NFT: WWC Semifinal--USA vs. Germany

In comment 12350079 j_rud said:

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In comment 12350072 Crispino said: Quote: She brings veteran calm and confidence when you're trying to close out a game. Tell me the Germans didn't hate seeing her on the field. And she made a couple of very smart plays in her short stint, including starting the play on the second goal. The wheels may be gone, but she brings intangibles to the right situation. For sure, hard to argue against having her on the field when she helped set up the clincher. And there's definitely said for having a vet presence in a tight situation like that. I guess I'm just stuck a little too much to the "stick with the hot hand" cliche. I know what my earlier post said but regardless of how well Rapinoe was playing when you look at the while or picture and how the match played out it was about as tactical a substitution a manager could make.

It didn't come to pass, but you might also have expected the game to get a bit rough as Germany got a little desperate at the end. I'm actually thought they were playing more passive than I would have expected when down a goal. But if it did get rough, then you would expect more set pieces and would also want Abby's size and strength on the field.

I don't what percent of their shots were on frame but I would expect less than usual. I feel like they had a ton that sailed way over the top of the crossbar.

lack of depth relative to the Americans. When they did bring in a sub it was a women hobbled by a bad ankle.

I'll be interested to watch the other semi now - I haven't seen the other teams yet.

but had my own matches until 9:45 PM so watched on re-play (barely avoiding any spoilers as I made a mistake going through email on the way home), so, belated comments

- first, aside from the player commentary, this was a kickass, exhilarating slugfest between the two best teams (sorry Japan) on the planet, an exciting pleasure as I nursed my post-matches beers

- I have a serious crush on Tabia Kemme, a hottie, but other than that the Germans are not so hot, lol

- the poster who kept saying the Germans had only one threatening run the entire match (on Johnston's red, err, yellow) must have missed Mittag's slicing run about 10 minutes in when she cut between (as I recall) Klingenberg and Sauerbrunn) in a dangerous run. But the Germans couldn't finish.

- Hope Solo is such a bad ass. I get a kick out of watching her in front of her net as she walks the dog, takes out the garbage, and intimidates the neighborhood. I'm not sure B is right, but he's certainly not wrong, because her stroll could not have hurt.

- rumors on these threads of Rapinoe's demise turn out to be vastly overstated; she was excellent in the first half because the team (and Ellis) had so much better movement away from the ball that Rapinoe was given space to create. As the only option in earlier matches, she was boxed in by multiple defenders.

- I got a big chuckle out of Paul's (if it was you) comment that O'Hara gave her best Zlatan imitation, but that was one hell of a finish and what timing to come on to Lloyd's cross (as Morgan failed to do on an earlier run at about the same spot), and her shriek of unadulterated joy--gotta love it!! However, I don't think Neid gets rattled; her players were rattled, and that brings me to a point alluded to by the woman color commentator, comparing last night to Germany-France.

- France outplayed Germany in H1 and much of H2, but the Germans began to assert themselves in H2, much as they were beginning to against USA last night--subtle but undeniable shift in the tenor of the match as the US midfield play began to soften, become less aggressive, and then suddenly we were chasing (as Germany chased us for the last 38 minutes of H1). Then the penalty kicks' sequence put an end to that dynamic. But, back to France, there is no doubt in my mind that Ellis looked at that match and said, we can do that to Germany as well. France was flat out taking Germany's lunch. The key difference in outcomes was that the ref there refused to call a penalty when Necib was body slammed to the turf in the PA, and we were the beneficiaries of analogous calls last night.

- the two penalties? What can one say. As Peter speaks from experience from his vantage point, so can I, and as it happens real time, happens fast, and the game is big, sometimes you get it slightly wrong. I think the ref who gave the red to the keeper on Morgan's run got it right (I hope we see her tonight, but not likely in the finals as she was such a big factor in the US elimination round win), last night, probably not. Neid was a big girl in not whining, but she didn't shy away from her opinion that the calls were wrong. She is right, but USA was far the better team last night.

- As far as Japan: I think the US avoids the letdown that followed the miracle win vs. Brasil in 2011, where we were the team in the finals having gone to extra time and shootout.

- As far as Japan and playing the same formation that we had vs. Germany, I'm not sure I agree with those who urge that we do. Japan is a completely different style and personnel, do not open themselves to the big spaces we had last night countering and then controlling the German middies. Japan will be much closer to China in style and shape and I think it will not be so easy to break down their defense as it was last night. But Wambach cannot be one of the initial 10 field players, much as her height advantage in the PA could be telling against the smaller Japanese players. So, as a tactical sub, maybe, but her presence lends molasses to the US attack.

was a Hermann Award winner as a forward at Stanford, but has been great for the US the last several years all over the field-- mostly on defense. It was great to see her nose for the goal show up last night.

remarked on that too: O'Hara is balletic and Zlatanic at the same time; later shots of her exultation on Fox were superb. What timing with her fresh legs to come on Lloyd's perfect cross. Makes Ellis look like a genius, for good reason, lol

Of course, my heartthrob Kemme was victimized, but as we Giants' fans like to bemoan on a TD given up by one of our corners, "but his coverage was so tight"

"Neid was a big girl in not whining, but she didn't shy away from her opinion that the calls were wrong. She is right, but USA was far the better team last night."

Exactly. 2-0 was a pretty fair representation of how the game went overall. 2-1 or 3-1 would have been too - Sasic could have made the penalty but we also had a couple of great chances in the first half, and Angerer just made saves, one great and one lucky.

There's no case to be made that Germany should have won.

Rapinoe got jacked up by Krahn (I think) on an obvious yellow and Morgan was yanked down in the box (or on the end line wide of the box) and there were some calls that could have gone against the US. But i think the two biggest cals in the match were absolutely called in the US's favor (the two PK calls). Objectively, I would think that it should have been 0-0 with the US down a player for te remainder of the match.

But the red card wasn't called, and the US won the game. They played better soccer over the 90, but the game isn't about who played better, but who puts more in the net, and the US capitalized on the breaks they got .

Neid has legitimate gripes about those calls. But (and not that it's relevant), none of those calls come close to the way the USMNT were screwed by the non-handball call in 2002 vs. Germany.

good game for the US that I hope they keep it up in the final. As much as Ellis has come under fire, her formation switch and her subs were critical last night. O'Hara scored and Wambach controlled possession at key times and was the initial reason the US got the second goal. I don't agree with those complaining that Rapinoe should have stayed in. She was getting visibly tired at the end and was getting physically beaten on 50-50's in the 2nd half.

Tonight I'll root for a good match that goes to penalties with England winning in a game that features 4 red cards, 2 for each team:)

Totally agree with your assessment of Japan. They are not Germany, but more like a mature version of China. They are a possession team which plays in a structured ,tight formation and maintains its shape well. They are not going to win too many games 3-0, preferring instead to play disciplined defense, with quick passes and take advantage of chances. Their ball skills and passing are excellent.

They do have weaknesses though. They are quick, but not fast. They are not big. The US can play balls into the box and try to overpower them, but that is not the same as returning to the kick and chase approach used in the preliminary rounds. It should look more like the style played against China, relying on high pressure and speed on the flanks.

That said, and despite Japan looking like a favorite tonight, it is possible that the Americans face England in the next round. England is very physical and opportunistic and has a bit of the team of destiny look to them. They have a 1-0 loss to France which is impressive given the fact that the French starting 11 is as strong or stronger than any team in the world. The game was a boring match played largely in the middle third. That is exactly what England wants tonight. It would be a mistake to count them out yet.

Still only has two losses. Two.

they looked great last night with that formation, but it was a similar formation to what soccer fans have been clamoring for all tournament. The backline is playing tremendously well, with a huge out-of-nowhere boost from Johnston, who only made the team because of Rampone's injury.

I do think it must be incredibly hard for her to deal with the appeal of players like Wambach, and the knowledge of what's best for the team moving forward.

Paul: agree on the non-call on Krahn manhandling of Rapinoe, that was an easy yellow and quite inconsistent with the yellow Sauerbrunn "earned", not.

FMiC: agree--as much as I was disheartened to see Wambach off the bench, it made sense and worked out: Rapinoe is a game changer with her ball skills, savvy, creativity, and high intensity style, but she had expended a lot and she was wasted.

Jeffrey: "a mature version of China", good way of putting it, and their size differential goes to my comment that Wambach may be a good situational sub later in the game, but a mistake to go back to the tactics in Group play. England has been impressive, Carney, Houghton, Chapman, Jill ? (the tall drink of water), they're a blue collar, lunchpail group. Also, their keeper, Bardsley (?), is very good, I think she plays with a West Coast college, maybe Santa Clara, 4th best keeper in the tournament, imo, after Solo, Angerer, Bouhadda (?) French, and ahead of the China keeper

I think it was Meier who had the egregious take down of Rapinoe, kicking her way up on the thigh after the ball was gone. If I'm not mistaken, she already had a yellow and may be the reason the ref didn't want to issue another yellow resulting in a red. But, shortly after that, someone else gave anice forearm shiver to the back of Rapinoe's neck, after what appears to be incidental contact on the back of her head. That may be the one you were referring to.

The play where Morgan was dragged down in the box, in my opinion, was more egregious. She was being held before she got the ball while she had the ball and it caused her to lose the ball. the whole sequence was a good 10 seconds, which should have stood out to the officials and was constant. It was not a subtle hold, grab, or takedown.

On the other hand, we may have gotten away with one when Johnston didn't get the red. We also got away with some other questionable tackles. Overall, I think it pretty much evened out. The officials tried to let them play as much as possible. there were a few occasions, for both sides, where a card looked obvious and the official opted to give them a talking to instead.

thread by posting on it, so there! lol

But I agree with each comment made by the FatOne, and Swirling Eddie to boot....

Paul, I'm with you: I don't know if the competing networks won't hire Ian Darke because of age, contractual restrictions, or what--I thought he did some of the USMNT matches in WC Qualifiers, but it's beneath him to saddle his expertise with the drudgery of the USMNT.

and as to chris r' comment over there, ignorance is bliss, but it was a very stupid statement and did seem a gender attack. Last night was flat out good football, entertainment, and drama.

If you took away her tatoos, Sydney Leroux is the one for me. there are some other cuties on both teams, but as a whole, I think the German team looks a whole lot scarier.

Agreed about your last comment. last night's match was just excellent soccer. It was one of the better matches I've watched in a while, for either gender. It was like watching a prize fight in boxing with two sluggers duking it out.

compared to the mens game makes it much more watchable for this casual fan

(chris r) has become a caricature of himself. A person who takes the opposite side of a topic just to be a dick.

Glad others are finally calling his stupidity out.

USA, USA, USA!!

Signed Beerman

thank you for the well wishes. (:

One accomplishment of last night is that it sets up the expectations Sunday for the USWNT sky high, certainly a prohibitive favorite. Can the women deal with this? There was a piece in NYT this AM that this group is so tired of playing under the shadow of the 1999 team (and, Beerman, we owe you for the poster who put up Brandi Chastain's iconic pic).

Actually, I think I will make a post over there, something just occurred to me.

i was referring to the take down by Meier. I actually thought the "forearm shiver" to Rapinoe's head was an exagerration by Rapinoe, lol.

Radar, I take it you don't watch college football or college basketball, then.

In other news, the match got a 6.1 overnight rating, which is huge.

In comment 12350666 PaulBlakeTSU said:

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they looked great last night with that formation, but it was a similar formation to what soccer fans have been clamoring for all tournament. The backline is playing tremendously well, with a huge out-of-nowhere boost from Johnston, who only made the team because of Rampone's injury. I do think it must be incredibly hard for her to deal with the appeal of players like Wambach, and the knowledge of what's best for the team moving forward.

Excellent points about the team and the coach. Now that they have had success everyone is coming out of the woodwork to say that the coach was wrongly criticized. I do not agree. The coach has been criticized for very valid reasons and not just by casual fans here at BBI an on other sites. She has been criticized by many long-time and credible soccer commentators, coaches and ex-national team players for her line-up and formation. Feel free to disagree but do not dismiss the criticisms as invalid.

Now Paul is raising an equally valid point in that Ellis may have been trying to deal with the Goliath that is the legacy of 1999 and the accomplishments of several legends in the world of women's soccer who are now past their prime. It is no simple problem and not easily done without fostering a revolt between old and new. I am sure that other coaches in other sports have wrestled with the same issue, including Girardi, Coughlin and whomever is the current coach of the Knicks.

So let's not diminish the magnitude of the problem faced by Ellis in this World Cup and her challenge to place a competent and winning team on the field without being viewed as disrespecting veteran stars. Yet the fact remains that she made some very questionable decisions in the buildup to the World Cup, by mouthing support for a new possession style game, while continuing to limit her roster unnecessarily to a combination of proven, though aging veterans no longer (and in some instances never) capable of playing the style Ellis wanted to implement.

Unlike Klinsman who has a revolving door over the past year to bring in new blood and intermix it with established veterans, Ellis chose to virtually stand pat with a relatively fixed roster for most of the year. Clearly talented but not necessarily the best combination of matching parts for the speed/possession approach.Recall that Julie Johnston, a candidate for MVP on this team was an injury addition to the roster and but for that fact would not be in the match or on the bench.

Ultimately who cares what happened or why. Hopefully, Ellis has successfully broken with the chains of the past and can proceed with her team and her professed style of play.

Long service to a Japanese forward to burned behind the England line and was pushed outside the box, but the ref gave a yellow and called it inside and a PK and Miyama put it away.

I wish soccer would use a review system to determine if a foul was inside our outside the box. Two nights in a row, refs messed up in awarding PKs that should not have been because the players were outside the box. And goals are too precious in soccer to award PKs on bad judgment that can so quickly and easily be verified.

and now a player on England just dove in the box, getting a bush league PK.

1-1

were highly questionable.

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Poor England :(

what shitty commentary. It was like the announcers weren't sure if it was a goal. They treated it like a situation in the 4th minute of a first round game.

What a horrid way to lose.

How devastating. I feel so sad right now

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With virtually no time left and a 1-1 score

In comment 12352293 Pete in VA said:

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own goal, Japan wins

for that young woman. I feel terribly for her. What a nightmare.

Hopefully the US mops the fuckin floor with Japan.

pass it to the goalie? Deflection?

And clear the ball

It will be a tough game, I think

awful way to lose. She won't be able to sleep comfortably for a long time.

In comment 12352309 Bill L said:

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It will be a tough game, I think

Fuck Japan.

Hi Bill.

But I still think they will be tough

it ends Sunday. Revenge.

Not this time. The US ladies need to smell blood in the water on this one. Finish them.

In comment 12352336 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:

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awful way to lose. She won't be able to sleep comfortably for a long time.

At least Pablo Escobar isn't around...

but I think we match up really well. The alignment we used the past 2 games has put a ton of pressure on. The Japanese play a patient game and look to counter which normally can do well against an attacking squad, but our back line has played so well that it will make it real tough on them if we keep the pressure on.

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It's time for 2011 redemption. The girls
Must be happy about this opportunity.

The Japanese use a very disciplined approach indicative of a team that has played together for a longer time. They make quick and decisive passes and their players play excellent positional soccer knowing where and when to make their runs. The final moments of last night's game , as sad as it was for the English player, were created solely by the Japanese style of play and a great pass into the box that literally left the English defense with no choice bu to try to kick it out for a corner. Even had it succeeded the Japanese would have had an opportunity to score in the final seconds.

If the Americans use their size and their speed, while continuing to maintain a stout defense in the back with the four on the back line plus Morgan Brian the game should go well. If they break down in their formation or leave too much space between midfield and the defense as they did earlier in the tournament, this is what the Japanese exploit.

Love her

In comment 12354869 MookGiants said:

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Love her

Don't care much for the ink but the "2" is strategically placed between the two.