Yes, it was really amazing how Brazil dominated that match. Maybe the US team didn't expect them to play so aggressively from the beginning. As I said, the Brazilians also had a bit of luck - they took the lead thanks to an own goal, then got the 2-0 after a goalkeeper error, and the red card for a US player just before halftime also looked a bit controversial So maybe 4-0 was a bit too clear, but the win for Brazil was definitely deserved, it was a pretty much one-sided match. You can watch a video with the goals and other highlights on the FIFA website . Some spectacular plays by the Brazilians, Marta in particular.

And, there seems to be a BIG controversy after the USA's head coach, (Greg?) Ryan, replaced the regular goalkeeper, Hope Solo, with a "rusty" Briana Scurry for the semi-final game with Brazil.

I have to wonder IF this very curious move upset some of our USA gals so that they did not play as well as they normally would have against Brazil.


Chess Fan

I can't see why it should have upset the other players to have a different goalkeeper. Having changes in the line-up is normal, only that it didn't turn out a good decision in this case. But after a 4-0 it's moot to discuss a goalkeeper error at one goal, even the best goalkeeper could hardly have prevented the other three.

In my opinion, this "change" in goalkeepers is very highly suspect.

The USA went from their regular goalkeeper to one who had barely played at all for at least a year or so.

In my opinion, the USA head coach "out-thought" himself and totally blew it with replacing Hope Solo with Brianna Scurry.

Littlefish, you are only talking about simple "mechanics" here.

Plus, Hope Solo herself said that SHE could have made those saves!!

Who is not to say that this "coaching move" by head coach Ryan did not de-moralize some of the players enough as to where their hearts just were NOT into playing as hard, and, thus, not into defensively marking players such as Marta much more closely than they did.

No, I would NOT be surprised at all if Coach Ryan's coaching blunder here was enough to de-moralize the USA team as to where it threw them off their game enough as to where they ended up playing, apparently, VERY poorly against Brazil!


Chess Fan

Brazil was by far the better team, by far the more skilled. It is likely they would have won convincingly regardless. Solo subsequently apologized for criticizing Scurry. Incidentally, Solo is not with the team for the third place game. She has been suspended for the game by Ryan in consultation with other team leaders, all of whom suggested her presence would be a distraction.

Ryan likely made a mistake by starting Scurry; Solo definitely made a mistake by going public in her criticisms of Scurry. Nevertheless, I believe that the US will dominate the game versus Norway.

3-1

For crying out loud, don't make excuses for 4-0. Pretty clear the better team won.

Don't fall for canards put out by dopey US sports journalists who have no clue about soccer, but a keen eye for "controversy"... :laff:

I know, I know, because, really, I did NOT watch this game; so, I certainly can NOT say for sure as to whether or not that the USA team looked a bit de-moralized from the start of the Brazil game or not.

I can tell you this, though, if I was the head of the USA soccer organization, I would request a one-on-one private meeting with head coach Ryan, and, I would want a good explanation from him for his, (in my opinion), bone-headed decision to replace Hope Solo in goal with Brianna Scurry.


Chess Fan

Why? Of course, with hindsight it was a mistake, but it wasn't such a strange decision - after all Scurry is a very experienced player. I don't know what Solo said about being able to make those saves, but I can only imagine she just referred to the second goal. Watch the other goals in the video I linked to above, I don't see obvious goalkeeper errors there.

I don't know whether there was bad blood in the US team before the game against Brazil. If there was it might have negatively influenced their performance, but that would only show a lack of professional attitude by the players. When the coach decides to make a substituion they have to accept it, period. If there's anyone who should be questioned on this it's the players, not the coach. But it seems like the main controversy only broke out after the game, so it can't be an excuse. Anyway the US team was simply overpowered by the Brazilians, who probably played the game of their lives in this semifinal. So there's really no need to look for excuses.

Okay, okay already, I give up!

Congratulations to Brazil for their playing, apparently, the game of their lives in beating the USA!

There, is that better now?


Chess Fan

I believe it was Gary Lineker who said football is a simple game - there are 22 players, and at the end Germany always wins (or something to that effect). The same seems to be true for the women's game. Brazil played well, but weren't quite able to deliver another game of their lives. They were duly punished for losing focus at the beginning of the second half, and then Germany defended well and even scored the second goal. Not an undeserved victory for the Germans, but it could have been a different game if Marta hadn't missed that penalty. The US team got some consolation with a 4-1 against Norway.