Should They Score or Should They Stay?

The United States walloped Thailand 13-0 and after finally scoring more than a goal (3) in the first half of a group stage match since 2003, to others it seemed it was bad sportsmanship to pile on (I appreciate Rob Stone speaking up passionately after the match on FOX -- I hope he still has a job!), especially after scoring four goals in six minutes to lead 7-0.  Records are made to be broken and the USA broke a boatload of them and it was fun to watch.  While the USA was using the match as target practice (we still don't know how good GK Alyssa Naeher will be), it seemed like THA was also using it as a learning situation as THA never changed to play more defensively, never fought harder for 50/50 balls, and never went more aggressive in defending (e.g., tugging on shirts, knocking a few USA players down).  It was as if THA was going to use the tape on this match to plan for the other two matches as the USA provided a free clinic in how to adjust for the next matches.  They committed just five fouls and only picked up one yellow.  That is begging the USA to have free reign to attack them without the possibility of injury and in a stage where goal differential is the first tiebreaker, your job is to score goals. 

To their credit, THA never gave up but that meant the USA didn't give up.  Why would the USA play the last 35 minutes just passing the ball around the pitch -- that doesn't do the fans who paid money any good, doesn't give any respect to THA, and like I said, GD is key so how many do you think SWE would score?  4?  6?  8?  You don't know.  And to be fair, if THA had a taller and more veteran goalkeeper, probably half a dozen goals would not have gone in, even with that porous defense.  And Alex Morgan's first-class touches (which would put most LA Galaxy players not named Zlatan to shame) created at least a few of her five goals and three assists so she earned those goals.

BUT, there were three instances of cringe-worthiness.  Jill Ellis
celebrating so excitedly after the double-digit goals was just poor sportsmanship and she probably is so glad that her team can score goals with her lineup (and not the ones the fans wanted which helped force a change to her questionable 2015 group stage lineups to the pre-tourney lineup and formation in the knockout stage and thus, a championship).  If you are complaining about poor sportsmanship with the celebrations, it starts with the coach.  Be a leader.  Maybe Hope Solo (now BBC reporter) does have a point...

Megan Rapinoe's end-to-end run to put in the tap in for the 9th goal was awesome to watch develop and to see her run and smile and excitement after the goal was great to see... and then she did some weird goal celebration sliding and kicking in the air.  Why?  Why, oh why? That was showing up the opponent.  That's the new meme of how you depict kicking a person while he/she is already down.  While I appreciate Morgan's post-match statement that the celebrations were because this was this player's first WWC or first goal in a major tourney, that applied to Mal Pugh, Samantha Mewis, Rose Lavelle.... not WWC champion and veteran Rapinoe.  At least there were no backflips.

The last was, and unfortunately Morgan is complicit in this, I believe after the 12th goal, she was swaying with the bench players and laughing.  It's a bad look.  Just get back to the game so THA can end their misery.  If the field players want to jump on you, so be it.  But you've already celebrated with the bench four times so I think they will forgive you if you just be a professional and continue the match.  I can sort of give Morgan the benefit of the doubt for counting on her fingers to four after her fourth goal because how often does that happen, and no one complained when BRA's Cristiane showed 3 fingers after her 3rd goal against the worst-ranked team in the tournament.

If this turns the USA into the villain of this tournament, maybe that's a good thing.  Soccer fans are upset with the unnecessary celebrations (not the scoreline) and casual fans are upset with the number of goals against a hapless team they felt sorry for.  But, nothing like proving people wrong.  The best teams are vilified for being too talented and too good and am glad the USA didn't cave into political correctness and just win 3-0.  Or maybe SWE will beat THA 10-0 and this will prove USA made the right decision.  Or the TV ratings will skyrocket because now there is a team you want to root against as opposed to just wanting to see a good match.  In the end, I hope the take no prisoners attitude will lead the USA to their fourth WWC title.