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. 

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

When it Rains... (6/11)

After the first two games today, the past four matches saw three 0-0 halftime scores and one that was 0-0 until the 45'.  Well, the third match produced a few goals... more later...  It rained in Rennes that actually stopped the match and it rained goals in Reims that divided the fandom.

First, E3-New Zealand looked like it was going to hold E4-Netherlands to a 0-0 draw but a stoppage time goal in the 90'+2 gave the Dutch a 2-0 win and the full three points and into a first place tie with E1-Canada.

After a sunny start, in the 72', it had been raining hard for about twenty minutes but

Last Day for Group Play

As we head in to the last day of the group stage, 12 teams have punched their ticket to the Round of 16 with 1st/2nd pairs of Canada/China (A), Germany/Norway (B), Japan/Cameroon (C), and USA/Australia (D), third-place qualifiers Netherlands (A, 4pts, 0 Goal Diff) and Switzerland (C, 4pts, 7 GD), Group E winner Brazil, and Colombia (F, 4 pts) reaching the knockout stage.  New Zealand (A), Ivory Coast (B), Ecuador (C), and Nigeria (D) are officially out with third-place Thailand (B, 3pts, -7 GD, 3 GF) chances slim-to-none.

Third-place Sweden (D, 3pts, 0 GD, 4 Goals For) with its 3 ties has to wait to see if they will make it.

Spain (E, 1pt, -1 GD, 1 GF) plays Korea Rep (1 pt, -2 GD, 2 GF) and a tie will knock both of them out while a win by either will get them through.  Will Brazil rest its starters vs Costa Rica (E, 2 pts, 0 GD, 3 GF) to allow the Ticos to steal a spot with a win or a 2-2 or better tie (they could also make it with a 1-1 (further tiebreaker w/SWE if ESP or KOR win or 2nd if ESP-KOR tie) or 0-0 tie if ESP-KOR tie).

Three teams can take Group F but only Colombia has qualified.  England (3pts, 0 GD, 2 GF) and France (3pts, -1 GD, 1GF) only need a tie to advance while Mexico (1pt, -1 GD, 1 GF) need a win vs France.  An England and Mexico/France win would send those two teams through.  An England and France loss (MEX 2nd place) would send SWE through and leave England, France, Costa Rica, Spain, and Korea Rep in the running for the final 2 spots (2nd E and final 3rd place team) since Group F matches will finish before Group E starts.

Fun, fun, fun!

BTW, for my Thai friends, Thailand would make the knockout stage if Spain and Korea Rep tie, Brazil beats Costa Rica, Colombia beats England 7-0 or 9-1 or better, and France beats Mexico.  Not that far-fetched for three of the matches but that Colombia thrashing of England -- highly unlikely.