Lastly, what did Vlatko say in that final huddle? “I don’t know, I wasn’t paying attention, none of us listen to that loser.”
Sue Bird isn’t who I’d want as my partner if I were Megan right now. Folding under pressure wasn’t even something that could occur at UConn or the Womens National Basketball Team. Maybe she missed a free throw that caused UConn to not cover the spread or something that haunts her to this day. Iowan Messi is who she needs
Because the individual skill is so high, they can create shots on their own. But because there isn’t a plan in place or players in their strongest positions, they rely on the individual moments which is still nearly good enough anyway. But they fail to create team goals. not sure what slam dunk you think you’re making here.
figured you would die on this hill, because you clearly felt that way before they once again failed to score in regulation and blew the PKs. they scored 3 goals again Vietnam lol. In that game they looked like mothers playing with their 10 year old daughters from a physical standpoint. One goal off a corner in 300 + minutes. I don't care who the coach is. 4 goals in 4 games. That is awful. A choke job. They just weren't that good. Sure coaching probably played a role but the results are there just like the chances were. They just didn't have it in a variety of ways, but the coach can't be there on the field to help them put the ball in the net or make a PK.
What hill am I dying on? Your claim was a talent issue. All I saw was good individual talent creating their own chances. What I didn’t see was a game plan that maximized the team. You do t know what you’re watching and that’s fine. See you in 4 years. sweden has been good for a decade+ so this doesn’t even go towards some “international team caught up” narrative either.
the writing was on the wall even before the tournament started ---- need to fire vlatko so we can hire him again in two months #goussf
lol see you never. "they were good enough to create chances, but the coaching held them back from finishing them" gtfo you are afraid to hold them accountable so you are making up this narrative. I really hope it helps you feel better that the so called #1 on the world never at any point looked like it.
Of course but it wouldn’t be a bunch of people cashing in on schadenfreude because they got their wish of the dominant women’s team losing. Just kinda weird
Oh what would they do if a guy with a mortal kombat username on a message board doesn’t hold them accountable!? The team is absolutely feeling accountable but when you have an international manager who doesn’t put people in the best positions and then doesn’t adjust anything when things aren’t gelling….he should shoulder the brunt of the failure. It’s inarguable that the talent (despite injuries) should have shown up better. PKs is the only thing you can’t hang on him other than pinoe should have never seen the field this tournament.
you and others that think all of the good players were wasting away on the bench would've been bitching if Rampinoe or Morgan were sitting on the bench and the team was still struggling to put the ball in the net. can't win. story as old as time when things don't go your way in the World Cup. Like I said, based on the terrible scoring results and wasted chances there is really no defending it. When single players meet or exceed your scoring output when you go into OT 3 straight games there is really no defending it. It was bad all around regardless of who the coach was.
I swore she said she was retiring after the last World Cup . I only casually follow and didn’t watch the Sweden game but it seems they were too committed to the ‘aging Star names’ for promotion reasons where they shouldn’t have been playing as much(Ertz, Morgan) and also big picture more countries are serious about women’s futbol so they are seeing the depth men deal w at the International level now
Idk. Outside of the people you are referring to who cared more about not singing the anthem rather than the on field performance, the discourse has been pretty favorable. Imo this result is similar to the 04 men’s basketball team failing to win gold. This team (coach and player alike) should be getting crushed right now for going out this early in the tournament and their performance overall.
-they had quite a few good looks at goal, but the shots lacked quality. The Swedish GK didn’t make any mistakes, and those saves that looked amazing in real time were good saves, but not amazing. And sooo many shots to the skies and slow rollers to the GK. -kudos to those starters who fought for 120 minutes. At the 70 mark I figured we would lose in regulation because some of the starters were slowing and the defense was beginning to lose it‘s shape. If a coach doesn’t play his bench there’s little chance they can develop game confidence and sharpness. -to my disappointment I called all of our PK misses. Rapinoe’s form on her shot was just terrible, but predictable based on her play in this tournament. Smith hasn’t been shooting accurately either, plus she was dog tired imo. I‘m not sure who took the last shot but the camera close-up prior to her shot showed that she was repeatedly swallowing. I think she was smart by selecting a controlled shot that typically is going to be on target. The moment got to her.
The way the media is treating this result is hilarious. You would think we were a first time participant that exceeded our wildest expectations.
I think they’re seen as such a net positive overall for the activism and pay fight that the press is afraid to accurately discuss the rubbish on field product this tourney, probably an opposite pendulum swing away from the “uppity women” reactionaries
I’ve seen the mix of response. Mostly the team DOES buy a lot having won the last 2 WCs. That does buy you something. But I’m still just thinking about how they thoroughly outplayed top 5 Sweden, didn’t score in a decently-sized part due to misuse of Alex Morgan and lack of adjusting away from it since it was an apparent issue since game 1…and people still think it’s because the US wasn’t talented enough.
Give me a 3-5-2. Put Trin and Pugh as the wing backs bombing forward all game (Thompson as their sub in the 70th). Cat and Sophia up top with Rose underneath them. I don’t care who plays defense because that team is scoring roughly 10 a game.
It doesn’t help that the vocal leader of the off field accomplishments is front and center of the on field disaster. It doesn’t matter that Rapinoe is well past her prime and shouldn’t have been on the squad. Make a damn penalty. It’s the one skill that never really deteriorates.
The coach should be front and center for the on field disaster but he’s a man so he is allowed to have his faults. Women have to be perfect always.
The coach that everyone has wanted fired since before the tournament started? That one? As always dump, you try way too hard
The amount of fraud Sweden committed was worse than the Democrats stealing the election from President T!!! The company that made the actual goals was in cahoots with Venezuela!!!! When the actual result is litigated in court we will see the US actually won 10-0.
Vlatko and US Soccer deserves most of the blame. The players don’t escape blame but he decide who plays, the formation, and overall strategy. Media doesn’t understand or care about women’s soccer unless we win gold so they have no way to sensationalize and explain the loss except discussing how happy republicans are and how woke the team was. Which is funny because the Swedish team is as much or more for used on social issues.
For the Fox News/CNN/MSNBC's of the world, that's a fine excuse. But the people who claim to give a shit about womens' soccer are falling into the same tropes.
Also we need to find out some kind of better name than USMNT and USWNT. They sound like trade unions.
The Men’s team has been called the Three Lions forever so don’t really see the issue with Lionesses. Especially since, like actual Lions, they do much more work than the men do.
I didn't say there was something wrong with lionesses. I am saying that if we just pull something like that out of thin air for the women's team, it will come off as stupid and contrived