Commentary
USA-Portugal Women's World Cup Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Aug 2, 2023
Aug. 1 in Auckland
USA 0 Portugal 0.
Att.: 42,958.
The USA earned passage into the knockout stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup, but with expectations for a third straight title far lower than accompanied it to the tournament. Portugal, a Women's World Cup debutant that came closest to scoring with a shot off the post in stoppage time, held the USA to a 0-0 tie. For the first time in history the USA failed to win more than one of its three group games. In New Zealand, Coach Vlatko Andonovski's team opened with a 3-0 win over Vietnam before a 1-1 comeback tie against the Netherlands, the Group E winner with 7 points, after a 7-0 defeat of Vietnam, to the USA's 5 points.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Alyssa Naeher, who in first half was called on once to snag a tame cross, booted the first back pass she had to deal with into the stands but found teammates on her next two tests. She wasn't called on to save a shot. And the USA survived Naeher bobbling a ball in the 82nd minute and coming off her line in stoppage time and thoroughly misjudging a high ball. It was the post that made the best save against the Portuguese — on Ana Capeta's searing shot one-minute into stoppage time.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) 94/0 (35)
DEFENDERS
The Portuguese's focus on attacking wide in the first half kept the pressure light on central defenders Julie Ertz and Naomi Girma, who helped out left back Crystal Dunn against the dynamic Jessica Silva, who shot wide after she outran Dunn to a 16th-minute through ball. Girma intervened frequently in the second half when the Portuguese attempted balls down the middle, including a yellow-card foul for a free kick that threatened less than it could have. Ertz was marking Telma Encarnação when she nodded the ball to Capeta for Portugal's big chance. Emily Fox headed clear an early cross but the right back proved unable to play out of the back. Dunn covered more territory with her forays but none bore fruit, often because her passes were intercepted.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4
Emily Fox (NC Courage) 32/1 (25)
6
Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave) 19/0 (23)
5
Julie Ertz (Angel City FC) 121/20 (31)
4
Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns) 135/24 (31)
MIDFIELDERS
All three of the midfielders were forced to spend a significant time defending. And all three struggled in one-on-one battles, were inconsistent with their passes, and were incapable of dribbling past their foes. Rose Lavelle delivered a cross shortly after kickoff that resulted in a corner kick but failed to create significant offense. She skied the USA's first second-half shot far above the crossbar and overhit a pass to Smith in the penalty area. Lavelle's yellow card was her second of the tournament and she'll be suspended for the round-of-16 game. Lindsey Horan failed offensively but played valuable defense. And Sullivan couldn't meet the demands of her defensive midfield role. She won some balls when Portugal surged in the second half, but she looked fatigued as she jogged toward the Portuguese player who launched the through ball that set up Capeta's shot off the post.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
3
Rose Lavelle (OL Reign) 91/24 (28)
4
Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit) 48/3 (27)
5
Lindsey Horan (Lyon, FRA) 132/29 (29)
FORWARDS
The Portuguese defenders proved from the get-go that they matched Sophia Smith's speed and she produced no other methods of getting past them. Smith shot 20 yards wide from 22 yards in the second half before being replaced. Center forward Alex Morgan, who got away with charging into a prone goalkeeper Inês Pereira without getting cautioned, won a corner kick with her first attempt on goal and volleyed wide on her second. She had two chances to score in the 84th minute and failed on both. Morgan's inability to keep possession under pressure contributed to the USA's failure to spend much time in final third. Right winger Lynn Williams' first chance was an easily saved header. Her half-volley from 12 yards went straight to the keeper, and her first attempt at goal in the second half was a far wide header. She too failed to keep possession long enough to give U.S. midfielders a chance to join the attack.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
3
Lynn Williams (Gotham FC) 54/15 (30)
2
Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave) 210/121 (34)
3
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns) 33/14 (22)
SUBSTITUTES
Shortly after coming on in the 61st minute, Megan Rapinoe under-hit a corner kick and a through pass to Morgan, and banged a cross into her marker. Rapinoe hit three passes to the wrong team during promising attacks in the waning minutes, and whiffed on a shot in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Andonovski didn't sub again until the 84th minute, when Emily Sonnett and Trinity Rodman came on. Sonnett tried to reach a high cross shortly after arriving, and took down Pereira in a manner similar to Morgan's late challenge on the keeper in the first half. Alyssa Thompson and Kelley O'Hara entered in the 7th minute of stoppage time.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
2
Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign) 201/63 (38)
NR
Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit) 21/4 (21)
NR
Emily Sonnett (OL Reign) 76/1 (29)
NR
Alyssa Thompson (Angel City FC) 6/0 (18)
NR
Kelley O’Hara (Gotham FC) 159/3 (34)
TRIVIA: The USA failed to score in a group play for the second time in 27 World Cup games. It tied Sweden, 0-0, in its second game en route to winning the 2015 World Cup.
NEXT UP: The USA faces the winner of Group G (Sweden or Italy) on Sunday (5 am ET kickoff).
Aug. 1 in Auckland
USA 0 Portugal 0.
USA — Naeher; Fox, Girma, Ertz, Dunn (O'Hara, 90+7); Lavelle, Sullivan, Horan (Sonnett, 84); Williams (Rodman, 84), Morgan (Thompson, 90+7), Smith (Rapinoe, 61).
Portugal — Pereira; Borges, Gomes, Carole Costa, Amado (Marchão, 89); Pinto, Dolores Silva, Nazareth (Jacinto, 62), Norton (Encarnacão, 81), Jessica Silva, Diana Silva (Capeta, 90).
Yellow cards: USA — Lavelle 38; Smith 52, Girma 81; Portugal — Carole Costa 56, Diana Gomes 72, Amado 85. Red cards: none.
Referee: Rebecca Welch (England). ARs: Natalie Aspinall (England), Anita Vad (Hungary). 4th official: Anahi Fernandez (Uruguay). VAR: Marco Fritz (Germany). AVAR: Tatiana Guzman (Nicaragua). Offside VAR: Maryna Striletska (Ukraine).
Att.: 42,958.
Stats:
USA/Portugal
Shots: 17/6
Shots on target: 6/0
Saves: 0/6
Corner Kicks: 6/1
Fouls: 14/12
Offside: 0/0
Possession: 44%/56%
Photo: Lynne Cameron/ISI Photos
How to kill confidence and morale? Tell a championship team to play for a draw.
Bob, this was Never a Championship Team, and this is Becoming Painfully Clear.
The Bracket was Lost in Game 1;
That was why I Advocated for Wholesale Subs last Night to Save Some Legs and people from getting Suspended or Injured.
Santiago 1314, August 1, 2023 at 12:56 a.m.
We should beat OR TIE Portugal with our "B" Team, and Save the "A" Team for Round of 16 versus Sweden.!!!
My Starting Line-Up;
Rapinoe. Williams. aTom
Sanchez. Demelo
Sullivan
Dunn. Grima Ertz. Fox
*Nahryer"
If we are behind or Tied in the 2nd half, you can Bring IN;
Smith...Morgan...Rodman
Horan---Lavell
Bob, I have to quibble a bit with your continued assertion that Vlat is the reason for our underwhelming play. Our players aren't making it happen, they are overrated. I think they are and have been easily distracted. I also see Vlat allowing more freedom on the field than Greg ever did for the guys.
Ships I agree, we have a lot deeper problems which hS nothing to do with Vlat.
I'm back from Europe and currently waiting for flight to DC
I would recommend for anyone to tak the Earliest flight out of Europe ,like 7:30am flight. It is a pain in the ass to get up at 3:30am but it beats the crowds and waiting time
I don't think playing for a draw was the problem. We played (our theoretically) best 11, and every time we got the ball, went forward quickly. We had 2 or 3 good chances in the first few minutes, which is not what a team playing for a draw does. The only time we played for a draw was for a few minutes after Portugal hit the post.
Santiago is right that winning the group was unlikely; I don't know if playing a full B team would have been wise, but certainly there should have been more changes (maybe half a B team). Of course, that would be a risk for the coach (since had we played the B team and lost, he would have ruined our chances), and he does seem to be risk averse.
Guys, the coaches job is to get the best out of his players. Has Vlatko done that? I don't think so.
As far as the "A" team vs "B" team. The "starters" are mostly reserves. We are missing 7 starters due to injury. In other words if everyone had been available 7 players on this roster would not have been selected, must less started.
But still the coach's job is to get the best out of the selected players. All the faults of the players does not change the coach's job. Saying that the players are not good enough does not excuse the coach of performing his job. If a coach doesn't believe his players can win, then they won't either.
PS: there is a difference between selecting a cautious gameplan and announcing to the world that a draw is good enough for our team. Who knows what he said in the locker room.
Bob ,how can you get the best out of your players when half of them can't even raise their hand to their heart or sing the anthem, but instead stand there looking like someone took their driving privileges away....
Kent, you can and you should play your best 11 if your stategy is a tie. You take your best to follow the strategy you want, whether it is to win , or to tie for it is all about achieving a certain strategy.... In Italy the stategy is NOT TO LOSE, and they pick the best 11 to make go for a tie or win .
Frank, personally I don't care if they don't put their hand over their heart and sing during the national anthem. But USSF set the policy which only requires standing quietly. So what is the issue?
Personally I think the coach has lost the locker room and that at least some of the players don't have confidence or trust in the coach. What impression do you think the coach's deer-in-headlights look gives. Frankly, this is the same lack of confidence he displayed during the Olympics.
Every leader worth his salt knows that if you don't know what to do, you fake it. Every leader except deer-in-the-headlights Vlatko.
Frank keeps harping on the relatively poor skills of the players. Jill Ellis was working with essentially the same player pool and getting different results. I think Frank's point would be clearer if he said that the players could better soccer, but they would likely do poorly against many teams for lack of adequate technical skills.
I would't disagree, but I will say that this is no reason not to play better soccer. If you don't move forward, you fall further behind.
Bob, I will have to go back and look at our Posts from Jill Elllis Era.
I don't remember being TOO Impressed with the Skill Level of her Teams.
As I Recall; I was Ready to Jetison her.
Then she seemed to get a "Revelation" Tactically, that Led the Team to Victory.
I Chalk the Team Succes more up to the Coaching than the "Skillfull" Players.
I'll get back to you on that.
Bob, as for the Players and The National Anthem...
If you Don't Care, Why would we Expect them to Care.???
Team Unity Starts in the Dressing Room...
If they Can't agree on such a Simple Thing,
How do we Expect them to get the Tougher Things Correct.!?!?!?
Having been there Done That in Olympics and Foreign Countries,
I can Tell You it is EMPOWERING to Belt Out the Star Spangled Banner and Hear the Boos.
It Fires you up....
So, we are NOT Fired Up Properly... and Not in Harmony... Mis-Firing and Shoting ourselves in the Foot.
Santi, if I played on a team with you, I would sing out of respect for you. (Until you begged me to stop desecrating the anthem with my horrid singing.) Has nothing to do with patriotism and everything to do with team building. So how do we know if this is a issue with the WNT? I don't expect that it is or else everyone would be united. I really would not care about what the fans wanted. That isn't my game focus.
In uniform I have saluted the flag many times over the years while the anthem played, but you don't sing while standing at attention. Different viewpoints about what is important. But then maybe not. Maybe the point is about patriotism, but rather about team unity. That I would agree with.
Bob, whether you care or not is not the issue. It is a team matter, you come out as a team, with socks up, etc, every nuance that makes you look like a unified team, period!!! One kneeling ,the rest standing for whatever reason should be settled before going out on the field. If you feel that way about your country than let someone else play your postion and go sulk in the locker room.
Bob, I Found some of those 2015 Posts about Ellis,
SA only has one Game Report Saved.. vs Sweden...
kate bartlet, June 12, 2015 at 11:54 p.m.
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
kate bartlet, June 13, 2015 at midnight
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
Santiago 1314, June 13, 2015 at 12:54 a.m.
@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!!!
Joe Linzner, June 13, 2015 at 9:05 a.m.
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!!!!!
Carl Hudson, June 13, 2015 at noon
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.
Kenneth Barr, June 13, 2015 at 6:44 p.m.
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.
And You Bob,,, Ever the "Dispassionate" Lawyer in the Room... :)
Bob Ashpole, June 14, 2015 at 12:35 p.m.
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.
By the Semi-Final Win, Convincing Win over Germany, Everyone was starting to give her some Credit for Figuring it out.
John Bamford, July 1, 2015 at 5:04 a.m.
Great performance and a great win, but questions must be asked of Jill Ellis.
First, how is it that more than a year into her tenure, and five games into this WC, she has just now seen that she should play with three CMs? The team should’ve been playing this formation and training on this formation MONTHS AGO.
Second, did anyone notice how inane the Wambach substitution was? One, we were up 1-0, so why was she bringing on a forward for a midfielder (Rapinoe)? Why would you reduce your midfield when up a goal? Two, even worse, why did Ellis not send someone to play on the far left after subbing out Rapinoe? We had NO WIDE LEFT PLAYER, for like ten minutes. It all worked out, but it was a bit daft.
Now the team's defense and defensive shape has been excellent, so I will give Ellis credit there. But I still think her weaknesses are glaring.
Ralph Ferrigno, July 1, 2015 at 7:54 a.m.
By all means give the coach credit. Its easy from the outside to say Jill Ellis should have played this formation months ago. She has to deal with a number of strong players, their egos and a number of different tactical options open to her potentially day to day. She found the formula eventually!! The USA were no more than solid prior to last night's game. Against the Germans they were dominant both individually and as a team. Yes there were some breaks over both penalties but as so many say you make your own luck. The US merited that luck!
Regarding the Abby Wambach substitution ... whilst it may have been a risk to play a man down in the midfield I would guess that Ellis gambled on some of the intangibles. Wambach is the talisman and her entrance certainly galvanized the crowd behind the team. Plus, it keeps Wambach involved & invested in the team effort after many years of great service. Finally, whilst she may be past her prime she is always capable of scoring a goal. A gamble perhaps but that is the art of being a coach. From a distance I have no knowledge of the finer point of Ellis’ coaching but what I do know is the management of the squad has been consistently excellent over the course of this tournament.
If the USA play like this in the final they will be tough to stop. I suspect its going to be a rematch of the last final with Japan. However, I’m hoping England can keep the dream alive especially as team captain, Fara Williams, plays for my hometown team …. Liverpool!! Meantime, congratulations USA on a superb performance against Germany.
Lee Katterman, July 1, 2015 at 11:58 a.m.
I give Ellis credit for NOT using this formation sooner. If she had, Germany might have been better prepared. It had to be something the team used from time to time in training and in a few friendlies.
Bob Ashpole, July 2, 2015 at 3:26 a.m.
Mr. Ferrigno, my impression is that the US was not playing with less numbers in the midfield after the Wambach substitution, but rather more as forwards were withdrawn. My recall was they stopped pressing high and bunkered down well. At one point I distinctly remember them defending in a 541 shape in the defensive half. In possession, they pushed numbers higher. As far as team shape goes, this match was the best performance to date.
Santi, I really don't want to discuss what I think Ellis was doing and why she was doing it. I think most people were clueless, expecting Ellis to use the same "perfect" game plan and lineup for every game.
I am sure you realize that the key to competitive athletics, individual or team sports, is timing when performance peaks. Also critical in 2015 and 2019 was managing player fatigue. These objectives were driving her game plans. Because of the longer rests between matches the current finals are not so demanding of the coach. There is now adequate recovery time between matches, so the coach only has to worry about injuries and cards. Fatigue is easier to manage.
Ellis I am sure wanted the team to peak in the final match. Vlatko just wanted to get out of the group. So he wanted the team to peak in the third group match. Sigh.
Did Vlatko even take a sports pyschologist to the finals? I can't find any mention of one. Not a change for the better. We used to have Dr. Hacker. She is known for being one of the co-authors of "Catch Them Being Good" (2003) along with Tony DiCicco.
Gregg could have used one for the USMNT last cycle. The US used to set new standards of excellence in coaching. Not any longer.
Bob, Found this, in a Cross-Over Article from ESPN; 2015... Michelle Akers on Jill Ellis; "“If she [Ellis] is pleased with the way we played tonight then what the hell is she doing coaching our U.S. team,” Akers said on Sirius XM after the Americans’ 2-0 win over Colombia on Monday"
Michelle really Summed it Up for me: when she said this about the US National Team Program;
"“When we struggle or when, in our opinion, the coach isn’t handling the personnel right, the lineup sucks, the subs are sketchy, we’re not all on the same page, that’s me out there,” Akers said. “We take it personal because that’s our baby out there.”
Those of us who Struggled thru the 80's to Build a Program Sacrificed A LOT to see it Succeed... Only to see it in Unnecessary Decline Now
OH... Least I Forget:
OMG was that SLOGGING UGLY.!!!
EVEN I'M GETTING TIRED OF BEING RIGHT ALL THE TIME.
Santiago 1314, July 27, 2023 at 3:07 a.m.
Rinse, Lather, Repeat;
Santiago 1314, July 22, 2023 at 7:37 a.m.
You all gonna get Tired of Seeing this;
Santiago 1314, July 18, 2023 at 5:50 p.m.
USA for the 3-PEAT.!!!
But, It's going to be a SLOG... Ugly... Outplayed, yet Never Out Hustled.!!!
Just WIN BABY WIN.!!!
***Today: versus Holland I'll ADD; OUTCOACHED and
Just TIE, BABY TIE.¡¿¡¿¡¿
***Today(Tonight, Tomorrow WETF it was Down Under):
Versus Portugal, WE WERE OUT HUSTLED.!!!
Just get LUCKY Baby, Just Lucky.!!!! (We need to Bronze that Post)
Lloyd is a legend--seems Vlatkos got thin skin when faced with real criticism he can't address without getting bitter. Why does the media wait for failure before giving an honest assessment?
R2, I was reading some comments from Lloyd and she problems on this team due also to off the field garbage/politics that some players are involved which also effects the morale of the team.....
That's funny R2, just yesterday he said that, he doesn't listen to critics
He should listen to his Critics Here... He Might WIN A GAME.!!!
Without Ertz in the midfield they, can't change the dynamic of the match. She is a destroyer of opponents ability to play. It in turn, creates more opportunities in the attacking third. It is a coaching problem if you think Rapinoe has anything to offer! Watched her attempt to make 2 passes in a row of less than 5 yards and missed them completely. These are coaching issues!
Kent... I think we all agree that Ertz has to get back to the #6, if we Gonna Win...
But, Vlatko hasn't even Used Cook for 1 minute... Not sure how you bring her off the Bench at this Stage .. Very Risky
Probably we will Need to Leave Ertz in the Back and Play to Win in the PKs...
If we get Behind, Flatko BETTER get her Up there.!!!
Oops KEVIN
Kevin, Santi, Ertz is DONE as far as I'm concerned. You can't have a Horan with Ertz at midfield with the exception if are several time better than our opponent. Ertz is slow as molasses, not creative, always passes in the direction of her dribble, has a very limited passing ability, and as a matter of fact she can't dribble on the run with the ball for she kicks the ball too far head of her and is to slow when pressured...We are really hurting if she is one of our best, unless everyone is slower than her....
Not Disagreeing with you Frank,
But, She is Like Adams on the Men's Team.
Everything gets SUCKED up into her Whirlwind.
It may Not be Pretty, and It may Not be how we would like it.
But Ertz is the Only Hope we Have to Turn Around an Anemic Midfield.
Santi, Adams is strictly a defender who doesn't need to be creative, his role is totally different, moere of stopping than Ertz whose function is a more contributive te setting up our offense ,unlike Adams...
Actually, our Only Hope is if La Presidenta; Cindy Parlow-Cone FIRES Flatko,
Comes down out of the Stands, with Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy and THEY COACH this Team.!!!
(semi-Sarcastic)
Frank... the Men's and Women's Teams are Playing the Same Line-up
4-1-2-3
Ertz Previously has been in the Adams Role for the Women. #6
Currently she is Playing CB, because she was Out for 2 years and Doesn't have the Match Fitness to play in the Midfield... Maybe by Now, she is Close to the Fitness Needed for 90 minutes
But, NOT for 120 minutes...
That is why we Can NOT Start her in this Game as #6... She'll be Fried by 75th minute.
Playing CB these Days, is Like when we Old Farts Got Older... We Moved from Striker to Midfield to Sweeper... Now we Just on the Lawn Chair, with a Beer.!!! Jajajaja :)
Santi, 4-1-2-3. With Ertz placed in the "1" which is #6, I would as opponent's coach make sure that passing lanes to Ertz are block and make Ertz move as much as possible for the ball and that's even if hadn't come off an injury. Then you have Horan and Lavelle at midfield which is not good to have basically 2 mids, with one being Horan slow and not good on defense along with Ertz....THere lacks too much dynamism at mid.
Frank, I can NOT Name 3 Midfielders better in the World Cup than Ertz-Horan-Lavell.
Problem is; They are NOT 120 minutes Fit.
So, we Need to hope that by the Final they will be there.
In the Meanwhile, the only way to Keep Advancing is to Leave Ertz at CB:
Play for PKs, Probably need to Change GKs in order to do this.
Especially this Game against Sweden, because for Sure Lavell is out and Cook has NO Minutes yet.
Santi, I can see your point about those 3 being one of the best midfield but that will depend on who we play. We have been lucky that most of our competitors are so bad that we can afford 2 slow midfielders
Frank, under Jill Ellis the team played better with Ertz as the "6", not because of skills but largely because of mentality and leadership abilities. She was very good at reading the game and anticipation. She lifted the team up, which is an intangible that you can't train. At that time we had sufficient depth at CB. Putting Ertz at the 6 was Ellis's way of getting our best 3 CBs on the field. It also freed up Horan to play higher up the field where she could make the US more dangerous.
Girma was being groomed to replace Becky Sauerbrunn who is 38. Abby Dahlkemper is recovering from back surgery. She is the starting CB that you wish to have. Great ball skills. Confident and a deep lying playmaker. Girma and Dahlkemper are the future. And we need two more just as good in our pool. We are lucky that Ertz recovered enough to play CB.
Bob, You're talking about 4years ago....things have changed, which includes our players, ages, and other countries growth and strength...I think the last world cup was probably the last time our competition looked up to the American team giving us a goal up....
But in the last 4years Spain began to show us how to play soccer, their women moved the ball around that Ellis could never and isn't capable of teaching this type of ball. The only problem is that as most countries who are beginning to give US a game is their lack of scoring threat, which a plus for us for it gives our defense ability to move up and support our midfield.
I'm not discounting our midfield's abilities but they have been aided by our strong front line with rushes and athleticism to force the opponent's backfield in supporting their midfielders....But this has all been changed with the European teams(as you watch the dutch handle the USWNT) improving in their ball handling and possession allowing the backfield to move up ,support the midfield through having excellent Possession and Ball skills in small spaces....This element can not be blamed on Vlatko for we can't play that type of Controlled ,Possession game for we lack the skill element to carry this out....
Frank, you are ignoring that Vlatko failed in the last Olympics. He had essentially the same players that had won the 2019 world cup with Ellis as coach. The difference in US performance was night and day.
USSF took a championship team and committed a cardinal sin. They "fixed" something that wasn't broken. Instead of building on the progress Ellis made, they rolled back the changes she had made and required the WNT to play the same inflexible USSF conventional BS that the USMNT is required to play. Yes the team at the finals today is older and less talented (only 9 players from 2019 remain available), but that wasn't the case at the Olympics.
You think Ellis doesn't understand how to coach positional play and Dutch-style soccer. I think she not only understands it but uses it in her coaching. Yes she exploited the physical advantages of the US team. Yes she exploited the 1v1 skills of some of our players. But so would have you if you coached in her place.
Bob, I was never impressed with Ellis as coach, no more than Vlatko. There is a certain glass ceiling with any of the American coaches who would coach the national team and doesn't change for we keep a certain style of play by how we produce /develop our players. And I find it interesting how our foreign competition is improving in play and sophistication that we as the most experienced of all the women's soccer teams
Hope to see repeat of the game today. But I can surmise that Vietnam played a very defensive game thus nullifying anyone who would the#6 role at mid
Another Coaching Zero!!
Again at the game in Auckland last night. I have to say this is the most painful USWNT game I have ever watched (and that says a lot). It is 100% a coaching problem. Vlat in his last interview before the game stated Portugal would sit back....again completely wrong and could not adjust in game or at halftime. Portugal exercised an almost identitcal game plan of the Netherlands. Play patiently, switch the field, hit the midfield with a penetrating pass and hit a diagnal running forward between our two centerbacks. They did this very well. Just look at the statistics of completed passes and possession. Portugal then pressed us and we once again resorted to long ball soccer. We were 3 inches away from exiting the WC in the group stage. Portugual immediately doubled Smith when she received the ball and forced/allowed her to cut back inside to more defenders. They executed their game plan to perfection except for the missed goal opportunities.
I am completely disgusted as I prepare to fly back to Germany. I don't see us getting by Sweeden at this point. We will once again make history with our earliest exit from a WC. Lavelle fouled out of frustration and she tends to get a yellow a match. The game was allowed like all matches to be physical from the onset, so this was nothing new for this tournament. Vlat will have no answer to the midfield issue. Our starters are now taxed from 3 full 90 minute games going into the knockout. Did not manage the team for the whole tournament. He played to try and just win the group with no thoughts of the future. What a waste.
Safe Travels to You and Frank;
I'm Not sure I have EVER seen a WORSE US Women's National Team Game.
Certainly some is on Vlatko... He Looked Like a DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS Last Night.
But, Players that CAN'T Beat their Opponent 1v1 or Combine with their Teammates in 2v1 is NOT the Coaches Problem.
We may have to Bring in Murphy in the Goal, as The Swedes are REALLY Good in the AIR, especially on Corners. She is also more IMPOSING for PKs.
Our Most Likely Chance of Advancing is to Go to PKs.
We have OverExtended Horan and Morgan, even Sullivan is starting to Wear Down.
I would prefer that we Move Ertz Up to #6, but It's gonna be Risky...
We just don't know if Cook can handle Sweden.
We Need to be Prepared to Switch to a 3 Back Line-up, if we get behind and move Ertz up Into the Midfield.
Vlat substituted too little and too late. He had a deer in the headlights look for most of the game. Unless there is some incredible miracle and the USWNT wins it all, Vlat will be gone soon.
Lots of tired legs out there. Girma and Ertz in the back were his two best lineup decisions.
The USWNT could not deal with what looked like a 3-5-2, solid defending and flexibility to break out in attack. It looked like they never played against a 3-5-2 before. They were outplayed and outcoached.
The USWNT has sat on its Title 9 laurels, with zero foresight by anyone as to what's next. No surprise, but the success of the women's leagues in Europe have lifted the level of play around the world. NWSL all alone is not the answer. Like the USMNT, the women need to play in competitive leagues abroad to improve.
(☉｡☉)!→Flatko the other Night... Jajaja
You don't have to play your best soccer in the first round, though clearly not winning the group makes our path more difficult. But there won't be any easy games from here on out, so I'm not worried about our path.
I'm not on the "we've been outplayed by everybody but Vietnam" train; certainly, we have not played like a #1 team, but we've created many more chances than our opponents, and while possession is nice, I'd rather have chances on goal. Carly Lloyd talked about our arrogance and lack of effort, but I thought everyone on the field put the effort in (I can't speak to their attitude; the Portugal chance was created when Ertz (or was it Horan?) tried to dribble against 2 (when she had support available), so that might have been arrogance (or at least overconfidence). And Sophia Smith probably tries to take on more people than she should (but probably better too many than too few). But I don't think overconfidence is the problem (I do think the players believe they deserve the #1 ranking, and aren't afraid of anyone, but I think that's a good thing).
There are certainly a few important things we need to do better. Vlad needs to use his bench more (that's where he and GB are very different; GB uses lots of players which means there are a lot of players ready to go when called on). I think that also helps build team unity.
The attack needs to be varied more. Smith burned their right back on multiple occassions, but they eventually figured it out, because she didn't vary it. Morgan needs to be harder to track. Using speed to get behind players is always dangerous (Rapino put Morgan through on a couple of occasions), but there has to be more creativity.
I liked Ertz in the back against Vietnam (giving us more offensive capability), but in the last two games she's had little impact. She needs to have the ball further up the field (and disrupt their attacks).
There was a lot of time between games, so I hope the starters are not yet weary. Not playing up to our potential in the first round should not kill our chances, but clearly we need to do better from here on out.
Yes Kent, we don't need to Play our Best Soccer in the First Round, But, we should see the Team Improving, Geling, Progressing. Instead we are seeing be a Repeat of the Men at Qatar22...
1 Step Forward: 2 Steps Back...
1 good Half in the Middle Game, while Burning Out your Mid-Field.
Kent, you like Ertz in the back against Vietnam?....Wow ,you're are really playing with a lot of risk there <SARC>. Vietman has no attack, and their strategy was to keep goals scored against them to minimum....
Coach, WAKE UP! Get Thompson in the game MUCH EARLIER with Smith and put Morgan on the bench. We need SPEED!
And why in the world do you waste our precious minutes putting Rapinoe in the game??? Send her home permanently!
Vlatko was So Screwed Up, He put Thompson IN @ CENTER FORWARD.!!!
He Brought in Sonnet, to play a Double Pivot, and then about 5 minutes Later, he Switched her to a Third Center Back... Without Dropping someone from the Front Line to a Midfield Role (5-3-2)
We were Playing 5-2-3 at the End of The Game.!?!?!? Totally BIZARRE.!!!
And then Those 3 would Take-Off to Goal and Cross to No One or the GK, Instead of Wasting Time in the Corners or Playing Square Passes...
At any Point in the 2nd Half, it had to be Obvious we were going to Finish 2nd.
So why Keep going like Bulls in a China Shop to their Goal and Turning the Ball Over, and Over and Over...
Just Play Keep AWAY.!!!
Curious when alarm bells are finally going to start ringing for who is playing in goal. If that flap in the 86th minute wasn't it, Vlatko has no hope. Ellis made changes to improve team chemistry during the group stages. Does anyone see that happening now?
I didn't realize how poor Morgan's vision was until I saw her continue to shoot away inside the 18 when all it would have taken to score was to pick up the 3rd runner at the top of the box with a square pass. We really do look out of ideas when players can't pick up their heads in the attacking 3rd.
Yes some of those Near Post Shots, Should have been Dummies or Flick Backs as I Described in the Game Report for Holland.
The Selfish Alex Morgan showed up versus Portugal, and the USA Team goes, as Alex goes.
Santiago said it all: " Players that CAN'T Beat their Opponent 1v1 or Combine with their Teammates in 2v1 is NOT the Coaches problem." For at least several years now, the US Women have been technically deficient (basically the same as the US Men). The difference is that NOW there are at least a half dozen women's teams who know how to use their technical superiority to beat us -- basically they now closely match up with us physically, which allows them to press us hard for 90 minutes, and to prevent us from getting loose by just playing long balls. Our midfielders can't even hold on to the ball, let alone create space to attack, and our forwards have zero creativity -- where is a goal going to come from? You have to really "love the ball" to be a top player in today's soccer -- men's or women's -- and who wants to argue that Americans love the ball?
True, true, true Sam.
"Love The Ball, BE THE BALL."(Bill Murray - Caddy Shack ;)
Sam, it isn't that simple. The long vertical pass strategy prevents the US team from supporting the forward so there is no one to combine with. This style also is predictable and allows the defense time to isolate and concentrate around the forward so there is no 1v1 opportunity created. And this happens because of the long vertical passing game plan that the coach choses. Blaming the player for problems created by the coach's game plan is a mistake.
This is a pet peeve of mine. I played over 400 adult matches as a winger or winghalf and hated playing 442 with rec teams because they invarible would hit long vertical balls and then stand and watch me chase after them. Lazy fullbacks would do this when they got tired. (Good players don't do that to you.) It was a rest break for them and they could blame me for not chasing down their long passes when the opponents were usually 20 yards closer to the ball than I was! Even if I got the ball the closest support was typically 30 yards behind me.
The players are underperforming, true, but the team has not been prepared properly for any of the first three games. Want to see good coaching, check out what Wiegman did for England after losing one of her best players the game before and after a sluggish start to the WC. She changed her lineup and England thrashed China.
John Sabala was right in his analysis.... teams have seen how to beat the US. Beat up on the front three, slide a second or third defender over once they get the ball because they will turn and try to beat everyone on their own. There is no width in the attack and all three tend to run to the middle at the same time making it very easy to clog the box defensively (see end of Portugal game when Rose was dribbling at defense and two strikers run right into her path).
On the counter, go right down the center of the midfield, exposing Sullivan and then attack Dunn's side of the field.
It's happening every game, all the time, and VA is not adjusting. We have shown that we can't play three in the midfield and compete against quality teams. We need 4 or 5 in the midfield if we want to have any chance against Sweden, Spain, Japan, Netherlands in the next rounds.
I'd make a huge adjustment and go to a 442. I'd bring in O'hara at left-back and Cook at center-back. Move Ertz to the 6 and bring in DeMelo as the 8. Flank them with Dunn and Huerta. Move Horan up top (she is the only person capable of playing with her back to the goal) and partner her with Morgan/Smith/Rodman (sub these players in as one tires). I know it's a huge change, the team doesn't have the players to play a 433 against good teams. That is a coaching problem. He choose this roster knowing what style he wanted to play and it's clearly not working. Gotta make big changes or we lose to Sweden on Sunday.
Bunker, Counter in a 4-4-2 ... Not a Bad idea.
I'll get back to you on that.
I want to go watch some Take of Sweden First.
442 is actually weaker in the central midfield than a 433. The "phone number" isn't a problem. It is the lack of adjustment to the circumstances on the field that is a problem. That problem isn't going away because the phone number changes.
This team is actually facing pressure for the first time and they haven't figured out how to break pressure yet. The issue is simply. Learn to break pressure or go home.
The conventional USSF coaching wisdom can neither break down bunkered defenses or break pressure. Guess what? That is exactly what the USWNT is struggling with.
Bad news. USSF no longer allows national team coaches to change how a team plays. They must follow the instructions of USSF management as to "little things" like how the team plays soccer. So even if Vlatko knew how to adjust how the team plays to improve performance, he lacks the authority to do it. USSF micro-management working for us. We are stuck with USSF conventional coaching wisdom. No country has won the world cup by being tactically inflexible.
Bob, I don't think it's that Bad yet;
But, with Betty Crocker coming IN to establish a "Culture" and "Style" it will probably be Very True in the Future...
After All; have you EVER Seen a US Team play a 5-2-3.???(sarc)
Just came home from vacation and I was able to see the second half. I don't know anything about Portugal, and I've only seen Holland play one time, that's all I've seen of the cup.
My first impression of Portugal is that they play better soccer than we do....it's that simple. We DON'T play soccer, PERIOD. Watch Holland play or watch Portugal play, they have one thing in common, they play soccer. Do I have to explain what we don't do with the ball in terms of ball movement, and possession. The secret is that the US is lost when it plays a team whose ball possession is much better than. Ball Possession nullifies our strength which is athleticism, Turbo and lots of fight.
It's not that the other teams who show much better possession don't fight, they do, in fact, and that's what gives them an up on us. We have not developed our players beyond what we do, somehow we have reached a glass ceiling in our development. And sure you can blame the coach for I don't think he's right for what we need to progress ,soccerwise. We can pick another American variety coach for the women's team but our game will not get better.....Look at how the Portugese or the Dutch women handle the ball ,individually, as a team, and look at the passing and moving of the ball under pressure. We rarely can make 3passes in succession before it's lost to the other team.
We lack creative play, look how many vertical long balls were made to go downfield, with mostly go for broke attacks...Playing as a team????? we can't even sing the national anthem or put our hands over our heart as team, because we have some bozos who want to express their political opinions which over time has effected the moral of the team. Lloyd is right!!!
I had no idea Ertz was out there until halfway through the second half. Ertz can't not play as a centerback or as an attacking centerback . SHE CAN'T DRIBBLE ON THE RUN, for she lacks good timing on her dribbling. Each time she pushes the ball it's way too far out in front of her. If I were the opponent's coach ,I would tell my front line to allow Ertz to get ball in the backfield, give her room and allow to her run forcing to pass. We need someone like a Lavelle as centerback who is quick, can turn with the ball, able to take opponents on 1v1.
Frank, the Good thing is; that Our BEST Player; Ertz goes into the Next Game in Good Shape.
If Flatko had just Rested Lavell and Horan( 2 Yellow Carded Players) we would be going into the Next game with a Strong Midfield.
Santi, Erzt is our saving grace?????...GOOD GRIEF !!!!! Have you seen her dribble with speed...she's clueless!!!!!.... She needs to retire like the coach from the National team...
Frank, Like Adams for the Men's Team...
Ertz sets the Tone for the Women's Team.
She can't do that from the Back Line.
No, She ain't a Pretty Player, but she LEADS and others Follow.
Also I would probably rather have her Lack of Skills further Up the Field than in the Back.
Just Not sure we can Pull that Switch Off MID Tournament.
With Lavell Out and Horan and Sullivan Gassed..
and the Fact that we Haven't seen another Center Back on the Field.
I think with have to Start with Ertz in the Back and Play for the PKs.
Oops... Posted my Response Above Frank
Simple: if they don't respect the National Anthem they sit
Agreed
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I have seen the USA team in two games live and one on TV and I haven't seen any signs of disrespect. I watch plenty of other teams and with the exception of Australia and New Zealand, few of the teams have anyone singing let alone the whole team. They could be tone deaf and you wouldn't want them singing. The other issue here is that I think the USA has played some attractive football but other teams have gotten better. In the last cup you never heard about european clubs that had women's teams. Now teams have players that are receiving top level coaching in Europe and the States. The Portugal team wasn't rated highly because of their lack of commitment to the national team but all their players played with Benfica or Real Madrid. The era has changed and the challenges have increased but I like this USA team and if you sit some of the veterans like Rapinoe and bring in hungry players, they will succeed. I live in New Zealand now, and most people and press has liked the USA and have supported them well, unlike the negativity in USA.
Again , I see some of the posts blame our play because of certain lack of tactical ploys or whatnots, bad coaching or some other soccer tidbits. Look at the total picture of how we play as compared to Spain, Japan or Holland or Portugal, for instance. We don't play good soccer , we lack good possession, we are not good in controlling in small spaces while under pressure and we tend to lose the ball after the second pass. These are the important things that makes us look bad instead thinking we played bad because faulty tactic, wrong coach, player injury, or question why someone should have played
We are good at the simple things that don't take great skills , like running, athleticism, fighting, hustling...Somehow that worked for a while and many of our opponents are still not gotten respectable.
Our lack of skill is made up by playing Turbo soccer. It has been successful for us but sooner of later, sophistication of play needs to begin to dominate. None of our front line players have a sophisticated edge to their technique, for it's basically taken up by turbo ,size and speed.
Sorry Frank, having to point out the same pitfalls is true. Technical ability is so poor that, it's mind boggling. The opposition doesn't try to run with them anymore. The just wait for the turnover and pick them apart. This is the coaches roster and his presentation. He needs to make some serious adjustments. I believe with Girma they can keep it close but, the turnover rate doesn't convert to them scoring. They need 2 goals or more in every match. Does anyone here see 2 goals a match coming from the turnover parade? Turbo soccer sucks!
Don't see the 2 Goals;
But, I don't see the other Team Scoring either...
Pretty sure I saw this Stat somewhere...
Opposition in the First Round;
Zero shots On Goal; except for the goal by Holland.
Zero shot attempts inside the 18.
I see a SLOG and PKs versus Sweden.
I just woke at 4am in the morning for my body is still on Dutch time...My mind just told, the US should hire this dutch coach, Jos Jonker. We need a shock to the system for it to get started to a new direction and it won't do if we another 'garden variety' American coach. I know Jos Jonker , he was never a favorite of mine but he's an Amsterdam boy, like myself, played the game has been an assistant of van Gaal, at Barcelona, Bayern, and other clubs, worked at Arsenal Academy, follows his philosophy,etc...He's been around the block.
This doesn't mean I blame Vlatko for he's just another American who got his 'super duper terrific' coaching licenses here taught by some less than mediocre technical genius, and he's no better or no worse than the rest of the American licensed coaches who can't seem to go beyond the glass ceiling that is needed in our player development. Jonker will institute a different type of thinking that we don't seem to have here. Whatever he will contribute to US soccer will definitely further our progress towards better soccer. But uptill then don't depend on the American licensed coaches to set the tone and tenor of how to play for it will be the same o'le same o'le , Bada Boom, Turbo city, Athleticism and hard work....
Why hasn't the American soccer press interviewed Josh Jonker and that is because we don't have soccer press that is well informed with some brains for the game for they rather write stories that are on the level of "People" magazine. Why hasn't there been an interview on one of the dutch players to ask what they think of Jonker, and his methods and what have they learned...THIS IS SIMPLE ABC'S OF JOURNALISM, that we just don't read or are informed by...Ask some of the dutch players or ask a Portugese player what have they learned....Realize these types of questions would help our upcoming girls and coaches instead of reading about coach Joe Pizza winning the 'millie vanillie' cup in the Black Hills of South Dakota...whatever....
Frank, you've pointed out another issue where USSF leadership has long been derelict, influencing the capabilties and football knowledge of the press.
After Arena took over for Klinsmann and the USMNT failed to qualify, I sent a white paper to Sunil Gulati and one of the key points was for a USSF initiative to push for more sports journalists, in print and on the telly, to have a deep understanding of the game. Gulati had the courtesy to thank me for my efforts and the USSF did nothing in this area. It continues to do so.
The result is that most daily papers in large cities are lucky to have even one journalist who can spell S-O-C-C-E-R. Fox Sports soccer commentators and announcers are simply inept. MLS TV coverage, before Apple, was equally inept, and probably still inept in the world of Apple TV. The New York Times is the exception in this country, and they've recently canceled its own sports journalism. Coverage by The Athletic, owned by the NYT is extensive and excellent.
Ben, great info on your part, didn't know all that....It is so important to release good soccer info given out to the public. Overtime it is a winner...A good soccer journalist, especially one who has played the game can come up with some good questions for interviews. I know in Holland some journalists are very proud in what they do to inform the public. We don't have that here. For example, we should have a journalists who has established contacts with former great players...Call them up and ask what was your opinion of the game, what did you see wrong or right and other opinions. Lets say he asks about 5players, after a USNT game, like greats who live here a Nene Cubillas, Tata, others who carry credit and know the game....
Why doesn't SA work with some of these types and contact them after a game and get some opinions and I don't mean politically correct crap but good info for the public. I find SA very soft on soccer info and takes the road where it's mainly blah, blah, blah....
I'm not surprised about Gelati, these types are more in it for the PR rather than improve the knowledge base of soccer to the public....Hey, where is Cone on all this, I never hear any opinions on this by her...
Picked up this "Stat" from another article;
"...the U.S. has allowed its once world-class youth system to fall behind. The under-20 team has not advanced from a World Cup group stage since 2016. The under-17 team has done so just once since 2008, losing in the 2022 quarterfinal."
You want to pep yourselves up after yesterday's debacle...WATCH THIS!!
(23) Dener --Best Goals & Skills-- THE NEYMAR THAT NEVER WAS - YouTube
LETS GET BACK TO SOME SERIOUS SOCCER....
Good Stuff... What happened to him.???
Santi, I don't know. One of my former students send me this video this morning....
Great clip. Reminds me of a young Pele.
Per Wiki, Dener died in an auto accident shortly after his 23rd birthday.
This is not a championship team! Last chance to see them is against Sweden. Barring a miraclethey'll be shellacked.
Not enough high quality players, Morgan is now too old and she never really live up to the hype. It doesn't look like there is player leqadership on the team. They would have probably looked better with a more compatible coach. I son't think Andonovsky is getting the best out of what the team has
Agreed.
I apologize for all the garbled comments. I discovered that I needed to turn off spell check in my operating system. Again. Hopefully it stays off.
Bob "the midfield builder", no apologies necessary. Just keep 'em comin'!