Garrick
Awesome, lid.
TOP OF THE GROUP. TOP OF THE GROUP. ONE ROUND IN, TOP OF THE GROUP.
In a group as brutal as 2015's Group D, it's hard to think of a more perfect position to think of a more perfect to be. Sweden's surprise draw with Nigeria has left the glorious USWNWNWNWNWNT in the proverbial driver's seat after a tough win over Australia.
Does the scoreline US 3-1 Australia really represent how the match went? Eh, not quite. The Matildas dominated much of the first half and looked the better side for much of the match. Were it not for a great performance from Solo, we could be singing a much different tune.
...Until, of course, the Aussies ran out of gas midway through the 2nd half. One of 'Murrica's key strengths, superior conditioning and physicality, paved the way for two late goals and the three points.
A championship caliber performance? Eh, probably not. But good teams find a way to win even when they're not playing well, and that's exactly what happened on Monday.
And you bet the Australians were bitter about that. To the point where on their official site, they wrote a post titled "Australia vs USA: 4 things Learnt (sic)" Point number 1? Title "The USA, well, they just aren’t that good." It is so salty and so bitter, that I'm just going to quote it directly for maximum hilarity:
lol.
So I've got 4 points of my own.
1. Uh, we won.
2. Believe it or not, both Rapinoe and Solo are members of the USWNT. And we're not responsible for your injuries.
3. The goal of a soccer game is to put the ball in the back of the net more than the other team. You do not get bonus points for how pretty you play the game, or if "in fairness" you should've done better.
4. Did I mention we won?
Basically, 'koff Australia.
Next up: The pivotal match of the group against 5th ranked Sweden.
Sweden's, like us, looked surprisingly mortal in their opener against Nigeria. The difference being that they weren't able to finish the job and only walked away with a point.
Now, the Super Falcons are probably much better than their FIFA ranking suggests. Due to a lack of funding, they don't get a lot of chances to travel and play the best sides in the rest of the world. Perhaps this played to their advantage in making them hard to scout. A leaky Swedish back line gave the Nigerians plenty of chances, and they capitalized.
As a couple of you (one or two) may know, Sweden are managed by former USWNT manager Pia Sundhage, who led the Yankettes in the two Olympics and one World Cup. I think she secretly still wants us to succeed, because she's added plenty of fuel to the fire by spitting out some Klinsmann-esque comments to her former players.
Abby Wambach? "I told her: ‘If I stayed, you would be a sub. The best sub ever. But a sub.’ There was no question about that in my mind."
Carli Llyod? "Carli Lloyd was a challenge to coach, by the way. When she felt that we had faith in her, she could be one of the best players. But if she began to question that faith, she could be one of the worst. It was so delicate, so, so delicate."
Hope Solo? "A piece of work."
Mmmm. Think a few people might have a bone to pick with you.
With two so far less-than-stellar back fours in this upcoming match, it's looking like the best defense will be a good offense. Potentially a much different game than these two side's last meeting in the 2014 Algarve Cup, a 1-0 win to Sweden.
Which, should play nicely for us.
So Sweden, remember that one time we bought one of your car companies and ran it in to the ground through pure neglect? Yeah. The opposite of love ain't hate, you pretty little blondies with your perfect socialist society. It's apathy. And we don't care about your "higher standard of living" or top tier women's program that has only manged to win one thing ever.
Y'all are just speedbumps on the path to glory.
THE YANKS ARE COMING.
In a group as brutal as 2015's Group D, it's hard to think of a more perfect position to think of a more perfect to be. Sweden's surprise draw with Nigeria has left the glorious USWNWNWNWNWNT in the proverbial driver's seat after a tough win over Australia.
Does the scoreline US 3-1 Australia really represent how the match went? Eh, not quite. The Matildas dominated much of the first half and looked the better side for much of the match. Were it not for a great performance from Solo, we could be singing a much different tune.
...Until, of course, the Aussies ran out of gas midway through the 2nd half. One of 'Murrica's key strengths, superior conditioning and physicality, paved the way for two late goals and the three points.
A championship caliber performance? Eh, probably not. But good teams find a way to win even when they're not playing well, and that's exactly what happened on Monday.
And you bet the Australians were bitter about that. To the point where on their official site, they wrote a post titled "Australia vs USA: 4 things Learnt (sic)" Point number 1? Title "The USA, well, they just aren’t that good." It is so salty and so bitter, that I'm just going to quote it directly for maximum hilarity:
lol.
So I've got 4 points of my own.
1. Uh, we won.
2. Believe it or not, both Rapinoe and Solo are members of the USWNT. And we're not responsible for your injuries.
3. The goal of a soccer game is to put the ball in the back of the net more than the other team. You do not get bonus points for how pretty you play the game, or if "in fairness" you should've done better.
4. Did I mention we won?
Basically, 'koff Australia.
Next up: The pivotal match of the group against 5th ranked Sweden.
Sweden's, like us, looked surprisingly mortal in their opener against Nigeria. The difference being that they weren't able to finish the job and only walked away with a point.
Now, the Super Falcons are probably much better than their FIFA ranking suggests. Due to a lack of funding, they don't get a lot of chances to travel and play the best sides in the rest of the world. Perhaps this played to their advantage in making them hard to scout. A leaky Swedish back line gave the Nigerians plenty of chances, and they capitalized.
As a couple of you (one or two) may know, Sweden are managed by former USWNT manager Pia Sundhage, who led the Yankettes in the two Olympics and one World Cup. I think she secretly still wants us to succeed, because she's added plenty of fuel to the fire by spitting out some Klinsmann-esque comments to her former players.
Abby Wambach? "I told her: ‘If I stayed, you would be a sub. The best sub ever. But a sub.’ There was no question about that in my mind."
Carli Llyod? "Carli Lloyd was a challenge to coach, by the way. When she felt that we had faith in her, she could be one of the best players. But if she began to question that faith, she could be one of the worst. It was so delicate, so, so delicate."
Hope Solo? "A piece of work."
Mmmm. Think a few people might have a bone to pick with you.
With two so far less-than-stellar back fours in this upcoming match, it's looking like the best defense will be a good offense. Potentially a much different game than these two side's last meeting in the 2014 Algarve Cup, a 1-0 win to Sweden.
Which, should play nicely for us.
So Sweden, remember that one time we bought one of your car companies and ran it in to the ground through pure neglect? Yeah. The opposite of love ain't hate, you pretty little blondies with your perfect socialist society. It's apathy. And we don't care about your "higher standard of living" or top tier women's program that has only manged to win one thing ever.
Y'all are just speedbumps on the path to glory.
THE YANKS ARE COMING.
