OT: WWC (Soccer) Thread

[eebmg]

That goal by Rose Lavelle was sweet. She has been the unsung hero of this tournament, perhaps not so unsung anymore. I was afraid her hamstring injury from the semifinal would keep her out of the final. We've witnessed the emergence of a star.

Many on the BY including myself anointed Lavelle as a star seeing her play in the WC. So happy she showed it on largest platform.

 

[SimpleDawg]

Good tournament, girls. I knew we were gonna win. No way this all-star lineup (in my opinion the greatest lineup assembled in women's history) wasn't gonna win '19. And we had to go through the 2nd and 3rd best teams (England and France) to get there, so you can't say we played weak teams.

 

[Kaizen]

 

[meyers7]

Good tournament, girls. I knew we were gonna win. No way this all-star lineup (in my opinion the greatest lineup assembled in women's history) wasn't gonna win this one. And we had to go through the 2nd and 3rd best teams (England and France) to get there, so you can't say we played weak teams.

Agreed, they didn't have any easy path.

Well done.

 

[hoophuskee]

Such a world beast!

 

[Bama fan]

Wonderful victory, two injured players scoring the goals. Great day for the U S , for women, and for freedom and true patriotism. As the famous lawyer Clarence Darrow said, "True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else. " These young women personify that spirit.

 

[JoePgh]

USA vs. a team in orange.

I was going to make just that point: How can a UConn fan not root heartily against a team in orange?

 

[3rdbass]

Congrats to USA women in a winning a deserved World Cup. They were very clinical in winning it.

 

[eebmg]

Today feels like sports watching heaven (for me as a fan of soccer and volleyball):

• WWC final
• Copa America final
• Gold Cup final
• Beach volleyball world championships men's final
• Indoor women's Volleyball Nations League final between US and Brazil
• And a few WNBA games thrown in for as a tip

How about the USA Softball International Cup Championship game. US vs Japan. showing on ESPN now. Japan is the only team to beat us in group play and lead us 1-0 in the 5th. Their pitcher is tough.

 

[eebmg]

How about the USA Softball International Cup Championship game. US vs Japan. showing on ESPN now. Japan is the only team to beat us in group play and lead us 1-0 in the 5th. Their pitcher is tough.

The US magic took hold again. US scored 2 runs in the 6th and wins 2-1 with Monica Abbott pitching the final inning.

 

[Bigboote]

That goal by Rose Lavelle was sweet. She has been the unsung hero of this tournament, perhaps not so unsung anymore. I was afraid her hamstring injury from the semifinal would keep her out of the final. We've witnessed the emergence of a star.

They showed Lavelle receiving the bronze ball. Rapinoe received the gold ball, and presumably someone not playing today received the silver, since we didn’t see it. I don’t think there were two better players in the WC than Lavelle. She was everywhere, even if she did have “only” three goals.

 

[triaddukefan]

Glad the US won.

Also glad we dont have to hear or read about it again until 2023. Also glad the next Men's world cup will be held in November and December of 2022.

 

[Plebe]

They showed Lavelle receiving the bronze ball. Rapinoe received the gold ball, and presumably someone not playing today received the silver, since we didn’t see it. I don’t think there were two better players in the WC than Lavelle. She was everywhere, even if she did have “only” three goals.

Ironically enough, it was Lucy Bronze who received the Silver Ball award.

 

[Bama fan]

Ironically enough, it was Lucy Bronze who received the Silver Ball award.

She played up!

 

[eebmg]

She played up!

Not during the consolation game effort. She could not pass straight the whole game More ironic her team could not secure the Bronze.

 

[Plebe]

If you saw Rapinoe's postgame interview, you may have heard her shoutout to Brian, her older brother.

It was only recently that I learned about this backstory, and for me it added a new layer of respect for Megan:

Why Megan Rapinoe's brother Brian is her greatest heartbreak, and hope

Megan Rapinoe once worshipped her brother Brian, until a drug addiction upended his life. He now looks to her influence to heal and move forward.

www.espn.com

 

[Plebe]

Also glad we dont have to hear or read about it again until 2023. Also glad the next Men's world cup will be held in November and December of 2022.

I take it you're not a fan of The Beautiful Game?

 

[triaddukefan]

I take it you're not a fan of The Beautiful Game?

if its at the 85 minute mark in the knockout rounds and the score is tied or a 1 pt deficit........ I'll tune in til the end. But no... I cant watch it from the beginning. One exception was the 2002 Carolina Courage... I'd tune in on a few games.... and watched them win the championship.

 

[meyers7]

Glad the US won.

Also glad we dont have to hear or read about it again until 2023.

Sorry, Olympics next year. Women's Olympics is almost as big as the World Cup. (almost). You'll have to hear plenty about it.

Also glad the next Men's world cup will be held in November and December of 2022.

Yea, that's the 2nd stupidest thing thing ever in football. The first of course was having the WC in Qatar to begin with.

 

[meyers7]

They showed Lavelle receiving the bronze ball.

Well deserved.

Rapinoe received the gold ball,

Yea, probably not the best player on her own team, let alone the tournament. She played well against France, but other than her PK's didn't do a lot else. I'd say Lavelle, Ertz, Morgan, Dunn all had better tournaments than her.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Well deserved.


Yea, probably not the best player on her own team, let alone the tournament. She played well against France, but other than her PK's didn't do a lot else. I'd say Lavelle, Ertz, Morgan, Dunn all had better tournaments than her.

Agree. For overall play, Tobin Heath might be ahead of her as well.

Rapinoe wouldn't have received either award if it weren't for her being designated to take the U.S. penalty kicks.

 

[Bama fan]

Well deserved.


Yea, probably not the best player on her own team, let alone the tournament. She played well against France, but other than her PK's didn't do a lot else. I'd say Lavelle, Ertz, Morgan, Dunn all had better tournaments than her.

The penalty kicks are so dramatic, and I think that swayed the opinion of the selection team. That and her captaincy. And past play. But others you mentioned had better overall tournaments.

 

[oldude]

Agree. For overall play, Tobin Heath might be ahead of her as well.

Rapinoe wouldn't have received either award if it weren't for her being designated to take the U.S. penalty kicks.

While there were many outstanding performances by the US players, Rapinoe was designated to take US penalty kicks for a reason. She has ice water in her veins. If England had made their penalty kicks, the US might not have even made it to the championship match.

As for her penalty kick vs the Dutch, Rapinoe clearly executed a well placed shot under enormous pressure. On her 2 previous PK’s she shot low and hard into the corner to the goaltender’s right. Against the best goaltender the US faced, Rapinoe surely was thinking along with the Dutch goalie that she would go for the left corner once again, so she froze the goalie and shot to the right corner. It’s certainly not as easy as Rapinoe made it look.

One final comment about Rapinoe’s play. Her service from the left wing into the box was brilliant. Had it not been for the spectacular play of the Dutch goalie, Rapinoe could have easily racked up several more assists.

 

[Rixxx]

Lavelle epitomizes what the team makeup is: offensive players that play defense well. Numerous times during the tournament, Lavelle came out of nowhere to strip the ball handler. Great kid.

 

[DavidinNaples]

Offense always gets the headlines. How about the play of the defense?

1. 0 goals against in the group stage victories. (3-0 record)
2. Shut out Sweden 2-0. They won the bronze.
3. Beat Spain, France and England giving up only 3 goals combined.
4. Shut out the Dutch for the World Cup title.

Some shaky moments, but overall excellent play. Credit goalkeeper Allyssa Naeher (from Stratford, Conn per her bio on USA website) with big saves in the most important games. Defense won the matches, offense gets the praise.