Commentary
USA-Sweden Women's World Cup Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Jun 12, 2015
June 12 in Winnipeg
USA 0 Sweden 0.
Att.: 32,716.
--------------------------------------------------
The U.S. defenders were the best players on the field for Coach Jill Ellis’ team, which played Sweden to a scoreless tie in its second game of the 2015 World Cup.
USA Player Ratings
Starters
RATING PLAYER (TEAM) GP/G
5 Hope Solo (Seattle Reign FC) 171/0
Didn’t have to make any saves. Punched away corner kick amid goal-area crowd in 38th minute.
7 Ali Krieger
(Washington Spirit) 67/1
Right back created most of the U.S. attack in the first half, some in the second, and defended well throughout the game.
8 Julie Johnston
(Chicago Red Stars) 13/3
Stellar performance by central defender who won tackles (a big one in the 88th minute), intercepted low and high passes.
7 Becky Sauerbrunn (FC
Kansas City) 82/0
Partnered with Johnston to stifle forwards Therese Sjogran and Lotta Schelin. Cut off a pass that prevented a 63rd-minute breakaway.
7 Meghan
Klingenberg (Houston Dash) 35/2
Left back kept dynamic Sofia Jokobsson at bay and headed shot by Carolina Seger off the line in the 77th minute – the closest either team came to
scoring.
4 Morgan Brian (Houston Dash) 30/4
Right midfielder failed to threaten down the flank.
3 Lauren Holiday (FC Kansas City) 125/23
With Lloyd, part of a central midfield that should be a concern for Ellis for its inability to carve out chances for the frontline.
3 Carli Lloyd (Houston Dash) 196/63
Forced a Hedvig Lindahl save in 48th minute, perhaps the only time she penetrated effectively. Coughed up the ball a few times, dangerously in the 50th minute.
4 Megan Rapinoe
(Seattle Reign FC) 104/31
Ineffective first-half effort included an atrociously mis-hit free kick within scoring range and a corner kick straight to first defender. Set up first
second-half chance (Lloyd shot) and Wambach’s diving header in the 72nd minute. But was repeatedly stopped by Elin Rubensson down the wing.
3 Christen Press (Chicago Red Stars)
47/21
Started on a frontline with Leroux and the two failed to connect with each other. Missed badly with a 57th minute shot. Spent a few uneventful minutes in midfield before being
subbed in the 67th minute for Wambach.
3 Sydney Leroux (Western NY Flash) 73/35
Didn’t threaten on Sweden’s end and lucky not to be called for handball in
U.S. penalty area in 23rd minute. Shot high in 66th minute and 70th minute.
Substitutes
4 Amy Rodriguez (FC Kansas City) 124/2
Replaced midfielder Brian in 58th minute
and moved up front with Leroux, then moved into midfield when Morgan came on. Didn’t make an impact in either position.
4 Abby Wambach (unattached) 244/182
Replaced
Press in 67th minute. Diving header saved in the 72nd minute.
nr Alex Morgan (Portland Thorns FC) 86/51
Replaced Leroux in 78th minute. Beaten off the ball by Fischer in
83rd seemed show she’s not close to full fitness.
(1=low; 5=average; 10=high)
June 12 in Winnipeg
USA
0 Sweden 0.
USA -- Solo; Krieger, Johnston, Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg; Brian (Rodriguez 56), Holiday, Lloyd, Rapinoe; Press (Wambach 67), Leroux (Morgan 78).
Sweden -- Lindahl; Rubensson, Ilestedt, Fischer, Samuelsson; Jakobsson, Dahlkvist, Seger, Nilsson (Sembrant 70); Sjogran (Appelqvist 75), Schelin.
Referee:
Sachiko Yamagashi (Japan)
Att.: 32,716.
TRIVIA: The USA was shut out for the first time in a Women’s World Cup since falling, 4-0, to Brazil in the 2007 semifinal.
lack of creativity on both sides? Root for Brazil or japan?
Poor officiating, again. Unpunished fouls escalated the physical nature of the match, resulting in a bore draw. However, our defenders finally were forced to play out of the back but to minimal effect. Wall passes on the right side were lame, so everything ended up at Rapinoe's feet. Unfortunately, she wasn't having a good day. My question is, if Abby is going to sub, shouldn't Rapinoe play in the center? She's the only real 10 on the team. There were multiple times in the second half when we had the ball 35 out but no one wanted to run at the defense. Once the CAM beats that defender their centerbacks collapse on the ball and lanes open up. Fix that, and we really do have another way to play when we need it. A good experiment against a quality opponent--props to Jill Ellis for doing something different to shake things up. Didn't get the result we wanted but got the point we needed.
It's a bit harsh as USA get vital pt needed to secure birth going thru
Officiating weak
Julie Johnston well-deserved the best mark of the day. However, the shortcomings of the rest of the US team were on plain view. Rapinoe clearly was having an off day. Why oh why Ellis doesn't try Tobin Heath in place of either Holiday or Lloyd? And it's tragic that Morgan is not OK to partner with Press up front. Neither Brian nor Rodriguez contributed much, and Wambach seems to be good for one thing and one thing only---heading balls sent near to the goal area from CKs, DFKs and maybe long hopeful passes. Her feet don't seem to be good enough to use her as a target player.
I will be astonished if the CR is given another assignment.
Yes, I agree the officiating has been rather lacking, tonight's game, and the Mexico game. The CR's lag and don't keep up closer to the play, especially in the opponents defensive third. The FIFA folks in charge of officiating obviously haven't or didn't do a better job of preparing the center officials. The ladis deserve better.
Morgan Brian is not qualified. This was a joke as this is the best " offense" USA has? Heather O'Reilly. Tobin Heath. Jill Ellis is a loser! Stop playing girls you Like and start playing best 11. Can we get a real Coach?? Tonight against Sweden was embarrassing
The commentators seem to know there is no midfield. But Jill starts Same old. Same old. We need whole new coaching staff... Clean house... Then get some new players. Clean out Chalupny..Rodriguez...waste of roster spots. USA needs whole new direction. The players on the field wearing makeup (Press) are joke. More interest in getting endorsements than winning
@Kate...unfortunately our younger players are even worse...Oh, for the days of Anson Dorrance..... Pay for play has destroyed the woman's game... Focus on winning and recruiting has killed off skills development.... We R no longer dominant...throw in the Astroturf fields and this will be the ugliest womens World Cup ever!!!
A positive: Thank you to Fox for – apparently – coaching the commentators and letting JP Dellacamera do his job and keeping color commentators DiChicco and Cat W at bay! – This repeat of a sad performance by many of our players and the coaching staff should initiate a critical analysis by USSF.
This a team that forgot the basics, static. Players waiting for the ball instead of moving towards it. No off the ball runs to establish position and to further passing lanes, serious bad first touches. For an "elite" team some serious ball handling problems. No cohesive tactics at all. Yes while officiating was certainly suspect it was the least of our problems. This team with inferior players must be coached by someone that can maximize results via stressing passing, movement and vision as well as desire for the ball....fitness not the issue.. it is the total lack of tactical vision that will not let this team win against France, Germany or even our next opponent.....very disappointed in this team....much to my chagrin!!!!!
This is standard for the USA. They have not evolved. Even at the golden age the USA appeared to have flair due to the lack of quality of our opponents. Gone are the days where the USWNT athleticism carries the day. This team resembles the English MNT. In the golden age for the USA, it was similar to a club team in that they really only played with each other and were not assembled from various teams. I THINK THAT THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH THE USA TODAY WAS LLOYD AND HOLLIDAY. If your middle of the field is that weak you have a totally disjointed attack. I would like the #USWNT to experiment with A-Rod as the D-mid and maybe Tobin Heath as the attacking mid. I think the speed of A-Rod and her willingness to fight would free Heath up to make that killer pass.
Last night the correct first sub was for one of the central mid-field players. Late in the game it was Johnston and Sauerbrunn making the offensive plays from the middle of the park. It was a shock that a center-mid sub was never made. Pia's comments must be spot on; the comments may have affected the substitution decisions.
Time to fix waht went wrong and move on. Let's go USA! #USWNT
Time to play Julie Johnston at midfield,
Rampone replacing her in the back. Time to START Morgan up front, keep Lazy Leroux, inept Press, unqualified Brian,
over-the-hill Wambach, and useless Holiday on the bench.
This USA coach has no clue about who her best players are. And it seems like there is some hidden reason why Morgan is not starting and playing more.
Meagan Rampinoe is beginning to believe her press clippings. Lost the ball numerous times, hold the ball way too long allowing defenders to adjust. Much too cavalier needs to pass run into space and keep moving. Too often static on the side lines. Disappointed.
oops "Rapinoe"
You can hardly expect a coach to experiment with massive personnel changes in the middle of the World Cup .... because of a supposed "disastrous" tie against #3 team in the world. Yes ... the center midfield situation raises major concerns. Yes ... soccer brains & IQ are lacking to produce attractive or effective attacking soccer. Yes ... the notion of coach favoritism is ignorant. Yes ... the USA can defend with the best of them. The talent pool and the collective ability is relatively set, so all there is to do is to encourage and to hope for results. The problems afflicting the women's game in the USA are many and we are not improving quickly enough ... but the coach can't solve these problems now. Major positional changes would only lead to greater team struggles.
Johnston as the defensive/holding mid is a great idea, especially since Rampone is able to fill in behind her and still has world class speed. I would take Lloyd off and move Holiday into the attacking mid role. Stop trying to make Press a midfielder and bring in Tobin Heath. Two creative, very skilled flank midfielders then. Morgan needs to start up top with either Leroux/Press/Arod. Against top competition Wamback is only good for a solid 15-20 minutes. Problem with Ellis is the same she had at UCLA - her teams lack tactical sophistication and she doesn't seem to understand the best roles for each player.
This performance is down to the refusal of the coaching staff to put the players on the pitch that suit the tactics being employed. Leaving the tallest player you have on the bench and then playing high balls onto the box is absurd. Either start Wambach or change the attacking tactics to suit the players on the pitch. It is far easier to play the players best suited to the tactics than force players to adjust their game to suit the tactics. Let's get with it, Jill Ellis and staff.
The team is a work in progress. The defensive play clearly improved from the first match. Now it is time to improve the attacking play. I was very surprised at how physical the referee allowed the play to get. I don't understand the referee allowing markers to pull down players in the box while calling corners and free kicks near the box tight. Opponents are going to note it and the shut-out. So expect to see a lot more physical play against the USA. And some ugly soccer as a result.
We're just not very good. We may win the cup, but it will be in an ugly fashion if it happens. When will US Soccer force the women's team to revamp? Are they happy just being a marketing tool?
Not enough 'simplicity' in play...stupid mistakes by veteran players; officiating at this C is mediocre at best, just as is the pitch.
I guess all you soccer officianados are happy with the TV cameo and ground level in your face camera work...total farce.
late to the article...mostly agree with the tone of the posts. Nothing will change unless the US has an early exit.
Have to comment to Santiago 1314, are you seriously asking for Anson D back?!! He created this whole mess we call women's soccer in the US! All speed, all athlete, sprint, sprint, sprint. Recruit the athlete as soon as she hits puberty, sub like crazy. Chew 'em up, spit 'em out.
That's the wrong direction. We need coaches at all levels focused on developing soccer players, not just grabbing those who happen to develop physically early.
Best USWNT, Mia Hamm et al, solid performers, very high soccer IQ, and made things happen.
Greg Lalas , it is clear you are an American , so I commend you for your knowledge in set plays in Football (Soccer ) . The analyses you gave is very accurate and even people with general knowledge of the game don't seem to notice these details .
Post
Share:
@Scott J...Having Personally seen Anson train his players, He was NEVER just a Run & Gun type...It was all about 1v1 Competing(Read his book; Training Soccer Champions)..None of these players today have the "TWITCHability" of Hamm, Jennings, Lily, Foudy, Akers, Chastain, Overbeck...Just to name a few...Granted He Is/Was a Prick and a Jerk...But JK could take some lessons from him...Just WIN BABY WIN!!!!
Gotta agree with Scott. Can someone explain why the USWNT doesn't play (1) with more technical sophistication and (2) higher speed of play? Where's the creativity and flair? Is it trained out of the players? Are such players not selected? Excuse me, but their play - individually and as a team - is REALLY BORING. Only Rapinoe shows professional sophistication with the ball at her feet. The others seem so anxious to get rid of it, and always either safely (sideways or backwards). When the rare attempt at a penetrating pass occurs, it seems routinely over-weighted and given to the keeper or the end line. Don't want to be harsh, but NO WAY does the level they've shown so far advance them to lift the Cup. NO WAY.