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By: Grant Salsman
The USWNT did not win their World Cup group for only the second time ever, but that is not the most important thing.
The important thing is how they looked while doing it, and the answer is BAD.
A disappointing 3-0 win vs Vietnam in game one, a 1-1 draw in which the Dutch dominated the game and all of this culminated with a terrible 0-0 draw against Portugal.
This was not a draw in which the USA controlled the game the whole time and just could not find a goal. The game was dominated by Portugal. Portugal was able to control possession and while the U.S. outshot them, they created the best chance of the game. In the 92nd minute Ana Capeta made a run into the U.S. box and fired a shot off the post. She was inches away from winning the game and knocking the U.S. out of the group stage for the first time ever.
Luckily for the United States, this is all behind them. They progressed out of the group stage and still have a chance to three-peat as World Cup champions. On the flip side they will have to go through the juggernaut that is Sweden.
But if you want to continue thinking optimistically, there are stats to back up your thinking. The first is that the U.S. cannot continue to finish this poorly, as constant chances continue to go begging for somebody to put the ball in the back of the net. The other positive note is the the U.S.’s group stage is eerily similar to their group stage in 2015, a tournament they would go on to win. They scored only four goals during that year’s group stage – the same as this year – and created about 1.5 more expected goals this year than in 2015.
There are signs that this can be turned around but so far the energy has fallen flat from this team. Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski has been heavily criticized for his use of subs and personnel this tournament, but could turn it around with a successful knockout stage. If he wants to bring energy to the pitch he could start long-time veteran Kelly O’Hara in the defense and move Julie Ertz to the midfield to replace the suspended Rose Lavelle. These changes and the right in-game tactics could lead to a USA victory.
However, I just do not know if this team can pull it off. It will be a close game because the U.S.’s defense will keep them in it, but I unfortunately see them falling 2-1 to Sweden on Sunday.
