The CardBoard
Outside Topic USWNT at the World Cup - Printable Version

+- The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board)
+-- Forum: C-House! (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-4.html)
+--- Forum: The CardBoard (https://thecardboard.org/board/forum-5.html)
+--- Thread: Outside Topic USWNT at the World Cup (/thread-24295.html)

Pages: 1 2

USWNT at the World Cup - Canalejas - 07-21-2023

The USA is halfway through its opening match.  Some fun Stanford connections in the highlights for anyone that cares to follow.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/07/21/uswnt-vs-vietnam-world-cup-2023-live-updates/

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Canalejas - 07-21-2023

https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/uswnt-player-ratings-vietnam-sophia-smith/bltd5339513da0d25d0

Quote:Sophia Smith (9/10):

What a player. Smith was magnificent in this one, marking her World Cup debut with a dominant display as she scored twice and set up another. The U.S. will likely get goals from all over this summer, but Smith may just be the Golden Boot candidate in this kind of form.


Naomi Girma (7/10):

She makes it look so easy, doesn't she? Wasn't challenged much defensively, as expected, but she was so smooth on the ball when given the chance to push things forward.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/38049433/uswnt-vietnam-womens-world-cup-ratings-sophia-smith-superb

Quote:FW Sophia Smith, 8 -- Expectations were high for Smith entering the tournament and she largely delivered, taking her goals well. While she wasn't at her best in terms in terms of link-up play, she made the plays that mattered, including the assist on Horan's crucial third goal.

DF Naomi Girma, 8 -- Cool and composed on the ball, and used her pace well to snuff out what few attacks Vietnam could muster. Her long diagonal passes created problems for Vietnam, creating the scramble prior to Smith's second goal.

MF Andi Sullivan, 6 -- Kept the U.S. attack ticking over and won the ball back when she needed to. Led the team with 16 defensive interventions.

DF Kelley O'Hara, N/R (on for Dunn, 84") -- The veteran got on the field for a late cameo and a rugged tackle.


RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Canalejas - 07-21-2023

Oh, and Alex Morgan missed a PK.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - 81alum - 07-22-2023

We won, and Sophia Smith was magnificent, but this kind of game discourages me from continuing to watch.  Vietnam's "bunker defense" style of play was truly ugly.  They did not contest 60% of the field at all.  It was as if they began the game conceding that they were going to lose, but wanted to keep it as close as possible by making it a boring, defensive struggle.  Fortunately, they were not nearly as good as the Americans so it wound up 3-0 rather than 1-0 or 0-0.

Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Maple Leaf - 07-22-2023

(07-22-2023, 06:34 AM)81alum Wrote:  We won, and Sophia Smith was magnificent, but this kind of game discourages me from continuing to watch.  Vietnam's "bunker defense" style of play was truly ugly.  They did not contest 60% of the field at all.  It was as if they began the game conceding that they were going to lose, but wanted to keep it as close as possible by making it a boring, defensive struggle.  Fortunately, they were not nearly as good as the Americans so it wound up 3-0 rather than 1-0 or 0-0.

Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.

How this became the world's most popular sport can be attributed to the following:

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - ca245 - 07-22-2023

(07-22-2023, 06:34 AM)81alum Wrote:  Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.
Mismatches happen, regardless of sport. At the FIBA U19 games, we beat ARG 112-36 and CZE 121-61.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - 82lsju - 07-22-2023

(07-22-2023, 09:59 AM)ca245 Wrote:  
(07-22-2023, 06:34 AM)81alum Wrote:  Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.
Mismatches happen, regardless of sport. At the FIBA U19 games, we beat ARG 112-36 and CZE 121-61.

like in the 2014 men's world cup semifinals when Germany thumped Brazil 7-1...

Mudhead - Mudhead - 07-22-2023

(07-22-2023, 07:25 AM)Maple Leaf Wrote:  
(07-22-2023, 06:34 AM)81alum Wrote:  We won, and Sophia Smith was magnificent, but this kind of game discourages me from continuing to watch.  Vietnam's "bunker defense" style of play was truly ugly.  They did not contest 60% of the field at all.  It was as if they began the game conceding that they were going to lose, but wanted to keep it as close as possible by making it a boring, defensive struggle.  Fortunately, they were not nearly as good as the Americans so it wound up 3-0 rather than 1-0 or 0-0.

Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.

How this became the world's most popular sport can be attributed to the following:
  • Cost, does not take much $$$ to set up a soccer program compared to football, baseball, basketball, hockey or rugby.
  • Thanks to the exploitation of many underdeveloped countries by the British Empire, and other European colonial powers soccer was spread around the world.
  • With good physical health this sport can be played by various age groups.

Good point, Maple Leaf.  Never realized how much the world owed to Empire Colonialism. Just think, if the Japanese, Chinese , Russian , Egyptian, African, Aztec, Mayan and Comanche Empires had all played soccer, we might not be playing football, basketball, baseball and golf today!

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Jamesy - 07-22-2023

(07-22-2023, 06:34 AM)81alum Wrote:  We won, and Sophia Smith was magnificent, but this kind of game discourages me from continuing to watch.  Vietnam's "bunker defense" style of play was truly ugly.  They did not contest 60% of the field at all.  It was as if they began the game conceding that they were going to lose, but wanted to keep it as close as possible by making it a boring, defensive struggle.  Fortunately, they were not nearly as good as the Americans so it wound up 3-0 rather than 1-0 or 0-0.

Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.

Seems like a good strategy by the Vietnam coach. Goal differential is one of the tiebreakers in the group stage and a 12-0 loss would kill that.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - M T - 07-22-2023

Turtling along with Hack-a-Shaq, 4 corners offense, intentional walks, etc.
It may be a good strategy for a team but may also be viewed negatively by others.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Canalejas - 07-26-2023

Here is the Daily's coverage of the World Cup:  

https://stanforddaily.com/2023/07/25/stanford-alums-kick-off-historic-world-cup/

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - jacket3ree - 07-26-2023

(07-22-2023, 06:34 AM)81alum Wrote:  Games like that really make me wonder how this became the world's most popular sport.

I suggest watching the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ted Lasso, and/or Messi's debut with Inter Miami. I'm not a futbol aficionado by any means, but one of the best times I've had abroad was going to a Serie C match in Lucca on a whim. Going home from work in a train full of Brasil fans on their way to watch practice at Stanford wasn't bad either.



.....also, there are dog**** games in every sport at every level.  Particularly the Iditarod. <rimshot>

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - 81alum - 07-26-2023

Tonight't 1-1 really did seem like two separate 1-0 halves, to me.  I tuned in when we were already behind and watched the last 20 minutes of the first half, and it seemed dreadful to me.  The Dutch seemed to pass and tackle far better and more skillfully than we did, and during the time I watched the time of possession must have overwhelmingly favored the Dutch.

The second half was entirely different.  We seemed much more aggressive about taking the ball away, we dominated on scoring opportunities and corners.  That methodical ball-possession game of the Dutch seemed to vanish.  Sad that the offsides call (legit) kept it a tie or we would have turned what looked like it was going to be a defeat into a victory.  And Smith had an excellent shot-on-goal that was headed out by a defender.  Clearly the momentum had shifted.

I wonder what those of you who really understand this game can share to help me understand the radically different look, feel, and results from the first half to the second.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - dabigv13 - 07-26-2023

Rose Lavelle a big part of it. She played some nice passes and was always looking to advance the ball. First half US looked bad in so many ways though, just not sharp overall. Maybe they needed a halftime reset.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - ADPinWDC - 07-26-2023

WWC:  USA 1 vs NED 1 
FOX did the best they could to build up the USA vs NED Group E game as "REVENGE MATCH 2023" for 2019 Finale. 
USA beat NED in the Finale of the 2019 World Cup en La France. 
This one was a tedious back and forth 1-1 tie, with USA rallying in second half on the Horan header.  
Apparently we had 10 shots, 3 on target (1 goal), and 11 corners for USA vs just 1 corner for NED.  They dribbled the ball more.  
Dutch mustered only 3 shots, and got their goal in the first half when we failed to clear it out of the box, rather than a set piece. 
Morgan netted an alert, fleet-footed goal in 2H, but was barely off-sides.   We have more weapons.  The Dutch are stingy.  

We get PORT next week; and NED can mop up on VIET.  If they get more than 4 goals diff vs VIET, then NED takes the Group. 
We remain favored overall in the Tourney, and some Commentators have us against CAN or ENG in the Finale Aug. 20.  
Coming out of Group E, we likely play SWE or ITA from G.  Those two play Sat July 29 to determine Group G winner. 
After that, probably SPA (Group C) or SWIS? in the Semi-Final.  
On our side of the braket, playing SWE or ITA could set who makes the Finale.  

Let's get past Portugal.  Still some rusty play out there and not converting chances.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - d4cohn - 07-26-2023

(07-26-2023, 08:29 PM)dabigv13 Wrote:  Rose Lavelle a big part of it. She played some nice passes and was always looking to advance the ball. First half US looked bad in so many ways though, just not sharp overall. Maybe they needed a halftime reset.

Crystal Dunn provided a bit going forward, but she was not good defensively pretty much throughout the game. The slip on the goal and the poor clearance with the side of the foot after being out of position was a hat-trick of mistakes. Granted, one expects Sullivan to make the tackle to stop the counter at the beginning, but Dunn was not very good defensively today.

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Mick - 07-27-2023

(07-26-2023, 06:41 PM)jacket3ree Wrote:  I suggest watching the Premier League, Bundesliga, Ted Lasso, and/or Messi's debut with Inter Miami. I'm not a futbol aficionado by any means, but one of the best times I've had abroad was going to a Serie C match in Lucca on a whim. Going home from work in a train full of Brasil fans on their way to watch practice at Stanford wasn't bad either.

Brazilian futbol fans get my vote as craziest. When they were in Los Gatos for the World Cup, they partied at a local bar, the now-since-closed C. B. Hannegan's. The bar ran out of alcohol at 9:30 p.m....

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - Nan3cy - 08-01-2023

Am hoping that some people who know a lot more about soccer than I do will opine on what looks to be the US team's malaise. I'm getting the impression that a lot of the problem belongs to the coach. (Good coaching makes a difference? Who knew?)

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - d4cohn - 08-01-2023

USWNT had 28 shots against Vietnam, 18 shots against the Netherlands, and 17 shots against Portugal, for a total of 63 shots. With 4 goals, that is a very poor 6.3% conversion rate. To provide some perspective on that conversion rate, for the 2021-2022 season of the Premier League (yes in many ways apples to oranges comparison), a 6.3% conversion rate was T-3 worst in that league (and the worst, second worst, and one of the third worst teams in terms of conversion rate were the three teams relegated). As such, while looking at conversion rate alone doesn't explain the why, the reason the US finished runner up to the Netherlands in their group is because the conversation rate of shots into goals was arguably abysmal. Interested what the xG for US was in its three contests (to get a better sense of the quality of shots etc.)

RE: USWNT at the World Cup - 81alum - 08-01-2023

(08-01-2023, 05:50 PM)Nan3cy Wrote:  Am hoping that some people who know a lot more about soccer than I do will opine on what looks to be the US team's malaise. I'm getting the impression that a lot of the problem belongs to the coach. (Good coaching makes a difference? Who knew?)
I second that request.

I tried to stay up to watch the game, but fell asleep and missed it.  Now I am glad I did.  ]

In all three of our games our offense has been disappointing.  Our defense is clearly not the problem.  That is about as far as I can get on my own.