We have beaten the USA recently and we can score goals....and they can let them in. Job sorted. Should be a good game. Come on, England.
Apparently the performance of the England team in this tournament has guaranteed us a place for the GB team in the next Olympics. Be interesting to see how many non-English players force their way into the team. Have the other home countries got a Bale hidden amongst their ranks?
Some from the other countries will have to be included in the squad if they back the GB team, but would be tough to actually get into the team....and surely Phil will have to be the manager. I'm hoping there are a couple of stars hidden in the other teams. I wonder if the women's game will be more amenable than the men's....after all it was hard to get them to agree on a team for the 2012 Olympics.
I much prefer what theyve done with VAR in the quarters. In this Germany - Sweden match they reviewed the very close offside call but not the potential foul. The offside call was correct and while the potential foul was probably a foul those are much more down to interpretation so i would prefer those not to be checked unless they are very obvious and missed. Much fewer VAR checks and used in the right way imo.
You can beat the US. We have the most talented team by quite a bit, but the manager is an idiot. Problem is, the team realizes this and pretty much just ignores her once they reach the late stages so it's actually better to face them early. Defend for your lives early. They usually come out firing and they've scored an early goal pretty much every game this tournament. If you can withstand the first 20 minutes or so, then your chances improve immensely. The US is more-or-less all out direct attack. A lot of long balls over the top, a lot of fast runs down the wings, though the crossing has not been good recently. Rose Lavelle is kind of a tricky attacking mid, but you'd rather take your chances with her than getting beat with a long ball. The trick is to keep players back and play some boring possession for as much as you can get away with it. And then pick your moments to judiciously attack down Crystal Dunn's side as she is not a very good defender. Our GK is kind of pants, too. So you can get a goal that way. Then hold that lead until the US gets gassed which they will because the manager is an idiot and has no idea how to sub.
Massive team news. England no 1 keeper out injured. Daly and Mead start (Phil clearly listening to me - see earlier posts). Rapinoe on bench for US.
Raised stakes tonight for my US based daughter. She doesn't have divided loyalties at all, but her poor English speaking part of her family are rooting for the US.
I bravely watched the last game....yes, all of it. Such courage. Bit twitchy now. Weighing up the pleasure of seeing an England victory v the excruciating agony of seeing the USA win.
I think this is going to be very cagey. Glad Rapino isn't playing, just the sort of player they need to unlock us & find the killer pass. Lets hope its too late by the time she comes on.
