Three Teams Advance (6/16)

F2-Thailand changed goalkeepers and Waraporn Boonsing, the veteran and first-choice GK that didn't start against F1-USA, made 10 saves but unfortunately, F4-Sweden had 15 shots on goal in another tough match.  However, THA in stoppage time scored their first goal and the fans (albeit a tourney-low of 9,354) cheered the achievement.  It was great to see after allowing the first 17 goals in their two matches and seeing the team and the staff celebrate was emotional to see.  SWE's 5-1 win sent them to the Round of 16 for the 6th time. 

With SWE winning by just four, the USA knew they clinched the goal differential if they ended up tied with SWE in the final match, so the USA made 7 changes to their starting lineup.  And it didn't stop the USA as they dominated F3-Chile and scored three goals in the first half again.  CHI only had one shot and no shots goal.  However, they ran into a buzzsaw named Christiane Endler who seemed to make more than the six saves she was credited with and kept USA off the scoreboard for the last 55 minutes.  USA's 3-0 win sent them to the Round of 16 for the 7th time and also sent D4-Japan in the Knockout Stage who are guaranteed at least a top 4 third-place finish. 

Issue 1.0.1 "Le Moment de Briller" (5/27)

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Monday, May 27, 2019

     WILL EQUAL PAY LAWSUIT DISTRACT #1 USWMT FROM 4TH TITLE?
Equal opportunity exists, with the women taking center stage; 2nd HWCI Women's WC Pool deadline is Friday 6/7 Noon PDT

FREMONT, CA (smt) -- On International Women's Day (March 8), the 28 U.S. women's national team (USWMT) players sued the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) for gender-based discrimination in an attempt to level the playing field with their USMNT brethren.  Considering their success as 3-time and defending World Cup champions vs the USMNT who failed to qualify for the last World Cup, it's odd the USSF continues to downplay the USWMT and pick this fight rather than at least offering significant merit-based bonuses.  But at least some sponsors are correcting their ways, with LUNA Bar and Adidas now giving equal bonuses to both teams.  At least the U.S. women will play in the WWC as Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg will sit out the WWC in protest (since '17) over lack of respect for female players in Norway. 

Will this be a distraction to the #1 ranked team in the world?  Will host France (ranked #4) do what their men's team did when they last hosted the WC ('98), win the Cup?  Will USA coach Jill Ellis coach correctly from the start instead of experimenting (remember those 0-0 draws at halftime?) and waiting for the fans to cause the course-correction like in '15 (maybe not, as 273-cap Carli Lloyd is not happy being on the bench)?  Will #7-Japan bounce back from their shellacking in the final in '15?  Will English-speaking countries of #3-England, #5-Canada, and #6-Australia make a splash finally?  Will current Olympic champion #2-Germany win their 3rd WC to equal the U.S.?

Issue 7.4.1 "Peak Performance!"

Archive

Wow... time flies, and in the wake of the USA's stunning loss to Jamaica, here's the final update!

Tuesday, July 7, 2015 [Posted 7/23] 

     USA STRIKES QUICK AND EARLY FOR RECORD 3RD TITLE
Futbol Fabone 7 and Sepp Luvs the Ladies join champ Thecomebacker and D.R. in money circle

LĪHUʻE, KAUA'I, HAWAI'I (smt) -- 1D-USA have always started strong and aggressive in their matches but either bad luck or poor finishing kept the match scoreless and their opponents usually gained strength and the halftime score is 0-0 (4 matches 0-0 @ half, another 0-0 up to the 45').  This time, less than 3 minutes in, Carli Lloyd scored in her 4th straight match and put USA ahead.  She then scored again two minutes later.  And then added an incredible- opportunistic-great half-field bomb which completed her hat trick in the 16th minute.  With Lauren Holiday's goal two minutes earlier, it was 4-0 before 1C-Japan could take a shot.  Shell-shocked, but to their credit, they fought back cutting the lead in half early in the 2nd half.  But the steady Tobin Heath sealed it two minutes later and the USA coasted to its 3rd WWC title, winning 5-2.   And yes, I wore my red shirt.  You can thank me when you see me.

So is this the first time the Twitterverse/Blogverse influenced a coach in how he/she manages?  I don't completely buy the fact this was all planned out and it is not a coincidence that the USA started "peaking" as soon as Jill Ellis, after weeks of prodding by commentators everywhere, switched the formation from the drab 4-4-2 vs Germany.  But like Steve Sampson,