Women's World Cup 2019

Cellar-Door

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Can you expand upon this? Rudimentary googling didn't help and I'm wondering what the story is here.
She went straight to PSG from high school where she made more money than anyone in NWSL by a lot, was clearly good enough to be on the USWNT but was frozen out until she took a pay cut and came back to the US. Basically USSF was trying to make a point that you had to either go to college or play with their partner in NWSL if you want to be on the USWNT roster
 

InstaFace

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Read the lindsey horan article in the first few posts of this thread.

Also, I thought Brazil-Australia was the match of the tournament so far, in terms of teams playing with not just skill but cohesion. Here are the highlights - the second Australia goal was a brilliant dummy by the striker, and likewise bad goalkeeping - you can't assume the striker gets a touch on it, you have to be prepared to play the no-touch. Also, I think VAR went 2-for-2 here.
 

SocrManiac

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the second Australia goal was a brilliant dummy by the striker, and likewise bad goalkeeping - you can't assume the striker gets a touch on it, you have to be prepared to play the no-touch.
Barbara, the keeper, was so far out of position it bordered on the absurd. That ball should have hit her in the stomach without her needing to move.

Keeping your angle and position as you move side to side is a difficult skill master, but I would have thought a Brazil keeper would have that down. Really, really awful stuff.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Barbara, the keeper, was so far out of position it bordered on the absurd. That ball should have hit her in the stomach without her needing to move.

Keeping your angle and position as you move side to side is a difficult skill master, but I would have thought a Brazil keeper would have that down. Really, really awful stuff.
I think this is a big issue for a lot of teams because many of them rarely play anyone that can attack them. Most of them spend the few games they play together pummeling smaller teams, and it's not until they get to the World Cup that they play anyone they can't dominate. Remember, as poor as Thailand looked against the US, they had some lopsided wins against teams from their region.

Alyssa Naeher is a very good keeper in the WPSL, but in the majority of US games she won't get more than a couple of touches. At least she gets action in the league, but other than ones that play in America and Europe, I wonder how much playing time and coaching a lot of these keepers really get. Many of them look way over their head at this stage. Some shots are obviously unsavable, but a lot seem to get through that better footwork and positioning could have prevented.
 

InstaFace

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You'd think some countries would pay a full-ride tuition to anyone that could get a goalkeeper job on an NCAA Division 1 program. they'd get better competition and better coaching than all but, as you say, the US and European women's club scene.

aren't there a ton of players in this WWC who were poached from NCAA Women's soccer programs, for having some ethnic heritage back in the country? The story about the Jamaican keeper was amusing just for the Tropic Thunder, "What do you mean, 'you people'?" angle, but I seem to recall a bunch of other players too.
 

67YAZ

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Japan-Scotland just started. Should be a fun clash of styles between the pass & possess Japan and the get-it-to-Cuthbert-any-way-you-can Scotland.

And there she is right on cue - Cuthbert makes a blazing diagonal run but the call can’t quite get there.

Edit: Scotland is definitely still dropping deep, but looks like they have pushed their left mid - #23 (Moss?) - high up so as not to completely strand Cuthbert. But they’re letting Japan complete clog the middle, leaving over-the-top as Scotland only option right now.
 

67YAZ

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It’s quickly come apart for Scotland. Japan was dictating the flow of the game, but wasn’t really threatening until Scotland hit a half clearance. Japan collected, a swift pass, and then a blast from the top of the box put them up.

10 minutes later, a tangle of bodies under a highball causes the ref to blow for a penalty. Japan converts easily.
 

67YAZ

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Agreed. And since then Scotland have been chasing the game and their World Cup hopes all over the pitch. Japan is making good use of that desperation. Will take some incredible moments for Scotland to get back in this.
 

67YAZ

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A horrible give away in gives Scotland a clear shot at the top of the box, and Clelland buries it. Now 2 minutes of extra time...
 

67YAZ

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But it's not to be for Scotland. Japan looking like their old selves today - composed, organized, tactical. They might have a little run in them.
 

67YAZ

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Italy hammering Jamaica right now sets up an interesting match day 3 for Group C.

Italy v Brazil - Italy are through, but will need a draw to guarantee the tip seed while Brazil needs a win to guarantee their place in the 16.

Australia v Jamaica - The Matildas are 6 behind Italy and 2 behind Brazil in differential, so they will seek to "pull a US" (i.e., run up the score and cause a nation to clutch its pearls over a perceived lack of respect).
 
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DennyDoyle'sBoil

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After a tournament of set pieces and penalties, the goal that just put England ahead of Argentina was pretty beautiful.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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Credit to Argentina's profound stubbornness forcing them into something that nice to get an actual goal in.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Credit to Argentina's profound stubbornness forcing them into something that nice to get an actual goal in.
Yeah, 0-0 looked like a pretty possible result. It will be interesting to see what happens now that Argentina have to push forward and try to score.
 

Zososoxfan

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Argentina don't even want to press with under 10 left? Have all these matches felt this slow? Not trying to be snarky, but there is a ton of space out there.

I really don't mean this in a negative way, but it may behoove the womens game to be played on a smaller pitch size.
 

InstaFace

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Credit to Argentina's profound stubbornness forcing them into something that nice to get an actual goal in.
And the central defender closer to the crosser watched the ball go over her leg. She had a chance to knock that one clear, too. Can't fault their D.

It's something of a relief to know that the Italian women are just as big divers and whiners as the men are.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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I was kinda bummed at the attendance for this match until they said it sold out and I realized what I thought was red empty seats was mostly actually orange jerseys.

The Dutch are turning out.
 

OCST

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Dutch player clashes heads and then hits head off the ground on the fall. NFW she should be be allowed to continue.
 

OCST

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Then Cameroon player comes in studs up literally head high. Yellow but should have been straight red. No doubt.
 

Dummy Hoy

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That was a sick goal. The great 1-2 and then that cross...damn.

Edit: and Cameroon comes right back! Great ball and header over the GK (although what was she doing?) and cool finish.
 

InstaFace

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Only a 4-goal win for Sweden. Looks like a tie vs them would still give us the group, assuming we beat Chile.
 
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Titans Bastard

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Major rotation for the US against Chile:


Pugh — Lloyd — Press
Ertz — Brian — Horan
Davidson — Dahlkemper — Sauerbrunn — Krieger
Naeher​

Ertz, Horan, Dahlkemper, and Naeher are the only repeat starters.
 

Ale Xander

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In 2023, I would like to see US1 and US2, like in Bobsled, and see if we can get 1st and 2nd at the same time.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Good to see Krieger out there looking strong. It seemed like the squad was looking to move on from her almost immediately after 2015, but she's forced her way back in. On the other hand, it makes me wonder about the future at RB if nobody could beat out the 34 year old Krieger to back up 30 year old O'Hara.