This is diffeent than 2011 loss. At that time we were still the dominant team and only needed to make some adjustments to get back on top. This time the world has caught up to us in many ways has surpassed us. Infact We have been very poor since the Olympics two years ago. Our youth teams cant go deep in either the under 20 or under 17 World Cups. Common thread is our lack of tactics and technical ability. Watch Portugal and the Dutch with less talent than we have they none the less are far more coordinated as teams. They have the technical know how to know when to attack how to attack how to defend as a unit. We attack and defend as individuals we rely on great plalyers like Sophia Smith and the now injured Mallory Swanson to conjure miracles in transitional moments. This doesnt work anymore. We need to expand the NWSL academies so that players as young as 12 learn how to play the game right from the start. More players like Horan should go overseas and draw from their advanced tactical environment. The USSF needs to be run on a professional level comprabable to the FA in England or the NFL in america. The old boys old girls network needs to be cleaned up and only the best need apply. We need to expand soccer into the inner cities and its not just a racial issue players of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are not participating in soccer because of the expenses involved.
The next coach should be picked on the basis of demonstrated excellence and no other reason. We also need to challenge our national team with more games against top teams especially away from home even if this means less money for the USSF.
Post Mortem Again people will blame the coach others will blame the players for the early elimination. Real issue is that we lack the tactical sophistication that other top nations have. Simply showing up and outworking other teams is no longer sufficient. Again we have a seemingly vast player pool in this country but as long as soccer in general and womens soccer in particular remains an almost exclusively suburban sport the real player pool is actually much smaller. Finally we must look at the inner workings of the USSF. and ask if this organization is truly working to advance soccer in this country or is actually run as a self contained unit dedicated to its self perpetuation
Surprised no mention of Rapinoe, who certainly has enjoyed many great moments in her iconic career, but none of them in this WC.
Really her only remaining skill is set piece delivery and today not even that. Not one decent corner or FK played. And of course the wild PK miss that stopped the momentum of 3 straight makes.
Every WC is the story of a new generation trying to co-exist with those who have come before and find that balance. It is unfortunate that one player made herself bigger than the goal of winning the championship and so here we are.
This is diffeent than 2011 loss. At that time we were still the dominant team and only needed to make some adjustments to get back on top. This time the world has caught up to us in many ways has surpassed us. Infact We have been very poor since the Olympics two years ago. Our youth teams cant go deep in either the under 20 or under 17 World Cups. Common thread is our lack of tactics and technical ability. Watch Portugal and the Dutch with less talent than we have they none the less are far more coordinated as teams. They have the technical know how to know when to attack how to attack how to defend as a unit. We attack and defend as individuals we rely on great plalyers like Sophia Smith and the now injured Mallory Swanson to conjure miracles in transitional moments. This doesnt work anymore. We need to expand the NWSL academies so that players as young as 12 learn how to play the game right from the start. More players like Horan should go overseas and draw from their advanced tactical environment. The USSF needs to be run on a professional level comprabable to the FA in England or the NFL in america. The old boys old girls network needs to be cleaned up and only the best need apply. We need to expand soccer into the inner cities and its not just a racial issue players of all ethnic and racial backgrounds are not participating in soccer because of the expenses involved.
The next coach should be picked on the basis of demonstrated excellence and no other reason. We also need to challenge our national team with more games against top teams especially away from home even if this means less money for the USSF.
Post Mortem Again people will blame the coach others will blame the players for the early elimination. Real issue is that we lack the tactical sophistication that other top nations have. Simply showing up and outworking other teams is no longer sufficient. Again we have a seemingly vast player pool in this country but as long as soccer in general and womens soccer in particular remains an almost exclusively suburban sport the real player pool is actually much smaller. Finally we must look at the inner workings of the USSF. and ask if this organization is truly working to advance soccer in this country or is actually run as a self contained unit dedicated to its self perpetuation
Surprised no mention of Rapinoe, who certainly has enjoyed many great moments in her iconic career, but none of them in this WC.
Really her only remaining skill is set piece delivery and today not even that. Not one decent corner or FK played. And of course the wild PK miss that stopped the momentum of 3 straight makes.
Every WC is the story of a new generation trying to co-exist with those who have come before and find that balance. It is unfortunate that one player made herself bigger than the goal of winning the championship and so here we are.
Thanks Meg. Very helpful perspective and one I shared with other members of my family who were equally gutted.