By RYAN TOLMICH
After finishing top of their group to start the tournament, the U.S. Women’s National Team takes the next step on Monday with the start of the knockout rounds.
The USWNT is set to take on Colombia Monday night in a Round of 16 matchup that sees the U.S. as heavy favorites. Starting up top will be Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, who will be making her second start of the tournament.
SBI will be providing live commentary on tonight’s match so please feel free to follow the action here. As always, you are welcome to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Tonight’s live commentary is after the jump):
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“at least”
I like how Brandi Chastain keeps plugging for Heather O’Reilly. I guess if you are going to play abby ball right you need one of the main abby enablers out on the wing. That being said, Tobin Heath played poorly IMO. Also, Pinoe is a ball hog without peer.
been asking for O’Reilly all tournament
that is, I have been asking for O’Reilly
I hear you, but least Pinoe plays with urgency and heart. I just don’t see it in all of our players excepting the defense. Center backs have been good.
I just hope there comes a day when the men can win a knock out game 2-0 and everyone is disappointed in the performance. haha
Great point
You mean like when they do it against all the minnows in CONCACAF during the Gold Cup?
LOL
Good lord, I’m pretty sure my Sunday pub team is better tactically and technically better than the USWNT.
They are awful to watch from the midfield up. The defensive unit is solid. They do NOT belong in the same class as France/Germany or Japan.
I hope the poor game plan/play and the absences of Rapinoe and Holiday in the next one will allow for a different approach building from the back through the midfield. I know the players have it in them to play differently but the coaching has been horrible. Though this is probably too optimistic.
Apparently, passing on the NWSL season in order to prepare for the WWC doesn’t include practicing PKs as a part of that preparation.
It’s the turfs fault
Game changer right there. US should make it now even with poor play…
Would have loved to see the team Tom Sermanni would have fielded
+1. DiCicco suggested the 4-3-3 for the next match, which I think Sermanni was trying to install. This “system” the NATS are employing has produced nothing close to a cohesive and effective direct style.
I have been saying that US install a 4-3-3 for a while with players who can dribble wit the ball at their feet:
e.g.:
-same back 4
-Holiday-Lloyd-Rapinoe
-Press-Morgan-Leroux
or
-same back 4
——Holiday
-O’Reilly-Lloyd
-Press-Morgan-Rapinoe
Right now, US longball’s it to the box too much (especially with Abby). They need a direct passing style. I remember watching the ’99 team and I don’t this team is as good. Akers would OWN this center-midfield
OR
-same back 4
-Lloyd-Holiday-Rapinoe
-Morgan-Wambach-Leroux
* with this formation, keep Wambach up high and Morgan/Leroux with speed to run at players with the ball at their feet. Holiday in a deeper lying midfield position.
The rest of the world is catching up to the U.S. with creativity. We still think it’s 1999/2003 and think we can win with better conditioning and long balls lifted into the box. Too much hype for an average team.
The rest of the world has learned how to play soccer. We haven’t.
Maybe the US pulls out a victory through guts and determination but they really just don’t seem to be that good no matter how much Fox hypes them up. I have no clue what their strategy is besides getting in the box and battle I guess. Before the game everyone on the Fox set said that the US was better than Colombia at everything. The Colombians appear to be a lot better at tight control and short link up passing.
After seeing some of the other teams play team soccer in this tournament I can’t imagine the US winning this tournament. They should have an easiest draw to get to the final four in under impressive fashion.
as always, USA with good players, but without a head, without brain, without strategists, without a coach.
EuroSport commentator: “I’ve never seen an American team play so much long ball”
Chicks dig the long ball…