Literally turned on the game with less than 39 seconds left, but happy for Mateta and Olise. Did Argentina have a grip at the end or what?
5-Ring Circus: The Olympics Soccer Thread
- Thread starter Zososoxfan
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I'm late to the party because I watched the game on replay, but at the end of the day reaching the QF is a decent result for this U23 team.
If we could magically get all our very best U23s, we'd have at least a decent chance of medalling, but eight of our best U23s were on the Copa América squad and others weren't released as well. We just don't have the horses to compete with the best teams at this Olympic tournament — maybe not even with a hypothetical full-strength team, but definitely not with this group.
Nigeria has been pretty good, made Final Four 3 out of 5 or 6 Games, winning once. Arguably the 2nd best team in recent times after Brazil. Camerooon won it semi-recently and Ghana has been ok.
But yeah to the 2 teams at same time point.
This is fair. I think there were some good individual performances in the tournament to take home, knowing full well that the top 7 or 8 players were not available for the US, and that African nations have the advantage in not have AFCON directly before the Olympics, increasing the odds that players like Hakimi would be released by their clubs. This Moroccan team is really up-and-coming, as much as a World Cup semifinalist can be, with tons of young players in top academies.
I am excited to see more of Aaronson and Paredes. I think that they both can bring something different to the USMNT. I enjoyed watching Tolkin and McGlynn quite a bit. Tessman isn’t the same player he was in MLS. Players like McGuire were up and down for me, but showed more touch than I expected.
I thoroughly enjoy watching players like Abde. Not yesterday, but generally speaking (and definitely for Betis). Players who are fearless and can take you one-on-one consistently. I think too often US players are most concerned about keeping the ball on the wing, not putting the opponent under pressure. The impact he had on the US defense was huge. Usually
I root for the kid but it was terrifying watching him dominate the US team.
Japan is making this hard. Playing conservatively against the US but picking their spots. Dangerous matchup for the Americans.
Whether it's Smith taking the wrong pass/shot option or Horan and Lavelle being on the wrong page, the attack has no urgency or teeth so far.
Horan has seemed a bit off today. The offense looks like they are panicking when they get their rare opportunities. Hopefully that will normalize in the second half. Definitely a dangerous matchup and a worrisome half.
Even on their first decent break of the half, they can't get spaced out. Lavelle stuck between making a run and staying onside and it clogged up Rodman's way forward.
Need fresh attacking legs out there. If Japan is going to allow this much possession, need someone out there to pull defenders around.
With Japan playing so defensive, this is when I'd sub in Morgan and use her size to play for the penalty
Oh wait . . .
Oh wait . . .
The forwards need to come get the ball and make a run at the defender. Over and over. Maybe Lynn Williams could help here.
Passed up the shot while heading towards the goal, so she could take the one fading away from it.
Need a moment of brilliance by someone. Horan? Mal? Rodman?
Or I'm going to be crying in a corner for 3 and half years
Or I'm going to be crying in a corner for 3 and half years
All tournament the refs haven’t been blowing the whistle against Japan nearly at all. And there’s a long history of international match refs treating Black players like they’re too aggressive and physical
Amazing that they are playing their fourth game and about to play the starting 11 for the full 90.
Right on cue, Japan getting a lot of nibbles in at the heels of the ball carrier, and not even an advantage indicated.
This is the stuff that drives me nuts - you’re telling me the sub isn’t better at 100% than that? Really?
Feels to me like the U.S. are too reluctant to attack individual Japanese players to try to create an advantage. They're trying to do everything with passing.