Women's World Cup: USA v. Nigeria

[asu66]

Tonight: TV on Fox and NBC Universo 8 PM ET

USA leads its group.

[Rekdiver]

I happen to be a soccer fan. I've watched several matches and i'm impressed with the skill of the women...even the shots from outside the box. The match last night between the Netherlands and Canada was pretty solid. The US women need to put the ball in the back of the net. If it wasnt for that train wreck Hope Sols we'd be at the bottom of the group.

[Yosef]

Our inability to maintain possession is concerning if we are trying to make a deep run.

[Rekdiver]

Our pos session was good tonight but we need to put the ball in the back of the net!!!!

[appmaj]

Our pos session was good tonight but we need to put the ball in the back of the net!!!!

Agree. Maybe the round of 16 opponent will be less challenging.

[Yosef]

Our pos session was good tonight but we need to put the ball in the back of the net!!!!

I have to disagree - I felt like we turned the ball over way too much in the midfield against Nigeria and if we do the same in future games, we're going to get burned. Hell for the last 20 minutes Nigeria was down a player and they had more quality shots on goal and better possessions than we did.

[Rekdiver]

We were passive i agree in the 2nd half and should have pressed much more considering the sloppy ball handling by Nigeria.

[SpeedkingATL]

It was great to get the win but a very unimpressive performance overall. I think Germany's confidence level just went up a bit.

[Rekdiver]

We will play one of the 3rd place teams that will be determined today. Quite frankly i see quite a bit of parity at the top. Australia is the real deal as is Brazil. France got surprised by Columbia but is still very good and aCmeroon has killer speed. Japan keeps changing goalkeepers??? We had a very tough group and the Nigerian keeper made some very good saves yesterday.

[AppGrad78]

My complaint with our team is not with its ability to possess the ball -- we did that quite well against Nigeria -- but rather our lack of creativity on the attacking end. We don't have to end every stinking scoring chance with a lob into the middle. We're tall. I get that. Wambach is particularly effective in the air. But at some point we have to maneuver through a defense, something we've been reluctant to do. I also have to question why Wambach -- still one of the world's finest forwards -- didn't start in the second game.

[asu66]

My complaint with our team is not with its ability to possess the ball -- we did that quite well against Nigeria -- but rather our lack of creativity on the attacking end. We don't have to end every stinking scoring chance with a lob into the middle. We're tall. I get that. Wambach is particularly effective in the air. But at some point we have to maneuver through a defense, something we've been reluctant to do. I also have to question why Wambach -- still one of the world's finest forwards -- didn't start in the second game.

You raise a good question about Wambach, Charlie. Apparently a lot of other folks are asking the same question. This article attempts to answer the question, but comes up a bit short...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... up-nigeria

Methinks the USA had better get its strategic attack game together in a hurry or tough times lie ahead in '15 Cup Play. Is the USWNT in decline or just in transition? Clearly, the team is aging....Solo 34, Wambach 35, Boxx 38, Rampone 40. Most of the other roster players are at or over 30. I believe three are in their late 20s. Gotta be developing new blood.

[Rekdiver]

Wambach did look slow and didnt get many touches.....