My thoughts on the USWNT against Colombia

First off, I’m fairly certain I was watching men’s soccer with all the flopping that was going on. It was so apparent, because typically we get a reprieve when we watch the women play. It completely messed with the flow of the game, and, as a viewer, my enjoyment.

I get the strategy behind it — slow down the game. It is well documented the physical fitness of the USWNT. We wear people down in the second half and that is where we are finding success. With all the stoppage, Colombia got frequent breathers.

Colombia also played scrappy. If I was in the game, I’d probably have shoved one of the girls back — thank God I’m not. I would have gotten so mad – and a red card (since cards were being so freely handed out). Julie Johnston took a good hit in the backfield when the ball was forward that no one saw. I have mad respect for Julie Johnston. She is one tough girl.

As for the match itself, it was not what people expected, or was it? Everyone expected the US to win, but it was Colombia that was impressive. They moved the ball well, completed their passes, and had us off our game — especially with all of the penalties that we were getting.

Costly ones at that. We will now be missing Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday for the quarterfinals against China on Friday at 4pm PT. As much as we all can’t stand Holiday and Lloyd in the center, I’m assuming if we had better choices, we would be playing them. Who knows? Maybe someone will come onto the field and not so much be an awesome player, but their heart and their drive will encourage Lloyd to play harder, more focused. That would be a wonderful thing.

Missing Rapinoe will be killer. She has great ball skills, a wicked corner, and plays with fire. The other problem is, from what I’ve seen, is Holiday is the other player who takes the corner kicks. Who will be the player that takes them now? Johnston is needed for the headers. Maybe Lloyd can take them since she is always getting in the way of Abby to head the ball in on corner kicks.

Yes, the US was expected to win, but it was also expected that our game would be severely lacking a strong mid-field and an offense that clicks. Perhaps everyone should be paying more attention to the fact that we are winning in spite of our lacking offense and mid-field presence. How different would this game have turned out if the Colombian goalie hadn’t gotten a red card and the Colombians had to play with a man down?

On a positive note, great goal by Alex Morgan. She is such a joy to watch. Great defending by my girl Klingenberg.

On a negative note, really? Carli Lloyd had to be the one to score on a penalty kick? Anyone else, man. That girl does not need a bigger ego.

Poor Abby, I so wanted her to score on that penalty kick.

Here is a great YouTube video of the highlights of the match thanks to FIFATV

Hopefully we beat China and can move forward. A huge, huge game on Friday is also Germany (#1) vs France (#3). That game will be on at 1:00pm PT. A lot of people are saying that this match could be the biggest game of the World Cup.

Good luck USWNT!

My thoughts on the USWNT against Nigeria

Our favorite duo started the game! Wambach and Morgan!

The first few minutes of the game was super exciting. A set piece with a cross in by Carli Lloyd was almost a goal on the first possession. Nigeria did a good job of keeping their defensive line up, creating 2 off-sides situations.

That was the last time Carli Lloyd did anything of merit. Even the announcers were stating that she gave the ball away too much and her shots were poorly timed. She doesn’t play a full game, meaning she plays when she wants to play. She is a mid-fielder, and she either has to be a defensive midfielder, or someone who runs the full pitch. She does neither. She doesn’t run hard up and down the pitch, nor does she maintain a defensive position in the back. She had this same problem before, in the Olympics and previous World Cup. Why play a person in a position that requires motivation, the ability to run, and get back and forth who absolutely does not want that?

I’m not so super impressed with Holiday either. She equally does not seem to be in any type of mid-fielder position. Where is she half the time?

When does our mid-field even mark their player? It’s ridiculous.

Our mid-fielders also never seem to be forward when they need to be either. It’s like they don’t understand basic soccer. When you pass the ball, you are not done playing. I watched a few passes that should have been a great give-and-go that turned into nothing because there wasn’t anyone forward to pass the ball to.

Megan Rapinoe did a good job again. I have been noticing that she holds the ball too long. I’m not sure if she just doesn’t trust the people around her to pass to or what? I would love someone to answer that for me.

Julie Johnston played a great game. I was impressed by the beating she took by Nigeria. There were a couple of times that they just barreled right into her. That’s one tough girl. She plays hard. Lloyd and Holiday could learn a thing or two from her.

I have a crush on the defender Meghan Klingenberg. She plays so tough as well. I always look forward to watching how she defends.

Alex Morgan did fairly well with her first start. I think she will improve as she plays more games.

Sydney Leroux played terrible, again. She lost the ball, couldn’t keep possession, and just overall made bad passes. I find her incredibly beautiful and I love looking at her, but her game is crap.

As for Abby! Her scoring the goal could not have happened to a nicer person. All the haters out there saying she is washed up. Everyone complaining about her missed headers. Well, screw you. She made an amazing goal. Also, her passes were usually on target, unlike the rest of the team. Yes, she looks slow as shit out there, but, hey. She’s not done yet.

I feel like there is no respect shown to Abby. How quick everyone is to write her off.

Today’s matches will tell us who the USWNT plays going forward. I’m excited for the games to come.

Good luck USWNT!

 

 

FIFA Women’s World Cup to start Saturday June 6th at 2:30 p.m. PT – opening ceremony

Gorgeous!

FIFA Women’s World Cup to start Saturday June 6th at 2:30 p.m. PT. That is the time for the opening ceremony. You can watch on Fox Sports 1.

I just want to get that out of the way because I find that there is very little information out there about it. It’s shocking and not shocking all at the same time.

FIFA Women’s World Cup isn’t even regarded highly by FIFA. They fall all over themselves for the men, but not the women. Even the ex-president, Blatter acknowledged that more attention needed to be paid. However, he suggestion was one of absolute sexism, that the girls should wear shorter shorts if they want more people to watch. Wow. How does a sport expect to have a better and higher profile when the gentleman who runs it thinks so little?

I love her!

It is also clearly less regarded by the organization by forcing the women to play on turf. How ridiculous. According to the article I just linked, a company, free of charge to FIFA, offered to put in grass over the turf. FIFA said no.

Saturday’s games will be:

Canada (host nation) versus China PR at 3:00 p.m. PT

New Zealand versus Netherlands at 6:00 p.m. PT

USA will be on Monday at 4:30 p.m. PT

Here is the FIFA website for matches and their times. It’s excellent because you can change it to your time. As silly as it sounds, I have tried to find the game on multiple websites and a lot of them are hard to understand or just plain wrong. I downloaded a calendar to my iCal and it is totally wrong.

Groups:

Group A: Canada, Netherlands, China, New Zealand

Group B: Germany, Norway, Ivory Coast, Thailand

Group C: Japan, Switzerland, Cameroon, Equador

Group D: USA, Sweden, Australia, Nigeria

Group E: Brazil, Spain, Costa Rica, South Korea

Group F: France, England, Mexico, Colombia

USA Team:

I included the link above but the highlights for me are:

Wow. She is so beautiful

Megan Rapinoe: She is a Midfielder who takes a slew of corner kicks and happens to be my favorite player. She plays for the Seattle Reign FC when she is not amazing in World Cup or Olympic matches. She is 29 years old.

Abby Wambach: She is a forward and who everyone will be watching. She is one of the most recognized soccer players in the world and for good reason.  She is known for her headers. She played on the 2003, 2007, and  2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup. You may have last remembered her when she got punched in the Olympics by Lady Andrade that did not even get a card, despite Abby having a black eye the next day. She has been awarded the 2011 ESPY for Best Play and was voted the 2012 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Alex Morgan: Forward. She has had some ankle issues that I hope resolve. She is a fun player to watch and has an amazing chemistry with Abby Wambach. She always seems to be in the right place.

Sydney Leroux: Forward. I like her, but she does not have the same chemistry with the team that Alex Morgan does. I’m excited to see how her play has progressed.

She looks amazing

The player I do not like at all is Carli Lloyd. I’ve written about her before. I feel like she only half-asses her play. She runs when she wants to and I think the midfield suffers for it. I’m sure I will be posting again how much I dislike this player.

There has been some heat on goalie Hope Solo. I’m not sure where I stand on all of that. However, I am excited to see her play. I like her intensity on the field.

Let the games begin!