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You are here: Home / Sports / FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 / FIFA Women’s World Cup – 16 Teams, 8 Matches

Reader Interactions

102Comments

  1. 1.

    trollhattan

    Frist!
    In case the numbers do not come across as gibberish, sports book on Sweden advancing is +135 US -170.

    Am very jittery about US surviving round of 16 because they’re not playing as a team; haven’t since the Vietnam match (just one goal since). Sweden had more trouble against Argentina than they should have, but crushed Italy, bested RSA and surrendered just one goal in total. Also, a deeper bench and can tactically field against us while we seem stuck with a much shallower starting rotation.

    IOW Vlatko is costing me mucho sleep.

    LFG!

  2. 2.

    HumboldtBlue

    Great match to kick off the night with Spain v Switzerland. Can Spain bring that beautiful ball control, passing and speed to overcome Holy Cheeses?

    Then we get a truly tasty matchup between Japan and Norway, a match I expect Japan to win.

    See youse in two hours!

  4. 4.

    HumboldtBlue

    OK, this is gonna be fun. Spain has to rebound from that beating Japan gave them, and the Swiss have to find a way to score.

  6. 6.

    HumboldtBlue

    Well, that is not the way to play the game, Ladies of Spain, that is not the way.

  7. 7.

    HumboldtBlue

    The Holy Cheeses are in trouble unless they can get something from their counterattack.

  15. 15.

    HumboldtBlue

    The Dutch v the Banyana Banyana. The Dutch are gonna be favored, so let’s see what the South Africans can do to break them down.

  16. 16.

    HumboldtBlue

    What a save by the SA goalie! That was fantastic and a great effort from the Dutch.

    And the Dutch manage to get the second ball off a corner and head it in for a goal.

    1-0 Oranjeboom!

    And SSA with an excellent counter, saved by the Dutch goalie.

  17. 17.

    HumboldtBlue

    From the BBC:

    This Dutch back three of Sherida Spitse, Stefanie van der Gragt and Dominique Janssen have a remarkable 424 caps between them.
    Just the sort of experienced defence you want to see out a World Cup knock out win. Although they have been tested by Thembi Kgatlana so far.

    That’s a lot of caps and a helluva lot of experience for the Dutch.

  18. 18.

    HumboldtBlue

    Great chance for South Africa!

    They can counter, that’s for sure, they need to be far more sure with the ball in defense, however.

    And Swart with another good save for SA!

    Oh, no! SA defender turned her ankle badly, they’ve already had one key player subbed off, and it looks like another sub for this injury.

  19. 19.

    HumboldtBlue

    SA forces a turnover in the midfield and get their best chance on goal by far. But good goalkeeping snuffs the attack. Gotta give SA credit, two bad injuries to two top players, and they are going toe-to-toe with the Dutch. Helluva display.​ 

    Wow! Such an entertaining match. SA with two excellent counters to force two great saves from the Oranje. The Dutch seriously want that halftime whistle to blow.

  20. 20.

    HumboldtBlue

    From the BBC:

    HT: Netherlands 1-0 South Africa. Netherlands have dominated possession, they have had 72% of the ball and made 329 passes to South Africa’s 130.
    However, both sides have had the same number of shots – eight, with South Africa having more on target, five to four.

  21. 21.

    HumboldtBlue

    The Dutch cruise through with a 2-0 win, but it was far from comfortable, particularly late in the first half when SA’s speed and counter gave them fits. But the Dutch saw the game out as SA ran out of steam. A damn fine showing by the Banyana Banyana.

  22. 22.

    MobiusKlein

    So I’m camping in the east slope of the Sierra Nevadas, setting an alarm to wake at 2 am to watch with wife and daughter.

    The tricky part is making sure our phones don’t run out of power. Are we nuts?

  23. 23.

    HumboldtBlue

    @MobiusKlein:

    Are we nuts?

    Yes, you are.

    However, I will begin cooking chicken and chorizo at midnight, and I haven’t decided if I’m gonna cook rice or pasta to go with it. I have a ton of fresh broccoli, so that’ll get steamed and eaten lustily, and then I’ll sit down for the match.

    Has the potential to be one helluva of a contest.

  28. 28.

    HumboldtBlue

    Cagey start, Sweden waiting for the US to push, they want a counter with a free kick or a corner at the end.

    @eclare:

    Salad decided the chair that is always pulled up to my free hand, so I can pet him freely is not good enough and has taken up a post on my desk, where my mouse hand happens to rest.

  35. 35.

    HumboldtBlue

    Tough first half, the US dictated play and yet no goals. Can’t let Sweden steal one, the US has the measure in pace and passing.

  41. 41.

    HumboldtBlue

    Great save Sweden!

    USA in control but goddamn they need a goal.

    The Swedish goalkeeper has impressive eyebrows.

  44. 44.

    Mike E

    C’mon Lynn Williams! Break down that back line, you’re too quick for Sweden. Come to think of it, put Thompson in as well

  58. 58.

    HumboldtBlue

    Another fucking save. The US has controlled this match and Sweden has been chasing all match, goddamn we need a goal.

  71. 71.

    Mike E

    Welp Sweden played it smart…USWNT aren’t as dangerous up front and going forward, if they prevail here, need a lot of breaks to go their way to get past sides who are clicking on all cylinders

  83. 83.

    Baud

    The US has hasn’t looked good all tournament, so I was pessimistic about them winning the whole thing anyway.

  84. 84.

    Mike E

    Lalas with the whining, at least Carli cited Naeher’s stellar performance… the rest of the world have upped their level of play while the USWNT is in a transition phase, no shame

  86. 86.

    Mike E

    @Ishiyama: They are poised to make a deep run… I’d like to see a first time winner, like Netherlands, but Japan getting a 2nd star would be fitting

  88. 88.

    trollhattan

    Well fuque (just watched replay). Sweden keeper POTM (most keepers let in at least three of those shots in) but won’t ignore that the game was ours until we loosened our fingers around their collective throats. My WWC postmortem:-Vlatko’s 23 were not the US’s best and ultimately our undoing. This is on him and I expect his time as coach is over.
    -Last WWC for Naher, O’Hara, Pinoe, probably Morgan. Blessings and thanks to you monsters of the pitch.
    Top USWNT player award goes to Captain Horan.
    WWC rookie achievement awards to Girma, Fox and especially Smith. Smith and Horan have [checks notes] 100% of US goals. DeMelo did well with her minutes and surely will be a fixture going forward.
    WWC rookie vanishing in the field of play awards for Rodman and Williams. You simply needed to do more. Logging kilometers will please your track coach.
    WWC rookie INCs for Huerta, Sanchez, Thompson. Not sure what Vlatko had in mind for you, but his rotation was far to tight for you to get a shot.
    Rose, Rose, Rose, that second yellow hurt today. I know you were dying there on the bench. We still remember your goal against Netherlands four years ago, though.
    A defense that surrenders one goal over 390 minutes is foundational, and usually a launchpad for great success. Our disconnected strikers, lack of cohesive buildup and press, especially an effective high press, betrayed the great work in back. This was a very un-US squad and we need a top to bottom overhaul before the Olympics.
    LFG​

  89. 89.

    JML

    @trollhattan: tough to have the USWNT lose when playing their best game of the Cup.

    I have a little trouble saying Lavelle was missed out there because I’m not sure she and Horan can play next to each other in the midfield, and our midfield was playing its best today with Sonnett slotting in as a holding midfielder (seriously, I’m exhausted with all the commentators who discovered the term “double pivot” this week) and playing a 4-2-3-1 rather than a 4-3-3.

    Sophia Smith had a learner of a Cup. She’s fantastically talented, but definitely struggled with the way she was defended and never formed much of a partnership with Morgan up top. She was clinical against Vietnam, but drifted in centrally too often against everyone else and dribbled into trouble rather than turn away from it. I have no doubt she’ll be back and be better next time.

    Rodman was one of my heroes in this Cup; she provided the width and drive to the touchline we needed. And she got beaten on by the Swedes today, but still gave us a heck of a shift out there.

    Girma gets my rookie of the Cup award: she played so well, gaining confidence with every game and made so many good decisions back there it was like watching Becky Sauerbrunn. The back line is in good hands.

  90. 90.

    trollhattan

    @JML: Smith is a natural 9 and it’s understandable why she’ll work towards the center, while Morgan and her magic left foot can play 11, but playing her there you in part take away her aerial game, and today she had headers on target.

    Rodman is far less effective when Sanchez isn’t on the field with her and that’s how this tournament worked out. After her gaudy rookie NWSL season and championship, defenses have unlocked her so she’s rejiggering her game as a necessary result.

    As to why Thompson, IDK. She was never going to start and we left some proven players back who might have taken that slot. Again, that’s on Vlatko.

    Evidently Ertz is retiring from the USWNT, which is a shame. She was playing her way back from giving birth, and has been a physical presence our rather diminutive team really needed.

    Wonder if the sports books are taking bets on next USWNT coach?

  91. 91.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @trollhattan: ​
      After all these years they finally let Sonnett play and it turns out she’s good. Far better than Dahlkemper and Tierna. And as good as Becky is on defense, she doesnt go forward or contribute on corners like Sonnett. Also too, she had natural chemistry with Horan stemming from their years together in Portland.

  92. 92.

    JML

    @trollhattan: Horan brought plenty of physicality in this Cup, I thought?

    I love Ertz as a player, but I’d rather she retired from international play definitively like this rather than hang around too long.

    I do wonder if Mallory Swanson would have made a difference?

    Smith has a great future, but she can’t do the same kind of hold-up play that Morgan does (and you’re correct on Morgan’s ability in the air as well) yet. I don’t mind Thompson getting a taste now; she’s going to be something, i think, and getting some experience on what a World Cup is like (and maybe feeling the sting of an early exit) might be good for her development.

  94. 94.

    trollhattan

    @JML: Absolutely Lindsey is physical, but going back to the Olympics with Julie gone she was playing the Ertz spot, pivoting her to defence and preventing her from playing box-to-box, which is her forte. This tournament had her again playing the ideal role.

    She was the first NWSL MVP who did not also win the golden boot.

  95. 95.

    trollhattan

    Two maybe important bits of player news:

    Kiera Walsh practicing with the Lionesses
    Sam Kerr practicing with the Matildas
    Each team is significantly better should the two be able to suit up, perhaps even start. Australia with Kerr scares everybody.

  96. 96.

    JML

    @trollhattan: Right now my bet for the Final is Japan v England, but if this Cup has shown anything it’s that everyone has a shot. Australia with Kerr goes from being dangerous to scary to be sure.

    I’m really appalled at the toxic BS coming at the USWNT right now. It’s mostly flying from right-wing douches who have problems with: women, the gays, sports figures who have opinions about things other than their sports, women, and anyone who doesn’t subscribe to their blinkered jingoistic misogynist bigoted right wing viewpoint. But it’s ugly AF.

  97. 97.

    Barney

    No sooner have England been declared the new competition favourites, with Keira Walsh back in the starting lineup, than they turn in a subpar first half against Nigeria – who are unlucky not to be ahead, hitting the crossbar (and have just done so again at the start of the 2nd). Nigeria have defended excellently, and break well. An England penalty for a push was overturned by VAR, deeming to be acceptable contact.

  99. 99.

    JML

    @Anyway: That would be a great semi. On the other side of the bracket, it would be great to see either England v Australia, or England v France.

    Some great potential matches out there, and I’m fairly certain at least one of the favorites is going to crash out unexpectedly.

  100. 100.

    Mike E

    @Barney: Colombia proved themselves tough vs Jamaica and will present a challenge to England. This has the potential to be a good tilt.

  101. 101.

    JML

    France pretty much having their way with Morocco today. Interesting French team this Cup; when they’re on they look pretty phenomenal, but they can also lay an egg.

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