2023-08-05 08:44:38
Double defending champions, the Americans approach their round of 16 against Sweden this Sunday (11:00 a.m.) in full doubt.
The United States, double title holders, are no longer scary before their round of 16 against Sweden, Sunday in Melbourne (11:00 a.m.), a sizeable opponent for a collective lacking in automation, whose young stars are disappointing.
With fourteen rookie players in the competition, coach Vlatko Andonovski bet on youth to achieve a hat-trick that no team has ever managed. Named best player in the American Championship last season, striker Sophia Smith, 23 on August 10, embodies this talented generation, destined to extend the hegemony of Team USA. However, since her double against Vietnam (3-0), the Portland Thorns player has accumulated blunders, whether against the experienced Dutch (1-1) or the Portuguese novices (0-0).
These two results had the taste of defeat for a selection that remained on thirteen straight victories in the tournament. Shaken, the United States had to settle for second place in Group E, which puts them in a delicate position for the knockout phase. Starting with a reunion against their pet peeve, Sweden, third nation in the FIFA world rankings, who beat them at the Tokyo Olympics. Facing the Scandinavians,we will have to create more in attack. We have not seen enough (…) and we will have to be able to conclude“, assured the former international Ali Krieger, world champion in 2015 and 2019, on the ESPN channel.
Mistreated executives
In difficulty against the Netherlands, in a remake of the 2019 final, the Americans scored on a set piece orchestrated by two survivors of the 2019 title, Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan. Of the “old“manage the new generation on the field, but others have seen their role diminish, such as the 2019 Golden Ball Megan Rapinoe, a substitute in every match. “There’s a lot to offer on and off the pitch (…) Every day in training I tell myself I’m going to kick their ass, and that makes them better, and me toosaid the bleached-haired star, 38, who is playing her final season.
But in their new roles, the most experienced struggle to be effective, like striker Alex Morgan, 34, zero goals at the moment – she had five at the same stage of the competition in 2019. Alyssa Naeher, 35, did not make any saves in the group stage, noted statistician Opta. She was saved by the post on a shot from Portugal in added time which would have eliminated the USA if he had returned. While she is one of the few satisfactions of Team USA, the midfielder Rose Lavelle is suspended against Sweden, for accumulation of warnings.
A sauce that does not take
Between young and old, the American collective struggles to make one. Coach Andonovski, criticized, pleads a team “recent” who go “improve from game to game“. But the impression left so far contrasts with the performance of its rivals, Sweden, England, or Japan, which seem better equipped to win the title. The Oceanian tournament highlighted a homogenization of the level, to the detriment of the United States, where only one player (Horan in Lyon) evolves in Europe. The state of mind of the Americans also raises questions.
I only see a very monotonous team, which does not inspire, which takes the title for granted
Carli Lloyd
«I only see a very monotonous team, which does not inspire, which takes the title for granted“, estimated Carli Lloyd, double world champion (2015, 2019), who became a consultant on American television. These criticisms agitated Sweden’s pre-match. “It’s frustrating to hear that“Reacted Horan. “You can’t just beat the teams on a physical level, you have to use the ball better, be able to combine and play. I think we are totally capable of doing it“, insisted the Lyonnaise.
1691226154
#United #States #delicate #handover