Posted on 06/16/2019 1:57:56 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
PARIS Its been a major talking point ever since the Womens World Cup draw back in December. If the United States wins its first-round group here in France, and the host nation tops their own foursome, the consensus best two teams in the competition could meet in a do-or-die quarterfinal later this month in the City of Light.
The possibility of such an encounter well before the final has prompted many to wonder if the French and American teams might strategically opt to not go all-out in the group stage, perhaps setting up an easier path to the July 7 final in Lyon.
We already know the formers approach. After beating South Korea and Norway, Les Bleues would have to implode spectacularly against Nigeria not to win Group A. What will the U.S. do? A day before the Americans second match against Chile (12 p.m. ET, FOX), coach Jill Ellis left no doubt about where the favorites stand.
I struggle to tell my team not to tackle in training the day before, Ellis said during Saturdays pre-match media conference. I think at this point its making sure your focus is on yourself and your performance and you put yourself in the best position to advance in this tournament. For us, its making sure that we play as well as we possibly can and win the game.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
PARIS, France Ten seconds: Thats really all the time Tierna Davidson allowed herself to savor her World Cup debut Sunday. The U.S. took down Chile in group play 3-0 and Davidson played all 90 minutes at left back.
But it took 24 years longer than Davidson has been alive for a player as young as her to make a U.S. Womens World Cup starting lineup. The 20-year-old is the first since Tiffany Roberts in 1995 to start a World Cup match for the U.S. And shes only the sixth player younger than 21 to do so, joining the likes of Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly, Roberts and Holly Manthei.
I think maybe the 10 seconds before the game started, Davidson said. I was looking around, and the stadium was packed, and there were a couple of chants kind of echoing throughout, and I was kind of like, Oh, wow. But then after that, I was like, game time. Davidsons nonchalance is part of what has built her into the kind of player who can make a World Cup debut at 20 years old.
Shes a very calm, cool customer, said U.S. head coach Jill Ellis.
But the defenders left foot was also responsible, at least on a secondary basis, for two-thirds of the U.S.s scoring on Sunday. That kind of versatility can be tough to keep off a field, too.
Tierna Davidson looked like she had locked up a starting position for the USWNT before she tore an ACL in a college game. She decided for forego the rest of her college career (Stanford) and turn pro after that. She’s been slowly working back into shape. It will be hard to displace Crystal Dunn or Kelly O’Hara as an outside back, but anything can happen. Jill Ellis likes Dunn and O’Hara because she is committed to pushing the outside backs up into the attack. That is a risk against the stronger opponents, who have the speed to punish a gambling defense. Davidson and Ali Krieger are more conventional defenders and may see a lot of time once the competition gets serious. Which it will, starting now. From here on out, the U.S. will be facing teams that are fully capable, on any given day, of beating them.
Full-time S.Africa 0-4 Germany
Congratulations Germany
China 0-0 Spain
France not looking so hot but let’s wait and see when the play a real Team like USA - LoL!
France finally scored on a penalty (last game they scored an own goal),
Full Time Nigeria 0-1 France
Congratulations France
South Korea 1-2 Norway
Congratulations Norway
an own goal, btw, with no opposing player even near the ball.
View this post on Instagram❤️ N O R W A Y 💙 See you in the Round of 16! #FIFAWWC #Norway #DareToShine #Reims #France
A post shared by FIFA World Cup (@fifaworldcup) on Jun 17, 2019 at 2:22pm PDT
Davidson Here: (Link) During a score in USA vs Chile.
Sundays triumphant 3-0 win by the USA womens team hit 6.2 million viewers across Telemundo and FOX combined, breaking records for both the English-language and Spanish-language broadcaster
... On English-language broadcaster FOX, the broadcast averaged 5,324,000 viewers, making it the most-watched FIFA Womens World Cup Group Stage match ever in the U.S.,
Jamaica vs. Australia, 3 p.m. (FS2)
Italy vs. Brazil, 3 p.m. (FS1)
Marta’s make-Up looks like Queen of The Dead.
Brazil looks mean.
Italy looks mean.
Even the Ref looks mean.
Marta looks like she could kill someone with no problem about it.
Wow! If you want speed. If you want precision. If that Italian shot was blocked it would have been awesome. Totally Awesome!
Wasnt blocked.
Italy W 0-1 Brazil W - Marta penalty [checkout the lipstick and eyebrows]
Full-Time Italy 0-1 Brazil
(my apologies to Marta)
Congratulations Brazil.
Jamaica 1-4 Australia
Congratulations Australia
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