USA vs JAPAN the FINAL Sunday July 5, 2015

Having posted the stuff about ratings, here's what I wonder about the tactics and matchups: what's happened to that defensive hole that supposedly exists in the US defensive midfield and does Japan have the players to do something about it?

We all (it seems) believe France could do something about it, but France didn't make it to the semifinals. Many, coming into the World Cup, probably thought Maroszan could do something about it, even in the absence of Kessler, but Maroszan was hobbled - a big blow for Germany. Aya Miyama is a terrific midfielder but Coach Sasaki has been deploying her out wider, on the left side. In the knockout rounds, he's brought back Kawasumi to the right side, where Seattle Reign and NWSL fans are quite familiar with how effective she is.

But against the US, does Sasaki move Miyama more centrally? Or someone else? Or do they somehow manage it more subtly - picking their spots to play in towards the middle in front of the US defensive line?

And what did Australia do against the US? They looked as good as anybody against the US for a long stretch of the game. How did they manage that and is that something Japan can learn from?

Otherwise, I think the game favors the US. The artificial turf, ironically enough, for all the US complaints about it led by Wambach, favors the US. The artificial turf, combined with the US athletic ability to press and close down on opponents will make it hard for Japan to play their possession style of game to good effect - although apparently the field at Vancouver is better than that at Edmonton where Japan struggled against a similar, hard-tackling England team.

 

Just like I said before the start of the tournament - any other outcome than USA winning would be a massive surprise, at least in my eyes. Anyway, before the final I have just three wishes:

- no penalties please (unless we make it all the way through the shootout, which is highly unlikely)
- if the USA wins, please do it fair and square so we can praise the players not the refs (yeah, it's a 1999 reference to some extent, although I'm fully aware poor refereeing is not players' fault)
- Golden Ball for Carli Lloyd, it's her time and nobody deserves it more

 

Btw, Rapinoe 's birthday is today. I have a feeling about this and remember, it's about feelings, and nothing more than.

 

2015/07/05 Sun:
Ch52.USA - Japan

USA (Jillian Ellis): Identical people, but ... 4-4-2
10© Carli Lloyd, 13 Alex Morgan
15 Megan Rapinoe, 14 Morgan Brian, 12 Lauren Holiday, 17 Tobin Heath
22 Meghan Klingenberg, 19 Julie Johnston, 4 Becky Sauerbrunn, 11 Ali Krieger
1 Hope Solo

Japan (Norio Sasaki): Identical (for the 3rd match in a row).
17 Yuki Ogimi, 11 Shinobu Ohno
8© Aya Miyama, 13 Rumi Utsugi, 6 Mizuho Sakaguchi, 9 Nahomi Kawasumi
5 Aya Sameshima, 4 Saki Kumagai, 3 Azusa Iwashimizu, 19 Saori Ariyoshi
18 Ayumi Kaihori

 

Was Hope's most tested game Australia?

 

TOKYO is ready !

 

Boom!

 

What a goal, take a bow Lloyd.

 

This could get ugly.

 

Wow, that was a quick game guys. Congrats USA. 2-0.

 

Well that was fun. Time to go see what things the frat boys on twitter are drunk tweeting

 

Over.

 

GOAL AGAIN!!

Unreal!

 

Unreal! I'm shocked

 

4-0 USA.

Worst womens world cup final performance ever?

 

well…I wanted a good game to watch as a neutral. Time to watch a movie I guess

 

This is a f***ing training session.

 

I expected revenge, but not of this level. Japan have given up here, expect a few more goals.

 

Great if you're a US supporter but not a very compelling Final. Actually, this tournament hasn't really had great games since the quarter finals. The Germany-France game might turn out to be the high point (for the neutral observer, just wanting to see good games). Lots of entertaining games early on but kind of fizzled out.