USWNT post-World Cup

Mighty Joe Young

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It took 20 minutes or so, but the incredibly boring style of play from Canada was finally broken down by Sweden who dominated the rest of the time and is leading into the half 1-0. Makes it clear that Sweden was better than the U.S. and I think would have won the gold no matter what. U.S. couldn't figure out the Canada style (though they clearly outplayed Canada, who needed a penalty to advance). I still stand by Canada being the weakest team among the last four - Sweden have to be thrilled with the draw.

Should be a straightforward second half, but you never know, the VAR is still active.
It is indeed .. soft VAR penalty … I’ll take it
 

Batman Likes The Sox

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Well, congrats to Canada. Won on the sixth tiebreaker kick.

Gold medal for the VAR squad. This has got to be one of the most bullshit gold medals ever in soccer - ZERO goals scored by the medaling team that weren't penalty kicks in the elimination round. ZERO since the quarterfinals. Unbelievable.

And the style of play is so boring to watch - I hope other teams don't see this and adopt it, though I guess they will. As my wife just said, who is more knowledgeable about soccer than I'll ever be, "maybe defense really does win championships."
 

Mighty Joe Young

The North remembers
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Well, congrats to Canada. Won on the sixth tiebreaker kick.

Gold medal for the VAR squad. This has got to be one of the most bullshit gold medals ever in soccer - ZERO goals scored by the medaling team that weren't penalty kicks in the elimination round. ZERO since the quarterfinals. Unbelievable.

And the style of play is so boring to watch - I hope other teams don't see this and adopt it, though I guess they will. As my wife just said, who is more knowledgeable about soccer than I'll ever be, "maybe defense really does win championships."
Well - yes it does - it’s the great leveller. Sweden (and the Americans before them) were better teams. This was like watching Burnley play City. But the quality doesn’t guarantee a victory. Sweden missed four PENs
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Well, congrats to Canada. Won on the sixth tiebreaker kick.

Gold medal for the VAR squad. This has got to be one of the most bullshit gold medals ever in soccer - ZERO goals scored by the medaling team that weren't penalty kicks in the elimination round. ZERO since the quarterfinals. Unbelievable.

And the style of play is so boring to watch - I hope other teams don't see this and adopt it, though I guess they will. As my wife just said, who is more knowledgeable about soccer than I'll ever be, "maybe defense really does win championships."
Both these teams suck. I can’t believe US lost to both of them. Both of them missed 3 straight PEN in shootout.
 

reggiecleveland

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This has got to be one of the most bullshit gold medals ever in soccer
You guys literally had a parade for the most bullshit one, so there's that.
If Alex Morgan, Mia Hamm, Foudy, etc were taken down like that and there was no call, there would be a drone strike as retaliation.
I am questioning the fact that there is not a god. Sierra's ball jumping into the stands, was the other.
This is like Yankee fans complaining about the Dodgers signing free agents.

Also when your sport has a crazy way to decide ties, why not play for the tie.

Anyway Rapinoe impressed me more in defeat than most athletes have in victory. I fee bad for Sweden. My nephew played pro hoops there, and everything was 1st class, especially the people.
Lastly Janine Beckie's dad was an older player. He was thew first tiny Saskatchewan towm guy to play college hoops. He was a huge influence on me becoming a basketball player, and coach. He died tragically when she was a little kid. Also a corrupt government bakrupted Basketball and other amateur sports in my pronvince, and Janine Beckie's grandfather wrote a cheque (Canadian spelling !) and saved the organization. I am very happy for her and her mother.
 
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67YAZ

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You guys literally had a parade for the most bullshit one, so there's that.
If Alex Morgan, Mia Hamm, Foudy, etc were taken down like that and there was no call, there would be a drone strike as retaliation.
I am questioning the fact that there is not a god. Sierra's ball jumping into the stands, was the other.
This is like Yankee fans complaining about the Dodgers signing free agents.

Also when your sport has a crazy way to decide ties, why not play for the tie.

Anyway Rapinoe impressed me more in defeat than most athletes have in victory. I fee bad for Sweden. My nephew played pro hoops there, and everything was 1st class, especially the people.
Lastly Janine Beckie's dad was an older player. He was thew first tiny Saskatchewan towm guy to play college hoops. He was a huge influence on me becoming a basketball player, and coach. He died tragically when she was a little kid. Also a corrupt government bakrupted Basketball and other amateur sports in my pronvince, and Janine Beckie's grandfather wrote a cheque (Canadian spelling !) and saved the organization. I am very happy for her and her mother.
20 of the 22 Canadian women played NCAA ball & 12 currently ply their trade in the US. So maybe the American women are due a solidarity medal for, you know, raising the quality of the sport internationally?

Quinn is the first trans athlete to earn an Olympic medal. That’s worth celebrating.

 

Silverdude2167

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Oct 9, 2006
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You guys literally had a parade for the most bullshit one, so there's that.
If Alex Morgan, Mia Hamm, Foudy, etc were taken down like that and there was no call, there would be a drone strike as retaliation.
I am questioning the fact that there is not a god. Sierra's ball jumping into the stands, was the other.
This is like Yankee fans complaining about the Dodgers signing free agents.

Also when your sport has a crazy way to decide ties, why not play for the tie.

Anyway Rapinoe impressed me more in defeat than most athletes have in victory. I fee bad for Sweden. My nephew played pro hoops there, and everything was 1st class, especially the people.
Lastly Janine Beckie's dad was an older player. He was thew first tiny Saskatchewan towm guy to play college hoops. He was a huge influence on me becoming a basketball player, and coach. He died tragically when she was a little kid. Also a corrupt government bakrupted Basketball and other amateur sports in my pronvince, and Janine Beckie's grandfather wrote a cheque (Canadian spelling !) and saved the organization. I am very happy for her and her mother.
Congrats on your win.

The best team doesn't always win (not saying this as a slight) and that's what makes sports worth watching.
Canada had a strategy and it worked out, enjoy it.
 

reggiecleveland

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I mentioned earlier title 9 has made our team.
But, ten times bigger it isn't like we can ever compete. Some USA CHL guys have played against Canada in world juniors, then beaten us. Part of having a great developmental program is other countries take advantage.

The best team doesn't always win (not saying this as a slight) and that's what makes sports worth watching.
Without a doubt not the best team. Canada in 2012 was better, so was USA 2012. I still think playing until a Golden goal in the finals is the way to go. But, soccer people have explained unlike hockey, players would get injured if that exhausted. We have this duscussion in hockey where USA/Canadian fans hate the shootout, but European fans accept a tie game is basically coin flip.

On paper one of Canada's greatest moments, but watching...not so much.
 
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Batman Likes The Sox

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You guys literally had a parade for the most bullshit one, so there's that.
If Alex Morgan, Mia Hamm, Foudy, etc were taken down like that and there was no call, there would be a drone strike as retaliation.
I am questioning the fact that there is not a god. Sierra's ball jumping into the stands, was the other.
This is like Yankee fans complaining about the Dodgers signing free agents.

Also when your sport has a crazy way to decide ties, why not play for the tie.

Anyway Rapinoe impressed me more in defeat than most athletes have in victory. I fee bad for Sweden. My nephew played pro hoops there, and everything was 1st class, especially the people.
Lastly Janine Beckie's dad was an older player. He was thew first tiny Saskatchewan towm guy to play college hoops. He was a huge influence on me becoming a basketball player, and coach. He died tragically when she was a little kid. Also a corrupt government bakrupted Basketball and other amateur sports in my pronvince, and Janine Beckie's grandfather wrote a cheque (Canadian spelling !) and saved the organization. I am very happy for her and her mother.
Just full disclosure, we’re considering a drone strike anyway.

Saw an interesting stat - Canada only scored more total goals in this olympics than Chile, Japan, and New Zealand. Pretty wild.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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They need to make a rule that if you score zero natural goals in the Semis and Finals, you can't win the gold.
 

Mr. Wednesday

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Gold medal for the VAR squad. This has got to be one of the most bullshit gold medals ever in soccer - ZERO goals scored by the medaling team that weren't penalty kicks in the elimination round. ZERO since the quarterfinals. Unbelievable.

And the style of play is so boring to watch - I hope other teams don't see this and adopt it, though I guess they will. As my wife just said, who is more knowledgeable about soccer than I'll ever be, "maybe defense really does win championships."
I saw something elsewhere to the effect that IFAB is tweaking the VAR rules/guidance for next year to cut down on penalty awards.
 

67YAZ

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Carli Lloyd to hang up her boots after this NWSL season plus 4 Freund USWNT friendlies this fall. Unbelievable career, which could have stretched on for at least a couple more club seasons. Such incredible drive matched to world class talent.
 

67YAZ

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The roster for the Carli Lloyd Farewell friendlies is out and there’s clearly a few players being given a chance to impress: Pugh, Smith, Macario, Sullivan, & Campbell. I hope those 5 get some good run.

GOALKEEPERS (2): Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), Adrianna Franch (Kansas City NWSL)


DEFENDERS (7): Abby Dahlkemper (Houston Dash), Tierna Davidson (Chicago Red Stars), Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns FC), Casey Krueger (Chicago Red Stars), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC), Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit)


MIDFIELDERS (5): Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Catarina Macario (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)


FORWARDS (6): Tobin Heath (Arsenal, ENG), Carli Lloyd (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC), Lynn Williams (North Carolina Courage)
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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The roster for the Carli Lloyd Farewell friendlies is out and there’s clearly a few players being given a chance to impress: Pugh, Smith, Macario, Sullivan, & Campbell. I hope those 5 get some good run.
Press taking time off

Rapinoe too?
 

67YAZ

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US is ip 6-0 at half time against Paraguay. Carli Lloyd already has 4! Helluva way to retire.
 

67YAZ

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Press taking time off

Rapinoe too?
From the recent press conference, sounds like a few of the vets (Press, Rapinoe) are taking this window off to rest & focus on the club season. It also gives the coaching staff to bring in some of the younger talent and work them out in person.
 

67YAZ

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Carli with 5

let’s get her 6 at the next one
Ties the US record with 5 goals in a match and ties Mia Hamm’s record of 9 career hat tricks.

Great to see Mal Pugh with 3 assists, even if that was only 1/3rd of the goals!
 

SoxFanInCali

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Good to see some of the younger players get to be involved as Lloyd transitions out. Looking forward to the Trinity Rodman era beginning.
 

67YAZ

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Good to see some of the younger players get to be involved as Lloyd transitions out. Looking forward to the Trinity Rodman era beginning.
She’s the real deal - 4 goals & 3 assists in 16 matches (1250 min) at age 18 for a decidedly mediocre Washington side (that’s also the youngest squad in the NWSL). And she passed the eyeball test earlier this summer when she pounced on a long ball to score in Chicago.

She definitely has more to learn about the nuances of leading the line, hold up play, and pulling defenders around to manipulate space. But, really, she’s never had to play with much nuance before this - she could just out muscle and out run everyone in her age group. But the skills are legit. She’s going to be awesome.
 

67YAZ

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US-Paraguay again tonight in Cincy. US up 5-0 in just under 15 minutes so far. Sophie Smith netted her first senior international goal and Catarina Macario her second. Here come the kids!
 

SoxFanInCali

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California. Duh.

SoxFanInCali

has the rich, deep voice of a god
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California. Duh.
Quite a bit of turnover for the USWNT in their 3-0 win over Australia in Sydney. Ashley Hatch made her first start and took all of 24 seconds to give the US the lead. Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan (who has inherited the number 10 shirt from Carli Lloyd) had the other goals.
 

SoxFanInCali

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California. Duh.
The SheBelieves Cup is not exactly full of big names this time around, as the Czech Republic, Iceland, and New Zealand are here to take on a USWNT in transition.

Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman are looking lively, but it's still 0-0 after 85 minutes against the Czechs (a team that has never qualified for a major tourney).
 

Section30

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New Zealand has no luck at all. Two deflected own goals in the first 6 minutes. Same defender and the second goal was off her face.
 

SoxFanInCali

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I looked it up. It ties Stan van den Buijs in the Belgian Jupiter league. His team lost 3-2.
I read something that said there's video that shows one of those own-goals actually was put in by an attacker even though they credited it to him. So this might be the first undisputed time it's ever happened.
 

SoxFanInCali

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They finally gave Pugh a real striker's number, and she puts in the 5th.

And a couple minutes later, the keeper barely prevented a 4th OG.
 

67YAZ

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Yikes. That’s gotta be the worst day a defender has maybe ever had.

This is definitely the weakest SheBelieves tournament in its history. It would be nice to have better competition for the young Americans to run against - they’re not seeing much here that they don’t already see in the NWSL, probably a bit less talent. But it does reflect how far the European teams have come and how they are now better organized.
 

67YAZ

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April friendlies roster out. The youth movement continues, though Kelley O’Hara will not be denied. Sadly, both Lynn Williams and Tierna Davidson suffered major leg injuries this week and will be out for the entire NWSL season.

 

InstaFace

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*bump* friendly vs Colombia, in Denver, tonight 7:30pm ET, televised on FS1 and Fubo.

Upcoming:
- Tues 6/28, another friendly vs Colombia. 10:00pm ET, in Salt Lake City
- Mon 7/4 , CONCACAF Women's Champ Group Stage, vs Haiti, in Mexico, 7:00pm ET
- Thurs 7/7, CONCACAF Women's Champ Group Stage, vs Jamaica, in Mexico, 7:00pm ET
- Mon 7/11, CONCACAF Women's Champ Group Stage, vs Mexico, in Mexico, 10:00pm ET
(knockout rounds to follow; only one automatic bid to the Olympics, to the winner)
 

67YAZ

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They rolled Haiti tonight, even though there were a couple shaky moments at the back. That needs to get tighter.

 

Eastchop

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How on earth does Mexico get CONCACAF with literally double digits fans in the stands
 

InstaFace

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Huge match tonight: vs Canada, for the single auto-qualifier spot to the 2024 Olympics. Loser has a playoff game next September vs the winner of the 3rd place match for the other concacaf spot, but it would be nice to not have that hanging over us.

Obviously, Canada is the only peer or even near-peer team to the US in CONCACAF, so this will be a fundamentally different match than the previous 4 and I'm very excited to see it. Both teams have scored 12 and allowed 0 coming in.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Huge match tonight: vs Canada, for the single auto-qualifier spot to the 2024 Olympics. Loser has a playoff game next September vs the winner of the 3rd place match for the other concacaf spot, but it would be nice to not have that hanging over us.

Obviously, Canada is the only peer or even near-peer team to the US in CONCACAF, so this will be a fundamentally different match than the previous 4 and I'm very excited to see it. Both teams have scored 12 and allowed 0 coming in.
What channel is it on?
TIA