Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Cancel the cowardly WaPo and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Ron DeSantis, the grand wizard, oops, governor of FL.

Republicans don’t trust women.

You cannot love your country only when you win.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

It’s not hopeless, and we’re not helpless.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Second rate reporter says what?

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Bark louder, little dog.

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Shut up, hissy kitty!

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

You are here: Home / Open Threads / FIFA Women’s World Cup – Group 2 of 3

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70Comments

  4. 4.

    HumboldtBlue

    Philippines did what they tried in the first game — come out fast and snag a goal — except this time it worked.

    1-0

  6. 6.

    HumboldtBlue

    The Holey Cheeses v Norway.

    If it looks anything like their first games, Norway is in trouble.

    Wet, cold, and windy.

  8. 8.

    Ha Nguyen

    I don’t get the offsides rule for this World Cup.  I could have sworn I saw a Spanish player go offsides before she passed the ball to the goal scorer.  At first, the offsides penalty negated the goal and then there was a review and the referee reversed the goal negation so that Spain got the point.  Don’t offsides count any more?

  9. 9.

    MobiusKlein

    Are the times wrong on the sheet? I think it does not account for Daylight Savings. I got confused on a few events where the game didn’t show up when I looked

  11. 11.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Ha Nguyen: ​

    Offside still counts, and I am unsure of the goal you are referring to. It may have been that both Spain players were behind the defense when the final pass was made, therefore there is no offside.

    @MobiusKlein:

    I’ve noticed that too, it appears the times listed are an hour off, not sure why.

    OK, let’s go, ladies! Send the Fainting Tulips back to their windmills and awesome bicycle infrastructure with tears in their eyes.

  16. 16.

    WaterGirl

    @HumboldtBlue: I just looked after seeing your comment. :-)

    I’m away on a trip, but I had to work today because of a client deadline – so I worked 10 hours today!  I didn’t even check my email.

  19. 19.

    HumboldtBlue

    Uh-oh, Dutch baby! Against the run of play and the Dutch counter quickly

    That’s terrible defending by the US. Terrible.

  25. 25.

    HumboldtBlue

    @MobiusKlein:

    The whole tournament has been very physical. Dark arts are in effect all across the pitch.

    @Ishiyama:

    The Japanese have looked fantastic. They were so clinical yesterday, had that match buttoned up within 30 minutes.

  26. 26.

    steppy

    Brugts (22 on the left wing) has been going in for the rough stuff. I think she should have had a yellow by now.

  27. 27.

    HumboldtBlue

    That was almost 2-0. The Dutch are playing their game, controlling the ball, countering,

  28. 28.

    WaterGirl

    Seems like the US started weak in their game last week, too.  Let’s hope they can get it together tonight before it’s too late!

  32. 32.

    HumboldtBlue

    If, and that’s a BIG IF, the Dutch win this game, it will be the first USA loss in the WC since losing the final to Japan in 2011.

    @Baud: @MobiusKlein:

    They are, the ref has swallowed her whistle and the Dutch are taking full advantage. There were at least two yellow-card worthy fouls this half.

  33. 33.

    steppy

    @HumboldtBlue: Yes. I can readily see USA equalizing. They have had better chances than NED, just got sloppy on that counter earlier. Referee better do something about this “close marking.”

  35. 35.

    lee

    As the commentators pointed out. The Netherlands has 11 WC level players. If they have to substitute they are in trouble.

  36. 36.

    HumboldtBlue

    Rose Lavelle’s coming on should help what was a rather moribund US team in the first half. Need her pace and passing.

  40. 40.

    eversor

    Born in the US but a good portion of my family is in the NL and a lot of my family here was born there and moved to the US so these games are always good fun for family bickering.

    As for the Dutch being violent on the field (or in general), they always are, the women’s teams are no different.  They are also famously rude and foul mouthed.  Dutch people calling reporters stupid and hurling insults is such a thing that “The Rude Dutch” is a meme now as is playing soccer like ice hockey.  You can’t not know they are going to rough you up.

    They are a fun team though.

    Let’s go Orange!

  41. 41.

    HumboldtBlue

    Well offside.

    That’s terrible by Morgan, she has got to do better there and stay onside. Poorly done.

    US has found some steam, putting much more effective pressure on the Dutch and playing better in the midfield.

    Van Den Donk is a bit of a Van Den Dick.

    Dangerous chance from the Dutch!

    All US now.

    Geeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzz… Great ball.

  43. 43.

    Yarrow

    This US team seems good but not great. It seems like they’re missing that special something that previous teams had.

  44. 44.

    HumboldtBlue

    Great read by the goalie.

    @Yarrow:

    It seems like they’re missing that special something

    It does, they’re missing something, the final ball for one. Buildup is effective, finishing not so much.

  46. 46.

    HumboldtBlue

    Terrible first half for the US, much better in the second, but that slow start has to be corrected.

  47. 47.

    Yarrow

    @HumboldtBlue:  LOL. Yeah

    @eversor:  I know it’s not the same team. It’s never the same team. But previous US teams seem to have that special sauce that makes them work really well together. This team seems more scattered and less team-like. At least that’s how they look to me.

    I know the Dutch are good. I felt the same way watching them against Vietnam. They just don’t have the same magic.

  49. 49.

    eversor

    @Yarrow:

    Vietnam should have been total US domination (and I’m aware that sounds odd given our history with them!) but the Dutch were always going to be brutal.  They are along a youngish team.

    As the saying goes iron sharpens iron.  These are both teams that are really physical and can go on offense in a flash.  It’s arguably the best honing match so far.

    Still going with the orange NED.  But it’s a good game.  Even with the Dutch love of begging for yellow cards.

  52. 52.

    Mike E

    @HumboldtBlue: Miss E and I were watching and immediately thought Alex was offsides…had she been level the entry pass would have been a bit far in advance and probably cleared by the goalie. Really good effort in the 2nd half

  53. 53.

    trollhattan

    All US goals through two matches from Portland Thorns players. Hey rest of the league, giddyup! There’s a lot of soccering left.

  54. 54.

    Amir Khalid

    I’ve seen YouTube videos by American sportsfan bros condemning the USA women’s team for arrogance, for kneeling for the national anthem instead of standing, etc. etc., for a generally unpatriotic attitude. Is this a widespread sentiment among American fans, or is YouTube’s homepage algorithm just messing with me?

  55. 55.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Amir Khalid:

    for a generally unpatriotic attitude. Is this a widespread sentiment among American fans

    No. Quality of play is another matter.

  56. 56.

    Pete Downunder

    Big excitement in Brisbane tonight. Australia’s Matildas play Nigeria in sold out stadium. They are missing three key players including superstar Sam Kerr – all three out with injuries sustained in training. I know absolutely zip about soccer, but WTF training so hard just before big match that players are injured? The most recent two with concussions. How do you get a concussion in soccer? Australia is rapt for the moment, but will lose interest entirely once the Maltidas are eliminated.

  58. 58.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    The Dutch are such lovely people and the country is wonderful (sans rain).

    That said, the women futbolers are assassins. Jackie Groenen has a gold medal in judo. When playing for Manchester United she would literally cut down opponents with judo chops to their backs. She constantly works the refs and flops when she’s touched.

  59. 59.

    HumboldtBlue

    That’s a solid hip-check.

    Portugal running rampant early on.

    That is some lovely footwork.

    Oh my goodness, Portugal with another lovely turn of play. We’re not a half hour in and Portugal came to dance.

    This is impressive, Portugal is in control.

  60. 60.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @Amir Khalid:  They’re popular.  They do a lot of commercials (selling cars, smart phones, fast food, insurance).  but there’s always going to be a segment that is sexist and jingoistic, which was heightened when Rapinoe said she wouldn’t go to the White House if Dump was there.​

  62. 62.

    Shalimar

    @Amir Khalid: It’s a widespread view among the type of rightwing assholes who comment on YouTube.  You know the type.  Not numerous, but they tend to swarm at their targets.

    It is not that common among most Americans, who either don’t care about soccer or are proud of the American team.  They have been our most dominant professional sports team over the last 3 decades.

  63. 63.

    steppy

    Just tuned into AUS-NGA. Anybody watching? Any thoughts about the teams or play so far?

  64. 64.

    JML

    Nigeria beating Australia is the first big upset of the tournament. Tough with the injuries; there’s still only a few teams that have the depth to really over come multiple significant injuries without needing a big break. Nigeria is a good team, though.

    The US game was a tough one: the expectation for the US is always to win at all times, so a draw is a disappointment. But the Dutch are a quality team and didn’t come out of nowhere. They played a very cynical game out there: every time the US would start to make a rush on the counter, you’d see them pull the US player down from behind if they could to stop the attack. Was an absolute shocker that the Dutch didn’t pull a yellow, but this is something this US team needs to know is out there now: they might get into a rock fight where clutch and grab is going to be ignored and they have to find a way to deal with it.

    The real concern for the USWNT is whether or not they have the midfield to control a game in this Cup. It’s not the attackers up front that are the issue, and it’s not the back line either (although I am concerned with Crystal Dunn, who has looked wobbly cutting inside too often and leaving the flanks exposed). Lavelle made a huge difference when she came in; is she fit enough to start?

  65. 65.

    Mike E

    @JML: Good takes…re: Dunn, she seemed in conflict with her in-between role which I believe messed with her timing in the attacking third but she made some choice deliveries despite it all. The tactic of going down center into the teeth of the Dutch defense was baffling, and the 2nd half play opened up for them when they went wide. The pitch was raggedy and caused a concerning number of non contact falls.

  66. 66.

    MobiusKlein

    @Pete Downunder:

    How do you get a concussion in soccer?

    Headers. Jumping for the ball. Falling badly. Bonking the goal with your head. Getting kicked while corralling the ball.

    My daughter had two from soccer, as a goalie.

  67. 67.

    Alison Rose

    @MobiusKlein: I’ll never forget the moment when a USMNT player (I’m 98% certain it was Jimmy Conrad) went up for a header and clocked his skull against the other guy’s shoulder or something and went down like a ton of bricks. When they tried to help him sit up, his head was lolling around and his eyes were unfocused. It was scary as shit to see. Had a concussion from it but thankfully was otherwise okay later.

  68. 68.

    jame

    @JML, agreed. US team wasn’t cohesive, and that left side was wide open way too many times in the first half, Dutch players unmarked, long passes to no one, and way too many missed passes. They snapped to a bit in the second half after Horan’s goal, but overall seemed not to be playing at World Cup level. There’s a lot of talent on the field, but not working together seamlessly.

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