2023 Women's World Cup - USA team thread

[Tom McAndrew]

Please use this thread for all discussions about the USA team at the 2023 Women's World Cup. This should include pre-World Cup discussions, game threads for USA matches, etc.

Discussion for a lot of the lead-up to the World Cup for the USWNT took place in the USWNT Thread, which can be accessed at:

USWNT Thread - On3

The next women's World Cup is in 2023, so it's too early for a thread on qualifying on that. Most (not all) of the core members of the team of recent years are getting toward the end of their careers. In that context, I thought it would be interesting to have a thread that loosely follows the...

www.on3.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Sophia Smith: USA’s next torch carrier with a World Cup ‘legacy’ to preserve

Portland Thorns striker ‘loves the spotlight and pressure’ of having a big role to play in America’s quest to defend their title

www.theguardian.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

USWNT welcomes rivals' improvement at WC

USWNT midfielder Kristie Mewis and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher have said they are glad to see the Women's World Cup become more competitive than ever.

www.espn.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

USWNT hopes its record diverse World Cup roster will inspire next-gen stars

As a child growing up just across the East River from Manhattan, Crystal Dunn played soccer. She didn't have a lot of teammates — or opponents — who looked like her, however. Neither did Lynn Williams, who grew up in Central California, or Naomi Girma, who was born into an immigrant family in...

www.pressdemocrat.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

'Indispensable' Julie Ertz's return may be most important factor in USWNT attempt to win third straight World Cup | Sporting News

For the U.S. women's national team to take its best shot at becoming the first team to win three consecutive World Cups, they'll need Julie Ertz — who had a baby less than a year ago — to return to her position in midfield and the form that made her and the team great.

www.sportingnews.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Sophia Smith Is Shooting Her Shot

The Nike athlete puts her best foot forward ahead of this summer’s World Cup.

www.elle.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Netflix announces all-access USWNT 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup docuseries

Netflix has announced an all-access USWNT docuseries, which will include filming at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

awfulannouncing.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Can an injury-ravaged USWNT mount a serious World Cup challenge? | Jeff Kassouf

USA are favourites for an unprecedented third World Cup win in a row but uncertainty surrounds a team grappling with change

www.theguardian.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

https://www.si.com/soccer/2023/07/18/alex-morgan-motherhood-uswnt-world-cup-daily-cover

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I believe it was Horan to Morgan, and then Smith thru the 5 hole

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

correct call after looking at VAR:




but a surprisingly poor PK by Morgan:

 

[Tom McAndrew]

initially ruled offside by the AR, but after VAR check it's ruled no offside and a goal for Smith:

 

[Tom McAndrew]

2-0, USA over Vietnam at the half

 

[BobPSU92]

A$$. BEATING.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[BobPSU92]

It looks like the U.S. is playing kids. The Vietnamese players are so small.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

A$$. BEATING.

well, the USA were huge favorites, so a comfortable win was expected.

the USA has dominated, but they really have had trouble scoring goals, which has been an issue for them for the past year+. They will have to play significantly better, especially at finishing and also in terms of connecting passes, to beat several of their main competitors.

I'd also add that in set pieces -- something they were exceptional at 4 years ago -- they really have not looked very good tonight, especially considering their advantage in both height and skill level.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[manatree]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

USWNT player ratings vs. Vietnam: Sophia Smith stands out in World Cup debut

The U.S. wasn't its typical clinical best vs. Vietnam, but Sophia Smith scored twice and set up the other goal in a fantastic attacking display.

www.espn.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

USA 3-0 Vietnam (Jul 21, 2023) Game Analysis - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the United States vs. Vietnam Fifa Women's World Cup game from July 21, 2023 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[BobPSU92]

Risky or shrewd? USWNT lineup could backfire at World Cup

USWNT coach Vlatko Andonovski is setting the stage where his World Cup lineups will be difficult to predict -- which could be revered or mocked.

www.espn.com

”The Americans against Vietnam looked a version of what they've looked for much of the Andonovski era: static, sluggish and too reliant on individual flashes of brilliance.”

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[LionsAndBears]

I watched some of the match v Vietnam and what I saw was a Rusty Rapinoe and players who held onto the ball too long rather than hitting the streaking player. Also, I couldn't help but notice the incredible discrepancy in height between the 2 teams.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

USWNT player ratings: Sophia Smith perfect with brace in FIFA Women's World Cup debut; Lindsey Horan dominates

Smith dominated with two goals and an assist in a relentless display for the USA

www.cbssports.com

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Abby Dahlkemper: USWNT vs. Vietnam showed ‘evolution of women’s soccer’ - Just Women's Sports

While Vietnam proved tougher than expected, that is not as a knock on the USWNT but a sign of the growth of the game, Dahlkemper said.

justwomenssports.com