WWC 2023

Kicker4Life said:
There are a few who’ve been holding down the bench that should have seen more time by now…Lynn Williams and/or Alyssa Thompson should have seen a lot more time. Why Morgan has played 240 of the 290 total minutes with 0 goals and 0 assists is puzzling. Then you drop Alyssa in with 2 min to go? I can’t understand it.

Then the girls are dancing in celebration at midfield post game? They should all be dancing around the post, thanking it for saving their asses!!!!

I believe another brilliant Carli statement was that the US Player of the Match was the goal post!
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Is there no VAR function to determine whether the goal post had been moved during the course of the game?
 
Carlsbad7 said:
I think what's really frustrating people is that we know that there's all kinds of talent in the USA. Problem is that getting to the USWNT is a buddy system of who you know, who you've played for, and maybe a little talent sprinkled in.

It's also telling that several countries have US trained players and they're making waves. How can this happen if all the best US players are on the USWNT? It doesn't make sense. Unless you factor in that the funnel for the USWNT is poorly managed and likely corrupt.
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I mean the buddy system starts at U8s. Competitive youth soccer in the US is inherently corrupt. We have to stop pretending who we are. We don't have a soccer culture nor do we have universally good coaching (maybe 1% of coaches are good). Throw in politics and money and it's a complete shit show. What we're seeing makes complete sense to me.
 
Cruzer said:
Carly Lloyd laid into the USWNT after the game...rightfully so! Someone on the team has to step up and call them out.
They are playing like caca and the whole world sees it. We had some good chances and so did Portugal. But we look like we are chasing all over the field. We got lucky at the end to not concede a goal. I feel like they are forcing their shots. Need to be poised in the final 3rd and make your chances count. I am crossing my fingers but I know what is going to happen already.
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When one of my sons was playing forward, his coach tried to get him in the right mood by telling him that he shouldn't just try to beat the keeper, he should try to beat him so badly that he throws down his gloves and quits the game.

I don't see anyone with that spirit on the USA roster.
 
Hopefully this World Cup will be a wake up call to the WNT, so they can get started right away on addressing the huge issues in their youth identification, development and training system, and have a chance to once again compete for a world cup in 8-12 years.
 
espola said:
Rose Lavelle must sit out the next game because of accumulated yellows. This leaves a good opportunity to start Rapinoe; she has been doing a pretty good job holding down one end of the bench most of the tournament with some spirit shown in her short stints of playing time and she obviously has something to prove..
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Your correct she has been doing a great job holding down one end of the bench, yet she should have never been on the roster. And her play against Vietnam was awful and she did nothing today to deserve getting the time she did.
 
That was a pretty brutal watch

On the men’s side you tend to see some of the tops team kinda feel their way through the group stages then turn it on during knockouts .

Unfortunately, I just don’t think that is the case here for the US woman , they look at times to be at a skill and tactical disadvantage to these European teams . I was shocked at our first touch and our inability to string passes together last night . The tatics seem to be get it to one of our front 3 and see if they can kick it and run past the defenders
 
whatithink said:
This surely isn't a surprise to anyone paying attention, e.g. (taken from a bigsoccer forum post) The US made the U20 WC semifinals or final in 5 of the first 6 editions, winning 3. In the ensuing four tournaments (since '14) they've finished 4th once, and failed to make the semi's let alone the final in the other 3.

So, the writing has been on the wall for years that a shift is coming. The explosion of the women's game in Europe (specifically) with the pro teams carrying women's teams also has seen Europe following their "normal" path for developing talent straight into their academies (pick the best, not who can pay the most) and going full time earlier (teen years), not wasting 4 years of development in college.

USWNT can still hang and "on any given day" beat anyone, but there are multiple teams that, "on any given day", can beat them. The aura is gone, and aura is an enormous psychological advantage at this level.
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Yep so true. In the words of the gret B.B. King..........the thrill is gone........
Brav520 said:
That was a pretty brutal watch

On the men’s side you tend to see some of the tops team kinda feel their way through the group stages then turn it on during knockouts .

Unfortunately, I just don’t think that is the case here for the US woman , they look at times to be at a skill and tactical disadvantage to these European teams . I was shocked at our first touch and our inability to string passes together last night . The tatics seem to be get it to one of our front 3 and see if they can kick it and run past the defenders
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If World Cup was ECNL, the US team would be RL. That's not a jab at RL players by the way at all...........just saying, they're not playing at the top level right now.
 
Goforgoal said:
Hopefully this World Cup will be a wake up call to the WNT, so they can get started right away on addressing the huge issues in their youth identification, development and training system, and have a chance to once again compete for a world cup in 8-12 years.
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Sounds like US Soccer should implement a Girls Development Academy type solution for elite talent. :rolleyes:
 
Goforgoal said:
James put on a clinic in the England v China match. The highlights are worth a watch if you haven't seen it. I'd be happy if the US could exhibit a fraction of the quality ball striking and technical ability that England displayed.
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This is a good read wrt James and her development path. There is zero chance that a US player could follow this, i.e. with Chelsea from 6, Arsenal from 13, practicing with the senior team at Arsenal, then the boys academy teams, moved to Man Utd at 16 and then bought by Chelsea at 21 ... and she is still only 21.

The girl who was too good: how Lauren James rose to World Cup stardom | England women's football team | The Guardian

Without a change in approach, the US will "decline" further. The current "elite" youth platforms in the US have the volume of players, and in all probability the quality of players, but they do not have the coaches & development infrastructure to maximize that.
 
Without a change in approach, the US will "decline" further. The current "elite" youth platforms in the US have the volume of players, and in all probability the quality of players, but they do not have the coaches & development infrastructure to maximize that.
[/QUOTE]
The last portion of your statement is key. US Soccer ended that possibility in 2020 and has zero in its plan to remedy its decline.
 
espola said:
View attachment 17715
Sweden is in; South Africa must beat Italy; Italy must have a win over South Africa plus a win or tie by Sweden; Argentina needs a win against Sweden coupled with a win by South Africa over Italy plus some goals.
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South Africa 3-2 Italy

I hope Italy is not one of those countries where the shooter of the losing own-goal gets gunned down in the streets.

South Africa vs. Italy Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup | FOX Sports

South Africa and Italy faced off against each other looking to qualify to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup knockout stages. Check out the top moments and highlights here!
www.foxsports.com www.foxsports.com

Sweden 2-0 Argentina

The game played pretty even except for Sweden getting all the goals.

Argentina vs. Sweden Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup | FOX Sports

Check out the highlights as Argentina and Sweden squared off in Group G of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup matchup.
www.foxsports.com www.foxsports.com
 
espola said:
View attachment 17714

Panama is out; France must beat or tie Panama to guard against the possibility of Jamaica-Brazil tie.
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France 6-3 Panama

I believe that is the most goals scored by a losing team this time around.

Panama vs. France Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup | FOX Sports

Panama and France faced off in an intense match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Check out the top moments and highlights here!
www.foxsports.com www.foxsports.com

Jamaica 0-0 Brazil

Good for Jamaica, bad for Brazil.

Jamaica vs. Brazil Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup | FOX Sports

Check out the highlights as Jamaica and Brazil squared off in Group F of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup matchup.
www.foxsports.com www.foxsports.com
 
espola said:
When one of my sons was playing forward, his coach tried to get him in the right mood by telling him that he shouldn't just try to beat the keeper, he should try to beat him so badly that he throws down his gloves and quits the game.

I don't see anyone with that spirit on the USA roster.
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Full disclosure -- that same coach said that for the strikers on the high school team he was coaching he wanted players who carried knives in their pockets.
 
espola said:
Rose Lavelle must sit out the next game because of accumulated yellows. This leaves a good opportunity to start Rapinoe; she has been doing a pretty good job holding down one end of the bench most of the tournament with some spirit shown in her short stints of playing time and she obviously has something to prove.
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Cioppino is on the team because there'd be blue hairs, from coast to coast, yanking the bones from their noses in protest.
 
sockma said:
I'm going to drop the subject too and focus on the WWC after this last comment. It's a lot easier to drop bad eggs in other professions or put them in areas where they don't affect the public, but bad teachers and bad cops are too well protected and it hurts the good ones. The good ones want the changes too.

Rapinoe never physically hurt anyone nor does she encourage violence. She just has some opinions I strongly disagree with. Plenty of people I disagree with are good people. Plenty of people with the same opinions as myself behave badly as human beings, unprovoked violence. It just makes more sense to judge people by their physical behavior/actions rather than their opinions. Freedom of thought and speech is vital to a free society. The constant cancel culture from the left and right is terrible. Cancel culture should be reserved for those that are violent and encourage violence.
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I concur with this. And I'd say most actors and professional athletes are the last ones to be virtual signaling society. Is there anyone more removed from life's realities? Rapinoe is a 1%'er & made $7M last year. Best of the best. I really don't value her opinions on anything other than futbol.
 
I think it's preposterous to expect U.S. Soccer to change anything. If they leave the tourney early, they might can the coach. Beyond that, their argument will be that they won the last 2, were favorites to win this one and there's nothing to fix. They know more than we do. Don't they always?
 
The group stage is complete. Many surprises! Congratulations to the countries who have never made it this far.

Teams OUT at the group stage:
#17 South Korea !
#16 Italy !!
#8 Brazil !!!
#7 Canada !!!
#2 Germany !!!! wowwww

Teams INTO the KO round!
#25 Colombia !!
#40 Nigeria !!!
#43 Jamacia !!!!
#54 South Africa !!!!
#72 Morocco !!!!! wowwww
 
espola said:
View attachment 17717
Colombia is in; South Korea is out; Germany plays South Korea and Morocco plays Colombia for the last spot.
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Morocco 1-0 Colombia

Silly foul PK led to the game's only goal.

Morocco vs. Colombia Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup | FOX Sports

Check out the highlights as Morocco and Colombia squared off in Group H of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup matchup.
www.foxsports.com www.foxsports.com

Germany 1-1 South Korea

Germany spent most of the game trying to score the goal that would have gotten them into the round of 16 (or praying for a goal from Colombia).

South Korea vs. Germany Highlights | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup | FOX Sports

South Korea and Germany faced off in a crucial match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Check out the top moments and highlights here!
www.foxsports.com www.foxsports.com

I haven't checked the actual numbers yet, but the feeling I have is that Germany is the highest-ranked team not to make it into the round of 16 and Morocco is the lowest-ranked team to succeed at that.

[EDIT] -- see Cruzer's post above.
 
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