WNT v France, Mar. 6, 2016, pre/pbp/post

Let's put it this way, they should have had at least 2 goals or 3 goals by now. Hope Solo has saved our behinds.

 

There's been chances both ways, but France seems to have the better of them, including the ball off the post twice.

 

40' 0-0 Lloyd dribbles left-to-right across midfield, sprays right to O'Hara unmarked at 30m wide right. O'Hara dribbles to 15m wide right, chips to 5m right post but too far for Pugh, Bouhaddi dives on it.

41' 0-0 Morgan arm-wrestles with Hamraoui at 35m mid-left -- Hamraoui sweeps the ankles and hooks Morgan horizontal aloft. Foul, yellow card on Hamraoui.

42' 0-0 USA fk at 35m mid-left, nothing. We passed that sideways?? USA ping in the back ...

43' 0-0 Horan chips from circle back right to 24m mid-right for O'Hara's run -- but headed away.

43' 0-0 RB Houara ground pass to Le Sommer at 24m box right, one-touch pass down wide right for Thomis outrunning Klingenberg/Sauerbrunn. Ironfooted clang too far even for her speed, she chases to box right foot but ball rolls over.

 

Wow, these are some terrible passes.

 

We need a better FK and CK taker. There's been some poor kicks in this game. (We miss you, Holiday!)

 

45' 0-0 Lloyd(?) pass up left touch, Klingenberg offside

HT 0-0. Shots off the post are literally "on frame", but not statistically "on frame"

 

Kling is having a terrible time with Thomis on both offense and defense. Defense wise, she's not fast enough. Offense wise, she's overhitting several of her passes way in front of whoever the LM is.

 

I'll be happy when we are DUNN in the second half.

 

Story of the French WNT's life.

 

ENOUGH Ellis. This is the same group that has done nothing for several games now and guess what, they still arent. How long will she wait before making changes that may give us a chance? And I dont mean pull Pugh. Pull Morgan or Lloyd of Horgan NOW

 

Our backline so far has just been sad. Some credit goes to France, of course, but I've seen some awful marking and they've been disorganized (yes, even some of the blame falls on Sauerbrunn).

Thankfully, the post has been doing its part. I hope the defense returns as their stellar selves in the 2nd half.

 

We have Kling bombing forward against Thomis. Stupid tactic.

 

There isn't a left back in our pool right now capable of matching someone like Thomis. We got on Chalupny's case last year for failing miserably, but is anyone else an improvement?

 

Think maybe the crowd could work up a USA, USA cheer?

 

What's wrong with O'hara?

 

Ive been complaining about the starting group and lack of production for 3-4 games now and the chickens are now coming home to roost. We are very lucky not to be down 2-0 or worse. THIS LINEUP ISNT WORKING and hasnt been working. Immediate changes are needed, at the start of the second half, before France scores. No 60 or 70 minutes. This group had 45 and did nothing.

 

O'Hara and Dunn the best bets. But Ellis doesn't like KO on the left, and I don't think she's ever played Dunn in defense. That ended with Sermanni's exit and Dunn's goalscoring club form. Maybe Heather O'Reilly?? Not sure about her defensive chops but she always gives 100%.

 

Lesson #1 of SheBelievesCup so far: what works against CONCACAF doesn't always work against top teams.

 

Move O'Hara to left and put our best defensive OB Krieger on the right. Or put Krieger there it's as much about defensive form and positioning as speed and Marta hates playing against Krieger and she handles speed demons well.

When Kling is praised for getting forward all the time it leads to an offense first mentality and you have seen it the last several matches. Of course when you can't create goals without the outside backs fully engaged what do you expect.

 

So when does Carli Lloyd show up and become the greatest player ever?

 

That's like the third bad giveaway by Sauerbrunn today. The best defender in the world is just not on her game.

 

We don't know what she can do at the international level, but don't forget Barnes is also sitting on the bench.

 

54' 0-0 France chip a cross from 8m ~box left to Delie standing at 6m right post. Leaning-back flick header bounces juuust wide right low, Solo didn't bother to dive. France

57' 0-0 Klingenberg runs a loop back toward own left corner flag, outlet pass to Pugh running free past circle back wide left. Audacious long ground pass splits France's high line to 25m mid-left, Morgan almost runs on from the outside left position, ends up in a side-by-side shoulder duel with Houara(?). Both fall, no call, ball rolls through box top mid-left too far for Heath coming from the inside, to Bouhaddi.