2015 Women's World Cup

[DLew On Roids]

Which is exactly how it's been hyped as the OMG GoD. My point being that the best team in Africa is like a .500 Patriot League team in the NCAA tournament. A Top 5 side should roll up enough GD against any CAF side to have no trouble backing into the Round of 16.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Which is exactly how it's been hyped as the OMG GoD. My point being that the best team in Africa is like a .500 Patriot League team in the NCAA tournament. A Top 5 side should roll up enough GD against any CAF side to have no trouble backing into the Round of 16.

I don't know. Every group has a terrible team. If say the Aussies lose to the US and Sweden they might need a ridiculous amount of goals to not be one of the two worst 3rd place teams on differential.

 

[DJnVa]

Word is that Morgan can play today, but not 90 minutes. I haven't heard if they are going to sub her in late if needed, and see if they can get by without using her, which I what I'd try.
 
 

 

[DJnVa]

Lalas not picking the U.S. Shocker.

 

[DJnVa]

Watching the Sweden-Nigeria game and announcers keep talking up both teams as threats to win group, but man--Sweden's first 2 goals came because Nigeria defends corners worse than a U12 team and Nigeria scored because every single member of their team is faster than every single player on Sweden.
 
Will that translate?

 

[luckysox]

Which is exactly how it's been hyped as the OMG GoD. My point being that the best team in Africa is like a .500 Patriot League team in the NCAA tournament. A Top 5 side should roll up enough GD against any CAF side to have no trouble backing into the Round of 16.

ORLY

 

[DLew On Roids]

ORLY

With your luck I'm guessing you saw my earlier post and put the mortgage on Sweden.

 

[luckysox]

Watching the Sweden-Nigeria game and announcers keep talking up both teams as threats to win group, but man--Sweden's first 2 goals came because Nigeria defends corners worse than a U12 team and Nigeria scored because every single member of their team is faster than every single player on Sweden.
 
Will that translate?

Speed ALWAYS translates. I mean, if you can send a ball through to almost any space and your teammates can all outrun any player on the other team, you don't necessarily need skill and technical prowess or great coaching to win.  It won't happen the majority of the time, but it sure as hell CAN happen, especially when the defense is as leaky as Sweden's was today. 

 

[luckysox]

I don't care what all you fellers say, the 24 teams is good for the sport on the women's side.  Nigeria playing Sweden to a draw cancels out that crappy Germany game yesterday for me.Trying to grow the women's game on a global basis means those sorts of sacrifices need to be made.  Because for every 3 or 4 games like that, you get a Nigeria who goes out and says, "Screw you, powers that be, we have a chance." Man, I would have loved to see Sweden lose, just from a "Hell Yeah!" for more girls and women having more chances perspective. Some little Nigerian girl saw that today, and maybe will have a new dream when she wakes up tomorrow. And some little girl in Ivory Coast saw it, too, and is dreaming the same dream. 

 

[Cellar-Door]

I don't care what all you fellers say, the 24 teams is good for the sport on the women's side.  Nigeria playing Sweden to a draw cancels out that crappy Germany game yesterday for me.Trying to grow the women's game on a global basis means those sorts of sacrifices need to be made.  Because for every 3 or 4 games like that, you get a Nigeria who goes out and says, "Screw you, powers that be, we have a chance." Man, I would have loved to see Sweden lose, just from a "Hell Yeah!" for more girls and women having more chances perspective. Some little Nigerian girl saw that today, and maybe will have a new dream when she wakes up tomorrow. And some little girl in Ivory Coast saw it, too, and is dreaming the same dream. 

Nigeria is apparently supposed to be good according to my source (the only person I know who really follows women's soccer closely year round), they dominated African qualifying and are the clear best team in Africa. They would have made the World Cup easily without the expansion.

 

[Infield Infidel]

I'm all for the underdog, but I don't think that Ivory Coast game helps at all. Two African teams would have been fine. Without the Ivory Coast game, Nigeria doing well would be a net positive for Africa. instead of "see how good the African teams are" it's "see, they aren't all bad." And I say that as a person whose parents are from Africa. I want African teams to do as well as possible, and not be lambs to the slaughter.

 

[DLew On Roids]

I'm gonna laugh my ass off at you folks in the Kumbaya crew when Australia and the USA go all Boko Haram on Nigeria.

 

[DJnVa]

Speed ALWAYS translates. I mean, if you can send a ball through to almost any space and your teammates can all outrun any player on the other team, you don't necessarily need skill and technical prowess or great coaching to win.  It won't happen the majority of the time, but it sure as hell CAN happen, especially when the defense is as leaky as Sweden's was today. 

 
Sure, but Sweden just seemed slow. I know speed never slumps, but it's the relative speed against your opponent that matters.

 

[DJnVa]

So, are these the Lady Socceroos? 

 

[shawnrbu]

No Ian Darke calling US soccer?  How long is he stuck at ESPN?

 

[DJnVa]

The men had already scored by now. This sucks.

 

[SidelineCameras]

What has Abby Wambach done to her hair?

Note: this is not a sexist question, I ask this about Olivier Giroud on a monthly basis.

 

[SidelineCameras]

Nice save by Solo. Thought that was in.

 

[DJnVa]

That's twice Press dumped the ball in too quick. They need to settle down.

 

[SocrManiac]

My cable feed is like a 2005 YouTube video on my parents' dial up.

I assume I'm the only one.

 

[DJnVa]

WOW.
 
Luck, but we'll take it.

 

[SidelineCameras]

Wowwowwow.

More please.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Goofy deflection.  I'll take it.

 

[CSteinhardt]

Australia have looked the much, much better team.

 

[DJnVa]

Solo's reflexes are honed by sparring with family members after drinking.

 

[SidelineCameras]

Ladies. Solo isn't the only one who can play defense.

 

[Cellar-Door]

So, are these the Lady Socceroos? 

Matildas.

 

[DJnVa]

Passes with a bit too much weight..might be a factor of playing on turf.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

I still don't like these uniforms. Stupid Nike.

 

[DJnVa]

Poop.
 
Defense needs to tighten up. It's like watching the men.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Good passing from the Aussies, but a lot of standing around watching from the US.

 

[JayMags71]

Yeah, the U.S. defending was rather poor, but it also seemed like Solo could have come out quicker.

 

[DJnVa]

May need to get Morgan in there. There's really no offense except Rapinhoe dribbling around.
 
With Wambach they force balls to her, and it's not flowing tonight.

 

[DJnVa]

That ball was there.

 

[Average Reds]

Wambach won't have an easier one than that. Bad miss.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

Wambach completely whiffed on that header.

 

[DJnVa]

Better...

 

[shawnrbu]

What the hell was that?  She sailed the net by a mile.

 

[DJnVa]

What the hell was that?  She sailed the net by a mile.

 
Leaning backwards when she struck the ball.
 
US played much better as the half went on, but good thing Solo is so good.

 

[teddykgb]

Very congested in the middle. Lots of hard hit passes to teammates already under pressure

 

[Titans Bastard]

The US isn't getting very far taking on Australia's defenders 1v1. If that's not going to work the combination play needs to improve. Australia's defense has been well organized so far. Except that missed header - criminal to leave Wambach that open on a set piece.

 

[soxfan121]

Wambach looks OLD and SLOW. And because she has to be central and has to be served, the US is off their game and playing Press out of position, leaving no width on the right. Clusterfuck. 
 
AW should be the "15 minutes left and we NEED a goal" sub. She no longer has the skills to play a regular role and makes the attack way too predictable.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Matador defense from Johnston there.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Aussies are using numbers in the midfield to slow down the US attack and protect the back line from the faster American players. Also they are abusing Krieger, she could use better help in front of her, but she's also Bornsteining it up out there.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

AW should be the "15 minutes left and we NEED a goal" sub. She no longer has the skills to play a regular role and makes the attack way too predictable.

That probably would be her role if Morgan was 100% healthy.

 

[Average Reds]

An obvious yellow there. Dumb foul.

 

[lars10]

What is the reason for the yellow socks? What national team ever wears none of their actual colors?

 

[Cellar-Door]

Also holy shit is Ecuador taking a beating from Cameroon. Japan and the Swiss got a cakewalk in that group.

 

[DJnVa]

Very nice from Leroux.

 

[SoxFanInCali]

What is the reason for the yellow socks? What national team ever wears none of their actual colors?

Nike.