OT: WWC (Soccer) Thread

[JordyG]

I worry about our goal tending and back line. And our front 3 have not been great either. Our mid field has been impressive imho. Anyhow, crossing my fingers and toes and eyes

Agreed. The US's midfield is the speediest and keeps their foot well on the ball. If the US is going to win the midfielders will need to step forward more and either score or be direct facilitators. Also if the refs don't assert themselves early and allow Morgan to get mauled it's going to be a tough day. Heath is going to have to take the pressure off the left side and score as well.

 

[eebmg]

I think they are going to rest a lot of players since their position in the knockout stage is not a big deal. I guess as long as Pulisic plays, I would watch.

I think the entire 2nd unit is being used. I expect a very ugly game. The USMNT is not good enough to totally ignore the need for consistency and confidence building.

On the other hand, Panama has 9 changes. Feel bad for the fans.

 

[warbler1055]

Game day. Hope Alex Morgan is OK. She was pretty beat up by the Spain defenders. Rapinoe looked tired. Alyssa Naeher cannot afford any blunder. Lindsay Horan was well rested. Mewis and Lavelled will have a great game. France has not won anything lately. The French men are the world champions and the women are getting much better. Do not under estimate the heart of champions. They know it's a big game and they know how to handle pressure. I am still optimistic and think we will win!!!

 

[hoopsdiva]

Allez les bleues!!!

 

[warbler1055]

Vive les Etats Unis d'Amerique!!!!

 

[Orangutan]

And so, the second-guessing (for this game) of Ellis has already begun.

 

[meyers7]

And so, the second-guessing (for this game) of Ellis has already begun.

As well it should.

 

[eebmg]

Rapinoe scores on a very well designed corner in the 5'. US up 1-0.

Basically the whole team screened the goalie so she could not see a thing and the goal was untouched.

 

[Centerstream]

Do they keep track of the number of flops that these players take? Is it an official stat? I thought that the US/Spain game was bad, but so far this game is keeping it up...

 

[stamfordhusky]

Do they keep track of the number of flops that these players take? Is it an official stat? I thought that the US/Spain game was bad, but so far this game is keeping it up...

A few flops to be sure - but far more real fouls.

 

[stamfordhusky]

And so, the second-guessing (for this game) of Ellis has already begun.

Tough decision for Ellis (who I rarely defend). She has four really good midfielders but can only play three. Mewis played well vs Spain. Abit faster than Horan but not as good technically. I assume we will see Horan at about the 65' mark.

 

[eebmg]

US wins 2-1. Ellis opened my eyes. Very disciplined team. Especially on the defensive line which I never thought I would see. Good defensive game plan and held their lines really well. Lavelle did not have it but it did not hurt us.

I would start thinking of putting Carli Lloyd in on top. Morgan / Heath not really doing much up front.

I feel much better about the England matchup. Good bracket to the finals.

 

[oldude]

US wins 2-1. Ellis opened my eyes. Very disciplined team. Especially on the defensive line which I never thought I would see. Good defensive game plan and held their lines really well. Lavelle did not have it but it did not hurt us.

I would start thinking of putting Carli Lloyd in on top. Morgan / Heath not really doing much up front.

I feel much better about the England matchup. Good bracket to the finals.

Agree with your take on Ellis’s strategy, but it only works if you get out in front and stay in front, which the US did for 85 minutes. Whatever people think of her, Rapinoe is a big game player, much the same as her partner.

 

[boontonbomber]

I thought France the better team, but, as Geno would say, we had Rapinoe. [ ]

 

[Kaizen]

Agree with your take on Ellis’s strategy, but it only works if you get out in front and stay in front, which the US did for 85 minutes. Whatever people think of her, Rapinoe is a big game player, much the same as her partner.

From Stewie's Twitter,

 

[boontonbomber]

Rapinoe scores on a very well designed corner in the 5'. US up 1-0.

Basically the whole team screened the goalie so she could not see a thing and the goal was untouched.

No matter how well designed the play, you've still got to make the kick. Fortunately for U.S. , they had Rapinoe taking the kick. She made it look easy, but it ain't.

 

[tchalla1]

Yes, Rapinoe to the rescue. Though the US was quite fortunate, IMO,that O'Hara was not flagged for a handball (at least I thought it was) and that could have given France a penalty kick late in the game...

 

[Plebe]

Yes, Rapinoe to the rescue. Though the US was quite fortunate, IMO,that O'Hara was not flagged for a handball (at least I thought it was) and that could have given France a penalty kick late in the game...

Based on how they've been calling handballs the entire tournament (with extreme strictness), it should've been called. Quite the sudden departure here.

 

[msf22b]

Rapinoe will be remembered for the goals, but it was her overall play (especially in the 1st half) that was her true contribution.

She was a monster, madly aggressive presence all over the field and displayed a level of determination to effect every play, a singular presence that I've rarely seen in woman's (or men's) football.

A wonderful game by a unique, driven athlete.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Based on how they've been calling handballs the entire tournament (with extreme strictness), it should've been called. Quite the sudden departure here.

Under the rules, that was not a handball (handling). It was clear enough that they didn't even bother to go to a full VAR review - although no doubt it was quickly reviewed in the booth. She didn't have her arm extended out from her body, which has been the case in the ones they have called.

 

[JoePgh]

How many of you thought that the disallowed US goal by Tobin Heath should have been a good goal? I replayed it several times, freezing it as nearly as possible at the moment of Morgan’s pass to Crystal Dunn, and each time (to my less than totally objective eyes) it appeared that Dunn was on-side when the pass was made.

If that goal had been allowed, then the game would be remembered as a decisive victory by a clearly superior American side, rather than as the US hanging on by their fingernails at the end.

I’m surprised that they did not appear to go to video to review that play. If it was done, it was done very quickly and with almost no fanfare. The TV broadcast did not show a full replay with a focus on the off-side call. I would think that the play was close enough (and important enough) to warrant a full review, even if the call on the field was eventually upheld.

I thought Heath was close to being offside on the second US goal, and that that play also might have been reviewed, but it wasn’t and the goal stood.

 

[JoePgh]

I would start thinking of putting Carli Lloyd in on top. Morgan / Heath not really doing much up front.

Actually, I thought Tobin Heath had a very good game today — an assist on Rapinoe’s 2nd goal plus a disallowed goal of her own. If Crystal Dunn was offside on that disallowed goal (which I doubt), it certainly wasn’t the fault of Rapinoe, Morgan, or Heath, all of whom made great plays in that apparent scoring sequence.

 

[Plebe]

Under the rules, that was not a handball (handling). It was clear enough that they didn't even bother to go to a full VAR review - although no doubt it was quickly reviewed in the booth. She didn't have her arm extended out from her body, which has been the case in the ones they have called.

Depends on what you call "extended." It looked very similar to other handballs that have been called this tournament. Her arm wasn't within the silhoutte of her body nor was it glued to her side.

 

[meyers7]

Rapinoe scores on a very well designed corner in the 5'. US up 1-0.

Basically the whole team screened the goalie so she could not see a thing and the goal was untouched.

Well that wasn't a corner, rather a freekick and I think it was more luck than plan that the goalie was screened. Not great keeping, but it counts.

 

[meyers7]

Rapinoe will be remembered for the goals, but it was her overall play (especially in the 1st half) that was her true contribution.

She was a monster, madly aggressive presence all over the field and displayed a level of determination to effect every play, a singular presence that I've rarely seen in woman's (or men's) football.

A wonderful game by a unique, driven athlete.

Great game, especially 1st half by her. Best I've seen her play in a long time. She must have been "motivated".

 

[JoePgh]

I think that those (including on this board) who said that Rapinoe’s kneeling during the anthem was because she was trying to get attention since her soccer career was on a downward path have been proven wrong in these games.

Even if you don’t agree with someone (either their message or their manner of expressing it), why is it so hard to give them credit for the sincerity of their beliefs (unless you have real evidence to show otherwise)?

 

[LoTrader]

Great game, especially 1st half by her. Best I've seen her play in a long time. She must have been "motivated".

My daughter & I got to see 4-years of Rapinoe, and 4-years of Christine Sinclair when they played at University of Portland. Characteristic of both, they were ALWAYS motivated when they played. Superior in their talent, effort, and teamwork.

 

[eebmg]

Well that wasn't a corner, rather a freekick and I think it was more luck than plan that the goalie was screened. Not great keeping, but it counts.

Yes. Free kick sorry. Still, it looked pretty schemed to me. As you say, it counts just the same.

 

[stamfordhusky]

Well that wasn't a corner, rather a freekick and I think it was more luck than plan that the goalie was screened. Not great keeping, but it counts.

Agree. It's hard to develop a plan to both screen the goalie and let the ball find its way through a melee of players - including having the ball go right through the legs of a French defender. Much more luck than plan but it counts. If it were easy to plan a play like this, you would see it more than once a year.

 

[Bama fan]

I think that those (including on this board) who said that Rapinoe’s kneeling during the anthem was because she was trying to get attention since her soccer career was on a downward path have been proven wrong in these games.

Even if you don’t agree with someone (either their message or their manner of expressing it), why is it so hard to give them credit for the sincerity of their beliefs (unless you have real evidence to show otherwise)?

Very well stated, and thank you for your willingness to defend freedom of speech. There are too many that do not appreciate the true value of that most precious of our rights and liberties.