Women’s World Cup ‘23 Game Thread (spoilers)
- Thread starter 67YAZ
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The ref let them play a pretty cheap, rough game with a lot of professional fouls that were obvious cards in any other game..
van de Donk was on a yellow from their first game. It's the only logical explanation why she didn't pick up another here.
Can they review that elbow? Because to me that was an obvious yellow with intent to injure.. she wasn’t going for the ball at all.
Absolute malpractice to only use one sub. Our glittering bench of attacking options is only useful if you fucking use it.
Yup a ton a fouls to stop counters and then you’d think accumulation would eventually catch up to at least a few players. Plus Horan almost getting ACL’d
I guess the answer is that it did really feel like a goal was coming the last 20 minutes and you don’t want to mess with it? They should have scored. They just can’t finish. Unless offside.
I have watched Lynn Williams dominate in the NWSL on the left from the half to the goal ALL YEAR from just a few feet away in New Jersey.
It is a federal felony that Vlatko did not sub Lynn into the game in the second half (and a misdemeanor to not start her).
It is a federal felony that Vlatko did not sub Lynn into the game in the second half (and a misdemeanor to not start her).
I really don’t understand Vlatkos management. Morgan didn’t have it. Smith plays much better at the 9 and Rodman and Williams on the wings was a dynamic and effective attack in the last friendly
Ertz to CB and Sullivan in at 6 and the resulting downstream effects on Horans play and the attack have really impacted this teams play.
Ertz to CB and Sullivan in at 6 and the resulting downstream effects on Horans play and the attack have really impacted this teams play.
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Agree. Smith can slide into the middle or stay wide - there’s so many combinations possible.
And imagine if Swanson and Macario were healthy?
For all the attacking options, though, the midfield depth just ain’t there and there’s bo true 6 it Ertz is a CB. Maybe Mewis on for Sullivan when they’re chasing the goal?
It also felt like the Netherlands were getting tired.. no reason not to bring in fresh, fast offensive players to run at them..
One through eleven the Dutch were bigger and more physical. We were getting shoulder barged off every ball. But that wears out even the team dealing out the punishment, right? So yeah, get some pace and width out there and start making them chase. I nodded off a few minutes into the second half so I didn’t see our good spell- in what I saw I don’t remember seeing the Dutch CBs turning their backs and and chasing us much- they had it all in front of them.
A draw vs Portugal gets the US through. But the US has a +2 goal differential lead over the Dutch so a 2-0 win over Portugal likely is enough to win the group maybe? Will the Dutch beat Vietnam by 5?
Don’t sleep on Portugal. That’s a tough, physical team that will sit deep, make the US work, and then try to counter fast. And a win gets them through. Portugal is coming to play. And if we get another ref loses her cards, it will be a slugfest.
Sam Kerr is on the bench. Wonder if she gets in this one late.
The Dutch absolutely can beat Vietnam by 5, it remains to be seen if they will.
They've been trusting Cook-Girma as the CB pairing for several rounds of games now, including the SheBelieves. I don't know why that suddenly wasn't good enough.
Exactly. Ertz at the 6, to my eye anyway, completely changes the midfield with Horan playing back with Sullivan. Fortunately Lavelle brought some midfield push but the attack needs help.
Vlatko obviously wants the vet leadership on the back line without Becky, but between the effect this has on the attack and the reluctance to sub where is the tactical adaptability and confidence?
Interested to see what changes for Portugal. There are flashes of elevated play and there’s a ton of talent on this team.
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It’s one thing to do shoulder barges …that’s fine. But the reason you didn’t see the US running past the Dutch (which did happen a lot more in the second) was because they were not given a card for any of the times they either took out the legs or grabbed players so they didn’t get beat.
The US were actually the only team to get a card.. I thought most of their fouls were in retaliation.
The ref should have carded at least one of the fouls early so that things were more under control.. but she didn’t.
I understand and agree (mostly) with Vlatko's assertion that they were dominating the second half. Peel it back a little though, and of the 15 shots, only 4 were on goal; 1 of which came in the first half. This is late era Tito "asleep at the wheel" management. Like others above, barring injuries (which will really hose us), there is no reason to play Morgan for 100 minutes. She has looked terrible both games thus far, and not impressive in the tune up friendlies pre-tournament. I think you have to move Smith central and plug in Williams or even Sanchez in the final 15. Your Mids (once Lavelle was in) and defense are doing good work, as shown by lack of shots, but you cannot finish. To have weapons, on the bench, and not use them is silly. You get that win and Portugal is a semi-rest day.
Only other "gripe" is Dunn is doing just OK. I believe she normally plays wing but is being asked to play FB for the team. Her crosses and 1v1 are a bit shaky. I think there should be some consideration for a sub for her as well; but less convinced there.
Only other "gripe" is Dunn is doing just OK. I believe she normally plays wing but is being asked to play FB for the team. Her crosses and 1v1 are a bit shaky. I think there should be some consideration for a sub for her as well; but less convinced there.
If you’re a casual USWNT fan or just tuning in for the first time - this is who Vlatko is. He’s a cut below top-tier managers. His in-match changes are often slow and uncreative. His match plans aren’t inspiring and often rely on great players doing great things. And the team hasn’t looked particularly sharp since he took over. They roll weak sides and struggle against quality.
The US player pool is not as dominant as it once was and the absence of a true 6 has created a tactical problem for 3+ years now. But Vlatko still hasn’t found a solution for it - a double pivot, an inverted fullback, 3ATB, something…but no. It 4-3-3 with an unnatural 6 every time.
This squad will go as far as the players take it. We need Soph Smith, Horan, and Lavelle to grab this tournament by the scruff of the neck and not let go. Vlatko isn’t going to get this squad over the hump - it’s going to be the star players.
The US player pool is not as dominant as it once was and the absence of a true 6 has created a tactical problem for 3+ years now. But Vlatko still hasn’t found a solution for it - a double pivot, an inverted fullback, 3ATB, something…but no. It 4-3-3 with an unnatural 6 every time.
This squad will go as far as the players take it. We need Soph Smith, Horan, and Lavelle to grab this tournament by the scruff of the neck and not let go. Vlatko isn’t going to get this squad over the hump - it’s going to be the star players.
I can sort of understand the idea that it's tough to win a World Cup with two younger CBs. But Sullivan just ain't it at this level, at least not yet. Ertz-Horan-Lavelle just makes so much sense in terms of interlocking skill sets in the MF.
The way this team makes a deep run and potentially wins despite the completely non-tactical nature of the overall setup and the attacking play specifically is I think as follows.
- Team is defensively stingy (so far, so good)
- Team has enough 1 - 3 person stardust moments of sheer talent to overcome the organization issues
- Team is super dangerous on set pieces
Should they start Lavelle next game if she’s ready and see how much she can give us to start? Hopefully get control of the game early rather than bringing her on already chasing a game? They’ve looked much smoother and dangerous with her on.
The set-piece thing, not so much against the Dutch. As anyone who's been to Holland will tell you, they're all really fucking tall. We were the smaller team, by enough to affect set pieces in both boxes. As expected, a quick look at the rosters shows the Germans have a height advantage.
I agree that we are capable of winning against anyone but I also would not be surprised by an early exit.
Vlatk
I didn’t see height coming into play. The delivery was dreadful. I know it was windy, but it wasn’t much better against Vietnam. And then, when they connect, it seems like half of them are turtling and using the backs of their heads.
Lavelle is the best taker, so hopefully she is good to go 90 in good form for Portugal.
And it looks like every set piece is aimed at Ertz. She’s the best target and likely to pot one this tournament, but it has made every opportunity easy to predict.
Another massive blow for England with Walsh looking like she fucked her knee. From the highs of winning the Euros & blazing a 30 match unbeaten run, they have since lost so much talent down the spine of the staring XI - Mead (striker), Walsh (deep lying player maker), & Williamson (CB & captain). Brutal.
Lauren James scored, though. James (21), Soph Smith (22), Linda Caicedo (18), Julie Brand (21), & Trinity Rodman (21) are maybe the best collection of young stars ever at a women’s World Cup. The future is very right.
Lauren James scored, though. James (21), Soph Smith (22), Linda Caicedo (18), Julie Brand (21), & Trinity Rodman (21) are maybe the best collection of young stars ever at a women’s World Cup. The future is very right.
reports this morning that while jogging during training, Linda Caicedo grabbed her chest and laid down on the grass. Medical staff took her off. Colombian staff downplayed it as Caicedo being stressed and tired. But fuck. On the heels of Bronny’s heart attack, it’s crazy for thee teen stars.
Machnik is so useless. He just mumbles nonsense until the final decision is announced and then repeats the decision.
It's a tired old topic, but when do we talk about the standard of refereeing? There must be a hands-off directive from FIFA, no? The group stage has been absolutely brutal and relatively card-free.
France outclassed Brazil. Just a clinic in seeing out a game (except for that foul in the last 30 seconds).