Not been following too closely even though plenty of the games are free-to-air here in the host nation. Can't work out the venues for the later matches. If England play anywhere close (Tianjin is not too far) I think I'll make the effort to turn up and support. Away the lasses. China look like they'll struggle to get out of their group which is not going to help crowds for the later stages.
I've been enjoying the tournament so far, thanks mainly to England's good performances. They were undoubtedly disappointed to allow a 94th minute equaliser against Japan, but when they held Germany scoreless for the first time in about a thousand games while Japan were only beating Argentina 1-0, qualification always looked on. Chico's probably being a bit harsh in saying no one else on the England team can play, but he's right that there's no one at Kelly Smith's level. Her problem is that she's clearly the best forward we have, but also the best attacking midfielder in the team by far. England were transformed against Japan when When Aluko was substituted, allowing Smith to be pushed up as the schwerpunkt. Hope Powell has showed tactical flexibility and England's defence is solid, (all three goals allowed so far have been direct from free kicks, not open play), but they're missing a transition from back to front, moving the ball from that defence to Smith. Other players to watch are Germany's Prinz who took the record for goals in the WWC yesterday and Brazil's Marta who is amazing. The Americans looked tentative against the Axis of Evil Korea and weren't helped by having to put stitches in Wambaugh's head or by goalie Hope Solo, (great name), who threw Korea's first into her own net. They looked better against Sweden, but clearly aren't at full speed yet. Chances are the US and England will meet in the next round.
Chances are the US and England will meet in the next round. Yes and we Yanks are gonna yank England up by the panties causing the worlds first mass wedgie while kicking their butt's up and down the field! USA RULZ!!!!!!! Hi there Mr B.
allowing Smith to be pushed up as the schwerpunkt Learn something new everyday. USA RULZ!!!!!!! Yeah, if it weren't for us, you'd all be ruled by inbred Germans.
I thought the US was lucky to draw with N. Korea. Their off-ball movement was not well timed and passing was shabby. This US team isn't nearly as technically proficient as past teams. We seem to have put together a team to beat Germany: strong and powerful. Teams with good ball skills like North Korea will always give bigger, slower teams problems and I agree we were lucky to draw with them. Now it's England in the quarterfinals and we'll see what happens there. One advantage England have is that most of their players play in a professional league and that regular competition can only be a plus. We'll see.....
Finally, something good about being at work at 4.30 am! I've gotten to see some pretty good soccer the past week or so, and watched nearly the entire USA - Nigeria tilt this morning. Must say I was relieved that the Nigerians weren't as needlessly physical as last year (I think it was last year when they did everything but hit the Americans over the head with cricket bats), but they were still pretty chippy. Some of those tackles were pretty close to being unnecessary, or even worse, flat out dirty. Of course, I also hated the US strategy around the 87th minute of just parking the ball in the corner to run off time. If you absolutely have to do that, don't get Abby Wambaugh to do it; those girls were knocking the crap out of her there at the end of the game.
That North Korea team isn't bad. At this stage I wouldn't be too worried as a USA supporter. To my knowledge, no commentator has yet made the allusion to the North Korean men's team of 1966 - eventual quarter finalists.
One advantage England have is that most of their players play in a professional league and that regular competition can only be a plus. The "minor" leagues of US Womens Soccer is more talented, developed and competitive than most other leagues in the world. You can label those teams "Arsenal", "Liverpool" or "Bayern Munich", yet those are the cities that they play in and sponsor them, not a determining factor of overall strength in their leagues. I would bet our womens "Richmond Kickers" would beat any team in England, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Man U. I would bet the US Womens league (second tier) all stars would easily handle most other National teams. The proof is in how we do in this Cup. Most of our players only play for our US team or play in the W-League (our league).
Hope you guys in Halifax and Yellowknife didn't get up in the middle of the night to find out about the 24 hour postponement. Same time tomorrow, then.
The "minor" leagues of US Womens Soccer is more talented, developed and competitive than most other leagues in the world. Indeed. That the womens' professional league folded had nothing to do with the quality of the players. Now, you can argue that this US side isn't up to the standards of the ground-breaking 90s team, or that the rest of the world has advanced, not least by taking advantage of the US college system. (Kelly Smith? Seton Hall graduate. Thanks, Title IX.) But the absence of a professional league hasn't deprived the US national side of regular competition, and has probably been advantageous in allowing the squad to bond. I hope the USA-England match is a cracker. At least neither team has been affected by the ridiculously short-notice postponements; at least the rescheduling now means that group deciders will once again be played simultaneously.
North Korea and USA are the top two favorites.
...in Group B. Germany might have something to say about who's in the top two favourites overall. William Hill, (and all the other betting sites I've looked at) has the odds at : 1. Germany 6/4 2. USA 5/2 3. Brazil 5/1 4. North Korea 10/1 Personally, I'd rate the US #1 and Germany #2, but IANAB.
Well, if the US beats England, there'll be a certain element of the English population that hopes they lose to the Germans on penalties, just so someone else inherits that bastard of a burden.
Canada v Australia was a cracker, as promised. I thought we had the better of the game, although you northerners might dispute that. Now a semifinal for the Matildas probably against Brazil.
Wow, what a heartbreaker for Denmark. That goal should never have been scored; it looked like the whole Danish defense left their goalie all alone, and she charged out against Pretinha, who just looped the ball right over her head. Tough to lose on a goal like that in injury time. Those Brazilian girls were lightning fast, too.
ouch. canada v. australia was a heartbreaker. grab the lead with 5 minutes left, only to concede one in f'-in injury time. grrr.
Shenanigans at the China-Denmark match
USA up 1-0 on a Wambaugh goal at start of 2nd. Great stuff to watch.
The floodgates have opened. 3-0 US at 59 minutes. Foxx and Lilly scored the next two.
After a close first half that had England looking like a potential spoiler for the Americans, it was a total blow-out in the second with the 3 goals and the English women looking more like the last U-13 girls team I coached than a world class side that finished second to Germany in the round robin stage. jeez is that a run on sentence or what
Sorry, Wambach. Jeez I could research a little before I make myself look like an idiot. At least I didn't say Belecheck.
Sorry, Wambach. Jeez I could research a little before I make myself look like an idiot. At least I didn't say Belecheck. also, it's Boxx, not Foxx.
I wouldn't feel too bad about the Wambach/Wambaugh thing, Hawk. In my first post I typed "Wambach" and though I'd better check the spelling. So I went to ESPN.com and they had her as Wambaugh. I'm not stupid. I just believe ESPN...
David James on womens' goalkeeping.
If only England had beaten America yesterday the evolutionary line in women's football might just have been speeded up a little. Not sure what he means by that? Other than that, the strange way that the position is treated has always confused me. My daughters' club has keeper training (voluntary for all players) every week during the season. (U8's and U11's.) So, perhaps we're on the right track.
