France 2019 Catch-All: June 7 - July 7

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Just a great finish from Magull for Germany there.

Wow Sweden

Good win by Sweden - Germany seemed unwilling or unable to adapt from a high line that left far too much space for Blackstenius and Jakobsson to run into.

I would find the commentary that the US gameplan was to give France the ball a lot more believable if our back line had showed any ability to hang on to the ball when under pressure - though maybe I'm an outlier, since I was incredulous about discussion that Dunn had a great game (she's not a defender by training, and I thought it showed - was not a coincidence that so many promising French attacks came along our left).

The game against England should be good.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

I would find the commentary that the US gameplan was to give France the ball a lot more believable if our back line had showed any ability to hang on to the ball when under pressure - though maybe I'm an outlier.

Or if we started with 5-4-1 or switched to it in the first half at some point. The last 20-25 minutes of the first half the ball was mostly in our end, and France was getting the ball in dangerous positions. I think switching to a 5-4-1 was a solid move by Ellis at halftime, and we defended fairly well in the second half, but to me the whole thing seemed a good reaction but not the plan.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

...since I was incredulous about discussion that Dunn had a great game (she's not a defender by training, and I thought it showed - was not a coincidence that so many promising French attacks came along our left).

+1!

I was watching with my daughter, and part of our first half conversation was about how Dunn was struggling, and even when she won the ball on defense she frequently gave it right back. She definitely had some very nice plays scattered through the game and settled a bit in the second half, but for every nice play there were two or three where she got burned or gave the ball back with a bad pass.

When Fox commentators singled her out talking about how amazing she played my daughter and I just raised our eyebrows and looked at each other. What?!? Did we just watch the same match?

I don't envy her, as she had a difficult matchup yesterday and is not playing her natural position. She certainly deserves praise for how hard she was working. But yeah, we also thought she had a rough match on the whole.

She was tasked with matching up against France's best player Bathy. Bathy showed her heightened skill but Dunn never gave up and often she was disruptive just enough to let the other US defenders block, deflect, and steal France's chances in the box.

Mr Bismarck wrote:

So if they had managed to beat England in the group stage Scotland could have knocked themselves out of the Olympics.

I'm not sure if that's more or less Scotland than throwing away a three goal lead and saving a penalty that then had to be retaken.

I can imagine the Scots having a really hard think about that too.

"We'd be out of Olympics.... but we really, really like beating the English...."

And Hup, Holland, Hup! their second WWC appearance, and they're in the Semi-Finals. (Saying "their second WWC appearance" is misleading though, they are the reigning European champs.)

Mr Bismarck wrote:

There's another layer of silliness to the Olympics thing.

Because of the Home Nations Football Associations Boondoggle, (FIFA doesn't recognise "Great Britain" and the IOC don't recognise England/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland), Team Great Britain's qualification for women's football at the Olympics was dependent on England's performance at the World Cup.

England had to finish top 3 for Team GB to qualify.

So if they had managed to beat England in the group stage Scotland could have knocked themselves out of the Olympics.

I'm not sure if that's more or less Scotland than throwing away a three goal lead and saving a penalty that then had to be retaken.

Does Great Britain also represent Northern Ireland in the Olympics? I'm pretty sure someone from there would be aggravated by now.

I do think it's weird that there's not a UK football team, but then again it would make sense for the leagues to also not be regional. However, the national team would probably be full of English players and the league would be dominated by English teams. Yeah, never mind then. Olympics, stop being dense!

Rapinoe's not starting?

Was just coming on to see if anyone had news on this.

Rat Boy wrote:

Rapinoe's not starting?

I can't believe that they started Press, which I've been calling for since the first game (wherein Rapinoe was not good imho, overhitting a ton of balls), after Rapinoe had her best game of the tournament and scored both goals.

I like seeing Horan start. I mean, I think this would have been my ideal lineup prior to the last game, but this is weird. I wonder if Rapinoe secretly got a knock in training or something.

Neville for England seems a bit of a twit, doesn't he? Very much about the proper way to do things and how his team sets that bar and standard. Very much a St Louis Cardinals vibe from the LaRussa/Matheny era. He isn't that bad, though. Who could be?

bhchrist wrote:

Neville for England seems a bit of a twit, doesn't he? Very much about the proper way to do things and how his team sets that bar and standard. Very much a St Louis Cardinals vibe from the LaRussa/Matheny era. He isn't that bad, though. Who could be?

Neville should have never come close to becoming the England manager, dude had barely coached at any level. Any success the Lionesses have under him will be in spite of him.

I have heard that Rapinoe may be gassed. She's played a LOT of minutes, and would be excellent coming in off the bench as a defensive sub. That said, someone will need to step up and score in her absence.

Press may have a speed advantage vs Bronze as well.

Abu5217 wrote:

I have heard that Rapinoe may be gassed. She's played a LOT of minutes, and would be excellent coming in off the bench as a defensive sub. That said, someone will need to step up and score in her absence.

Press may have a speed advantage vs Bronze as well.

Wish Morgan was in better form. Here is hoping for a spark from her.

Abu5217 wrote:

I have heard that Rapinoe may be gassed. She's played a LOT of minutes, and would be excellent coming in off the bench as a defensive sub. That said, someone will need to step up and score in her absence.

Press may have a speed advantage vs Bronze as well.

Done!

Yeah, see, Press hasn't scored because she hasn't been in there.

Seriously, that whole play was beautiful, and it started with Lavelle's dummy.

Nice answer by England, ugh.

Do I get a "Done" from Fed also?

Alex! Yes.

Holy sh*t what a save.

bhchrist wrote:

Do I get a "Done" from Fed also?

bhchrist wrote:
Abu5217 wrote:

I have heard that Rapinoe may be gassed. She's played a LOT of minutes, and would be excellent coming in off the bench as a defensive sub. That said, someone will need to step up and score in her absence.

Press may have a speed advantage vs Bronze as well.

Wish Morgan was in better form. Here is hoping for a spark from her.

Done!

Nice to see University of Wisconsin Alum Rose Lavelle bounce back in a strong way. Her and Heath on that right side have been a mismatch for the England defenders.

Well, crap. I jinxed her.

bhchrist wrote:

Well, crap. I jinxed her.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Oh man, I'm rooting for the USWNT, but I hate that VAR call.

Well, you got a makeup then.

Woman of the match with that pk save!

England World Cup problems with penalties you say?