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Post by bbg95 on Aug 11, 2023 17:46:34 GMT -5
I feel bad for Japan because they had played so well, but this is also the first time they faced a team with that physicality putting that much pressure on them, and it really threw them off. Once they went into desperation mode, they got it back but it was too little too late. There may be a weird triangle here, where Japan is way better than Spain H2H, Sweden better than Japan - and maybe Spain being better than Sweden (TBD). Match-ups are weird. I had initially thought Japan would roll USA H2H, but seeing as how US would have similar physicality (and even more speed) and would have come at them the same way, I'm starting to think USA would have had a good chance if they had advanced. As dominant as Sweden looked in the first two thirds of that match, I think Japan had them figured out by the last third and was really dominating. It's also important to remember that the difference in the match ultimately was that Sweden made their penalty, and Japan missed theirs. I think that if that match had gone to extra time, Japan likely would be favored to score the next goal. As for how USA would have done against Japan, it's hard to say. On paper, they have the physicality, but I have zero faith in USA's ability to finish their chances, so I think it would be unlikely that they would have a two-goal lead on Japan. And I see no reason to believe that Japan wouldn't figure out USA's defense as well, especially with Vlatko running the show. Soccer is also kind of a weird sport in which you may have one team that looks great while the other looks very unimpressive. So when they play each other, you think the first team will roll, but it often doesn't play out that way. I think some of this is just human nature (it's hard to be sharp in every match), and some of it is the random variance of low-scoring sports like soccer where a single goal (often via penalty) often makes the difference. USA would have needed two great matches in a row to beat Japan, and based on what I saw in the group play, I'm doubtful. But we'll never know. I am optimistic about Japan's future. They were a very young team (24.9 average age) and played very well apart for an hour or so. I think they'll be stronger in 2027.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 11, 2023 22:31:44 GMT -5
Also, I had somehow never seen this ad that was airing in the runup to the tournament. If you're going to make an ad like that, you better be the 1992 Dream Team. I saw this before the tournament started - I remember it mainly because that's one of the worst attempts at an Australian accent in that airport clip! Post US exit, the best use of the ad that I've seen is a Tiktok video that has the opening scene with "And the whole world is wondering, what's it going to take to stop this US team?" followed by two minutes of Musovic's best moments from the US vs Sweden match.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 11, 2023 23:00:14 GMT -5
Also, I had somehow never seen this ad that was airing in the runup to the tournament. If you're going to make an ad like that, you better be the 1992 Dream Team. I saw this before the tournament started - I remember it mainly because that's one of the worst attempts at an Australian accent in that airport clip! Post US exit, the best use of the ad that I've seen is a Tiktok video that has the opening scene with "And the whole world is wondering, what's it going to take to stop this US team?" followed by two minutes of Musovic's best moments from the US vs Sweden match. Yeah, I didn't even realize that was supposed to be an Australian accent. It's impressive how they managed to stereotype so many countries: -England fans on a bus in the rain worrying about how to stop "bloody Rapinoe" (high comedy--you mean the worst player on the team?) -Brazilians on the beach -Germans trying to use science and engineering with an AI simulator to mimic all the Americans' moves -An Italian trying to steal their plays with a drone--I'm surprised they didn't just have a mob boss put a hit out on someone -Fashionable French (this one isn't too bad compared to the others) -Japanese fans going back in time (what is this, the plot of Heroes?) to make sure they never start playing soccer -An Irish guy saying to play rougher -A Canadian saying to play "nicer, eh?" There were some other countries that I couldn't quite identify, so I may not have gotten all of them. And of course, the biggest stereotype of all is that Americans are arrogant, which this commercial inadvertently reinforced. I noticed some of these when I first watched it, but I want to credit this article, which is hilariously Fox Sports criticizing Fox Sports. Granted, it's Fox Sports Australia taking down Fox Sports US, but still. And yes, it's quite amusing that one of the countries that they didn't manage to include in the commercial was Sweden, who everyone was strangely sleeping on going into the tournament. They were ranked No. 3 in the world yet had only the seventh best odds to win the tournament at +1400. And they're the ones who sent USA packing.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 11, 2023 23:25:50 GMT -5
A bit more on the Japan vs Sweden game last night from an in person perspective (I haven't watched any replays/highlights yet). Overall it was a great match that I was grateful to experience - I have always had a soft spot for both teams and was disappointed when they were drawn to play in NZ but didn't have any group matches in Auckland. The physicality element mentioned already was extra apparent at the stadium - there was such a mismatch in height and as much as short corners can sometimes be a bit of a waste, I can understand why Japan take so many this way. There were numerous times that it looked like a Japanese player was just bouncing off a Swedish player when they went in for a tackle. Sugita struggled on the left and I wasn't surprised when she was the halftime sub. I wonder what the first half may have been like if Endo had started - she definitely made a difference when she came on. The first half felt very cagey, which is often typical of knock out rounds. I wonder how much of Japan's success vs Spain was aided by the relative lack of pressure - both teams had qualified, and it was just 1st/2nd in group at stake. I think part of it was that Japan had indeed finally figured Sweden out, but the last 20 minutes or so also felt a bit like Japan put the pressure of the knock out phase to the side - as in "we'll lose if we don't just go for it". Such a contrast to the first hour or so of the game where it felt like Sweden were fully in control of the game. Agree with bbg95 that had they gone to OT, Japan would have been favoured to score the next goal. The crossbars for Japan were certainly unlucky, but Japan were also lucky with the post in the first half. One moment that really sticks with me - I'm not sure if it was shown on the broadcasts, but after the match Maika Hamano was lying near the centre circle absolutely distraught, and Jonna Andersson spent ages with her while the rest of the Swedish team were in their celebration circle at the end of the pitch. (They play together in Sweden, and Hamano is only 19 yo). Our seats were just at the top of the box (the goal Sweden defended in the second half), about 30ish rows up on the opposite side of the pitch from the team benches. Had an excellent view of the shots that went off the crossbar (including the PK) and Japan's near comeback in those last 20 minutes. Was very impressed by their movement on the ball in tight spaces around/in the box in that last section of the game. I've tried to insert a photo below but having never tried to do so before, it may end up being a major fail on my part! Attachments:![](//storage.proboards.com/2107859/thumbnailer/LbQQgWmzYHnuNMvhoCjt.png)
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Post by zarsta on Aug 11, 2023 23:41:48 GMT -5
I saw this before the tournament started - I remember it mainly because that's one of the worst attempts at an Australian accent in that airport clip! Post US exit, the best use of the ad that I've seen is a Tiktok video that has the opening scene with "And the whole world is wondering, what's it going to take to stop this US team?" followed by two minutes of Musovic's best moments from the US vs Sweden match. Yeah, I didn't even realize that was supposed to be an Australian accent. It's impressive how they managed to stereotype so many countries: -England fans on a bus in the rain worrying about how to stop "bloody Rapinoe" (high comedy--you mean the worst player on the team?) -Brazilians on the beach -Germans trying to use science and engineering with an AI simulator to mimic all the Americans' moves -An Italian trying to steal their plays with a drone--I'm surprised they didn't just have a mob boss put a hit out on someone -Fashionable French (this one isn't too bad compared to the others) -Japanese fans going back in time (what is this, the plot of Heroes?) to make sure they never start playing soccer -An Irish guy saying to play rougher -A Canadian saying to play "nicer, eh?" There were some other countries that I couldn't quite identify, so I may not have gotten all of them. And of course, the biggest stereotype of all is that Americans are arrogant, which this commercial inadvertently reinforced. I noticed some of these when I first watched it, but I want to credit this article, which is hilariously Fox Sports criticizing Fox Sports. Granted, it's Fox Sports Australia taking down Fox Sports US, but still. And yes, it's quite amusing that one of the countries that they didn't manage to include in the commercial was Sweden, who everyone was strangely sleeping on going into the tournament. They were ranked No. 3 in the world yet had only the seventh best odds to win the tournament at +1400. And they're the ones who sent USA packing. Just read the article you linked, and it mentioned one of my favourite off the pitch comedy moments of the tournament - the USWNT post calling Melbourne "Melby". And yes, I can't believe so many weren't taking Sweden seriously until now. As much as I loved watching Japan play in this WWC, I'm also so happy for this Swedish group and knew they'd be a major threat to go to the semis/final. Plus the neutral in me loves the fact that we're guaranteed to have a brand new winner - seems especially fitting after the chaos and unexpected exits in the group stage.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 12, 2023 0:02:48 GMT -5
Yeah, I didn't even realize that was supposed to be an Australian accent. It's impressive how they managed to stereotype so many countries: -England fans on a bus in the rain worrying about how to stop "bloody Rapinoe" (high comedy--you mean the worst player on the team?) -Brazilians on the beach -Germans trying to use science and engineering with an AI simulator to mimic all the Americans' moves -An Italian trying to steal their plays with a drone--I'm surprised they didn't just have a mob boss put a hit out on someone -Fashionable French (this one isn't too bad compared to the others) -Japanese fans going back in time (what is this, the plot of Heroes?) to make sure they never start playing soccer -An Irish guy saying to play rougher -A Canadian saying to play "nicer, eh?" There were some other countries that I couldn't quite identify, so I may not have gotten all of them. And of course, the biggest stereotype of all is that Americans are arrogant, which this commercial inadvertently reinforced. I noticed some of these when I first watched it, but I want to credit this article, which is hilariously Fox Sports criticizing Fox Sports. Granted, it's Fox Sports Australia taking down Fox Sports US, but still. And yes, it's quite amusing that one of the countries that they didn't manage to include in the commercial was Sweden, who everyone was strangely sleeping on going into the tournament. They were ranked No. 3 in the world yet had only the seventh best odds to win the tournament at +1400. And they're the ones who sent USA packing. Just read the article you linked, and it mentioned one of my favourite off the pitch comedy moments of the tournament - the USWNT post calling Melbourne "Melby". And yes, I can't believe so many weren't taking Sweden seriously until now. As much as I loved watching Japan play in this WWC, I'm also so happy for this Swedish group and knew they'd be a major threat to go to the semis/final. Plus the neutral in me loves the fact that we're guaranteed to have a brand new winner - seems especially fitting after the chaos and unexpected exits in the group stage. Sweden is basically the Netherlands men of the women's side. So many deep runs at major tournaments only to come up short. Maybe this is the year. And yeah, I agree that having a first-time champion will be great, even if I would have also liked to see Japan get their second.
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Post by bbg95 on Aug 12, 2023 1:48:17 GMT -5
France v. Australia is about to get underway in 15 minutes or so. England v. Colombia will follow, and the semis will be set.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 12, 2023 1:55:09 GMT -5
France v. Australia is about to get underway in 15 minutes or so. England v. Colombia will follow, and the semis will be set. Looking forward to this France vs Australia match. Australia no changes from the Denmark match - Sam Kerr available off the bench. France lining up with just one change to their backline. These teams met in a friendly about a week before the tournament, was a tight contest that Australia won 1-0. I'm torn because I do like both teams , so I'll be happy either way (well, as long as we don't go to PKs!). Edit to add: and I hope whoever takes it does so with a deserving goal (or two etc) and not because someone on the opposing team makes a major error.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 12, 2023 2:19:21 GMT -5
FIFA is giving South Korea 2002-level favoritism with the lack of cards on Australia in thstournament. Should have 2 already 15 minutes in.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 12, 2023 2:45:38 GMT -5
Brilliant defending from De Almeida on what looked like a sure goal for Australia.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 12, 2023 3:14:37 GMT -5
Sam Kerr now in from 55' and immediately on the ball.
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Post by zarsta on Aug 12, 2023 3:16:53 GMT -5
FIFA is giving South Korea 2002-level favoritism with the lack of cards on Australia in thstournament. Should have 2 already 15 minutes in. Even if the ref wanted to play advantage, she still needed to give Kennedy a yellow after the fact for that fistful of jersey.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 12, 2023 3:36:56 GMT -5
Australia feeling bold because they are letting them getting away with it, but at some point when you get that violent it becomes an issue of fairpaly fair play. A clear hand ball not called, and then they literally just kicked Le Sommer in the face.
The Denmark match was just as bad.
Cannot support this team.
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Post by notwvb on Aug 12, 2023 4:40:46 GMT -5
With 30 seconds remaining in extra time, France has breakaway with 50% open net for winner. Straight at the goalie. Alas.
Edit: Australia wins in thrilling shootout, 7-6 penalty kicks. That one had everything.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 12, 2023 5:03:16 GMT -5
Aussies go through 7-6, 1 short of a full turn through the lineup.
Don't necessarily think France deserved to win but don't like seeing Australia through. Absolutely bonkers they don't have anyone suspended either. Gorry, Raso, and Catley have done enough to be suspended twice over.
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