I’ve gotta go with France for the third place match.
Well, the matchup is set, and it’s a good one. Japan is a terrific side, a delight to watch. They’re kind of like a superior version of the French team. The US will really suffer in the one-on-one skills matchup, and Japan should easily dominate possession. But whatever else you can say about the Americans, they know how to put the ball in the back of the net. And I just have a feeling that Japan’s size disadvantage will hurt them, particularly on defense and at the keeper position. It’s an old World Cup truism, but the keeper v. keeper matchup so often tells the tale. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Japan won… but that said, I’m still predicting the Americans carry the day – by a goal.
And as an aside, the refereeing was excellent today – a total contrast to the horror show that was US v. Brazil.
Japan is clearly for real. They beat Germany. They beat Sweden. They crushed Mexico (who beat the USA during qualification).
Step one for the USA is to not take anything for granted. Step two is to skip over the part of each game where they just aren’t very good. Should be a hell of a match.
Refs will be a critical part of the game against Japan (duh!). The US plays physical and tough, and the Japanese don’t. I could see us pulling a LOT of fouls if we get some strict refs in that match.
Japan-Sweden 3-1. Japan was the better team from the beginning to the end. Swedish star striker Seger (which means “Victory” in English) was not in the game due to an injury and her replacement couldn’t play due to a yellow card (I think), so Sweden played 4-5-1 instead of its ususal 4-4-2 and didn’t accomplish anything. We simply didn’t stand a chance. But if USA wins we sort of win too. Right?
Absolutely! You will have beat the World Cup Champion. Sounds like a win-win to me! However, Japanese Dopers might object.
No. The ball pretty much has to be played to you for you to be offside. You’re also offside if you’re in an offside position and the ball is shot & you get the rebound.
I’ve criticized Rapinoe here, but she helped change the game today. And I’ll definitely take Rapinoe-Cheney-Boxx-O’Reilly over Cheney-Lloyd-Boxx-O’Reilly.
US vs Japan: A House Divided (my wife is Japanese). Although we’ll be happy for either team, just want a good match.
I was shocked at how Japan dominated the match. Other than the gift first goal, Sweden didn’t really threaten all that much. At one point the shots-on-goal was 11-1 Japan, and Japan had like 70% posession. Yikes.
Japan’s strength is technical skill and ball posession. America is a much more physical team than Japan, but I don’t think we can read too much into that: Japan almost always plays bigger, larger teams such as Australia. For years it was a major weakness - until this world cup, Japan had never beaten a European team - but now they’ve beaten both Germany and Sweden, in back-to-back knockout rounds. Tells me that they’ve learned how to neutralize physical play (mainly by forcing the other team to chase the ball).
I see it going to penalities, with Solo being the difference maker. 1-1 at the end of play, and US wins the PK.
I am also duty-bound to note that my wife and I are in agreement: the Japan team needs more cuties…
Am I the only one who’s wondering if the US is intentionally playing some kind of rope-a-dope? It seems like in nearly every match the first 20 minutes of every half they’re playing very conservative, falling back on defense, only one forward pressuring thee opposing backs, not really challenging for loose balls,
then suddenly flip a switch and start contesting everything, having two or three people pressuring the opposing backs, running harder for loose balls, etc.
The end of the France match was night and day to the middle 40 minutes; Brazil was a bit different, but still seemed to have more pressure late; North Korea the switch flipped 20 minutes in and was on high the rest of the time, etc.
Am I imagining that, or have other people seen it? And if so, do we think it’s just players who take a while to get their heads in the game, a conscious strategy, or just a by-product of the opposing players getting tired before the US?
I would say yes to all of that. I think we spend about 20 or so minutes of each have gauging how the other team is going to play us, and then once we figure it out we just turn the switch and use something else.
I really think we will have a problem with Japan. We do not fair as well against good technical sounding teams mostly because we aren’t the most technical sounding team. We need good games from Boxx and especially LaPielbet.
We might even be down at half, but once my girl Rapinoe comes in we will be A-OK!
Overall record of the US. women’s team vs. Japan: 22-0-3. In the recent past: 9-0-0. This year: 3-0-0. It’s not like we’ve never cracked that nut before. In fact, we have a better record against them than against any other single team.
To be fair, Japan is playing some inspired football, showing something no one has seen from them in international soccer (although they’ve shown in recent friendlies that Sweden can be weak against them).
But I think you’ve gotta say that the World Cup is still the USA’s to lose.
Before this year, Japan vs Germany and Sweden: 1-7. Goals scored vs goals allowed: 3-21.
This ain’t the same squad. I think they give the US all sorts of trouble. They are a delight to watch as well - very Barca-esque with the ball control. Technically very sound and loads of stamina. Still think the US wins a close game, but the US has two World Cup wins. After all Japan has gone through, I’ll be hoping they pull off the epic upset.
Well, as they say, past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
Still, remember that Japan scored two of its goals against Sweden on very uncharacteristic goalkeeper mistakes. Solo shouldn’t make any mistakes like that. Japan needs a Messi, and doesn’t have one. While Sawa has had a good tournament with four goals, she looked a little fatigued to me last match. So I can see Japan dominating possession, but I can’t see them dominating the scoring. I think U.S.-France will be the blueprint for this last one.
Man is everybody else getting tired of the old struck-by-lightning so I took musk glands accidentally laced with steroids defense? :mad:
Did anyone besides me think Schelin’s first goal against France was offside?
My favorite part of that article:
Does anybody believe that the steroids actually came from some animal, and not a Pyongyang Walgreen’s?
And how the hell did lightning strike their practice facility? I thought Dear Leader could take care of things like that.
Hammarström’s goal to put Sweden up 2-1 was mighty.
Agreed. Absolutely gorgeous. Well earned bronze medal for Sweden.
When were those games?