WWC Day 13 - Unlucky for USWNT
A date with an ex awaits for the World Champions, Wiegman lets the shackles off against China
In this issue:
USWNT survive thanks to a post
Carli Lloyd goes full Souness
Wiegman throws the shackles off
It’s Day 13 of the Women’s World Cup and probably the best day of football Twitter so far. That’s because, over breakfast in Europe, there was a total utter headloss in a late night North America.
This morning, in the final round of games in Group E, USA drew 0-0 with Portugal and nearly dropped out of the World Cup in the group stage for the first time in their history. The USA have never finished lower than third in the World Cup but clung on to a draw, thanks to the Ana Capeta’s stoppage-time shot hitting the post. If Portugal had won the game they would have gone through to the round of 16. Netherlands’ 7-0 thumping of Vietnam sent through as group winners.
It was a really poor performance from the US. The midfield was non-existent again, they struggled to get on the ball and complete basic passes. Portugal’s midfield five crowded them out and they couldn’t get any joy trying to play out wide. Portugal were the better team and unfortunately couldn’t put away their only two good chances of the game, with Jessica Silva putting a great opportunity wide in the first half.
USA head coach Vlatko Andonovksi was being dragged on Twitter once again for his tactical decisions and set up. Andi Sullivan, who has been pretty anonymous the whole tournament, evaded a substitution once again. He brought Lynn Williams in for this game, replacing Trinity Rodman, and Williams probably had the USA’s best chances of the game but couldn’t score. Alex Morgan picked up a lot of the criticism on Twitter for a very flat performance.
Like England, USA have lots of injuries to deal with. Captain and centre back Becky Sauerbrunn is missing the World Cup due to injury as is Mallory Swanson and Sam Mewis, who was the team’s talisman in 2019. Julie Ertz, who should be the tireless body in midfield has had to drop into the back line.
The poor performance and nail biting result from the USWNT caused an expected Twitter meltdown from those watching back in the States and also from former international Carli Lloyd who went full Souness on Fox Sports’ coverage of the game.
USA not finishing top of the group means a round of 16 against Sweden awaits, one of the USA’s biggest nemesis. Sweden aren’t playing particularly well this World Cup, they’ve relied on set pieces to get them through games, but they have a good record against USA in World Cups and Olympic Games. Sweden beat USA in the quarter finals of the 2016 Olympic Games and in the group stages at Tokyo 2020. Overall, USA do lead the head to heads 9-3 but Sweden are hurting USA when they’re down. I will be seated for that one on Sunday.
Wiegman throws off the shackles and I’m praising
Before you read this section you have to listen to this song.
Today, with Keira Walsh out injured, Sarina Wiegman had a big decision/decisions to make about how England would play in their final game against China. England needed a point to ensure they went through and Wiegman kept everyone guessing on what the formation was right until kick off. She made three changes, Katie Zelem got her first start, Jess Carter came back in, as did Lauren Hemp. Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly dropped out alongside Walsh.
It was unclear how this team was going to line up with Daly staying in the team but Carter returning. Was James going to be the 10? Or maybe Daly?
In the end, Wiegman’s Beautiful Mind tricks took everyone and certainly China off guard as she went for a 352 formation, the first time she’s not used a 4231 or 433 with England I’m pretty sure ever. She had a back three of Carter, Bright and Greenwood, Bronze and Daly as wing backs, Zelem and Stanway in the middle, James in the 10 and Hemp and Russo up top. It was absolutely genius and China couldn’t handle the extra bodies in and around the final third. England’s movement and fluidity suddenly reappeared after a near year-long absence.
England galloped to a 6-1 win and will now face Nigeria in the round of 16. It won’t be easy and the swash buckling play we saw today could leave them exposed to a Nigeria counter attack. But I am feeling so alive after a freestyling England performance. Lauren James was untouchable, she should have had a hat trick if it wasn’t for Lucy Bronze standing in an offside position. All of James’ morally onside hat trick were absolute beauties. She finished the game with two goals and three assists. There were five different goalscorers and just a handful of hairy moments for England at the start of the second half where passing and play got sloppy.
More please.