USWNT v Japan in April 2026, pre/pbp/post

I saw Giselle as an more modern day attacking FB who either overlaps her sis to make long crosses from the side or inverts herself into the center and helps out with high press(which led to the 2nd goal)……..and of courrse with the license to advance of Hayes & the rest of the backline who spread out to cover her position. It can lead to vulnerability as Japan tried to take advantage as they found a gabbing hole when they got it to momentarily open Matsukubo.
Goal.com had Giselle tapped as 2nd best player of the game, next to Lavelle 1st, though this could have been this author’s choice instead of a more comprehensive look.
Your definitely gambling when your missing an FB & leaving her defensive area exposed like that, but in an way also took Japan out of their usually more patient game plan as they moved rather nervously upfield trying to take advantage of that vulnerable situation (as I was instead expecting an zillion passes out of them before they even take an shot lol)

 

She's under contract and she's a known quantity. Plus they hate dead air, and she blathers instinctively anytime there's quiet breaking out.

But then, my all-time fave was Ray Scott: "Starr hands off to Taylor, gain of three, Jordan on the stop." (visual of substitution) "Fleming in for Brown."

That's all you need-- you can, after all, see the rest. Or you could back then when they still showed you the whole field and skipped the personality shots mostly.

Understand, I don't really fault Foudy-- she has to function in the context she is in, after all, and it is a good thing that we get perspective and insight from the other two. And it is good that there's money in it for retired women jocks, and not just blonde communications majors. Plus, Boxx is still the camera's favorite person in any room. Like Katherine Hepburn, she will still be beautiful when she is withered and sere. And she has those guns...

But the networks seem to have lost sight of what they did so well back when televised sports exploded into big money and a national obsession.

 

On Gisele, I think that play she saved was more on Wesley/Girma. Girma too far upfield/wide and Wesley exposed/alone in the middle of the field. Hayes said in the presser she still has some things to fine tune/develop as a defender (i stead of an atracking WB). And I think that is accurate, and Japan's goal is an example if that.

But man oh man is she improving. And fast. No other FB tracks back to make that intervention in time, IMHO, not even Fox. She is noticeably stronger and more durable. She does not get pushed off the ball as much. Winning her share of duels and tackles. Her tenacity in pressing led to the 2nd goal.

So, I agree she is not a finished product yet. But man, she is a lot closer to it than a year ago. I think she is probably ahead of Reale atm. Or at least even. I could see scenarios where Lilly is preferred. But Thompson can play both sides.

60% possession. Gisele Thompson's rise. Wilson/Double Expresso. Dickey as #1. And Fox, Lavelle & Heaps all being really good are the big talking points from the match, for me.

If I am writing names on a 26 person roster for '27. It may take a ehile for Rodman, Wilson, Davidson, and Swanson to really hit their stride.

1. Coffey
2. Fox
3. Girma
4. Lavelle
5. Heaps
6. Swanson
7. Wilson
8. Rodman
9. Macario
10. Davidson
11. Sonnett
12. A. Thompson
13. Hutton
14. Dickey
15. G. Thompson
16. Reale
17. Yohannes
18. Tullis-Joyce

It starts to get tricky after that.

19. Shaw
20. Moultrie
21. Patterson
----------------
22. 3rd GK: McGlynn/Campbell
23. 4th CB: Bugg/Wesley/Rudd/Sams
24. 6th attacker: Sears/Cooper/Sentnor/Biyendolo

25 & 26 will be wild cards. Aside from the #4 keeper, all the other names listed above will be in contention + maybe some more FBs (Wiesner) or CMs (Jackson, LaBonta, Meza, Hershfelt) or a CF (Joseph).

But I feel pretty confident in the top 21 if they are healthy.

 

She is bizarrely entrenched in US soccer. She brags about how she used to make roster choices for Tony DiCicco. She said "you get roster spots 1-20, but the last three choices are mine."

The craziest thing, was that in the middle of that whole Scurry or Solo blow-up*. Solo says that Lilly demanded that she (solo) call frickin' Julie Foudy - who was retired by that point - and apologize. Apparently, the accuracy of this claim is backed up by Aly Wagner, who was there.

That is some crazy sht.

How Foudy got so much power is just completely beyond me.

*I know, Greg Ryan was the manager.

 

I haven't seen the match yet. But, re Giselle, I can't stand when forwards can't hold their runs, and when fullbacks keep someone that they are not marking onside.

Since Giselle is only 20, I'm guessing that she will learn to watch her line. I hope so, anyway.

And, that's Hayes' responsibility to work out cover for when Giselle gets forward.

In the Olympics, it was my impression that Hayes gave one fullback carte blanche to get forward. The remaining three defenders played a 3 in the back tactic, with one of the CB's covering the attacking FB's run. And, the opposite side winger (Rodman, generally) got a whole lot of D responsibility. There wasn't a ton of difference in the responsibilities of the attacking FB and the opposite winger. I'll have to watch and see if it played out that way yesterday.

 

I'd guess you'll feel that it did--only the Thompsons haven't nearly as much time in on that approach together as Rodman and Fox, so it wasn't quite as smooth on their side.

 

You are correct. Also we suffer from an abundance of goalkeepers. We are, probably, a solid four deep at GK and it might be a legit six deep before we get to GKs that are remotely not able to play at the level we need on the USWNT.
I also agree about her play looking a lot like Scurry's but with better foot work, but that was not much needed in Scurry's era. The one thing she lacks is Scurry's stare. Many a time when play was tight in the box Scurry glared at the attackers and they just seemed to back off.
I do not think Dickey can develop that stare as her face is just wrong for her to be that scary. But it is the play that carries the day and Dicky's play is, almost all the time, the equal or maybe even a little better than Scurry's was.
Also, since we are so deep at 'keeper, they will keep pushing each other to get better. That is the only thing that made the USMNT better that it should have been way back when. Keller was, most of the time, just a little better than Friedel but he was always pushed by Friedel and so kept training hard. (Keller still holds the best bank shot off a Mexican player into his own goal ever. As I said 'poor with his feet)
With today's USWNT we have six 'keepers pushing each other to get better and that can and should make the 'keeper position the strongest it has ever been.
This is also the only time I can remember where we have a "third" 'keeper that I would feel comfortable in a WWC final with if the first two were injured or suspended. That kind of depth at 'keeper is a wonderful thing to behold.

 

It'd be nice if they paired her with someone who doesn't encourage her to blather as much, lol.

 

This!

I gotta believe that’s coming from behind the scenes. But ya, they’re just begging for her to talk about anything other than the match.

 

Yeah personally I'm pretty excited about Giselle, and I didn't always think that way about her. She's 20, she will make mistakes, but she can and will learn. What can't be taught are her physical attributes. She is also very good with the ball at her feet. If I'm being honest, I think I'm more bullish on her than I am her sister.

 

Watched first half. Lots of thoughts, but the biggest are that Wilson looked slow. I imagine she will regain speed.

I'm not a Heaps fan, and I'm realllly not a fan of Heaps and Rose in at the same time. But, they both had a very good first half, and Heaps, to my eye, was spectacular. She played so many pressure releasing and line breaking balls through the tightest of spaces. Hell of a first half for her.

 

Heaps was effective because of the tactical set up, Rodman's defense effort effectively bolster her up.

 

Praise from Ceasar is praise indeed...

 

As far as G... Tracking back. Can't teach speed. Reminded me of Rose tracking back from attacking midfield, passing Ertz (and beating Julie to the attacker from 15 yards behind) to get to an attacker.

 

Heaps was effective because she was incredible at: off the ball movement, first touch, moving the ball quickly, threading the needle, vision, and well-weighted passing under pressure.

It is interesting the defensive responsibility that Emma gives Trinity. Her role and Giselle's role were so similar. There is some difference, but not much.

 

Ya, they were rotating responsibility as the dynamics of the game changed. There was a time when Coffey slid over and played LB/LCB during the build out. It was just one sequence that I noticed. But, my impression with regard to Coffey, Heaps, Giselle (I didn't notice it with Alyssa, but that doesn't mean that it didn't happen), was that there were designated areas of responsibility on the field, and those three could plug into those areas as needed, depending on the circumstances. Whereas, the other players were a little more fixed in there positions. That said, Wilson attacked down the right wing, a LOT.