I just stayed up, but I generally go to bed late anyway...
OT: 2023 Women's World Cup
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Don't much about this sport but even when we had real good teams wasn't Sweden always a tough game for us?
Yes. Sweden has been a world power in the sport for years. They are generally a tough game for anyone. Currently ranked #3 in the world. US #1 but you wouldn't know it.
Win or lose, I think the core (minus Rapinoe who has already announced her retirement) stays intact for the 2024 Olympics. The housecleaning begins thereafter.
Team stinks. They think they earned what the women before them did. Dancing after getting out of the first round by luck lol.
They care more about their “brand” than winning.
Microcosm of the country. It’s a messaging team. Fake.
They care more about their “brand” than winning.
Microcosm of the country. It’s a messaging team. Fake.
Sad but true. Following the lead of their elder veteran who was front and center dancing.
Putting aside socio-politics, people respond to different things in different ways. Kelly O'Hara was incensed. Others were celebratory. Mission accomplished. Survive and advance. Doesn't matter how. Everyone now starts fresh 0-0.
Not for me to say whose reactions were right and whose were wrong.
Survive and advance is the goal. But when you have retired veterans, that created the dynasty, blasting the behavior, you (the team) have to know that their actions are not acceptable. You can sense that Carli and crew will be reaching out and expressing their dissatisfaction.
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Actually I don't sense that at all. Carli has publicly stated her opinion, as is her job. I doubt she feels compelled to convey those sentiments privately.
The celebration was an expression of joy and a little relief. Maybe a lot of relief. It was not IMO self-congratulatory at all. I think every player on the team fully realizes that what got them here won't get them there.
Morgan has failed to score on far too many shots.She is a leader on the team and has yet to perform up to expectations.
Not sure about that. I look at as a game they were supposed to win. If Ohio St. football ekes out a narrow win over Minnesota do the players rush the field and carry on? If Minnesota pulled the upset I'd expect it.
well, that post shot was more out than in.... but, damn, the ladies sucked last night.. it was awful soccer from them all. Not sure any of them played well.
Rose.. Rose was okay but also did strange moves like after blowing a shot she took herself she forced a pass to no one on the next similar possession rather than shoot.
A late comment was made about Rapino (who also played poorly except for maybe 1 pass).. Rapino was chasing down a challenge on a ball in the corner and "no one went with her". That, to me was very telling... no one supported that effort and I think it indicates a lot of spectating going on out there.
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I guess we watched different interviews. She said she would be making some calls. Her reaction was this is not how "WE ACT" this is not what we helped to build.
I don't see them advancing much further. Team is old and not necessarily playing for each other
If I were a USWNT veteran receiving one of those calls, I'd probably hang up on her.
Who is Carli Lloyd to define how "we" act? Why shouldn't folks like Morgan, Rapinoe, Ertz, etc. (who are definitely part of "we") celebrate qualification for the knockout round of the World Cup? It's not like that is a given. Ask Canada about that.
She's far more accomplished than anyone on that team. She bridged the gap between the older women and this team. She's definitely in the right to say how to act.
Seeing them posing like models before the game then dancing after a lucky tie is embarrassing.
This is USA women's soccer. Every conceivable advantage in the world has been given to them. Far more than their competition. Squeaking out of the group stage isn't an accomplishment. It's expected.
Seeing them posing like models before the game then dancing after a lucky tie is embarrassing.
This is USA women's soccer. Every conceivable advantage in the world has been given to them. Far more than their competition. Squeaking out of the group stage isn't an accomplishment. It's expected.
Who is Carli to define? With certain standards to uphold. She is literally the person that bridges the gap from the original founders of the program to this team. And one of the most accomplished players to ever wear that jersey.
I guess you have never been part of a team or organization where there is pride of membership.
I would bet dollars to donuts if you asked any of the retired women from the Foudy era they'd all say the exact same things, and they were the women that built it.
"Every conceivable advantage in the world has been given to them. Far more than their competition. Squeaking out of the group stage isn't an accomplishment. It's expected". I agree with all you said. The problem is many of the players would say their great despite all the hurdles the USA puts in front of them. Just a collection of ungrateful athletes that could learn a lesson or two from someone like Brittney. Just say 'in.
I'm kind of neutral on the "celebration" thing, since all that really matters is where we go from here. While things haven't looked good, so far, this is still a very talented team that is capable of winning it all. If they do, nobody will care about what happened after this game, but if they don't all kinds of things will come into question, especially IMO, the coaching and preparation - and maybe the intensity/dedication of the team.
And making societal commentary based on this, as some have done in this thread, is just silly - I don't think society has changed that much in the last 4 years, since we last won the Cup, to warrant such comparisons.
Agreed. Former players aren't on the team and, while they're entitled to their opinions, those opinions are no more worthwhile than anybody else who isn't part of the team.
I personally don't GAF about all the silly babbling about post-game demeanor or the team's attitude. Many times, across multiple sports, I've seen repeat championship teams play like crap in group stages of tournaments, just to ramp things up as they get into the elimination rounds, peaking in the finals. Hopefully that's the case here. We'll see.
The team struggled in midfield again, although less on defense and more on offense compared to the prior game. At least they corrected several mistakes that really hurt them in the first half of the prior game (much better first touch, bit better positional play, almost no diving in by first defenders, better third defender play).
But the mids are still playing too unidirectionally with the ball. They're still too slow to drop and switch the ball, demonstrating poor composure with the ball at times, which is unusual to see at this level. Team-wide support play, especially when under pressure, was not great again. Just a general lack of movement away from the ball.
A new wrinkle this game is the backs being disorganized even when they had the luxury of numbers up situations. Need to fix that.
A troubling ongoing theme with this USWNT team, from last game to this one, is a tendency to lose proper shape in small-group defending. By which I mean, while defending, you often see 3-4 US players in a straight line horizontally across the field in the middle third of the field. It's a really bad thing 'cause it means one pass can beat 4 defenders instantly, putting them all behind the ball and scrambling to recover. The team needs to see that in video and work on maintaining proper depth while moving on defense.
Another thing that occurred too often was the US was slow to transition to attacking play after gaining possession at the back. That happened more in the first half, seemed to be addressed at halftime. Not sure if that was deliberate (i.e. coached) or energy or what. But it allowed Portugal to press a bit too easily, IMO.
I don't know this coach and haven't seen enough games to judge. But all these issues are extremely coachable with players at this level. Poor support play is often an energy thing, so energy was probably a factor again, as it was in the first half against the Dutch. But it also looked like the US midfield players are uncomfortable in their roles or are maybe unused to working together. I don't know the team well enough to say that's the case; just that it appeared that way. Maybe the coach is asking them to play a style they aren't comfortable doing. Maybe not.
It's actually kind of funny to watch a bunch of guys who weren't accomplished enough athletically to earn a spot on any national team judge the attitudes of the USWNT players. I don't know about you, but I'm just super-impressed by all their tough talk.
Do you mean the back 4 or the midfield 3? Even when defending in the mid-block, those lines generally should be defined and straight across. To me, it's more about the space between the back 4 and midfield 3 to cut off passing lanes. We don't maintain proper spacing at all.
Hingst, Lloyd and Lalas are all "accomplished". When their commentary matches my visual experience of the game, we are on the same page.It's actually kind of funny to watch a bunch of guys who weren't accomplished enough athletically to earn a spot on any national team judge the attitudes of the USWNT players. I don't know about you, but I'm just super-impressed by all their tough talk.
Thanks, always appreciate your insights and analysis (in soccer, nothing else at all on the planet - don't want you to get a big head, which only scares the sheep and the hookers). All those years playing soccer together, I always remember you and the other soccer guys admonishing defenders (especially in the back, but even in midfield where it leads to numbers advantages) to not "dive in" allowing players to get by them and possibly to the goal and I've also seen how we've been doing way too much of that.
Are you seriously rooting for the USWNT to lose? WTF is wrong with you?
The team just totally lacks any competitive spirit with the exception of Horan and sometimes Ertz. Compare the combativeness to that of Columbia. Total opposite. USWNT appears to not care about the actual games that take place between the lines. Made it to the knockout stage with a poor showing. Maybe can turn it around but it’s hard to see happening.
LOL the fake outrage on this page and in conservative circles is all about women standing up for their rights. White men hate that . Any woman who stands up for her rights becomes a target. Some have received death threats.
Yeah they laid an egg last night it happens and the rest of the world is getting better.
We no longer can dominate every minute of every game.
Also the BS about not singing the NA is a joke does every MNT sing? Do MLB and Hockey players sing ?
This is not Nazi Germany no one has to be forced to be a Patriot.
Yeah they laid an egg last night it happens and the rest of the world is getting better.
We no longer can dominate every minute of every game.
Also the BS about not singing the NA is a joke does every MNT sing? Do MLB and Hockey players sing ?
This is not Nazi Germany no one has to be forced to be a Patriot.
Morgan is a great player but about as over-hyped as they come. There are way better players but they know Morgan is a marketing machine.
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