Carli Lloyd made her 200th cap a good one last Friday, serving as team captain and scoring the only goal (a header off a cross from Julie Johnston) in the USA's 1-0 quarterfinal win over China.
Equally important, Lloyd and her teammates took the level of play up a notch, which they will need to maintain in tomorrow's semi-final against Germany. The Germans beat France in a shootout.
Juliet Macur wrote in The New York Times, "So with Rapinoe in the stands and Wambach on the bench, Lloyd wore the
captain’s armband, and that armband turned her superhuman. She and that
armband were everywhere. Pushing the ball forward. Stealing it back.
Running it down. Grabbing the team by the scruff of its neck and leading
it to a win."
Andrew Keh's game story in the Times also featured Lloyd, whose goal was her 65th in international play.
On to Montreal to face the powerful German side.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Bring on China
"Underwhelmed but not surprising," was how Alexi Lalas described the U.S. 2-0 Round of 16 win over Columbia in Edmonton last night. A bit harsh, I think. Team USA did what it took to win and that's always the sign of a good team.
There was an apparent goal by Abby Wambach in the 4th minute that was called back by an offsides. (Good call.) Colombian keeper Catalina Perez, who plays for the University of Miami, made three tough saves. But there were times when it looked as though Colombia might score first.
Never happened and the half ended scoreless. The toughest moments of the opening half for the U.S. were not injuries (thankfully there were none) or missed opportunities. Rather they were the yellow cards shown to Lauren Holiday in the 17th minute and to Megan Rapinoe in the 41st, Because of prior yellow cards each player will have to sit out the China game. Both plays were fouls but neither deserved a card.
The U.S. got a huge break just two minutes into the second half when Perez came out to challenge Alex Morgan, missed the ball and clipped Morgan's feet, bringing her down. It was an "obvious goal scoring opportunity" within the meaning of Law 12, so Perez was justifiably sent off, forcing Colombia to play 43 minutes a player short. To make matters worse, the foul was just inside the penalty area, giving the U.S. a penalty kick.
Surprisingly, Abby Wambach went wide left on the PK, a miss that good have energized Colombia. It did not and Alex Morgan finally broke the ice with a goal in the 53rd minute. When Rapinoe was taken down in the box in the 66th minute, Coach Jill Ellis went with Carli Lloyd over Wambach. Lloyd went right and the keeper went the wrong way to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. According to Wambach, as quoted in this morning's Inquirer, "I could have taken it, but that's my punishment. Carli gave me the opportunity to take it and I said, 'No, you get it. Bury it.' "
So the U.S. is open of eight teams still playing but no one seems overly impressed. "At times, the best team in the world didn't look that good as a result of the way we performed," Colombia coach Fabian Taborda was quoted as saying said through an interpreter.
Lloyd was a bit more positive: "I know the goals will come," she was quoted as saying in the Inquirer. . "We've just got to keep moving forward, keep plugging away, and have the confidence to know that chances will fall."
They may have scored only six goals in four games, but then they've allowed just one, the last one being by Australia 27 minutes into the opening match. That's 333 minutes of scoreless soccer.
I like the chances against China.
There was an apparent goal by Abby Wambach in the 4th minute that was called back by an offsides. (Good call.) Colombian keeper Catalina Perez, who plays for the University of Miami, made three tough saves. But there were times when it looked as though Colombia might score first.
Never happened and the half ended scoreless. The toughest moments of the opening half for the U.S. were not injuries (thankfully there were none) or missed opportunities. Rather they were the yellow cards shown to Lauren Holiday in the 17th minute and to Megan Rapinoe in the 41st, Because of prior yellow cards each player will have to sit out the China game. Both plays were fouls but neither deserved a card.
The U.S. got a huge break just two minutes into the second half when Perez came out to challenge Alex Morgan, missed the ball and clipped Morgan's feet, bringing her down. It was an "obvious goal scoring opportunity" within the meaning of Law 12, so Perez was justifiably sent off, forcing Colombia to play 43 minutes a player short. To make matters worse, the foul was just inside the penalty area, giving the U.S. a penalty kick.
Surprisingly, Abby Wambach went wide left on the PK, a miss that good have energized Colombia. It did not and Alex Morgan finally broke the ice with a goal in the 53rd minute. When Rapinoe was taken down in the box in the 66th minute, Coach Jill Ellis went with Carli Lloyd over Wambach. Lloyd went right and the keeper went the wrong way to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. According to Wambach, as quoted in this morning's Inquirer, "I could have taken it, but that's my punishment. Carli gave me the opportunity to take it and I said, 'No, you get it. Bury it.' "
So the U.S. is open of eight teams still playing but no one seems overly impressed. "At times, the best team in the world didn't look that good as a result of the way we performed," Colombia coach Fabian Taborda was quoted as saying said through an interpreter.
Lloyd was a bit more positive: "I know the goals will come," she was quoted as saying in the Inquirer. . "We've just got to keep moving forward, keep plugging away, and have the confidence to know that chances will fall."
They may have scored only six goals in four games, but then they've allowed just one, the last one being by Australia 27 minutes into the opening match. That's 333 minutes of scoreless soccer.
I like the chances against China.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
After Sweden
Sweden needed the win more than we did and after a hard-fought scoreless draw Friday night, probably needs a win against Australia Tuesday to advance. The United States, meanwhile, is in a good position with four points, although if we lost to Nigeria and Australia beat Sweden, Australia would win the group with six points. The U.S and Nigeria would be tied but the second place spot would probably go the the Americans on goal differential.
There are six groups of four and the top two in each group go through, as will four of the six third place teams. In other words, after two weeks of play, only eight of 24 teams will be eliminated.
Back to the Sweden match: the New York Times story is here. Both teams had chances and both were victimized by a bad call. Somehow the officials missed Nilla Fischer's mugging of a U.S player in the box but they later missed a hand ball by Sydney Leroux in the box. Swedish keeper Hedwig Lindahl, who was properly named player of the match, came up big a number of times, including on a hard shot by Carli Lloyd which was a great chance.
The American defense of Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Saerbrunn and Julie Johnston played well and it was Klingenberg who saved the game in the 77th minute. Caroline Seger was open about 10 yards out to the left and looped a ball towards the upper right corner, past keeper Hope Solo, only to see Klingenberg, the shortest player on the field, head it off the line into the underside of the cross bar and out, where it was cleared. The goalline cameras showed the ball had not crossed the line.
Off the field the Hope Solo story will not go away. After recent reports that she was really the aggressor in a domestic violence incident last year (the charges were dismissed on procedural grounds, which the prosecutor appealed), a United States senator called for Solo to be kicked off the team, the president of U.S. Soccer defended her and her roommate, Lloyd, was asked about it after the Sweden match. She replied,"Hope Solo news, that's so old news. Hope is my roommate, and we don't even talk about it. It's all old news, we just laugh about it." The laughing about it comment caused some to criticize Lloyd because obviously domestic violence is no laughing matter.
In an interview with Philly.com's Jonathan Tannenwald, Lloyd explained her remarks: ""Obviously, it wasn't the best choice of words," she said. "The laughing bit of it was the fact that, you know, we're a couple games deep into the World Cup, and the team is solely focused on the World Cup, the games, and the preparation. The fact that we're still being asked these questions about Hope's case is kind of tough."
Back on the field, today was a rest day. The final games of the first stage begin tomorrow. Thus far, only Japan and Brazil have won both of their first two matches.
There are six groups of four and the top two in each group go through, as will four of the six third place teams. In other words, after two weeks of play, only eight of 24 teams will be eliminated.
Back to the Sweden match: the New York Times story is here. Both teams had chances and both were victimized by a bad call. Somehow the officials missed Nilla Fischer's mugging of a U.S player in the box but they later missed a hand ball by Sydney Leroux in the box. Swedish keeper Hedwig Lindahl, who was properly named player of the match, came up big a number of times, including on a hard shot by Carli Lloyd which was a great chance.
The American defense of Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Saerbrunn and Julie Johnston played well and it was Klingenberg who saved the game in the 77th minute. Caroline Seger was open about 10 yards out to the left and looped a ball towards the upper right corner, past keeper Hope Solo, only to see Klingenberg, the shortest player on the field, head it off the line into the underside of the cross bar and out, where it was cleared. The goalline cameras showed the ball had not crossed the line.
Off the field the Hope Solo story will not go away. After recent reports that she was really the aggressor in a domestic violence incident last year (the charges were dismissed on procedural grounds, which the prosecutor appealed), a United States senator called for Solo to be kicked off the team, the president of U.S. Soccer defended her and her roommate, Lloyd, was asked about it after the Sweden match. She replied,"Hope Solo news, that's so old news. Hope is my roommate, and we don't even talk about it. It's all old news, we just laugh about it." The laughing about it comment caused some to criticize Lloyd because obviously domestic violence is no laughing matter.
In an interview with Philly.com's Jonathan Tannenwald, Lloyd explained her remarks: ""Obviously, it wasn't the best choice of words," she said. "The laughing bit of it was the fact that, you know, we're a couple games deep into the World Cup, and the team is solely focused on the World Cup, the games, and the preparation. The fact that we're still being asked these questions about Hope's case is kind of tough."
Back on the field, today was a rest day. The final games of the first stage begin tomorrow. Thus far, only Japan and Brazil have won both of their first two matches.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Gamesmanship or Pia Being Pia?
The U.S. women's team continues to be in the news off the field as well as on.
First it was Hope Solo's various issues. Then Tuesday the New York Times published an interview with former U.S. and now Sweden coach Pia Sundhage in which she said Carli Lloyd was "a challenger to coach," Abby Wambach would not be a starter if she were still coaching the United States and Hope Solo was one of the most challenging players she ever coached, "especially when it came to trouble." Sam Borden did the interview in Sweden last spring. It's unclear why the Times waited until now to run it.
Lloyd, to her credit, said in the Inquirer simply that she would "respond on the field." For the record, Lloyd was never a challenge to coach when she played for Joe Dadura and me from ages 14 through 17.
Conveniently, Lloyd and her teammates will get their chance very soon, like tomorrow night when the U.S. plays Sweden in Winnipeg. In an Inquirer report Sundhage denied any gamesmanship, saying, "I'm not smart enough to do that." But you have to wonder.
Meanwhile, the games went on today with the biggest surprise being Germany's 1-1 draw with Norway, leaving the two teams atop Group B with four points each.
First it was Hope Solo's various issues. Then Tuesday the New York Times published an interview with former U.S. and now Sweden coach Pia Sundhage in which she said Carli Lloyd was "a challenger to coach," Abby Wambach would not be a starter if she were still coaching the United States and Hope Solo was one of the most challenging players she ever coached, "especially when it came to trouble." Sam Borden did the interview in Sweden last spring. It's unclear why the Times waited until now to run it.
Lloyd, to her credit, said in the Inquirer simply that she would "respond on the field." For the record, Lloyd was never a challenge to coach when she played for Joe Dadura and me from ages 14 through 17.
Conveniently, Lloyd and her teammates will get their chance very soon, like tomorrow night when the U.S. plays Sweden in Winnipeg. In an Inquirer report Sundhage denied any gamesmanship, saying, "I'm not smart enough to do that." But you have to wonder.
Meanwhile, the games went on today with the biggest surprise being Germany's 1-1 draw with Norway, leaving the two teams atop Group B with four points each.
Monday, June 8, 2015
U.S. In Driver's Seat After Day 1
The Women's National Team needed some sensational saves from Hope Solo to overcome a sluggish start before getting things together in the second half and downing Australia, 23-1, in the World Cup opener for both teams.
The Matildas seemed to take charge early but Solo made a diving save in the 5th minute to keep the game scoreless. Megan Rapinoe put the Americans on the board when her shot in the 12th minute deflected off a defender and into the net. But after two more great saves by Solo, Australia equalized when Lisa De Vanna scored in the 27th minute.
The U.S started to put it together in the second half and took the lead for good when Christen press scored in the 61st minute. After picking up a yellow card in the 64th minute, Rapinoe provided the insurance with a goal in the 78th minute and Australia never seriously challenged again.
Some of the commentators questioned the quality of the U.S. play, but looking at the positives: they got better as they went along. Solo was spectacular on three saves and made all the plays. And they came away with three points. With Nigeria's surprise draw with Sweden, the United States sits atop Group D with 3 points, 2 ahead of Sweden and Nigeria and can afford a draw or even a loss to Sweden Friday.
The Matildas seemed to take charge early but Solo made a diving save in the 5th minute to keep the game scoreless. Megan Rapinoe put the Americans on the board when her shot in the 12th minute deflected off a defender and into the net. But after two more great saves by Solo, Australia equalized when Lisa De Vanna scored in the 27th minute.
The U.S started to put it together in the second half and took the lead for good when Christen press scored in the 61st minute. After picking up a yellow card in the 64th minute, Rapinoe provided the insurance with a goal in the 78th minute and Australia never seriously challenged again.
Some of the commentators questioned the quality of the U.S. play, but looking at the positives: they got better as they went along. Solo was spectacular on three saves and made all the plays. And they came away with three points. With Nigeria's surprise draw with Sweden, the United States sits atop Group D with 3 points, 2 ahead of Sweden and Nigeria and can afford a draw or even a loss to Sweden Friday.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Lots Of Soccer In Today's Media
Good stuff for soccer fans in today's newspapers. First, a nice piece in the Inquirer about Carli Lloyd, written by Phil Anastasia. Then there's Jere Longman's story on Canadian captain Christine Sinclair in the New York Times. (Sinclair scored the winning goal for Canada against China in yesterday's opener.)
Then there's the essay in the Times by soccer legend Michelle Akers, who happened to score the winning goal in the first Women's World Cup final, about the U.S. chances in this World Cup. She won't come out and predict a title for the Americans, saying only that on paper they have a chance. But she says the team is "soft in critical areas." Akers writes, ". . . the defense isn’t tight enough in the penalty area, allowing too many opportunities for opponents to score; and even though some recent opponents haven’t capitalized, the good ones will. The team’s defending must also be better — and more punishing. I haven’t seen many crunching tackles or messages sent to opponents to not dare enter the United States’ half of the field.The midfield needs to better control the pace and variety in the attack, too, and to transition quicker into a more balanced defensive shape through the middle when it doesn’t have the ball."
The Times' Sam Borden reported from Berlin on Barcelona's 3-1 win over Juventus for its fifth Champions League championship.
Well, all the press today wasn't all good. A report by the Associated Press quoted an ESPN story that U.S. National team goalie Hope Solo was not the victim but the "primary aggressor" in a brawl at her half sister's house a year ago that led to two counts of domestic violence being lodged against her. Solo pleaded not guilty ad the charges were later dismissed.
Meanwhile, in the World Cup, the Netherlands edged New Zealand, 1-0 in Edmonton yesterday, the identical score to Canada's defeat of China. Today's matches in Ottawa weren't quite as close as Norway shut out Thailand, 4-0 and Germany had an easy time in a 10-0 rout of the Ivory Coast.
Tomorrow Cameroon plays Equador and Japan faces Switzerland in as Group C gets underway in Vancouver while in Winnipeg the United States opens against Australia and Sweden plays Nigeria in Group D>
Then there's the essay in the Times by soccer legend Michelle Akers, who happened to score the winning goal in the first Women's World Cup final, about the U.S. chances in this World Cup. She won't come out and predict a title for the Americans, saying only that on paper they have a chance. But she says the team is "soft in critical areas." Akers writes, ". . . the defense isn’t tight enough in the penalty area, allowing too many opportunities for opponents to score; and even though some recent opponents haven’t capitalized, the good ones will. The team’s defending must also be better — and more punishing. I haven’t seen many crunching tackles or messages sent to opponents to not dare enter the United States’ half of the field.The midfield needs to better control the pace and variety in the attack, too, and to transition quicker into a more balanced defensive shape through the middle when it doesn’t have the ball."
The Times' Sam Borden reported from Berlin on Barcelona's 3-1 win over Juventus for its fifth Champions League championship.
Well, all the press today wasn't all good. A report by the Associated Press quoted an ESPN story that U.S. National team goalie Hope Solo was not the victim but the "primary aggressor" in a brawl at her half sister's house a year ago that led to two counts of domestic violence being lodged against her. Solo pleaded not guilty ad the charges were later dismissed.
Meanwhile, in the World Cup, the Netherlands edged New Zealand, 1-0 in Edmonton yesterday, the identical score to Canada's defeat of China. Today's matches in Ottawa weren't quite as close as Norway shut out Thailand, 4-0 and Germany had an easy time in a 10-0 rout of the Ivory Coast.
Tomorrow Cameroon plays Equador and Japan faces Switzerland in as Group C gets underway in Vancouver while in Winnipeg the United States opens against Australia and Sweden plays Nigeria in Group D>
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Oh, Canda: Off To A Good Start
With the largest crowd ever to watch a soccer game in Canada on hand - 53,058 in Edmonton - Christine Sinclair nudged a PK just inside the left post in the second minute of stoppage time to give the Canadians a 1-0 win in the FIFA Women's World Cup opener.
Canada had begun to dominate in the last 15 minutes but when the clock hit 90 it appeared as though they might have to settle for one point instead of three. But a foul called on Rong Zhao sent Sinclair to the line and moments later the celebration was on. And yes, I thought referee Kateryna Monzul of the Ukraine made the right call. The early game story in the World Cup website is here.
US opens with Australia Monday night.
Canada had begun to dominate in the last 15 minutes but when the clock hit 90 it appeared as though they might have to settle for one point instead of three. But a foul called on Rong Zhao sent Sinclair to the line and moments later the celebration was on. And yes, I thought referee Kateryna Monzul of the Ukraine made the right call. The early game story in the World Cup website is here.
US opens with Australia Monday night.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Let The Games Begin: World Cup Starts Tomorrow
Put all the negative news about FIFA of the past two weeks aside. A month's worth of world class soccer kicks off in Edmonton tomorrow as host Canada faces the Peoples Republic of China at 6 p.m. Eastern in the opening match of the Women's World Cup.
Speaking of which, good to see the Cup on the current covers of both Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. And especially good seeing Carli Lloyd, a girl I've known since 8th grade and had the privilege of coaching on the Medford Strikers way back when, on the cover of SI. Despite her cover girl status, Lloyd gets only a small blurb along with the other 22 players inside the magazine. But there is a good profile of her online.
SI's Grant Wahl, one of the world's top soccer experts, picks the U.S. to win it all. Carli has scored the winning goal in the last two Olympic gold medal games. So here's a prediction that on July 5 in Vancouver, Carli will score the winning goal as the US. wins its first World Cup since 1999.
Speaking of which, good to see the Cup on the current covers of both Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. And especially good seeing Carli Lloyd, a girl I've known since 8th grade and had the privilege of coaching on the Medford Strikers way back when, on the cover of SI. Despite her cover girl status, Lloyd gets only a small blurb along with the other 22 players inside the magazine. But there is a good profile of her online.
SI's Grant Wahl, one of the world's top soccer experts, picks the U.S. to win it all. Carli has scored the winning goal in the last two Olympic gold medal games. So here's a prediction that on July 5 in Vancouver, Carli will score the winning goal as the US. wins its first World Cup since 1999.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Never Mind: FIFA's Sepp Blatter Resigns After 17 years
Less than a week after being re-elected for a fifth term as head of the governing body of world soccer, Sepp Blatter announced in Zurich yesterday that he will resign. The New York Times provides thorough coverage.
“FIFA needs a profound restructuring,” Blatter is quoted as saying. Referring to his re-election, he then added, “Although the members of FIFA have given me the new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football.”
You think?
“FIFA needs a profound restructuring,” Blatter is quoted as saying. Referring to his re-election, he then added, “Although the members of FIFA have given me the new mandate, this mandate does not seem to be supported by everybody in the world of football.”
You think?
Monday, June 1, 2015
Hamburg Hangs On To History in Karlsruhe Thriller
The German Bundesliga was founded in 1963 and Hamburger Sport Verein (HSV) is the only team to have played in the first division in all 52 seasons since then. But tonight HSV came within a few seconds on the referee's watch of being relegated to the second division (the 2nd Bundesliga).In a thrilling match played before 27,986 in Karlsruhe, Marcello Diaz scored on a free kick from 20 yards out to tie the match at 1-1 in the first minute of stoppage time.
Hamburg, a bustling port city on the Elbe River in northern Germany, found itself in this predicament by finishing in 16th place out of 18 teams in the first division. And that was only with an upset of FC Schalke on the last day of the season - putting Hamburg one point ahead of SC Freiburg and four above SC Paderborn 07, both of which will play in the second division come August. By finishing third from the bottom, Hamburg had to play the third place team in the Second Bundelisga, Karlsruhe, in a two-game, home and away, total goals win, series with the winner playing in the first division next season and the loser in the second.
Ironically, Hamburg had been in this position a year ago and staved off relegation by one goal in a play-off of the first division's third worst and the 2nd division's third best.
This year, it looked as though HSV's luck had run out when KSC's Reinhold Yabo, who had come on just six minutes earlier, scored in the 78th minute. Karlsruhe was 12 minutes from the Bundesliga. The home side was looking better and better as Hamburg headed a ball off the post in the 82nd minute then saw the Karlsruhe defense clear one the follow-up off the line.
It wasn't until Diaz put the ball into the upper left corner that Hamburg fans began to think they were a team of destiny. That destiny became reality when Nikolai Müller buried a cross from the left in the 115th minute to make it 2-1. But HSV wasn't there yet. Keeper Rene Adler had to make a spectacular diving stop to his left on a penalty kick in the last minute to preserve the victory and Hamburg's history.
Watch a video of the highlights (commentary in English) here.
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