Well.
Best player on the field: Vivianne Miedema. She’s only 25. If I were running U.S. Soccer, I’d put a secret Mission Impossible team on her to find a way to get her to change citizenship and play for the U.S. Boyfriend/girlfriend of her choice; a bazillion dollars in endorsements; a cushy retirement for her parents; a starring role in the next big Hollywood film of her choice, a tricked out bass boat ... I don’t care what it takes. Just find a way to do it. Whatever rings her chimes.
Second best player on the field: that could be any of several Netherlands players, but Lineth Beerensteyn stood out. Partly because she is black and therefore stands out visually on a rather melanin deprived Dutch squad, but mainly because she was all over the field making problems for the U.S. For someone who doesn’t know the Dutch team well, that made her easy to pick out in the crowd: “there’s that black Netherlands player again.” But she was giving us fits.
Best player for the U.S., and the player of the match: Alyssa Naeher. Three saves on penalty kicks, one in regulation and two in the shootout. Add that to her save against England in the World Cup, and she’s finally come out of the shadow of Hope Solo.
Three U.S. goals called back for offsides. Plus one Netherlands goal. All correct calls, but all were pretty close.
Alex Morgan finally made a penalty kick in an important tournament!!!! Maybe her jinx has lifted.
Alex also got caught from behind on a breakaway. Let me rephrase that: ALEX MORGAN GOT CAUGHT FROM BEHIND ON A BREAKAWAY!!!!!! Five years ago, one baby and a couple of injuries ago, that doesn’t happen. Ten years ago, she would have been past everybody like Roadrunner running by Wile E. Coyote, and they’d have to go to slow motion on the instant replay to identify her. She’s still fast, but she’s ordinary mortal fast, not Roadrunner fast. Did someone mention that age creeps up on everyone?
Vlatko has one important coaching change to make, and he needs to make it quickly. He needs to wave his magic wand and make all of his players ten years younger. Or at least five. This has been a golden generation of players, but they’ve all aged together and now they are getting exposed by younger teams.
At least the coach used the right substitutions, saving Press, Rapinoe, and Morgan for the second half and extra time. Look who took the penalty kicks. Morgan, Lavelle, Press, and Rapinoe. All came on in the second half.
Dahlkemper is the weak link on defense. 18 player limit restricts the options for the US. Should have brought another defender and one less midfielder or forward.
Thank you FRiends!