Category: Featured

Graphic Courtesy of Natalie Dettmer

USA Repeat as World Cup Champions Winning a Historic 4th WWC Title

Heading into the match it was uncertain if some of the top players on both teams would be able to play. But when the starting lineups were announced the players in question of Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle for the United States and Lieke Martens for the Netherlands were all starting.

Many predicted the United States winning this game by three or four goals and would roll to their fourth title with no problem. The Netherlands were looked at as inexperienced since this was only their second World Cup appearance and first ever finals appearance.

Entering the game the USA had scored a goal in the first 13 minutes of each of their games so far. If the Netherlands could weather the initial storm and not fall to an early goal then perhaps they could put the USA in panic mode and score first.

The USA came out swinging and had high pressure offense on the Netherlands. The Dutch defense proved they were up to the task blocking shots and clearly out any chance the USA had. Perhaps the biggest reason the USA stayed out of the back of the net was because of the Netherlands’ goalkeeper, Sar van Veenendaal, the eventual Gold Glove winner. van Veenedaal made save after save and some from point blank range. None better than her stop on Julie Ertz in the 38th minute.

The Netherlands would go on to blank the USA in the first half for the first time all tournament. The 0-0 scoreline was no surprise for the Netherlands who had been tied at halftime in every one of their previous matches and then gone on to win. However would the Dutch be able to keep the USA at bay for a full 90 minutes?

The first half did provide a physical first half that had ramifications for the rest of the game including a head-to-head collision between Kelley O’Hara and Lieke Martens. O’Hara was subbed out right after halftime with concussion symptoms and Martens was subbed out of the game in the 70th minute. Martens did have a toe injury entering the game but the collision had to be a factor as well.

The second half started with the USA in the attack for the majority of the time with the Dutch finding counter attacks here and there. It felt like a goal was going to be scored before the referee would signal the game was over at 90 minutes. Either the USA would finally be able to finish a shot from one of their buildups or the Dutch would get a goal on a breakaway.

The pressure from the USA was at least forcing the Netherlands to play defense too close to goal and create multiple chances inside the box. The Dutch’s desire to just clear the ball out got to be too much when a ball in intended for USA forward, Alex Morgan, seemed like a potential goal scoring opportunity. Stefanie van der Gragt of the Netherlands stuck her foot out to try and knock the ball away, but she swung her leg too high and hit the shoulder of Morgan knocking her to the ground. Initially the referee signaled a corner kick since Morgan is known for not being the most physical player and falling to the ground quite often. But she was informed to re-look at the play and go to VAR. Would it really be a final game without VAR interference?

The referee looked at the play and deemed it warranted a yellow card and more consequentially a penalty kick. Megan Rapinoe stepped up to take the penalty kick. She shot a ball into the right side of the net, not hit extremely well, but van Veenendaal guessed the wrong way and the USA were up 1-0. The goal would be the sixth of the tournament for Rapinoe, and with her three assists she was awarded the Gold Boot for most goals at the WWC.

The Netherlands lost a little bit in their play after the goal happened even with plenty of time left in the game. Once the USA can tell a team is doubting themselves they find a way to strike. The Dutch were giving the USA way too much space and Rose Lavelle took advantage of it weaving in and out of traffic from the half way line into the offensive box. She played the ball to her own left foot and hit a ball into the corner of the goal. Putting the USA up 2-0.

Instead of bunkering into defense early like they had against France and England the USA kept pressure up not giving the Dutch too many chances. The Netherlands were resilient in their play and other than the minutes between the two goals they did not looked overly matched or inferior to the United States.

Unfortunately, the Dutch were never able to get a goal of their own losing the game 2-0. An obvious disappointing finish since they were not the team to lift the trophy, but what they accomplished should not be overlooked or diminished from this game. They are the defending European Champions, they made the WWC Final for the first time, they have qualified for the Olympics for the first time in their history and their second place finish is tied for the best the Dutch men’s side has ever finished even with more funding and support for a longer period of time.

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When asked about the impact from getting second place at the WWC for women’s soccer in the Netherlands their head coach, Sarina Wiegman, said, “I hope this shows everyone in the Netherlands what the potential women’s football has and that we can improve our competition… Hopefully this achievement helps in developing the competition and also the youth development for younger girls.” To think that this already impressive World Cup run by the Netherlands could have been even better with more support from their federation is hard to even fathom what the result would be, but perhaps it could have resulted in the Dutch winning the trophy over the USA.

The USA was the best team at the Women’s World Cup and deserved the trophy. They won back-to-back World Cup titles and their fourth title overall. There have only been eight Women’s World Cup tournaments and the USA have half of the championships showing their domination in women’s soccer. The team was criticized for the lackluster games entering the tournament, poor defense and their arrogance on the field with their celebrations. But at the end of the tournament they proved that none of that mattered and the USA are still the best team in the world.

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The US team has stated that this World Cup has been different from the last and even more challenging. Head coach, Jill Ellis added to that after the game saying,

“The level overall is the women’s game is growing exponentially. This was incredibly difficult. The teams we had to come through were some of the best in the world. In terms of the path and the level, this was pretty challenging.
 
“I knew after 2016 we had to deconstruct and reconstruct the team. That was hard. But to get to this point and see the validation in all our work, it speaks for itself. People out there know about 1/10th of what we do. Congratulations to the Netherlands. They’re a world class team and they gave us a heck of a game tonight.”

The USA had to step up their level of play because the rest of the World has stepped up their play as well. With the quality in women’s soccer rising hopefully federations and countries can see what the women’s game can do at the next World Cup and even the 2020 Olympics.

Women’s World Cup Awards

Gold Ball: (best player): Megan Rapinoe USA

SIlver Ball: Lucy Bronze ENG

Bronze Ball: Rose Lavelle USA

Golden Boot (most goals): Megan Rapinoe USA

Silver Boot: Alex Morgan USA

Bronze Boot: Ellen White ENG

Golden Glove (best goalkeeper): Sari  van Veenendaal NED

Young Player Award: Giulia Gwinn GER

Fair Play Award (team with least amount of fouls): France

Photo Courtesy of Anders Henrikson

Sweden Earns Third Place Finish, Beating England 2-1

The second last day at the Women’s World Cup produced a thriller and one of the closest games of the tournament. The third place game, sometimes described as a meaningless, seemed anything but when England and Sweden stepped on the field.

England had won third place at the 2015 Women’s World Cup and were hoping to repeat as the bronze medalists. Simultaneously, Sweden had already surpassed their 2015 finish since they got beat in the round of the knockout play.

The game started quick with a Sweden corner in just the second minute of play. Nothing came of it for the Swedes, but the early chance helped spark future offense. The future was not too far off and Sweden was able to capitalize on their play in the 11th minute. The fast offensive start for Sweden can be contributed to England’s shuffling of players in the back-line. Mille Bright, a stable at center-back for the Lionesses, missed the game since she got a red card in the semifinal against the United States. An inexperienced Abbie McManus took over the starting role in her place. Also Demi Stokes was replaced at leftback by Alex Greenwood.

Sweden played a cross into the box, but none of their players were close to the ball. England’s Greenwood did well to intercept the cross, but did poorly to clear the ball a few feet to Kosovare Asllani just a few feet away. Asllani did not hesitate with the opportunity, sending a one touch shot into the right corner for a goal.

Sweden would ride their momentum and double their lead 11 minutes later. Stina Blackstenius of Sweden was on the left side of the pitch, she laid a short pass off to Sofia Jakobsson running into the box. Jakobsson was given a few feet of space by England’s defense so she dribbled into the box. The space allowed her to setup her shot perfectly and place a beautifully bended ball past the goalkeeper.

The game looked one-sided and seemed like England was still mourning the loss to the United States in their previous match. Their disappointing first 25 minutes of play was immediately followed with 30 minutes of inspiring soccer to finish the half.

Jill Scott was fed a ball at the center line and two Swedish defenders stepped in for a tackle. This allowed her teammate Fran Kirby to become free running in the attacking half. Scott played a well hit through ball sending Kirby down the right side of the field. Kirby cut the ball back inside and snuck a shot in to the left side of the net with Sweden’s goalkeeper not even diving to stop it.

England was now the team on attack and looked they would tie Sweden any minute. The Lionesses were even able to find he equalizing goal, but VAR weaseled its way into the match and ruled the goal was no good because of a handball by Ellen White. The call seemed a bit harsh and inconclusive from t he video, but the referee had made her decision and the score was 2-1 in favor of Sweden.

The score would hold at halftime, but when the second half started it felt like England had it in them to fins another goal and at least send the game to extra time. Yet the Lionesses could not put the ball in the back of the net no matter how many chances they had. England who looked so good throughout the tournament would leave it finishing worse than 2015. Devastation for their loss was shown by the team after the game.

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The win for Sweden was their third win over teams ranked in the top five. If they had played their usual starters against the United States in group play that number could be six wins. Sweden was immensely proud of their play and being able to walk away with the bronze medals displayed on their chests.

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The third place game was everything fans hoped for leaving them even more excited for the final tomorrow. The final will take place between the United States and Netherlands at 11 am ET on FOX.

Photo Courtesy of Rachel King

David & Goliath Meet in Lyon for the Women’s World Cup Final

It has been close to a month since the Women’s World Cup began when hosts France eased past South Korea, 4-0 in Paris on the first day. The tournament has been packed with high drama both on and off the field as we find ourselves a couple days away from its long-awaited conclusion. The Netherlands and the United States will square off this Sunday, July 7th, in Lyon with each team hoping to bring jubilation to their countries and be remembered for years to come. To be successful at this stage both sides must block out the noise and focus on simply football.

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At the beginning of the tournament not many people thought this young side would be playing for a chance at World Cup glory. The Dutch side has a chance to turn many doubters into believers on Sunday, although at this point much of the media will question if the Oranje can keep up with the high-octane American side who are looking to become repeat champions. It would suit them well to use this doubt as fuel to power them past the US and pull off the unthinkable. The Dutch who are a younger team are no strangers to big moments after they took home the trophy at the European championship in 2017. This match might present an even bigger hurdle for the Netherlands, whether they will stand up to the pressure or be swallowed whole by the moment is yet to be seen.

As the top-ranked teams entering the tournament have been sent packing the United States have stood tall when facing elimination. It is no secret that the US were expected to make some noise at France 2019 after winning the last competition in 2015, but with teams like France and England in their way it was unsure if the US had the grit to return to the final. The US have faced and overcome adversity at this year’s tournament setting them up with a chance to become repeat World Cup champions. Amid Twitter arguments with President Trump and the criticism revolving around Alex Morgan’s goal celebration the United States have dealt with a lot of off the field drama. The US need not worry about any White House visit, or unwarranted backlash from previous games if they want to lift the World Cup trophy again. It is imperative for the American side that they stay focused on football and far away from anything else. The question for the US will be whether they let this background noise affect them and whether they overlook a dangerous Dutch side. While the US is heavily favored the Dutch have not lost a game in a major competition in almost 12 matches.

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Matchups

Most predictions will have a dominate US team winning the match on Sunday to become back-to-back World Cup Champions. The Rapinoe-less US team overwhelmed an England team that is know for their defensive prowess. A match that included two huge VAR interventions really could have gone either way, but in the end, it was the US and Alyssa Naeher who stonewalled the Lionesses to advance to their second consecutive final. Rapinoe who missed the semifinal with a hamstring strain is expected to play in the final and has been involved in team training since the initial reports of the injury. While Rapinoe has come up big for the Stars and Stripes her absence in the last match was hardly noticeable as her replacement Christen Press bagged the first goal for the US.

The Netherlands scraped by a tough Sweden team in unexpected fashion. The Dutch who have found success through their dynamic attacked led by a now hobbled Lieke Martens beat Sweden with a defensive effort that was one for the ages. Last gasp challenges and clearances highlighted their 1-0 win over the Swedes. The Dutch defense was led by Dominque Bloodworth, and Stefanie van der Gragt. In goal for the Oranje, Sari van Veenedaal has the ability to make the big save and she showed it against Sweden. She will have to come up big on Sunday for the Dutch to have a chance at World Cup gold.   

The US bolster an overall impressive roster with a potent attack this is enough to overwhelm any defense. With Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath on the front line for the US it is going to be a tall task for the Dutch defense to keep at bay. The front three bring skill and ridiculous speed that gives opponents fits. Specifically, Tobin Heath has been wreaking havoc down the right flank all tournament and becomes extremely dangerous when serving balls into the likes of Rapinoe, and Morgan. The Netherlands will have to defend with desperation to keep the US attack off the score sheet. The US must be mindful in the back as they are going up against an equally impressive Dutch scoring line including Shanice van de Sanden, Lieke Martens and Vivianne Miedema.

It will be interesting to see how two attacking minded sides come out for the final in Lyon. The norm for World Cup finals in both men’s and women’s matches is usually for both sides to play a very reserved first half. Considering the stage and the stakes teams are usually hesitant to flood numbers forward which risks getting hit on a counter-attack. It is hard to say, especially for the US who has earned a reputation for coming out hot. The American side held nothing back from the first whistle against England and it paid off when Christen Press gave the US an early lead.

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Prediction

If the US score early, I think that they will take care of business rather easily. The longer the game stays at 0-0 the better it will be for the Dutch. It is imperative that the Netherlands weather the storm in the first half from the US. I believe the US will be the aggressor like George Foreman against Muhammed Ali. I expect them to come out flying and with confidence against a Dutch side that is not as heavily favored. The question will be whether the Dutch can withstand the early pressure. If they make it to the half 0-0 I believe the chance for success highly increases for the Orange. Against all the odds, I am going with the unpopular pick of a Netherlands victory on penalties. If the US score early, I feel it will demoralize the Orange and make a comeback highly unlikely. I would say the Dutch score first, but with all the talent the US have, they equalize, and the game enters extra time at 1-1. The Orange use their conditioning to see it out to penalty kicks where Sari van Veenendaal comes up big to give the Netherlands their second consecutive trophy, and first World Cup.     

The Women’s World Cup will continue on Sunday, July 7th at 11am ET on FOX.

Photo Courtesy of EO1

Gauff Advances to the round of 16 at Wimbledon

Coco Gauff, the star of this year’s tournament, moves on to the round of 16. Gauff barely qualified for Wimbledon and was added as a wild card, so just getting to play on the historic courts was seen as a success for Gauff. Now, to have won three matches and be one of the last 16 players in the world playing at a major tournament is unthinkable for what Gauff could do.

Today also marked the first time she was able to play on Center Court, one of the most prestigious courts in the world, and being able to calm her nerves on such a big stage will serve her well. Gauff defeated Polona Hercog, ranked 60th in the world, who got past Madison Keys in the second round. Polona has never gotten past the third round in a major tournament and was trying to get into uncharted waters along with Gauff. Polona won the first set 6-3 and then Gauff forced a tiebreaker in the second set after being down 5-2. Gauff then went down 5-3 only come back after tiebreak to win 9-7 in one of the longest rallies of the tournament.

Gauff would then win set three and understandably express a great deal of emotion in an otherwise reserved sport.

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At times Gauff has shown her inexperience but most of the time she looks calm and confident even when she is facing players presumably better than her. When asked about her confidence at Wimbledon she responded with, “I feel like I have always been confident in myself. I think I have learned that I am capable of a lot of things. I feel like my confidence has been the same the whole tournament.”

Gauff will need all the confidence she has in her next match against Simona Halep who is seeded 7th. Halep is the first seeded opponent Gauff has faced.

Two seeded players did get upset today, both in straight sets. The matches were Caroline Wozniacki who was beaten 6-4, 6-2 by Shuai Zhang and Anett Kontaveit losing to Karolina Muchova 7-6, 6-3.

The rest of the third round is played tomorrow with coverage on the ESPN family of networks starting at 6 am ET. The two all seeded matchups involve Serena Williams taking on Julia Görges and Sloane Stephens against Johanna Konta.

Photo Courtesy of Tatiana

2018 Wimbledon Champion Eliminated, Field Opens Up

Top seeds continue to falter at Wimbledon. The second round ended today and already the two, five, ten and 12 seeded players have been defeated.

The biggest elimination today came to Angelique Kerber, the defending Wimbledon champion. Kerber, seeded fifth, lost in three sets to Lauren Davis, ranked 95th, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. The victory was most shocking since Davis came into the match with an ankle injury.

There has not been a repeat Wimbledon champion since Serena Williams did it in 2015 and 2016. The loss also means it will be the third different Wimbledon winner in three years.

The only other seeded player to lose on the day was 26th seeded, Amanda Anisimova. She lost to Magda Linette in straight sets 6-4, 7-5.

Top seeded Ashleigh Barty continued to look impressive with a straight set win. The top ranked American players, S. Williams and Sloane Stephens also moved on to the third round today.

Tomorrow starts round three at Wimbledon and the first time seeded opponents will face-off against each other. The two seeded matchups are Maria Sakkari vs Elina Svitolina and Karolína Plíšková vs Hsieh Su-wei.

An interesting match to keep an eye on for tomorrow is with the tournament’s breakout start Coco Gauff. She will play Polona Hercog who defeated the 17 seed Madison Keys last round.

You can watch all of the Wimbledon action on the ESPN family of networks stating at 6 am ET tomorrow.

Photo Courtesy of Mirsasha

Gauff’s Magic Run Continues While Keys Struggles at Wimbledon

The youngest player in the tournament, Coco Gauff, at just 15-years old upset her hero, Venus Williams, two days ago. Her unprescedented win was followed up with a victory over Magdalena Rybarikova today. Rybarikova is not highly ranked at just 139 but she was a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2017. Gauff once again won in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

Her victories at Wimbledon are shocking to most people. Gauff was a wildcard into the tournament and she is ranked outside the top 300 at 312. On paper Gauff should not be going to the third round, but if you ask Gauff if she’s surprised she responds confidently with, “I think I can beat anyone.”

Another American upset was with Danielle Collins defeating Anastasija Sevastova, the 12 seed. Collins had to go all three sets after dropping the first set. The match would end with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The two seeded Americans on the day would not be so fortunate as their compatriots. 27th seeded, Sofia Kenin, was taken down by Dayana Yastremska. The match went a full three sets, but Yastremska took the final set with a commanding 6-3 win.

The most surprising USA upset was when Madison Keys, seeded 17th, lost to Polona Hercog in straight sets. Wimbledon has always been a struggle for Keys, who has never made it past the quarterfinals. She has made it to at least the semifinals in all of the other Grand Slams.

Top seeded players Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep and Elina Svitolina all moved on to the third round and will play on Friday July 5.

The main matches tomorrow will be with the top seed Ashleigh Barty facing Alison Van Uytyan and defending Wimbledon Champion Angelique Kerber against Lauren Davis. Coverage begins at 6 am ET tomorrow on the ESPN networks.

Photo Courtesy of Ailura

Netherlands Win 1-0 to Advance to First Ever Women’s World Cup Final

Many people predicted the United States and England in the first semifinal but not many saw Sweden and the Netherlands making up the other. The Netherlands had been deemed a dark-horse and Sweden had to knockoff two top five teams to get here. Regardless of predictions both of these teams proved they are two of the best in the world and deserve to make it this far.

While the first semifinal had a blistering start with three goals in the first 32 minutes, today’s game would be much slower. But before the game started there were changes in the lineup on both sides. For Holland, star forward, Shanice van de Sanden, who has had a lackluster World Cup started the game on the bench for the first time. Lineth Beerensteyn replaced her on the front line.

Sweden had to make a change to their usual starting 11 since Fridolina Rolfö had to sit out for having two yellows in consecutive games. A last minute change was Nathalie Bjorn having to miss the game due to an illness.

None of the changes for either team added much in terms of offense. There were limited opportunities on both sides. Many chances in the first half were redirected or blocked by bodies in front of goal.

Not scoring a goal in the first half is nothing new to the Dutch. Up until this game six of their eight goals had taken place in the second half. When the second half started the Netherlands were without one of their other star forwards, Lieke Martens. She had been dealing with a toe injury for most of the tournament and admitted to playing with constant pain. Martens had not missed a minute yet because of the injury, but now she had to go to the bench due to the pain.

The story of the second half was finger tips and goalposts. Both teams had their best chances of the game after halftime and were inches away from scoring goals.

The first was for Sweden in the 56th minute. Sweden had a corner kick played well into the box, but Sari van Veenendaal, Holland’s golakeeper, punched the ball away. The ball bounced around in the box and finally went out to Nilla Fischer. She rocketed the ball so van Veenendaal had to dive to her right, but all she could get on the ball were tips of her fingers. Her touch was just enough to redirect the ball into the side post. The ball was eventually cleared out.

Seven minutes later the Netherlands would have their own chance from a corner kick. The ball was sent in to Vivianne Miedema all alone at the back of the box. She headed the ball to the far side but Hedvig Lindahl, Sweden’s goalkeeper, had just enough reach to tip the ball up into the crossbar. The play was then ruled offside after another shot on goal.

A few other chances came for both teams but no goals came to fruition. So the game headed to extra time, the first time in Women’s World Cup history for a semifinal to go to extra time.

No one could score in the first 90 minutes, but it would take just nine minutes into stoppage time for the 0-0 tie to be broken. Many figured the goal would come from a set piece since the Netherlands had scored six of their goals in the tournament from set pieces and on the other side Sweden ended the game with 12 corner kicks. And surely the goal would come from a star from one of the teams. Not a set piece and not a goal from a star.

Instead the goal came from the run of play and a beautiful buildup from the Netherlands. Daniëlle van de Donk had the ball just past the halfway line. She played the ball to Miedema who redirected the ball to on-running Jackie Groenen at the top of the box. Groenen sent a one touch ball to the left corner of the goal out of reach of the fingertips on Lindahl. The shot was the first one all tournament from Groenen.

The Dutch would hold off Sweden the rest of the match and win the game 1-0. In just their second appearance at a Women’s World Cup the Netherlands are in the finals for the first time.

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The United States are the obvious favorites to win the finals since they are the defending champions and are currently the number one ranked team in the world. Holland also has the added of challenge with one less day of rest and having played 30 more minutes than the USA. When the Netherlands coach, name, was asked about facing the United States she said, “Obviously it’s amazing to be playing in the finals. It’s going to be so difficult but it’s one match. Anything can happen and it’s going to be a really complicated match and we’re prepared for that.” The Netherlands do not have to play the USA in a series or beat them multiple times, they just need one game where they play their best and possibly catch the USA on an off night.

The third place game between England and Sweden will take place on July 6 at 11 am ET on FOX. The finals game between the United States and the Netherlands will be held on July 7 at 11 am ET on FOX.

Photo Courtesy of Miyagawa

Less Shocking Day Two at Wimbledon Still Has a Few Upsets

To say that the second day of Wimbledon produced the same drama as day one would be a stretch. There were still some seeded players that got knocked out of the tournament but none of them seeded in the top ten.

The biggest upset of the day was when 22nd seeded Donna Vekic got beat 6-3, 3-6, 5-7 by Alison Riske. Even though Vekic was seeded it should be noted that Riske was a higher caliber opponent entering the match ranking 55th in the world. The match was the longest of the day at two hours and 29 minutes.

The other two seeded upsets of the day came in straight sets. Beatriz Haddad Maia ranked just 121 took down Garbine Muguruza seeded 26th 6-4, 6-4 and Lesia Tsurenko, seeded 33rd, was defeated by Barbora Strycova 6-3, 6-2.

Just like day one at Wimbledon the biggest news may have been between two unseeded opponents. Maria Sharapova faced Pauline Parmentier both ranked in the 80’s and the match was a close one. Sharapova won the first set 6-4 and was serving for match point in the second set at 5-3, but lost the match point. She then called a medical timeout to have her left wrist taped. Parmentier would go on to win the second set 7 (4)- 6 (4) and force a third set. The injury seemed to keep nagging Sharapova in the third set. Parmentier was up 5-0 in the third set and the injury seemed to be too much for Sharapova who decided to retire from the match.

The once top player in tennis has not had success recently and suffered a shoulder injury at the Australian Open. 2019 Wimbledon was the first time in 16 years that Sharapova was not seeded at Wimbledon the tournament she won back in 2004. After the match when Sharapova was asked if she could have completed the final point in the match she responded with “probably couldn’t have gotten through that final set” and that she had been in quite a bit of pain since the second set. Sharapova was upset with having to retire from the tournament and said she wants to try and get back to being completely healthy and playing at a high level.

Angelique Kerber the defending Wimbledon Champion won her match today in two sets. Current world number one Ashleigh Barty won her match in commanding fashion 6-4, 6-2. Americans Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams also advanced to the second round today in straight sets.

No seeded opponents will face off tomorrow, but viewers should pay close attention to Coco Gauff’s match against Magdaléna Rybáriková. Both of them caused upsets on day one and we will see who can continue their magical run in the tournament.

Coverage starts tomorrow for day three at 6 am ET on ESPN3.

Photo Courtesy of Jamie Schmed

USA Goes to Their Third World Cup Final in a Row

Before the game even kicked off this match made headlines. Megan Rapinoe who has scored five goals in the World Cup for the United States and four goals over the past two games was not in the starting lineup. This was a baffling decision and one that was only verified after the game as a decision because of an injury to Rapinoe’s hamstring.

England had some starting lineup news as well with their goalkeeper Karen Bardsley out with an injury. Her replacement, Carly Telford, does have experience in the World Cup since she started in their group stage game against Argentina.

Once the game did begin the United States had another signature quick start. Every game at this World Cup they have scored in the first 15 minutes and today’s match was no different.

Kelley O’Hara received a well played through ball on the far right side near the end line. She cross a ball into the box with just one touch and found Christen Press running unmarked into the box. Press was the player who replaced Rapinoe in the starting 11. She removed all doubt that she was qualified to start when she took that cross and headed it right into goal just ten minutes into the game.

After the goal, England was on their own mission to find the equalizer. The Lionesses would knock on the door many times to try and get that goal. Luckily for them they would not have to wait long.

Beth Mead had some space on the left side of the pitch. She took a few touches and then played a line drive cross to Ellen White right at the six-yard box. White just had to get her foot on the end of the cross to redirect the ball to the goalpost and into the net. 19 minutes into the match and already a 1-1 scoreline.

Rose Lavelle played spectacular for the United States. She took players on, took shots from all over that nearly resulted in goals and even had a nice nutmeg on the day. Her play on the field undoubtedly opened up space for the whole US team. It felt like the US would find another goal before the first half ended and when the USA needs a goal who do they look to? Alex Morgan.

Morgan had not scored a goal since the opening match when she had five goals. But in big moments big players step up. Lindsey Horan played a ball in perfectly to Morgan who jumped up and nodded the ball into the goal. Morgan turned 30 years old today, but the numbers that matter more to her are 2-1, the lead for the UWSNT.

After a whirlwind start with three goals in just 31 minutes, the game would settle down and stay 2-1 going into halftime.

Both teams would have chances in the second half, but nothing too substantial in the early minutes. England did have what seemed like another tying goal in the 67th minute, but thanks to everyone’s favorite three letter acronym, VAR, the goal was ruled off by a very tight offside call.

But just 12 minutes later VAR would have a substantial call go England’s way. A ball was crossed into the box right to White who just had to tap the ball in for a goal. Initially, it looked like she just whiffed at the ball, but upon further review there was small contact by US defender, Becky Sauerbrunn, and a penalty was awarded.

Nikita Parris had been taking the penalties for England but she is only 1/3 with penalties at the World Cup. So captain Steph Houghton stepped up to take it. With all of the delays there were less than ten minutes left to play and it seemed like England would score and this game would head to extra time.

The United States’ goalkeeper, Alyssa Naeher, had been criticized all tournament and deemed the weak link of the USA’s defense. Up until this game started she had only had four saves all tournament.

Houghton tried to place the ball into the lower left side of the goal, but she did not hit the ball with enough pace and Naeher guessed the right way. She easily blocked the shot and gathered the ball. Her teammates swarmed her with hugs, but she stayed focused and urged them to carry on with the game. The naysayers can be put to rest about Naeher. The USA have themselves a goalkeeper who can step up in big moments.

With seven minutes of regular time left and then eventually seven minutes of stoppage time, England had time to find a goal. But they struggled with time management. Fouling constantly and taking ill advised shots that limited their offensive opportunities. The most costly foul would come from Millie Bright who committed a cleats up foul on Morgan. The foul warranted a yellow card, the second for Bright in the game. Now the Lionesses would be chasing the USA with one less player on the field.

England would not be able to gather themselves enough to find a tying goal and the USA would go onto win 2-1. This is the third straight WWC Finals appearance for the USA and fifth overall. They are trying to get their fourth World Cup title. The loss for England is their second straight loss in the semifinals and the second straight semifinals they have lost 2-1. England will now play for third place.

After the match Phil Neville did speak about the game being disappointing since winning the World Cup was their goal and he continued to echo his belief that winning is everything. “It’s about winning. I can’t say to my players at the end that’s unlucky because they don’t want to wear that because they wanted to win… And that tells me that we are closer than we’ve ever been because maybe in the past we’ve probably accepted semifinal yes we’re happy we’re going on and we’ll get lots of supporters. But my players don’t want to wear that anymore they’re sick of it and so am I. We came here to win and we didn’t do that. And that’s sport for you.“

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The disappointment and devastation of losing in the semifinals will be a lot for the players to get over. However, England will have to gather themselves and prepare for the third place match and hang their heads proudly also knowing they have qualified for the Olympics next year and strive for that title in 2020.

The United States are moving on to defend their World Cup Title. Many believe they would not have been able to get to the Final if not for the play of Naeher and her penalty save late in the game. Morgan said “Alyssa Naeher came up huge for them with the save” and head coach Jill Ellis added, “She (Naeher) shone tonight, I mean she was the brightest… I give her full credit. People are just starting to see glimpses of what I see everyday in training in terms of her capabilities.” and then ended it with, “Hell of a save for sure.”

The USA may very well need her to step up again in their last match. The USA will have to wait to find out who their opponent for the final will be. The Netherlands and Sweden will face-off in their semifinal tomorrow at 3 pm ET on FS1.

Phot Courtesy of Blondinrikard

Four Unique Teams Prepare for a Shot at World Cup Glory

If there is one thing that is apparent about the four teams remaining in the Women’s World Cup it is how different they all are. Each have arrived in France poised for World Cup glory, but each have achieved success through such different avenues.

The Lionesses of England have motored their way into the semifinals by way of a defense that refuses to concede. The back-line led by thirty-one-year-old Stephanie Houghton has conceded only one goal since the start of the competition. In addition, Lucy Bronze at right-back is arguably one of the best in the World.

The Netherlands have earned their spot in the semifinals through an attacking line that is hard to keep off the score sheet. The attack of the Orange is led by 2017 FIFA Player of the Year Lieke Martens and complimented by fellow teammates Vivianne Miedema and Shanice Van de Sanden.

The United States are no strangers to the pressure as they have willed themselves to yet another semifinal. The United States have made it to their second consecutive semifinal by putting together complete performances in each game both defensively and offensively. As 2015 champions the US know what it takes to lift the cup and have used their experience wisely throughout the competition to find themselves two wins away from a repeat. The US is lead by prolific goal scorer Megan Rapinoe who continues to deliver for the Stars and Stripes in the big moment.

Last, but not least Sweden has quietly crept into the final four by showing composure and resiliency in the face of trouble. After a 2-0 loss at the hands of the US in the final group game they responded calmly by dispatching the Canadians 1-0. The Swedes again remained calm after going down one to Germany and responded with two unanswered to find themselves in the semifinals. The Swedes are led by a stout defense and tactical versatility as they hope to win their first ever World Cup.

Predictions

England v. United States

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You’re not going to want to miss this match. Circle it on your calendar, set reminders on your phone, or stream it in the office. This matchup which appears as the more exciting of the two has all the ingredients for an unforgettable ninety minutes. The last time these two faced off was earlier this year in the SheBelieves Cup where they played to an exciting 2-2 draw. It will be a battle of the stingy defense of England versus the offensive firepower of the US. With the likes of Stephanie Houghton and Lucy Bronze in the back it will be difficult for the United States to break through. Even more so the United States has seemed a bit stale on attack at times. If the England defense can keep the Red, White, and Blue off the score sheet I think the match will go the way of the Lionesses. While England are a defensively strong team, they are no slouch on offense either. With the likes of Fran Kirby, Nikita Paris, and the impressive Ellen White the US will have their hands full. The US bolsters a high amount of talent that could also very well cause problems for the English with such a variety of players that can attack and score. This game is very evenly matched and that is what makes it such an exciting competition. The United States looking to make it two World Cup titles in a row while the young English side looking to one-up last competition’s performance by booking a spot in the final. Whoever scores the first goal in this one might very well be the one to find themselves in Lyon for the finale. I think that the hunger and defensive organization of the Lionesses proves to be the difference, I’ll take England to advance to the final in a 1-0 win.

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Netherlands v. Sweden

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This matchup is definitely an interesting one as well and one that you won’t want to miss. This matchup pits the young striker heavy Dutch side against an experienced more well-rounded Swedish team. It will be interesting to see how the Swedish side which also possess a very strong defense led by Nilla Fischer matches up against a pacey Dutch team with various attacking options. Fishcer and the Swedes will have their hands full with the likes of Lieke Martens, Shanice Van de Sanden and Vivianne Miedema. The Swedish side which is well known for its tactical malleability will likely have a well devised game plan to slow the dangerous Dutch attack. The question is will it be enough to slow down such a driven group of women like the Netherlands? The young Netherlands side are looking to continue their run after winning the European Championship in 2017. While the Swedish team is looking to win the World Cup for the first time. The Swedes must focus on their game plan and staying disciplined, even if the Dutch strike first the Swedes must continue to exhibit the kind of composure that saw them past Germany. I believe that if the Swedes can hold the Orange attack to a goal or less they have the offensive power to see off the Dutch and send their exuberant fans packing. However, I am going to choose the Dutch to win this one in stunning fashion. The fans, the hunger, and the sheer talent will all contribute to the success of the Dutch and I expect to see them in the finale. I’ll take the Orange over Sweden 2-0.

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The World Cup’s next fixtures are England v. United States July 2nd, 3pm ET on FOX, and Netherlands v. Sweden July 3rd, 3pm ET on FS1.