. It is basic shooting form but still most players fail to execute shots correctly.