Issue #2.1.1 "USA Sleepwalks to Win" (After USA-VIE)

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Saturday, July 22, 2023 
Dailies: July 20-21-22

NO ROUT THIS TIME, VIETNAM HOLDS USA TO 3
Our 3rd Women's World Cup pool gets record 47 entries

DIGNITY HEALTH SPORTS PARK, WREXHAM TOUR, CARSON, CA (smt) --  #32 E2-Vietnam, 1 of 8 teams making their WWC debut, was determined not to lose by a lot and came out aggressive, frustrating #1 E1-USA as the ref was letting them play.  USA broke through after a great flick by Alex Morgan found a speedy Sophia Smith who struck the ball under the 5'-5" GK's legs in the 14'.  USA benefited from 2 VARs, the first in the 41' resulting in a PK but Morgan's attempt was saved and the second in the 45'+7 where offsides was taken away, keeping the goal.  USA had 26 shots and great chances but other than the first goal, there wasn't much clever attacking as VIE's defense held firm.  VIE had zero shots and rarely put the ball in the final third.  Hard to say if this was good or bad for USA as they face #9 E3-Netherlands next, in a rematch of the 2019 WWC final.  Win and we'll forget about not building up a big goal differential.  But a 3-0 win is a 3-0 win.

Redos and Stuggles (7/22)

CATALINA CLASSIC CRUISES, LONG BEACH, CA - Like C1-Spain, E1-USA dominated its opponent yet struggled to score.  The 3-0 win is a far cry from their 13-0 rout vs Thailand in 2019's WWC opener as E2-Vietnam held firm on defense, fouling early (the ref let them play) to frustrate the Americans.  USA held VIE without a shot (soon to be joined by C3-Zambia) and was working at slow speed most of the match, despite having 26 shots.  One of their few pushes forward resulted in a great goal with Alex Morgan making a great flick to Shopia Smith who ran down the ball and put it under the legs of VIE's 5'5" GK, the first of her 2 goals.  Her second goal got through a mass of bodies and also went under the legs of the GK.  Hopefully, goal differential won't be a factor.

C4-Japan also had 26 shots but scored 5 times and also held ZAM without a shot, which on paper was the most uneven match (JPN #11, ZAM #77 -- difference of 66 spots).  JPN's Mina Tanaka had 2 goals taken away via VAR (offsides) but Hinata Miyazawa did score twice.  JPN is currently in 1st in Group C due to goal differential (hint, hint, USA) over ESP.  

Group D completed play with D1-England struggling and needing a retaken PK (also happened for JPN's 5th goal) to edge out #53 D2-Haiti, 1-0.  In the most competitive match on paper thus far between #13 D4-China PR and #15 D3-Denmark, DEN got their only shot on goal in the 90' which went in to sneak out a 1-0 victory.  This was the 9th game of the WWC and first to not feature VAR and the first to not have a penalty kick attempt.  There were 4 VARs in JPNvZAM match.

Didn't think USA needed any help so wore my 2023 Home Inter Miami pink jersey (took them so long to go pink) and watched Messi's debut on Univision live and when he got the stoppage time free kick attempt, like when David Beckham came to the LA Galaxy, you had a feeling he was going to score, and he did (both did it in non-MLS matches, Beckham's first real FK attempt was a goal in a SuperLiga game, this one a Leagues Cup game).  So awesome and great for MLS's profile.

In the pool, 25 went 4-0 with Jolly Old England and ShrimpOnTheBarbie tied for 1st with 8 points.  All 47 barely got ENG, 46 USA, 42 JPN, and 29 DEN.  7 are tied for last with 5 pts.

Issue #1.0.1 "Can USA Three-Peat?" (Kickoff Issue)

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Thursday, July 13, 2023 

USA TRIES TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Our 3rd Women's World Cup pool down under creates crazy start times for West Coast

EL SEGUNDO, CA (smt) --  The Women's World Cup has expanded from 24 to 32 teams, matching the Men's World Cup (until 2026 when the men's go to 48 teams) as the women's game has grown exponentially.  This has allowed Europe to send more teams (12), all in the top 22, but also allowed teams like H2-Morocco (#72) and C3-Zambia (#77) to sneak in.  E1-USA is still #1 and will try to become the first team to 3-peat in a very competitive field.  Their first match last time was against #34 Thailand which they scorched 13-0.  Vietnam, their first match opponent, is ranked #32.

With the expansion to 32 teams, 8 teams are making their first WWC appearance and D3-Denmark returns for the first time since 2007.  Being co-hosted by B1-Australia and A1-New Zealand, while some group games like USA-VIE will start at 6 pm PDT, most knockout stage matches will start between midnight and 3 am PDT!  It'll be tough to follow the games and not get spoiled to who won.  H1-Germany is #2 and will try for their 3rd title while other European powers G1-Sweden, D1-England, and F1-France right behind.  Players playing in Europe also dominated with 18 players from Barcelona and 17 from Chelsea.  Nine USA players from 2019 made the cut with five trying to 3-peat.  Japan's 2011 win is so far away, only one player from that team made the roster. 

USA Women Draw Netherlands But Expected to Advance

While the Men's World Cup gears up for the first fall tournament, the Women's WC recently had their Final Draw a few weeks ago where the four-time champion #1 E1-USWNT drew #8 E3-Netherlands (who USA beat 2-0 in the 2019 final) but then got #34 first-timers E2-Vietnam and then the Group A playoff-winner.  USA, playing all matches in New Zealand, will play its last group match against either #41 Thailand (which the USA won 13-0 four years ago), #58 Cameroon, or #23 Portugal.  

In addition to Group E, Groups C and F also feature two powerhouses (#6 C1-Spain & #11 C4-Japan and #5 F1-France & #9 F3-Brazil).  The hosts #22 A1-New Zealand and #13 B1-Australia drew decent groups and should make it out.  #2 G1-Sweden and #3 H1-Germany have easy groups while #4 D1-England got two teams in the teens (#15 D4-China PR and #18 D3-Denmark) in the closest Group of Death candidate.

So the reason this post came up is that USA is in the midst of a 3-match losing streak, their first since 1993.  Three.  Losses.  Granted, they were against top-tier teams (2-1 @ENG Oct 7, 2-0 @ESP Oct 11, and 2-1 vGER Nov 10) but it is unnerving because you don't want the team to be used to losing.  USA did go 9-0 against teams such as ENG, NED, JPN, ESP, and CAN in 2020 but last year had to settle for bronze in the Olympics after losing to CAN in the semifinals in their only loss of 2021 (but with 5 ties).  

Our 3rd HWCI Women's World Cup pool will be next July.