oh canada
GOLD
Game tonight vs. Japan.
First Half: USA playing the ball on the ground and trying to play good soccer. Some really good spells of possession and some good attacks. Enjoyable to watch. Good on coaching staff to make them play this style and in a 4-3-3. The right players playing the right positions helped, EXCEPT Pugh. She is not an 8 nor a 10, and as I've been saying for some time now, should not be on this team. She does not have the skill to play in the middle nor the 1v1 game to play effectively on the wings, nor does she have an accurate cross. But she has a Nike deal so that keeps her on. Japan had their moments too, and should have went up 1-0 but for the crossbar. They are a step slower and a stone smaller, but still make chances with their fantastic first touches---though not as good as other games since they were playing a few younger players for the experience.
Second Half: USA went conservative and it hurt them in the end. No more high press, and switched to a 5-4-1, maybe? They stopped connecting in an attacking sense and so didn't get scoring chances. No surprise the minute Pugh is subbed out for Press, Press uses her speed to assist on a nice chester from Morgan. Japan made them pay on two beautiful goals with amazing first touches by several players. Gotta give Japan extra credit for playing to a draw after traveling from half a world away.
This game is another example of the increasing parity in the women's game. USA vs. England on Saturday should be another good matchup.
First Half: USA playing the ball on the ground and trying to play good soccer. Some really good spells of possession and some good attacks. Enjoyable to watch. Good on coaching staff to make them play this style and in a 4-3-3. The right players playing the right positions helped, EXCEPT Pugh. She is not an 8 nor a 10, and as I've been saying for some time now, should not be on this team. She does not have the skill to play in the middle nor the 1v1 game to play effectively on the wings, nor does she have an accurate cross. But she has a Nike deal so that keeps her on. Japan had their moments too, and should have went up 1-0 but for the crossbar. They are a step slower and a stone smaller, but still make chances with their fantastic first touches---though not as good as other games since they were playing a few younger players for the experience.
Second Half: USA went conservative and it hurt them in the end. No more high press, and switched to a 5-4-1, maybe? They stopped connecting in an attacking sense and so didn't get scoring chances. No surprise the minute Pugh is subbed out for Press, Press uses her speed to assist on a nice chester from Morgan. Japan made them pay on two beautiful goals with amazing first touches by several players. Gotta give Japan extra credit for playing to a draw after traveling from half a world away.
This game is another example of the increasing parity in the women's game. USA vs. England on Saturday should be another good matchup.
