USA Sweden

Wow.

Well, at least style of offensive play isn't what is sinking us

One bright spot from today's performance.

We don't have the 6:30 time slot for the next game, so I won't choke on my breakfast when we play Brasil.

Ms Lepelbet. Do the right thing and go tell your coach you think somebody else should start in your place.

A PK and an own goal against a team not known for scoring is just going to get you really embarrassed against Brasil.

Marta does that to good players. You have no chance.

Well that was a good time for me to finally sit down and watch a whole game.

One team reminded me of Portland with its ball movement and speed.

Yes, the Americans looked like one of the UP's deer in the headlights opponents. They did not challenge the Swedes, giving them way too much open space. The passing was woeful, even Megan who is normally a good passer was off the mark today. I thought she should have challenged her defender 1v1 more often. Cheney had at least 4 shots and a header over the bar. Wambach scored, but she looked away on the headers and it just went off her shoulder, not really a shot IMHO.

While their overall approach is more open under Sundhage than with previous coaches, I still think that the US team builds their game around Wambach (aka Wham-Bash). They seemed to play so much more fluidly at the Olympics where she was not available than they have at any time that she's been on the pitch. (And they won the gold.) I think the team would play better with Cheney and Rodriguez (or others) up front and with multiple "go-to" options rather than "where's Abby" being the thought in every midfielder's mind.

Agreed!!!

Something else I saw: Rapinoe is not the fastest and she won't be able to run onto all the long balls the midfield sends out there (we got that the first two times you said it Foudy, but that's another issue:roll:). So maybe you should, I don't know, put it at her feet and let her create something. Or does the rest of the teams not know how good she's been at that?

I've been doing daily podcasts about the WWC, and the past two episodes have been about the USA v Sweden game: http://crossconference.com/2011/07/07/womens-world-cup-daily-episode-10/

A few days ago, Canada was in the spotlight: http://crossconference.com/2011/07/06/womens-world-cup-recap-episode-8/

Sorry for the self-promotion, but it's slightly relevant and PilotNation has always been my favorite.

ninja pizza,

loved the podcast. the insights and guest commentators certainly out class the color we are getting on the tube. I'm Itunes subscribed!

I think Megan Rapinoe is better on the ball than people are giving her credit. when she, Sinclair, and Woznak played together, they truly moved the ball up field. it was a beautiful game to watch. Add Huie up front, and it was like watching Spain/FC Barca take apart the English/Man U's of the world. she is wasted out on the wing. the US just doesn't possess with poise. why don't the Garrett Smiths out there have more influence on the US game?

the Canada Pcast was great too. Can't imagine a domestic league is the trick before they host the next WWC.

quick question, how did you adopt the Pilots?

Thanks! I'm enjoying these dailies so much more than I thought I would and I'm really glad other people like them, too.

I think Megan has been played out of position since she's left college. The worst thing that happened to her was the Chicago Red Stars coach putting her on the flank. She's wonderful wherever she's placed, but I can't help feeling that if she were allowed to play centrally in 2009, we'd be looking at a different midfield shape for the US today. Everyone who ever played with her talks about how she could literally take over an entire game by herself.

I started liking the Pilots around 2003. There was something about the way they played that spoke to me. Which is always kind of a dumb thing to say, but it's true... I just liked them more than everyone else.

I'm a HUGE AS Roma fan and I like a posessing, one and two-touch game so much. 2005 was the most magical year ever, not just for the wins, but for the style of soccer we got to see.

Check out Ninjapizza on the American Soccer Show this week.