It’s big time for the ladies in just a few hours.
Big effort needed from this US lady--Shannon Boxx--today...
Their own private Ghana you might say, with the exception that the US comes up big against Brazil while the men wilt against their nemesis.
Here’s the US starting line-up.
USWNT starters v. BRA: Solo; Krieger, Buehler, Rampone (c), LePeilbet; O’Reilly, Boxx, Lloyd, Cheney; Rodriguez, Wambach
Heather O’Reilly returns to commandeer her wing.
Amy Rodriguez remains up top with Wambach, but you can be sure Alex Morgan will put in some sprints.
Pia leaves the midfield untouched meaning 33-year-old Shannon Boxx will have to put in her best game of the tournament today.
Hope Solo might be the great equalizer, but she’ll surely have to be if Boxx can’t slow Marta & Co. on the attack.
Kickoff shortly on ESPN.
Some thoughts coming out of the first few matches here.
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Posted by Matty Jollie on 2011/07/10 at 7:46 AM
Love the attention and coverage this match is getting on the major outlets. I like Morgan coming off the bench as a sparkplug that can change the game late if needed. Looking forward to a great match.
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 8:07 AM
agreed Matty .. the piece ESPN just had on the 1999 team was awesome. i think AM coming off the bench is what we need right now. A-Rod isn’t getting goals but she’s hustling and making the defense chase her around .. then to have Alex, who’s just as fast or faster than A-Rod, come on fresh in the 2nd half is brutal. Brazil playing a 3 person backline with a sweeper could get tired chasing A-Rod and HAO on the wing, along with Cheney slipping inside. Let’s go ladies!!!
Posted by Matty Jollie on 2011/07/10 at 8:14 AM
Everyone seems to be harping on how the US is going to cope with the speedy, attack minded Brazilians. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If the US can apply good pressure to the three-woman back line of Brazil, it may help alleviate the pressure on their own defense. In other words, the Americans can’t “bunker down” and try to counter, they need to bring the attack and the game TO the Brazilians.
Posted by MattD on 2011/07/10 at 8:28 AM
We have faith, we have Hope
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 8:32 AM
OWN GOAL!! PERFECT START!!!!!!! LET’S GO BABY!!!!!
great job by Boxx getting to that ball.
Posted by Maura Gladys on 2011/07/10 at 8:36 AM
Love the fact that it was Shannon Boxx with the cross. May have redeemed herself for an otherwise lackluster tourney
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 8:40 AM
definitely .. first 10 minutes or so have been the best I’ve seen from her. hope she can keep it up!! wouldn’t mind seeing a sub for her in the 2nd half if needed though.
Posted by Matt Davis on 2011/07/10 at 8:33 AM
Own goal but Wambach made it happen letting that ball through
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 8:49 AM
love how patient we’re being so far ..
Posted by Maura Gladys on 2011/07/10 at 8:53 AM
And just like that, we see how dangerous Marta is on the counter.
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 8:57 AM
A-Rod was offside but she did do well to control and get the shot on goal .. wouldn’t have counted but it’s good to see her get that chance.
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 9:14 AM
Marta with a stupid YC .. keep goin at her.
Posted by dth on 2011/07/10 at 9:49 AM
Is there some way we can get commentators to stop parroting the idea that a five-(wo)man midfield is automatically conservative? Like, via electric shocks or something?
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 9:53 AM
horrendous red card
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 9:54 AM
the fix is in … wow
Posted by Maura Gladys on 2011/07/10 at 9:54 AM
Wow. No words for everything that just went down.
Posted by dth on 2011/07/10 at 9:58 AM
I’ve seen more referees making the goalie-off-line decision in the past year than ever before. Bizarre.
Posted by Jen on 2011/07/10 at 9:58 AM
agree
Posted by GeorgeCross on 2011/07/10 at 9:58 AM
Suspect red card IMO. Then getting the penalty re-taken – ridiculous. That’s the harshest decision I have seen for a long time.
To ESPN commentators: goalkeepers are allowed to move as long as they remain on the line. It’s the stepping forward off the line that is not allowed.
Posted by usasoccerfan818 on 2011/07/10 at 9:59 AM
the was a great stop from Solo, how was that not only disallowed, but a yellow too??!!
Posted by GeorgeCross on 2011/07/10 at 10:02 AM
At least the crowd in Dresden are booing and whilsting what they have just witnessed.
Posted by alex echols on 2011/07/10 at 10:05 AM
The ref was paid off
Posted by V.V. on 2011/07/10 at 11:01 AM
I totally agree, and Marta (who plays for the San Jose Pride) is becoming a ‘whinning Brailian’ player too! Booo!!
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:06 AM
a great game was just **** on by that 45 seconds of the worst refereeing in history. questionable RC with an absolutely terrible yellow on Solo.
Posted by Eric on 2011/07/10 at 10:14 AM
Okay, please tell me Solo didn’t have a card in the previous games?!
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:19 AM
she doesn’t
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:18 AM
USA wins a free kick .. then get carded for a clean tackle but still get the ball?? this ref doesn’t know ****.
Posted by Antonio H. on 2011/07/10 at 10:21 AM
Its like I’m watching the Robbie Findley/ Jozy Altidore show with A-Rod and Wambach up top. Wambach drawing fouls and having few touches with Rodriguez using speed to no avail.
Posted by Ryan on 2011/07/10 at 10:27 AM
So then who is the pre-injury Davies, with both speed and a finishing touch?
Posted by Tux on 2011/07/10 at 12:40 PM
Alex Morgan
Posted by usasoccerfan818 on 2011/07/10 at 10:23 AM
if we lose then its 2002 world cup all over again
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:23 AM
good to see the girls laughing and smiling a lil bit right there during the break .. let’s kick their ***!!!!
Posted by Maura Gladys on 2011/07/10 at 10:28 AM
You’d love to see Wambach just break through and net an equalizer right now.
Posted by Eric on 2011/07/10 at 10:28 AM
She was offsides! This game has gone to **** because of horrible reffing.
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:28 AM
we are getting **** on .. it’s disgusting.
Posted by maria g on 2011/07/10 at 10:30 AM
DOes anyone know this refs name
Posted by john on 2011/07/10 at 10:32 AM
In line for army section in Portland… atmosphere is charged… people lining up since Friday.
Posted by Antonio H. on 2011/07/10 at 10:34 AM
I’m gonna try to shed light on this situation so…there’s still plenty of time left.
Posted by Eric on 2011/07/10 at 10:34 AM
I can’t stand how much whining Marta seems to do. Especially after she just tackled Rampone from behind.
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:41 AM
she is good .. but she gets alot of calls her way because of her reputation. this refereeing display is just sad. Marta grabs Rampone by the shoulders and throws her down like a doll. Earlier in the WC she pushes a Norway defender to the ground then goes on to get a goal, her first of the WC I believe. She seems to play alot like the man’s game … complain about every call against you and flip **** when you don’t get a call. She jumped up on landed on her ass for the red card on Buelher.
Posted by usasoccerfan818 on 2011/07/10 at 10:35 AM
why are USA always the ones getting screwed?
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:44 AM
HOW DO WE NEED GET THAT CALL IN THE BOX?!?!?!?!?
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 10:45 AM
quick on the trigger … good no call. still fired up about the BS in the 2nd half. lol
Posted by gillbates on 2011/07/10 at 10:51 AM
i can’t watch… the refereeing is so awful
Posted by Eric on 2011/07/10 at 10:55 AM
HAHAHAHA the brazil player literally watched the ball go out of bounds then decide to collapse without having been touched at all. This is ridiculous. The ref needs to be fined and 13 on brazil deserves a suspension.
Posted by V.V. on 2011/07/10 at 11:08 AM
Absolutely agree with you!!! Ref’s are paid out, Marta is a cry baby and the US Women’s team ROCKS b/c they are gracefully handling ‘Cry Baby’ fouling team of Brazil!!!
Posted by Ufficio on 2011/07/10 at 10:57 AM
I guess there’s a small chance that the ref wasn’t paid off, but she certainly really wants Brazil to win for some reason.
Posted by usasoccerfan818 on 2011/07/10 at 11:00 AM
tGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Posted by Jen on 2011/07/10 at 11:00 AM
All that time wasting came back to bite Brazil in the ass. What a GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 11:01 AM
THAT’S RIGHT BABY!!!!!!!!!!! USA AIN’T NOTHING TO **** WITH!
Posted by Ufficio on 2011/07/10 at 11:02 AM
No worries for Brazil. I’m sure the official will let them retake any missed penalty as many times as they need to score it.
Posted by Maura Gladys on 2011/07/10 at 11:05 AM
Expect Solo to be PUMPEDDD for these kicks.
Posted by Antonio H. on 2011/07/10 at 11:05 AM
Matthew if there was a time where you would allow freedom of expression and take off the censoring. It would be now
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 11:07 AM
retake!!!!! hahahahahhahahahahhahah
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 11:09 AM
listen to the crowd boo Marta .. love it.
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 11:11 AM
both PKs for Brazil have gone to Hope’s right .. testing that shoulder ya think??
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 11:12 AM
HOPE. SOLO.
Posted by gillbates on 2011/07/10 at 11:14 AM
justice has been served
Posted by Kenny on 2011/07/10 at 11:14 AM
I LOVE THIS TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Ryan on 2011/07/10 at 11:17 AM
USA! USA!
Posted by BernieBernier on 2011/07/10 at 11:19 AM
Exciting game… great win
Posted by stebe nj-dc on 2011/07/10 at 11:19 AM
That’s why this is my favorite sport. The resilient usa fighting against the odds and questionable calls to come back in this fashion, its amazing. Go usa. Go football.
Posted by usasoccerfan818 on 2011/07/10 at 11:20 AM
USA USA USA USA!!!!
Posted by usasoccerfan818 on 2011/07/10 at 11:23 AM
Marry Me Solo!:p
Posted by JW on 2011/07/10 at 11:44 AM
Lessons: never give up, don’t anger the soccer gods.
Posted by donumdei on 2011/07/10 at 1:09 PM
Games like this make me wish you could order DVDs of the game from US Soccer. Such a great win. I’m glad Solo just came out and said in the post-game that she thought the better team won (and still acknowledging Brazil as a great team). The espirit de corp of our women is the team’s greatest asset, it was impressive to see the team huddle together right after the red card and just take the deep breath together. And it obviously worked.
My only question is, for that absolute crap Erika (#13?) of Brazil pulled toward the end, shouldn’t there be some kind of substantial penalty? It’s obvious she had no respect for the ref, game, team, etc and is intentionally attempting to mislead the ref in order to gain an advantage. It was the most blatant moment of such poor class I’ve ever seen, men’s or women’s soccer. A simple yellow was obviously meaningless to her, assuming they’d gone on. FIFA needs to, at least when it is so clear and she just runs back on as soon as she’s off the field (and lays down for the initial “injury” with nobody around her), make examples of such players. That’s not “part of the game,” it’s cheating and not even an issue of sports but of personal integrity. For all the campaigns FIFA runs against racism etc., they ought to at least in these instances come out and label such players as detriments to the sport, directly and through some kind of meaningful punishment to the player (maybe federation?) as a deterrent, like a truly heavy fine or ban that has to be served in similar tournaments and not just pointless friendlies. Crap like that is insulting to me as a human being, not merely as a fan.
Posted by kaya on 2011/07/10 at 3:57 PM
seriously??
Posted by matthewsf on 2011/07/11 at 7:22 AM
Sorry – deleted.
Posted by dude on 2011/07/10 at 5:15 PM
Does your mother know your on the internet?
Posted by waicool on 2011/07/10 at 10:48 PM
USA women showed the world today what talent, skill and exceptionalism looks like. despite the weakest referee’d game in the tourney and playing 1 player down for a good portion of the match, USA controlled the game throughout and shamed the brazilian girls into defeat. too bad buehler won’t get to play in the semi’s. the referee’s for this match should definitely get benched as well for their confusing and inconsistent performance and an investigation of the refs performance is in order. thank you USA women, you are the best in the world. that was one of the most awesome athletic performances by a team i have ever witnessed.
Posted by FulhamPete on 2011/07/10 at 11:51 PM
Watched the replay tonight.
Brazil touched the ball twice before going down a goal. Once off a Cheney FK block, and then the own goal.
Just sayin’.
Posted by KickinNames... on 2011/07/11 at 6:43 AM
What a thoroughly enjoyable team to watch. Solo is just so damn cool. Wambach literally put this team on her back after they went down a player. And Boxx was getting a lot of criticism on here that I just didn’t understand. She was the glue and drive in this squad for the entire game today. As great a player as she is, Lloyd in CMF is just lost and has no ideas. Beats a player and then has to play a killer ball every time instead of advancing and holding possession. Would still like to see her and Chaney switch up as Chaney is fantastic in possession and looks to involve others in the attack and buildup.
How fantastic was the crowd in letting the world know that Marta and Brazil’s antics were bush league along with a ref that was either in the tank or overmedicated. As great a player that Marta is that was just an ugly and unsportsmanlike performance. They came out early and took an extra-nasty chunk out of every tackle (her included), stamping on feet etc, rolling around and complaining after every challenge on them and then to get up in a player like Wambach’s face after the umpteenth time getting hammered on a tackle. The soccer gods smiled today at this result.
BTW-Foudy is just not major league ready as an announcer. She never tends to focus on the key points and gets caught up in the moment too much. Penalty award was good example-focused on harshness of the red card when the foul call itself was the real travesty. Shoulder to shoulder and Marta throws herself up in the air and to the ground. Not a clear penalty by any means. Hopefully this ref gets retired from WC comp.
France- C’est le guerre!!!
Posted by SamT on 2011/07/11 at 7:39 AM
Agree in particular on the crowd comment. They were the 12th man today. Well, “11th woman” I suppose is more accurate.