Nathan Hariel was man of the match for Morocco. Unfortunately, he plays for the US.
This ref sucked, big time. Morocco is the better side, and would have won anyway, but the ref wanted to make it about himself too.
|
|
|
|
|
Nathan Hariel was man of the match for Morocco. Unfortunately, he plays for the US.
This ref sucked, big time. Morocco is the better side, and would have won anyway, but the ref wanted to make it about himself too.
USWNT 1 Japan 0
Japs stayed in a 5-4-1 bunker defense and made it nearly impossible to score, but Rodman scored in 105th min. in OT. Win and advance, win ugly, just win.
Surprised by how much grief our men's Olympic (U23) team, and especially the coach, is receiving. On a blog I follow fans are roasting everyone connected to USMNT. Yes, our effort vs. Morocco was lacking but 2 of their goals were iffy at best, and bogus in truth. Lousy ref and VAR craphead. Morocco is the better side and should medal, better than our fans are giving them credit for. Overall, despite this game, the team played well. And to bash the coach, wow!Originally Posted by dawg80
Yeah, the hate I have seen to towards the coaching staff has been unreal and undeserved. Morocco is the better side, and the ref was horrible like you said, but out team had an overall good performance and some of those kids hopefully are going to continue to grow and become senior team contributors or stars down the road.
USWNT 1 Germany 0 Sophia Smith with an OT goal.
Play winner of Spain vs. Brazil for gold on Saturday.
Under Hayes now 9-0-0 with 7 clean sheets. Most importantly is the play of the "front three" Smith, Swanson, and Rodman (yes, Dennis Rodman's daughter), all are helping back on defense, at least in the midfield. Now...for a concern, still have not found a replacement for Carli Lloyd, as an attacking midfielder, and for Julie Ertz as a holding midfielder, but we have for Becky Sauerbrunn in Naomi Girma. Horan has been...want to say "horrible" but to be fair, I'll say "subpar" for her. Coffey is okay as strictly a defending midfielder but offers no help on offense, and that is what Julie Ertz could do that is missing now. And of course...how do you replace the GOAT in Carli Lloyd?
Defense has not been a problem, even during the down period of the 2023 World Cup. In four games surrendered exactly one goal in the run of play at the WC, and beat ourselves in the Round of 16. So, seven clean sheets under Hayes is the norm for USWNT. On offense, now that is what is getting better and is very promising. Missing ingredient to make USWNT "invincible" are replacements for Lloyd and Ertz.
Brazil 4 Spain 2 Crazy game, way too many errors for teams at this level. US won't be handing out gift goals.
US vs. Brazil for the gold medal.
Vicious! Some US soccer fans have turned on Alex Morgan, stupid comments on blogs saying the US would not be playing for gold if Morgan was starting, or even on the team some say. Wow! I agreed with (still do) Hayes' decision to leave Morgan off the 18-player Olympic roster as the youngsters needed the experience of a major international tournament. USWNT soccer is about winning the World Cup. The Olympics is the second-most important tournament, but we care about THE soccer tournament, the World Cup. But all this angst aimed at Alex Morgan is misplaced, unwarranted...actually, sucks! Morgan has been pure class, even in the wake of the huge personal disappointment being left off the Olympic roster, given her age, her last chance playing in the Olympics. She has been very vocal supporting the USWNT and the young players. Expressed disappointment, which is understandable, but Morgan immediately became the team's biggest fan, posting on social media nothing but praise, and like all fans, cheering them on to gold. Rise above it and stay above it, Alex.
It truly seems that while die hard soccer fans have wanted the sport to grow it has gotten to the point where the casual fans/newbies etc. whatever you want to call them are going absolutely bonkers. Their lack of understanding of the sport, federation, and individual teams shows. Now if you have a big enough roster Morgan would have been a killer super sub, but the Olympics shortens the rosters spots. I have always firmly believed Landon should have been on the 2014 WC roster as a super sub and I think we would have beat Belgium and made it past the round of 16.
I am glad that Hayes has the mindset that just because you are/were great you don't get the sentimental roster spots as a thank you (Rapinoe at the WC). When it is time, the younger players get the roster spot. That is why they have the retirement/charity games for the greats in Europe (or at least used to). Its your day have fun, play with friends and other legends, and raise some money for a good cause.
Now come WC time you put the best players on the roster regardless of father time. That was just one of the flaws with our last WC team.
Absolutely agree about LD being on the 2014 WC roster. The rub was he was not in playing shape...no, not for 90 mins. but being inserted in the final 25-30 mins, yes sir. We do beat Belgium for sure.
Tyler Adams says the USMNT needs a tough, no-nonsense, drill sergeant type coach. Whatever it takes. But, it is past time for US men's soccer to step up on the world stage.
One of my problems with Berhalter, and I had a few, especially after the rehiring, was he seemed to want to be their friend. I get building a team atmosphere, but it seemed more than that, he had favorites, he played them to our detriment sometimes. Like I said it was just something that's seemed in the air around his squad. He righted the ship and got us to the WC, but he should have been a one cycle coach.
Morocco crushed Egypt 6-0 for the bronze medal. Not surprised, Morocco is a very good side, much better than US soccer fans credit them. That on the men's side, for the women, Germany beat Spain for the bronze. No surprise there either.
So now, USWNT go for gold vs. Brazil. U-S-A!
US 1 Brazil 0
Got it done. Gold medal winners.
Defense wins championships, Naeher and Girma were huge.
Many people giving Emma Hayes credit for bringing US Soccer back on top. Okay, but Hayes said it herself, the pieces were already here, just had to get them working together.
I got credit for taking a Natchitoches Soccer League team to new heights, U14 Pelican Cup Championship game, state championship. But I knew what I had. Previous coach had built a skilled, well-coached squad, but he never emphasized "winning." Playing beautiful soccer, displaying skill and finesse, "two touch." I brought my two sons, and another player up from my U12 team, moved a few players around and told the team at our very first practice "you are too good not to be winning games." In two years, the NSL U14 side had a record of 3-3-34, yes 34 losses in 40 games. Many of those by one goal. I said BS to that. First year we went 21-2-1. Our lone loss was in the Pelican Cup final, 3-2 in extra time. Baton Rouge side beat us in a great match. Didn't like losing, was heart-wrenching. But the players, and their parents! thought I was Nick Saban or something. Truthfully, previous coach had done the hard work...he made those kids into good soccer players. I just changed the mindset. I hate losing...
All of that to acknowledge Emma Hayes has enough class to recognize what Coach Kilgore and previous US coaches had developed. Could have easily taken full credit for winning gold, but she hasn't. Pieces were in place, Hayes pushed the right buttons. Congrats to the USWNT.
She is doing what I hoped she would... change the mindset that had set in with some of the last bunch. Not bowing to the uncomfortableness between players with different social stances. She said I am going to play the best players, and they have to figure out how to be professional and play together to win for the program. She is smart enough to know she was taking over one of the best programs in the world and she acknowledges that while still telling them there is work to be done and they have to get better.
I don't think anyone in the USSF has told anyone on that team anything other than you are the best in a long time. Hayes comes in and says you are good, but you need to be better, you need to suffer, and get that hardened instinct again like the Carla Overbeck, Mia Hamm teams. They knew they were better than everyone, but they would shiv you on the playground for a goal.
Funny thing is now Emma Hayes has a huge burden to carry, she and USWNT have reached the top and have to stay there...or else. Now expected to win World Cup 2027 and win everything else along the way. Anything short of that will be unacceptable and calls for her head will be heard.
Need to groom a replacement for Naeher in goal, she is 36, doubt at 39 she'll still be playing at this level for WC 2027. Horan is not getting it done. I harbored doubts about her...knew she was trying to fill Carli Lloyd's shoes as captain and as attacking midfielder, and that is impossible. Lloyd is the GOAT. Horan needed to find her own game, but simply hasn't. Emma Hayes will be looking for someone else. Rose Lavelle is 29, 32 by WC 2027. If she can stay healthy, I see her remaining part of Hayes' program.
Anyway, good to see USWNT on top. As Mark Twain famously said: "reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote