Commentary
USA-Costa Rica Concacaf W Championship Player Ratings
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jul 15, 2022
July 14 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
USA 3 Costa Rica 0. Goal: Sonnett 34, Pugh 45+3, A.Sanchez 90+5.
Att.: 2,537.
The USA moved into the final of the Concacaf W Championship with a 3-0 win over Costa Rica. It led 2-0 at the half but didn't score its third goal until the waning seconds of stoppage time. It was another sluggish performance by the Americans, particularly in the second half, in the Monterrey heat. Costa Rica, which has lost all 17 meetings with the USA, rested many of its stars, preferring to save them for Monday night when Las Ticas will play in the third-place game. The winner of Monday's final will earn a berth in the 2024 Olympics. The runner-up and third-place winner will remain alive, however. The will meet in a playoff at a future date to determine Concacaf's second Olympic representative.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Casey Murphy didn't have to make a save in her third tournament start, getting the nod in goal ahead of veteran Alyssa Naeher, but she had a couple of unusually nervous moments in the first half, a miscommunication with teammate Alana Cook that led to a corner kick and a clearance that was badly mis-kicked.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Casey Murphy (NC Courage 8/- (26)
DEFENDERS
Alana Cook and Becky Sauerbrunn, the center backs, were rarely tested by Costa Rica, which chose to sit deep, even when it trailed. Sofia Huerta got the start ahead of Kelley O'Hara and was pushed high in the U.S. attack, where she found Alex Morgan for an excellent chance that was wasted in the 3rd minute. With Emily Fox still out due to Covid protocols, veteran Emily Sonnett took advantage of another start to score her first international goal, pushing a loose ball into the goal as she was falling down on her side.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Sofia Huerta (OL Reign) 18/0 (29)
5
Alana Cook (OL Reign) 13/0 (25)
5
Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns) 206/0 (37)
6
Emily Sonnett (Washington Spirit) 69/1 (28)
MIDFIELDERS
The U.S. midfield continues to be a source of frustration. Andi Sullivan, the deepest-lying midfielder, did well to keep Costa Rica pinned in its half but struggled to unlock the Ticas' defense that clogged the middle. Rose Lavelle offered a piece of skill she is well known for, playing Mallory Pugh through with a back-heel to set up the second goal at the end of the first half. Starting her fourth straight game, Lindsey Horan looked sharper but still had little influence on the game despite being often thrust into positions to win physical duels.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) 31/3 (26)
5
Lindsey Horan (Lyon, FRA) 115/25 (28)
6
Rose Lavelle (OL Reign) 77/21 (27)
FORWARDS
Mallory Pugh and Sophia Smith both did well on both sides of the ball. Pugh's goal was set up by Smith's work to win the ball just outside of the Costa Rican penalty area. But after a poor Costa Rican clearance late in the first half, the ball went straight to Smith, who shot straight at goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez with the goal at her mercy. In the 17th minute, Pugh's well-placed free kick put the streaking Alex Morgan through on goal, but Morgan, who had a rough first half, failed to put her shot on target.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars) 77/24 (25)
4
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave) 195/117 (33)
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns) 20/8 (21)
SUBSTITUTES
Ashley Sanchez finished the scoring late in stoppage time when she sharply hit a bouncing ball after Kristie Mewis' long ball from the right side was played to Morgan.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave 5/0 (22)
6
Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit) 13/3 (23)
5
Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign) 192/62 (37)
NR
Kristie Mewis (Gotham FC) 44/7 (31)
NR
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) 6/2 (20)
July 14 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico
USA 3 Costa Rica 0. Goal: Sonnett 34, Pugh 45+3, A.Sanchez 90+5.
USA -- Murphy; Huerta, Cook (Girma 63), Sauerbrunn, Sonnett; Sullivan, Horan (A.Sanchez 63), Lavelle (K.Mewis 82); Smith (Rodman 81). Morgan, Pugh (Rapinoe 63).
Costa Rica -- Bermudez; Guillen, C.Sanchez, Benavides, Del Campo; L.Rodríguez, Alvarado (Granados 46), S.Cruz (V.Chinchilla 88); P.Chinchilla (Herrera 46), Valenciano (D.Cruz 69), Venegas (Montero 88).
Yellow Cards: USA -- Lavelle 70, Rapinoe 84; Costa Rica -- S.Cruz 53.
Red cards: none.
Referee: Astrid Gramajo (Guatemala)
Att.: 2,537.
Stats:
USA/Costa Rica
Shots: 15/2
Shots on target: 7/0
Saves: 0/4
Corner Kicks: 6/2
Fouls: 17/9
Offside: 3/0
Possession: 64%/36%
Photo: Brad Smith/ISI Photos
Ho, Ho, Ho,,,(Humm)
They Finally found a way to Keep from playing Slow and Square across the Center Backs... Go with only 3 in the Back... Addition by Subtraction...BUT, then you play RtFooted Sonnet at Left CenterBack...AND...if I see her Pull the Ball Back with her RT Foot and Play the Ball Negative and BACK 30 yards to The Sweeper, I think I am
Going to PUKE(what a Buzz Killer.!!!)... I paraphrase Jaws/Monty Python: “I’m Gonna need a BIGGER Bucket.!!!”
Only Lavelle and Sanchez have Any Lateral, Creative, Twitch... Poor Rapinoe, she Used to, BUT, No Matter how hard she wants It... It just Ain’t there Anymore.!!!
Problem for Sanchez is: as Quick and Twitchy as She is, She has NO “Getaway” Speed/Range...It takes her 5 Steps to Cover the Ground her Opponent Covers in 2...
And Poor Lavelle, She’s wanting to play with Skill and in a Creative Style, that Leave her “Alone on an Island”
I’m going to Cut them some Slack, under the “Theory” that USA is “Sandbagging” for Canada... (Hahaha, like we are Good enough to “Turn it On/Off”)
No, it’s more Likely that: We are Experiencing the same issues the Men’s Team went Thru....
Santiago 1314 replied, August 5, 2021 at 5:17 p.m.
You are Correct Frank... It has been all too common, in the Last 15 years, for our Youth Pay-to-Play and College Coaches to Make our Women... "PLAY THE WAY YOU ARE FACING.!!!".. "One Touch.!!!" ... "Don't Dribble.!!!" ... "Pass, Pass, PASS THE BALL.!!!" ... They "Literally" Beat the Skill Out of the Creative Youngsters... and "The Chickens have Come Home To Roost" ...
The Same Problem became Self Evident on the Men's Side, That is why there is only a Few Players over 24 On the Starting 11 ... When Most National Teams average 28.
I see it as a 10 year Gap, 32yrs old to current 22 yrs old... We have Lost a Generation of National Team Quality Players...
We really Shouldn't HAVE to be Building the Men's National Team around 20 year olds... But, WE ARE.!!!
How did the Men Fix this Issue SOOO Fast.???
We need to employ the same Strategies here.!!!
I Fear that the Gap on the Women's Side is 15 years... We CAN'T be Building our Women's National Team around 15 year Old Girls.!!!
Santiago 1314 replied, August 5, 2021 at 4:48 p.m.
Adam, I am waiting for someone to Produce a List of Younger WORLD CLASS USA Players to Replace this Group...
I have asked Multiple People on this and other Websites for NAMES..!?!?!?
You got Any.???
( Sadly, I don't think they Exist... Please SOMEONE, ANYONE ... Prove Me Wrong.!!!)
One Year On... And my Statement Holds True... Where are the Next Generation of 24-28 Year Olds Female Players.??? ... They Don't Exist.!!! ... I Tried to Watch NWSL last year, to Find ANY.!!!... NOT Happening...... Might be Time to Bring in the u20 and u17s... Between those 2 Teams and a Few "Twitchy" Current Players, we have enough to "Re-Start" the Program...It Worked for the Men, Maybe it will work for the Women.... Can't be any Worse, and at Least it won't be like WATCHING PAINT DRY.!!!
At this Stage, only ONE THING Remains....
JUST WIN BABY, WIN
Santi, didn't see the game, I just arrived in Holland, but from your analysis of the game it seems like the usual garbage.
oh, BTW, if anyone is traveling to Europe use carry on and hand baggage ,no luggage.
Santi, didn't see the game, I just arrived in Holland, but from your analysis of the game it seems like the usual garbage.
oh, BTW, if anyone is traveling to Europe use carry on and hand baggage ,no luggage.
Frank, great advice. Only check what you can afford to be without. earlier this week saw bags piled high off to the side when arriving in Dublin, BA warning flyers to stay away from Heathrow, water was turned off there as well? Rolling strikes in UK and Europe, hopefully Schiphol is better? The short haul flights are getting canceled, leaving travelers scrambling to get to their international flights.
R2, I arrived 6:45am, no problem at Schiphol, but the douane told that me that in a couple of hours it will become hectic. I saw some baggage against the wall. Because everyone is taking carryon bags, the problem has become the lack of space on overhead baggage. I would recommend to get on the plane as soon as possible to get a jump on the overhead space
Famous saying; Always Travel with your Boots, Passport and Jock Strap... The Rest can be Replaced.!!!
Nowadays, u probably have to Travel with your "Beep Bra", because this Generation of Coaches, Wouldn't know a Good Player, unless the Analytics Told then So !!!
Santi, so true what you say. Today's coaches lack the hands on brains and real soccer insights and thus have to rely on gadgets. They lack the ability to 'really' see the game with their mind
Yes the result was nice and there were flashes of good play like Pugh's goal. The problems, however, still remain. Bad uniforms and a system of play that is coached to be ponderous and predictable. If only the coaches would concentrate on improving the speed of play instead of timewasting square passes in the back.
I could name examples but I don't think it is fair to blame the players instead of the coaches and USSF.
✓✓
Per Vlatko; "I thought that we made too many technical errors, too many for the players that were on the field because we know that they're technical. They can settle the ball and pass and execute different technical demands even under a lot more pressure and pressing moments. But today, for some reason, we made a little too many [errors] and that's something that we're going to look into to see what it is. The mental preparation or physical preparation? Whatever it is, we're going to have to fix it for the next game."
Not Good, when the Coach has to "Hang his Players Out" in the Media.
Unfortunately Vlatko... It's NOT going to get any Better with this Current Group of Players...
I hope he understands that this is Now EVERYGAME.!!!
Get Qualified and then GO YOUNGER... Get Players with Twitch and Creativity and Tenacity and Passion and Speed... They are There at the u20 and u17 Team.
If a coach doesn't understand how to use technical players (such as depending on Turbo) then the technical ability is wasted.
Personally, all I see is technical problems that any decent trainer ought to fix. Slow tactical speed. Bad positioning. Bad facing. Poor decision making. Poor support off the ball. Most players have poor passing skills. The first two lines defend better than the back line.
Got to Disagree with you Bob .. These Players are Too Old to Fix .. Not Vlatkos Fault .. National Team Coach Shouldn't be Trying to Fix a Generational Problem ...
Probably we are in agreement on that
Ages 18 to 22 is not too old to fix and some players never stop improving. Admittedly it is easier to catch them when their younger. Improving finishing is something I believe can be improved. Also passing and crossing. It is all striking. If you have a smart player, then they should be coachable as far as tactics (facing, etc. goes). They should be learning as they gain experience, so the coaching is just guiding them in the process.
On the other hand the typical professional solution is to put wingers and cental mids in the back line rather than try to improve back's ball skills. Another solution for CMs and CFs that can't get facing right is to switch them to the flanks where correct facing happens without thinking.
I will add that dead ball striking, crossing, and finishing are all skills that can be practiced individually. What the national camps are supposed to be doing is giving players the way forward to improvement until the next camp. You could call it homework.
Bob, I agree that Players over 18 can improve their Technical abilities...
I guess I'm thinking more along the Lines of a "Real" National Team, where the Players are Generally 28, and you only get them for 1 Training before a Game...
The Homework thing is difficult...
Club Coach is Only Intererested in HIS Job... Players that might try to "Homework" on His Time, Especially if it something he doesn't agree with;
Find themselves in the "Dog House"
Rapinoe put in one good CK and showed flashes of what she used to have, but I cannot imagine her being part of the final 23 or 26 (if that many is allowed), She's basically playing her retirement tour, maybe for the purpose of inspiring others? I agree on Lavelle. She seems to be the only player with enterprise or creativity. For all her other skill, Sophie Smith still needs to learn when to share the ball. Morgan labored to no avail. I am looking forward to seeing Girma, Cook and O'Hara all on teh field together.
Overall, IMHO, tte heat excused the slow speed of play, but not the need for better decision making and more accuracy in execution. AT the present level, the likes of England would make putty of this team.
The heat doesn't excuse the slow speed of play. In heat most players will play smarter using the ball to do the running. Yes sprinting all over the field is difficult in the heat, but the players wouldn't be sprinting all over the field if they played smart.
The easiest thing to change is to use diagonal passes instead of "vertical" passes because diagonal passes require shorter attacking runs. My rule of thumb is to use 1-2 touches in the build up. 4 touches at most. In the attacking third you do whatever works.
Agreed James... There are about 5 Euro Teams, that would Embarrass this USA Team... Maybe even Brazil, Throw in Canada, .. a few of the Asian Teams ... And USA is Barely in the Top 10.!?!?!?...(SO SAD)
So unnecessary too.
There is book that came out recently in Holland, a autobiography of Wim Jansen called " Meesterbrein" or translated the "Masterbrain". There are three geniuses of Dutch soccer who knew the game , the real deep insights , the details , few people see and they are Cruyff, van Hanegem, and the late Wim Jansen.
All three played for the great the Dutch World Cup '74 team that introduced "total soccer". Jansen played for the Washington Diplomats along with Cruyff. Both were best friends and had the same vision of the game. Jansen became coach of Glasgow Celtics where he won the championship and resigned right after due to not liking the direction Celtics we re taking in soccer.
Fortunately, because he coached the Celtics the publishers wanted to have the book also printed in English. I currently have the Dutch version and hope it will be translated into English. I highly recommend it, especially for those who are disappointed in the lack of real detail about soccer that soccer journalists here seem to offer.....
Frank, Try to get us some Insight on some of the Americans Playing in Holland...
u20 Sealy has Left PSV Jong and Gone back to Dallas FC (Loan not Bought.??? Humm)
Not even sure who and where they are over there nowadays...
Good Research Project for you on your Vacation...
Where are you at.???
Santi, I'm staying in Zaandam, which is a town or rather I would call it a suburb of Amsterdam, like Newark to NYC. I will try to be aware of any American players...Glad you mentioned it. I will look at the Dutch soccer publications about any of our boys. Just read some interesting tidbits in Jansen's book about 'total' soccer. I'll try to throw interesting tidbits ,as I read the book.
He stated that total soccer was never a concept invented by Rinus Michels. He stated Holland at that time period produced some of the greatest players in the world , for example, Cruyff, Keizer (Cruyff's mentor), Rep, van Hanegem, Gerrit Muhren( whose technical skills were. better than Cruyff's at Ajax), Rensenbrink, (European player of the year and just good as Cruyff in skills and abilities), Johnny Rep. All the players on the '74 WC team played for either Ajax or Feyenoord. Both teams won within a 3year period the Champion's League, and the Toyota cup(now called) for being the best team in the world, Kroll. The French soccer publication chose World Best 11 team made up of 5 Dutch players.
He stated that the Dutch were so good they just dominated and all those great players just 'gelled'' together and made a great team during that month at the World Cup. He did not give any credit to Michel's coaching but to the great players he had to coach. He stated Michel's never talked about playing Total Soccer, there was never a concept like that , he put us on the somehow and everything worked......'we just played well together', there was no Total Soccer' concept' . This bares out what van Hanegem , Rep, and the goalie Youngblood, in their books likewise stated, that the players never heard of this Total Soccer concept . They stated basically that the basically played some good ball, nothing more than that. It was some journalist that made up the term 'Total Soceer' and that created a life of its own. This why after the WC '74, no one played so-called Total Soccer. If it were a concept other teams would copied it, but there were none.
Frank, it took me a long time to figure out that the secret of "positional play" was simply playing good soccer. No secret magic formula to it.
"A Rose by any other Name, would still smell as Sweet" .... What's in a Name.????
Attacking, Creative, Free Flow and Interchanging of Positions by Players on the Field that Balance Attack and Defense is All we are Seeking.!!! (unless you are Mou or Simeone)
The Over Emphasis on Analytics and Grids(And How many Players can be In/Out of each) IS Killing THE BEAUTIFUL GAME.!!! (Nothing New there... Just so ACCEPTABLE Now.!!!)
And those of us that Advocate for "Total Soccer" are seen as Dinasours and "Out of Date"... Negative, Naysayers... Right Donald.!?!?!?
Take the Article on Tom King for Example...
The USMNT used to travel with 5 Staff...No Advance Man trip, etc... etc...
Are we Playing all that Much Better than we where in the early 90's.???
Bob, like Santi stated, it's gotten too analytical, including the 'beep' bras, computer programming, and not too mention the huge coaching staff, dietician, mental coach, psychiatrist, warmup coach, assistant coach, video assistant coach, you name it. But there is no technical coach, because none of these jackasses can take on a lamppost one on one, and therefore not look at the finer elements of the game.
As Piet Keizer stated 'Tactics are for the lesser gods'....meaning the Great players don't need tactics for they know what to do and can handle any situation....
Cruyff, and his generation of players all complain about the lack of intelligence and technical skills of today's players and ofcourse that means lack of positional perspective of the game. Cruyff at Barcelona would spend all his practices playing nothing but positional games.
Like Cruyff states, "some coaches think that having lots of drills and different exercises is a good thing ,don't understand miss the ability and finer elements of the of sticking to one or two aspects of the game like positioning which ties into technical and tactical aspects.
Pugh was as good as she was bbad in her previous match.
Play Rodman more also.
Pugh was as good as she was bbad in her previous match.
Play Rodman more also.
I'll Double Check that Double Statement Hal... ✓✓
Watching the last game was not fun. Keep hearing things like time or minutes played management. What about consistency in the lineup and getting the players use to playing together? Watching the Women's Euros makes me think they're way ahead of us. Never really thought that before. And why is peeno still on the team??? Tired of watching her struggle on the field. Replace her with a younger player. Although watching her make those little kid faces after a bad corner or passing to the other team is kinda funny. Hoping to see more teamwork in the coming games.
An adult typically needs four days to recover fully from a soccer match--recovery includes replenishing the body's energy supplies. This schedule was insanely compressed so that teams even when rotating starters could not fully recover between matches. That is why there is so much talk about minutes played. Rosters are selected with having 2 sets of starters included. Managing fatigue was where Jill Ellis shined in 2015 and 2019.
Not Fun indeed, Chance....
I think that ref struggled impiementing CONCACRAP standards. Saw a US player get raked the length of her thigh by studs. No red cards.
What happened to the "Good Old Days".??? "No Blood, No Foul.!!" ...
To Quote one of our Famous Posters(You.???) ... PLAY ON.!!!
Ric Fonseca!
There was blood Santi. Admittedly she wasn't spurting, but had to leave the field to get it stopped and cleaned up. I am pretty sure the no-call was because it was inside the penalty area and not video reviewed because it could have been considered incidental contact rather than careless.
Spurting Blood: Now isnt that something right out of Monty Python.!!!
"it's Just a FLESH Wound ... jajaja
Thanks Wooden, i knew it Started with an "R"
Donde Estas Sr. Ric.??? Too Quiet.!!!
One last post Then I'm out "I want you to know that this Euro meant a lot to me. I wanted to proudly wear the colors of my country and do my best to dream of a coronation.
This quote is from French player Katoto after her injury. This is the kind of patriotism and respect I expect from all national team players. If you can't then step aside and let someone more deserving step up. Patriotism is what's needed to play for your country not politics.
I am not a flag-wearing rah-rah patriot. I display flag and unit patch decals on my cars. But otherwise I don't wave my patriotism in people's faces. The vast majority of those I served with were also quiet patriots like me. Questioning my patriotism is fighting words, but no one has ever done it to my face. I don't protest, but nobody protested more than Dr King. He wasn't quiet either, but he was a great patriot. There is nothing inconsistent with protest and patriotism. People should be judged as individuals. I think those two ideas were conflated after some of the Vietnam protests and groups that were manipulated to some extent by agents of the USSR into unpatriotic actions. I believe the vast majority of protesters are honest, taxpaying, patriots like me. And no I don't sing the national anthem. If you ever heard me sing, you would tell me to shut up. I am tone deaf.
Bob, what makes u think that the "Commies" of Today aren't doing the same thing with the Current "issues" of today.. BLM.org(Commies) / Who is Funding the 5k per Illegal Alien into the country.???
Where is the Fentanyl coming From.???
Sowing Division, over the National Anthem and Standing with Hand Over Heart, is a way to bring DisUnity into a Team... Just ask Carli Lloyd.!?!?!?
I think the USSF should have stayed with Policy of Requiring Standing/Hand-Over-Heart/Singing.
Singing...??? We'll some Can and Some Can't, But, It's the Karaoke effect...Shared Bonding, even when you can't Carry a Tune.
Today's foreign agent provocateur works remotely using social media.
Santi, I doubt USSF ever had a policy such as you describe. USSF operates under authority provided by the federal government and I expect that any lawyer would warn them that any such requirement, versus a recommended practice, would be illegal. The current policy is probably not legally enforceable, but nobody challenged it. The Supreme Court decisions on point date back to the Reagan era court in 1989.
Agreed on the On-Line Subversion, but they are Still here IN Masse... Just Read about the Chi-Com Spies and their University Professors caught All the Time... And Don't Forget Sleeping-with-The-Enemy Rep."Swallows-Well" and his Spy/Lover "Fang-Fang"... Oh, and Diane Feinsteins "chauffeur" of 20(Not a Spy, she says.... Just Talking with one)
As for USSF Policy; Rule was Adopted, because of PRESIDENTIAL Medal of Freedom Winner;
June 9, 2020 NYT; USSF "board of directors has repealed a policy that required players and staff members to “stand respectfully” for the national anthem,"
Controversial...
" Almost since its inception in March 2017 after a series of kneeling protests by the star midfielder Megan Rapinoe,"
So, for 3 years it was in Effect and Rapinoe was even Keep OFF the team for 6 months(?)
Don't like what I'm saying.???
I know you Idolize Jill Ellis, So...
"her decision to continue to do so when she took the field for U.S. Soccer briefly led to her being dropped from the national team by the team’s coach, Jill Ellis. While Ellis expressed support for Rapinoe’s views, she labeled the kneeling an unwelcome “individual agenda” in a team environment. Rapinoe’s teammate Carli Lloyd, who also said she respected Rapinoe’s opinions, called it a “distraction.”
It was An Unnecessary Rule, until Rapinoe knelt, and it only became "Politically Incorrect" after the Murder of George Floyd... And the USSF Caved to the "Woke Mob" and the Team SUFFERED.!!!
About a month before USSF annouced the rule in 2017, the USWNT players as a group decided there would be no more protesting during the anthem. Peer pressure prevailed.
Humm.???.2017.???.. You got a Source for that.???...
All I could find was they decided to stop Protesting before the Brazil Game (USA Today 22nd 2021)