I'm sorry I know a lot of people on here are US born and follow the US but I need a thread where there's no doom and gloom. I don't find that particular effective as these are the only players we have to work with whether you hate them or hate them more. Saying how much they suck and not what the positives are can be depressing to hardcore followers like myself. I have high hopes for this team and they aren't always the best, but no team is entirely the best. Out of all the international teams in tournaments I always see the most criticism in the United States team. Maybe that's because this Big Soccer Forum is American, who knows. At some point it would be a breath of fresh air if someone was actually happy that the US wins these matches despite all the challenges. The most recent match, the fact that the US came back three times straight to secure a goal in the 123rd minute of overtime is something to be happy about. If Americans want to be sad at the result or disappointed that the US still sucks, I don't know exactly what will impress you. Perhaps a loss will impress you instead of a win. But some people are hard to please I guess. For me, this was one of the most exciting matches I ever saw in my life and I will never forget this match in my whole entire life. This match equals the Magnificent Seven in Women's Gymnastics especially if they win Gold.
All I can say is that all 4 teams came out winners yesterday. Japan went ahead by 2 goals and did a great job holding off a French onslaught at the end. The Japanese goal keeper made some fantastic saves and deserves best goal keeper in the tournament recognition. The French team showed a lot of heart after a slow start and should have been rewarded with an equalizer. They played their hearts out in the last 30 minutes and it was very entertaining soccer to watch. The U.S. / Canada match was probably the best and most exciting women's soccer game I've ever watched. Sinclair was absolutely amazing and really deserves POTY award recognition. Even though I'm a huge US fan, I would vote for her to win. Heck, even Wambach has stated in that past that Sinclair is the best player in the world. The Canadian team have shown great improvement since the WC and their coach has them playing with a lot of skill and heart. I know that they didn't win this match, but it will definitely light a fire under them when they play in the all important 2015 WC at home. I'm really happy to see another team competing with the best since there are few and far in between in the women's game. As far as the US is concerned, their never say die attitude is such an inspiration to all their fans. Megan Rapinoe came up with 2 clutch goals, and Alex Morgan's final header capped off a wonderful day for women's soccer. I personally thank all the particpants for such great spectacle. Kudos women!
Quite self-involved here. This post is more about you than women's soccer. Of course, we all want to win. I love the team enough to travel from California to Vancouver for the Oly qualifiers, and I'll likey go Canada for some of the WWC. Does that mean I'm going to say they're playing good soccer when they're playing lousy soccer? No. Does that mean I'm going to say "great win" when it wasn't a great win? They had the refs help. If you want to close your eyes to the realities, and just say, "Yea, we won" go ahead and do it.
Thank you for this. Some of the "kvetching" from some US fans borders on the masochistic. To each their own, but if you look at the stats and balance ALL of the decisions and non-decisions (or even take away the IDFK and PK, add in a PK for Canada, but then add 2-3 PKs for the muggings suffered in the PA by the US and reduce Canada to 10 for a PI red card) the result was deserved. Was it perfect? No. Will the USWNT need to play better vs. Japan? Sure. But even gymnasts get deductions and Michael Phelps' turns were not perfect in all his races, and I don't see/hear an outcry from anyone that he doesn't deserve any one of his medals. We have plenty of threads discussing our thoughts and opinions on lineups, formations, and playing style and I enjoy those. I'm not enthralled with our back line but I just care that we get the result. If the USWNT beats Japan 1-0 on an own goal but the stats are at least even and the ref decisions balance out, I'll be fine with it.
Non-soccer tangent: indoor women's volleyball QF, A3.Japan has not beaten B2.China in 11 years. Japan has match point at 14, China at 15 and 16, Japan wins 18-16. The match stats were eerily identical. Both BBC commentators were agog over it. 117 pts = 3 ace, 82/189 kills, 11 blocks, 21 China errors: Japan 115 pts = 3 ace, 82/189 kills, 10 blocks, 20 Japan errors: China China had 1 less block and 1 more hitting error, in 2:13. That's it. All 5 sets went to the win-by-2 (hence it follows that the winner would have exactly 2 more points). I've never seen two teams tie in kills and attempts. Set back the whole WVB QF schedule (then the 2nd QF went 5 too, 21-19 in the 5th)
Please may I respond? I may be young perhaps, I was inspired by the US win. I think of that handball. Should it been called? Yes. It never was mentioned..... I move on, like maybe the players should have been. We Win. Am I a bad person? no, I want to celebrate with other great people.
First of all, as an American-born citizen for my 52 years of existence, I am always happy when the athletes that represent our great country do well while abroad. Secondly, when I encounter folks from other countries I treat them with the respect and dignity I would exhibit if I were in their country. That said, I'm appalled and disgusted by the self-promoting display the US Women put on after defeating Japan. Yes, they earned the win. Yes, they have the right to celebrate. No, they didn't have the right to embarass those of us Americans who have respect for other nations and their customs and without the common decency to act within the bounds of good sportsmanship. If every person who dismisses such demonstration as the right of the team to celebrate took a moment and ponder why the world looks upon us as fat, stupid and boorish, perhaps then they'd know where the stereotypical Ugly American comes from. I'll never apologize for any of this, but I'll be ever so happy to see the team forfeit their gold medals, apologize to their country and Team Japan, and forfeit any profits made from the sale of their arrogant t-shirts. There is absolutely no excuse for this abominative expression of classlessness, indignity, and stupidity. I don't care what other athletes from other countries do when they win - there's no reason to be so blatantly arrogant on the world stage. But with a Hope Solo on the team I suppose it could have been expected. Shame on all of them. Have at it folks. Say what you will. I won't participate in discussion because there can be no excuse for such behavior. To argue about it would only dignify their arrogant self-promotion.
Man, we can't even have one thread without it getting shit posted within 5 posts of the OP. Anyway, I have an answer but honestly, I really don't care other than some people really don't understand contracts and Nike campaigns and apparently really can't be bothered to start their own thread or research on whatever issue they wish to go into a frothing rage about. So - instead, to stick with the OP: Kinga and Rapinoe! (Apparently Pinoe really, really wanted this jersey considering the tweet?) Well, Kinga is pretty badass... Rochester is being Rochester. They looooooooveeee Abby. Hope and (Jill Ellis's?) kid being cute. Haha, is that Kling recording in the background? Princess Carli showing emotions. ("I don't always play well, but when I do, it's the Olympics finals.")
I agree. We are sore losers and when we win we like to rub in people's faces. The US can learn a little about humility from Japan.
Air-guitaring TO MARS! (In honor of Curiosity Rover) One of the things I will seriously miss if Pia ends up leaving the USWNT head coach position. Her celebrations are so unapologetic old school. How old school? Pia Sundhage. Celebrating wildly since 1975. Popular Hope. Unfortunately, I cannot recognize every JPNWNT player by face. I think I only recognize Ogimi here... Abby's friends too...
Ok, I hate the shirts. I really wish they didn't put them on. I think it was not a classy move to make. But forfeit their gold medals? Right........... I do not have a problem with any of the rest of their celebration. I would have preferred to see them do the handshake line before they ran around taking pictures though.
Shirts? Shirts! Shirts! I see Pinoe's already snagged another into the handshake club... Oh Pinoe... Jump, Pia, jump!
Little did people know that the USWNT would soon move into another field... Rhythm gymnastics. We've got part of that twirly thingie down! And there. Our dancers. We are ready. You see that smirk? Princess thinks we're set. We're set for this. Ready to dominate - rhythm gymnastics!
There is a difference between a championship shirt, and a corporate marketing slogan shirt. (I am not any corporation like many people are) Notice I even said there are a hundred better slogans they could have used. I think that shirt is crappy. And I still would have been fine with it if they put it on later.
At least that's what I see when I read your post. Really, it's an appreciation thread. Go b!tch somewhere else. Start a new thread, perhaps.
Just imagine the yuks in the future when one of these shirts gets misplaced in an airport, and brought to the Information Desk for the owner to claim. "Party of one, your `Has Been Found` shirt has been found" and surely dozens of other bad puns if we stoop low enough
Fair enough. If I was overly harsh, as some think, I apologize to you. (Not to them). Continue to be a true blue fan. I'll be a little purple.
Appreciation: We scored a crazy amount of goals during the tournament. 16 as a team in 6 games! Next highest was Canada and France with 12 and 11. However, our defense was slightly better than theirs overall despite having some days when our defense was a sieve. At +10 GD, we are far and away the first with the next highest GD being Canada (+4) and followed by a bunch of +3 and +2 (the usual suspects). A flawed team, but surely an offensively blessed one. Also, Grantland wrote a pretty awesome piece on the USWNT[/url] mainly because it makes me laugh. http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8254543/brian-phillips-uswnt-gold-medal-game Apocalypse-on-grass. Seems legit.