Back to the important stuff....

[DallasDog]

Looks like the tournament maybe headed to Canada/USA and El Salvador/Mexico rematches in the semis. It will be interesting to see if and who teams switch out on their rosters at this point. Who is going to be hurt legitimately and who is going to be hurt enough to be replaced. Since the US isn’t going to call any big guns from the A team in I hope we continue to let this group develop against some better teams, unless like with Zimmerman etc it’s a real medical issue.

I don’t know enough about the roster depth for the remaining countries to know if they have someone to improve the squad sitting at home or not.

[dawg80]

Looks like the tournament maybe headed to Canada/USA and El Salvador/Mexico rematches in the semis. It will be interesting to see if and who teams switch out on their rosters at this point. Who is going to be hurt legitimately and who is going to be hurt enough to be replaced. Since the US isn’t going to call any big guns from the A team in I hope we continue to let this group develop against some better teams, unless like with Zimmerman etc it’s a real medical issue.

I don’t know enough about the roster depth for the remaining countries to know if they have someone to improve the squad sitting at home or not.

Say what!? Why aren't they on opposite sides of the brackets? Usually the 1st and 2nd place teams in the pools are placed so that they cannot meet again unless both advance all the way to the final.

[dawg80]

Whoa!

Sweden 3 USWNT 0 in Olympics opener. Snaps 44-game unbeaten streak and also puts in serious jeopardy the US's bid for a 5th Olympic gold medal.

Ertz is back off the injury list, but didn't see the field until the 2nd half, too late to make a difference. Likewise both Rapinoe and Loyd were held out until the 2nd half. I posted last week the US's fortunes depended on Horan and Mewis stepping up...well, they didn't. The USWNT got dominated in the midfield. Lost the possession battle and there was no defensive help from the midfield. The Swedes have some real Amazons out there, much taller players who consistently won headers and dominated the aerial game. And it could have been worse as Sweden banged two shots off the woodwork. The only real US threat was a powerful shot from Tobin Heath that the Swede GK made an incredible save on. It was their night.

This is the Group of Death with three Top 10 ranked sides, US #1, Sweden #5, and Australia #9, and New Zealand at #19. Knew this was gonna be tough, just to get out of the pool, but 3-0? Losing 2-1 is one thing...but 3-0? Ugh!

[sportdawg]

Looks like the tournament maybe headed to Canada/USA and El Salvador/Mexico rematches in the semis. It will be interesting to see if and who teams switch out on their rosters at this point. Who is going to be hurt legitimately and who is going to be hurt enough to be replaced. Since the US isn’t going to call any big guns from the A team in I hope we continue to let this group develop against some better teams, unless like with Zimmerman etc it’s a real medical issue.

I don’t know enough about the roster depth for the remaining countries to know if they have someone to improve the squad sitting at home or not.

Concacaf Gold Cup Bracket

[sportdawg]

[DallasDog]

Sat what!? Why aren't they on opposite sides of the brackets? Usually the 1st and 2nd place teams in the pools are placed so that they cannot meet again unless both advance all the way to the final.

I got the brackets switched, while watching rob stone and Lexi jabber on during their mandated face time.

[revf]

No Zimmerman the rest of the tournament is concerning.

We were already playing B/C players, now we are stretching into D levels.

[dawg80]

Huge win for CONCACAF...in the Olympics, Mexico 4 France 1

For those of you not familiar with rankings and quality of play, this is like a better CUSA team, UAB or Marshall, beating a highly ranked P5. Like, for instance, if Marshall were to beat Georgia 28-7. Would be a HUGE win for CUSA! The whole conference would benefit giving the league some legitimacy. And no fluke either.

In this case Mexico dominated the run of play and was much, much the better team tonight (this morning). This is Mexico's A team and they are experienced and very good. Like the USA, Mexico is playing their B team in the Gold Cup.

[dawg80]

Also in the Olympics Brazil 3 Germany 2 in the opening match for both. That's one of the big differences between this and the World Cup. In the WC the top 8 seeds are each given their own group and thus Brazil and Germany would not be able to play until some time into the knockout rounds. Likewise on the women's side the USA and Sweden would be top seeds in the WC and not placed in the same group.

[dawg80]

USWNT 6 New Zealand 1

...a little better effort.

Still lousy defending straight up the middle and NZ's goal was the stuff of a lousy U12 side...not just a U12 side, but a lousy one. It would be comical if not so sad.

Now, for the positives, 39 yr old Carli Lloyd showed why she is a team leader and a true warrior. Tremendous effort for 70+ minutes until subbed out. Rapinoe needs to turn up the heat too. She is so talented, but plays on cruise control too much. Julie Ertz played a full 90 mins, as did Tobin Heath, both off of injury recoveries. The team did play hard and kept up the pressure for the full 90, but that's what you expect from a US soccer team.

[dawg80]

Mexico loses 2-1 to 28th ranked Japan, thus thrusting CONCACAF back into its familiar status of a 2nd Tier league.


Meanwhile France struggles to a desperate, last minute 4-3 win over South Africa clearly showing they were over-rated at #2.

[dawg80]

US 1 Jamaica 0

11th straight trip to the Gold Cup semis, 3rd straight year we've knocked Jamaica out of the tourney. Mostly a mistake-filled, disjointed effort, but lots of athleticism with individuals making plays...often at the last second. Daryl Dike had a lackluster night, too much waiting to be fed the ball, not enough actively going to get it.

Next up Qatar...they are reigning Asian champions and legit good on the attack. Two world class strikers, very dangerous offensive side. They can score goals, and can do it with just two guys attacking. The US defense will face its biggest challenge thus far. If I were coaching I would have a strong back 5 and instruct both outside mids to play defense first and not get caught up the field...and our offense would be counter-attack. The US has athletes and speed up top too and as good as Qatar is on the attack, they are that weak on defending it. Very vulnerable in a stretched, open field. US will need to be salty on defense...including our midfielders, and that scares me. This bunch looks lost at times in proper team defense. So, we will need to score...I'll take at least 3 goals, thankyaverymuch!

The US is ranked 20th in the world, but that is our A Team, not our B Team. Qatar is ranked 58th, and this is their A Team. They are playing well very, full of confidence, and are very dangerous.

[dawg80]

USWNT 0 Australia 0

PATHETIC!

US finishes with 4 points in group play, the worst performance in history in either the Olympics and World Cup. But is good enough to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday. Nothing much can be said about this effort. I suppose the only bright spot is we surely didn't expend much energy and should be well-rested for the next match.

[revf]

USWNT 0 Australia 0

PATHETIC!

US finishes with 4 points in group play, the worst performance in history in either the Olympics and World Cup. But is good enough to advance to the quarterfinals on Friday. Nothing much can be said about this effort. I suppose the only bright spot is we surely didn't expend much energy and should be well-rested for the next match.

Netherlands will trounce them.

USNWT is now done.

Needs a reboot. Too many old guard. Very few new development. They are the oldest team at the olympics. Other WNT are younger, stronger, faster.

Blow it up and start over.

It happens.

[dawg80]

The women's WC is really just around the corner...in 2023. WC qualifying will start next year. No matter who we have left on the roster by then CONCACAF is so weak we should have no problem reaching the WC finals. But, once there....could be a big ouch!

There aren't many (any!) exciting new players waiting in the wings for USWNT. I can't name a single player, a youngster, I see as being a contributor down the road. Surely, somewhere, there are a few...probably hidden away on a college team, but who? There is a core of about 7 players who will lead the team for the '23 WC, such as Rose Lavelle, and most importantly the defense led by Ertz, Dunn, Dahlkemper, Sonnet, and Horan and Mewis in the midfield, up top I see Lynn Williams and Mallory Pugh being called upon to step up. But, after 2023 most of these players will be reaching their mid-30's and will need to be replaced too.