USWNT Wins 3-1, Gets Dissed By Australian Soccer Website: USWNT Is ‘Stuck In The Past’
The USWNT made their 2015 FIFA World Cup debut yesterday with a 3-1 victory over Australia. While USWNT fans might have been biting their nails the first half, as Australia came out in full force to tie the game 1-1, it was the stamina and experience of the USWNT that helped them gut out a win in the second half. But at least one person was not impressed with the USWNT victory.
A writer for Matilda’s Football, an official website for the Australian national women’s soccer team, felt that the USWNT was a little too old school with their ball play and more specifically that “The USA, well they aren’t that good.”
Criticizing the USWNT’s use of a 4-4-2 format and reliance on key players Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe, the writer states the USWNT “were short of ideas going forward and outmanoeuvred tactically.” The article also states that the “default” game of the USWNT is to play the long ball to the head of seasoned veteran Abby Wambach, an ironic assertion considering Wambach’s head didn’t score any of the three USWNT’s goals for the game.
While even the USWNT’s players admit their nerves got the better of them the first half, the second half was dominated by the USWNT. The first half USWNT Megan Rapinoe had some help from an Australian defender getting the ball into the net, but her second half goal and the second half goal of newcomer Christen Press were classic shots that outwitted the Australian goalkeeper.
And as the Australian article lamented the loss of three key players for the game, the USWNT was dealing with a significant loss of their own for the majority of play as one of its lead scorers, Alex Morgan, only played the final minutes of the match as she recovers from a knee injury.
While no one is doubting the skill of the Australian players, many are questioning their thought process in believing that they are the better team in having suffered a loss to the USWNT that is ranked No. 2 in the world.
@rodger_sherman I think this is how World War 3 starts.
— Rene Sanchez (@renesanchez77) June 9, 2015
As both the USWNT and Australia gear up for their second games of the World Cup, it will be interesting to see who advances to the next round from their bracket. But until Australia actually pulls ahead of the USWNT in points, their assertion of who is better is nothing more than sour grapes.
Is Australia’s assessment of the USWNT accurate or are they just poor losers? Tell us what you think!
[Image courtesy of NBC New York]
