Wow. Jamaica, Morocco, South Africa, Colombia, Nigeria advancing while Germany(!), Brazil, Canada sent packing.
And the USA squeaked through, thank goodness.
I didn't realize the women were missing so many of their players. I heard about Swanson previously, but just the other day found out about Sauerbrunn and Macario.
While I'm sure they hoped for better results, at least they are in the knock-out rounds.
Wow. Jamaica, Morocco, South Africa, Colombia, Nigeria advancing while Germany(!), Brazil, Canada sent packing.
And the USA squeaked through, thank goodness.
I didn't realize the women were missing so many of their players. I heard about Swanson previously, but just the other day found out about Sauerbrunn and Macario.
While I'm sure they hoped for better results, at least they are in the knock-out rounds.
Yeah US isn’t the only team with injuries but it certainly would’ve helped to have Becky at CB instead of Ertz and a healthy and fit Rose that wasn’t easing into the tournament.
Anyway, shockingly the US are still Vegas favorites against Sweden. A bit baffling.
Wow. Jamaica, Morocco, South Africa, Colombia, Nigeria advancing while Germany(!), Brazil, Canada sent packing.
And the USA squeaked through, thank goodness.
I didn't realize the women were missing so many of their players. I heard about Swanson previously, but just the other day found out about Sauerbrunn and Macario.
While I'm sure they hoped for better results, at least they are in the knock-out rounds.
Women's professional soccer has leveled the playing field internationally. The opportunities for women to play professionally have exploded over the past10 years. More and more women are able to play professionally in Europe and the US which allows countries that do not have the club/collegiate systems like the US and Europe to catch up.
I think the US group was underrated. While everyone was able to beat up on Vietnam, the Netherlands and Portugal were very tough teams and all the games were very tight. Sweden is solid, but their draw was far weaker with SA, Italy and Argentina playing fairly second rate defense at times.
The US and Sweden will be tight. Sweden plays hard and wears down opponents with hard challenges and dangerous set plays due to their height advantage. But the US has superior speed and is very tough on defense. If someone on the US squad is able to step up on offense, the US should make it past Sweden.
Coming into the world cup Alex Morgan was the betting favorite to win Golden Boot. "Vegas" has little understanding of women's soccer because those putting money on games have no idea. Sweden should be the favorite. So if you are betting put it on them. Good odds. Some good money to be made.
It surprises me how bad play is in the women’s World Cup. Four years ago, my son was U11 and we watched the WC together. It was good for him to watch because he couldn’t relate well to the men’s game because they were so athletic and technical.
Fast forward four years and he’s U15 and can’t relate to the women’s game now. So many bad touches, unathletic slow play, bad passes, etc. Technical moves are so slow, they have trouble shaping passes, midfield play is awful. It really surprises us. His current team could probably beat half these women’s teams in the WC. It’s been really painful to watch, but we’re still watching.
Had the USA won their group the next match would have come on during prime time in the USA. However, the USA underperformed and came in second in their group so that made their next match at an undesirable time for the USA. The Netherlands, which was predicted to finish second to the USA, ended up winning the group. They have the same problem as the USA in that their match is also not during prime time in the Netherlands.
None of these matches will be prime time in us.
What are you talking about? Netherlands will play South Africa at 10pm EDT/7pmPDT on Saturday 5 August. That is prime time in the USA. Had the US won their group, as the TV executives planned on, that would be the USA playing in prime time in the USA.
"If someone on the US squad is able to step up on offense, the US should make it past Sweden."
Morgan has to break out sometime. Maybe Smith can get going again after her very nice opening match. I'm just bummed Lavelle, my favorite player, won't be playing.
"If someone on the US squad is able to step up on offense, the US should make it past Sweden."
Morgan has to break out sometime. Maybe Smith can get going again after her very nice opening match. I'm just bummed Lavelle, my favorite player, won't be playing.
We need more players like Lavelle. Unfortunately, our system is set up against that.
U.S. Soccer has to work harder and smarter at finding more Rose Lavelle-types in a youth soccer system that, generally speaking, promotes and celebrates Alex Morgan-types.
Of course! The women are ambassadors to not only soccer, but life in general. If you hate women, then obviously you women's soccer. It's really disgusting.
Good on you for continuing to type out your thoughts while you had a grand mal seizure. Most people would’ve abandoned their in-progress post when it started.
