I don't believe this link has yet been posted:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092602300.html

Brazil 2-1. Greg Ryan made a mistake changing goalie, but this has been a trend with Brasil coming up and the USA staying at the same level, so the goalie may not matter.

Other than in goal, I think is really our best 11. Osbourne shuts down Marta, and the U.S. scores early in the 1st, early in the 2nd, and hangs on for the 2-1 win.

Let's go, ladies!!!

1 final thing; I do like the fact that losing is deemed unacceptable by us. Too bad that doesn't seem to hold true for the men, regardless of the level.

I'm ready.

Any reason why the other semi-finalists get an extra 24 hours to recuperate. Why isn't it like the men's World Cup where both semi-finalists play the same night?

If we win inspite of Ryan making the crazy lineup change on the eve of the game I say he keeps his job for the final. If we lose he should be fired before they get on the plane home. We spend two years getting ready and he screws it up by panicking at this late stage. This seems like U-10 stuff where over coaching is the norm. Greg you are BLOWING IT.

That would just make too much sense, Vladimir.

hello from central time, ya'll... the move to scurry doesn't seem to make a lot of sense. i can understand a strategic shift among the defense or midfield, but at keeper. it seems like it was a huge distraction for the team yesterday. hopefully it works out anyway...

hopefully Scurry's first touch got the "rust" off

1-0 Brazil on an own goal. Apparently Scurry can't defend against her own team.

Really bad own goal. Brazil leading 1-0 with the Osborne header from a corner

wow -- both semis feature a first goal own goal....

and brazil's first goal in the usa-brazil men's friendly was an own goal too...

Marta makes it 2-0

holy crap brazil 2-0 USA

Ryan just killed his career with Scurry in goal.

Down 2-0....US is done. And so is Greg Ryan as their coach

Ow...0-2....and that one stings...bad shot stopping and bad defending.

Well, there goes that...

I hope you are looking at the want ads Greg Ryan. HORRIBLE move to take Solo out of goal. The scoreline, even if we win, bears that out.

If we go on to lose this match, I hope this will be medicine that'll cure the "group-think" that goes on with the women's soccer.

still far too early in this match to say it's over. let's see how ryan redeems himself with 2nd half subs

I feel so bad for Hope Solo. She got screwed. Royally.

okay, anyone seeing this espn graphic? what are "hits," and why does abby wambach have 5 of them already?

Would Ryan have the cajones to remove Lilly at HT? She hasn't done much good for the team all tourney long.

Eurosport's British commentator: "The USA defenders are sitting back deep to compensate for the pace of Marta, and that leaves the midfield open, and they're bossing it."

All over for Shannon Boxx. She was just too slow to deal with this speedy Brazillian team.

terrible call

Eurosport's British commentator: "While it was an unfortunate call, it was strange that there were no protests from the American coaching staff."

Uff-da. Appalling call.

It doesn't look good. Brazil are too speedy and technical that they can kill this match in the 2nd half.

Down to 10 after a horrible call against Boxx and down 2-0. This game has been a train wreck for the US.

Just watched the last 10 minutes on the internet. Terrible call... but... wow, Brazil clearly faster, better control, quicker thinking, more creative... wait a second... Deja vu...

watching it online as well - for those watching it on espn - what's their reaction/spin ?

Holy cow was that maybe the worst call I've ever seen in a major tournament.

They just made a case for replay much, much stronger if referees on the field are going to pull out cards without seeing the actual play.

I won't say that Greg Ryan should be happy about that ridiculous red card, but it's going to deflect some of the criticism he deserves for making the goalkeeping change. Scurry should not have started this game -- you've got to dance with the ones that brought you.

emanon, Foudy was the first to spot it -- Boxx got run over, she was the one who was fouled, but the ref got it all wrong. Not much more to say when you see the replay.

The ESPN call has been pro-US, but pretty good.

They were critical of Scurry on Marta's goal. Pretty livid about the red card on Boxx.

Dellacamera is a complete pro. Foudy is a much better analyst for the women's game than them men's.

Pleaes let me know what the spin masters in ESPN are saying. To blame this loss on that bad call is a bit much, as the USA have been playing really bad in the first half.

still far too early in this match to say it's over. let's see how ryan redeems himself with 2nd half subs
Posted by: dco | September 27, 2007 08:34 AM
_____________________________________________
I don't think even if they win 3-2 he redeems himself. He made a horrible move that has obviously gutted their confidence. Horrible time to make this move.

That was the WORST red card I've seen in a long long time. This ref should never work another game on ANY level. AYSO is too high a level for her to be working.

This is going to be tough. Though if there is one thing US athletes are known for it's being extraordinarily fit.

Vladmir: ESPN isn't blaming everything on the card. They are giving Brazil credit where it is deserved.

This is still a horrible display. We have owned Brazil FOREVER. The change in goal, and the first goal going in has shattered their confidence. It's painfully obvious.

man, only a few minutes into the 2nd half and this one is tough to watch....the Brazilians have a better futbol IQ than us...more technique too....Wambach's foul was not a smart one at all, even if she really didn't do any damage on the defender.

Eurosport's British commentator: "How many times have we seen this American team go 54 minutes without a notable shot on goal?"

Eurosport's British commentator: "And the Americans are dead....and if the Americans aren't careful we may see a slaughtering."

3-0. I don't blame Scurry.

I guess USSF is going to take the rest of the time left in the match to write up Greg Ryan's pink slip.

The Brazilians are so technically and tactically superior, it's embarrassing.

I hope this results in a comlete overhaul of the US Women's program, from Ryan down to the U14 coaching staff.

Eurosport's British commentator: "With the includsion of Tina Ellertson, we continue to see strange decision after strange decision by Greg Ryan."

If Greg Ryan keeps his job, it will be the biggest blunder of Sunil Gulati's tenure.

That's what Greg Ryan based his decision to play Scurry? The Brazil friendly in June where much of Brazil's 1st side didn't play?

...Yeah.

1. I don't think Solo got "screwed." You play on a team in a competitive sport and you start (or don't) based on the coaches' decision. I do think Ryan made a stupid decision for the wrong reasons. But it's not about the players' egos or rights or what they earn. The best individual players don't always make the best team. And, while I'd have started Solo, I think the issues with this team are larger.

2. There are 2 big issues that this team has faced:
--they haven't been able to develop a reliable scorer besides the Lilly-Wambach tandem (and Lilly may arguably be better on the flank). I don't expect a second Wambach--she might be the best central forward in women's soccer. But they're totally dependent on that duo (and basically Wambach in this WC) for goals. And against good teams that's a problem. They've known about this issue for a couple of years and the best answer they can come up with is a 433 (which creates it's own sets of problems).
--in able to play 3 forwards the team has to go with a 433 which means against good teams they concede the midfield and have to play direct ball. In some ways, we're like the old German MNT...very disciplined, very physically imposing, strong, good passing, not pretty to watch, kill you on restarts and find a way to win games and wear teams out. But this 433 formation (unless you have 2 of the world's best players at midfield) really limits your options as a team. It puts your backline and goal under much more pressure. I don't mean to make it all about the formation but basically it's a combination of factors (quality of the midfield, formation, tactics, creativity) which means that the USWNT plays very direct soccer and concedes the midfield against better teams. And that approach limits you tactically every time.

I would also submit that part of the USWMNT's recent dominance is that other countries (like Brazil) go into hibernation between big tournaments while our women our in residency. We'd still have an impressive record if Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, etc. kept active programs between competitions but I'm not sure if we'd be #1 or#2 in the world and we certainly wouldn't be undefeated for 50+ games. So this game is a useful reality check for the USWNT program--regardless of the final score.

Come on guys! They will bounce back for the magical fairy tale win! Sorta like Beckham and my LA Galaxy! :) We've still got six games left to make the playoffs, sweep the playoffs and win the cup! (watch it now, we have Alexi Lalas, all hail the king)

brazil is fast and skillful but i hate the way they dive and writh on the ground. they are the only women's team that does that. it's one part of the men's game they didn't need to adopt

Heck, have they ever lost by 3 goals?

Fire Greg Ryan!

This will set back WUSA2.

@papabear: "redeems" might've been too strong a word. and certainly ryan doesn't help his cause by inserting a defender now.

on to the real issue: the midfield has been nonexistent for the US today. not enough possession, and since the 1st goal, the US has looked off balance. even playing with 11, i think the brazilians would still have the advantage now. they're countering very nicely and controlling the middle of the field.

The U.S. coach better get fired...I place the blame for this embarrassment squarely on his shoulders. Idiot...if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Saddest thing is that this effectively ends Scurry's WNT career on an incredibly sour note.
Best thing is that Solo plays the rest of her WNT career with a HUGE chip on her shoulder. Talk about motivation...

I've given Ryan some benefit of the doubt leading into this tournament, but this match makes it impossible for me to understand his coaching, preparation for the WWC, and what USSF is doing with soccer in the US.

What web sites are showing the game live for US viewers? This is the first game that I am trying to watch while working and haven't found anything available other than ESPN's horrible gamecast.

I'm not watching the game, but it doesn't sound like today is the keeper's fault...

I've written here yesterday that the game would be 3 0 to Brazil, but I was probably wrong. It is already that score right now and there is much more Marta can do today. Well, it happens. I underestimated the Brazilian's superiority a little bit.

RK: It's not. I like JoeW's analysis.

While Ryan has done nothing worthy of honor, let's face it, the Brazil 11 are faster and more technically sound than the best 11 of the USA. Same goes for Germany. They both have a better first touch and are more creative than the US has shown.

The opposition has been faster to the ball and showed better touch in most of the games the US has played. Their guile and experience got them to the semi final.

Certainly Ryan should be replaced, but the players need to step it up just as much.

RK Brings up a good point....does this set back the WUSA2 or does this just prove that without a competitive women's league here in the states the US will fall further down the FIFA womens rankings? I think this proves that WUSA is clearly needed if the US wants to succeed on he world scene. If there is no WUSA our womens players are going to have to start plying their trade overseas....and if that happens there will never be a US womens league!

Marian Dalmy? Ryan is preserving the 3 goal defecit.

Not saying it's the keeper's fault (I agree it's not), but being blown out after a major controversy centered on Scurry (unfair to her I know) puts her at her age into virtually an untenable position going forward.

i felt something was seriously wrong when ryan was quoted as saying that solo being upset over the switch was "not our problem." what? is this us vs. them between the coaches and the players. how weird. and how demoralizing for the players

Hey!

A save by Scurry...

If only we could have those earlier in the game.

Jeremy - several feeds are available from livefooty and myp2p

Maybe I just don't understand, but how does the top-ranked team in the world just look so flat-footed against what it supposed is to be a lower-ranked team? It's not even close.

If the WUSA can get the talented foreign players, the league will be very competitive and the soccer will be great to watch. However, a World Cup win byu the US would have provided valuable advertising.

So, I think the talent is good for soccer fans but bad for the marketers and maybe even the bottom line.

What will they call the Victory Tour now?

One could well argue that the first goal was a moment of indecisiveness due to the lack of teamwork between the goalie and her defense. A good goalkeeper would be well in charge and would've yelled out that she had it.

The second goal Scurry got beat near post, which normally means that the GK was caught out of position. It's possible that Scurry was shielded a bit and didn't see it, but a near post goal is a near post goal.

wow -- hadn't thought about the implications for wusa. this can't help.

the 1st and 3rd goals were not scurry's fault. the 2nd one was clearly tricky -- a deflected ball, an open look for marta -- but maybe saveable.

i am surprised at how well brazil has played today, and i'm impressed with how they've continued to press forward. they're getting some excellent runs out their midfield.

i still want to know what espn means when they say abby wambach has "8 hits" today.

4-0.

Can USSF "double-super-duper-fire" Greg Ryan?

Marta and the Brazilians are just showboating and having fun now. 4-0

Nice defensive subs Greg. Ellertson looked lost on that goal.

Here's the thing -- if WUSA couldn't make it after they won the WC and were media darlings, how on earth do they expect a 3rd-place team (that is playing at 8 am) to give them that boost?

marta -- very impressive stuff in the last couple of minutes. great goal.

So.... who starts in goal for the third place game?

Fire.
Greg.
Ryan.

His sub patterns have been horrible. His decision to switch goalkeepers in the middle of the tournament is even worse (who does this? Even Arena had the good sense not to mess with things in Korea with Friedel. It only takes away from the focus of the team.)

Seriously, this is a bigger problem for Sunil than the MNT coach. With the men, US expectations are still fairly low. This has the potential to hurt WUSA2 and, by extension, the development of the women's program.

The WNT has been the gold standard in international women's play. To get, charitably, beaten in almost every phase of the game and not make the finals is a reflection of the coach and the decisions he has made.

And he deserves to get canned.

Changing the goalie was a distraction. but i certainly doubt that it would have made much difference. Brazil is the best team and that is all there is to it.

having said that, i think Ryan panicked when he made the sub and wondered what he could do to neutralize a very good attacking Brazilian team. His mistake was to think that the goalie would be the answer. Wrong. Big time wrong. He should have been more focused on trying to solve his team lull in the midfield and putting more attacking firepower in the forward position. 4-5-1 scheme never had a chance against Brazil.

Gosh! I knew was wrong... Well, it means in the end that I was right. 3 goals was too little for this game.
4 X 0 now and more to come maybe. What a show! If they have doubts about Kaka being the best player of the year, I guess right now they can clear that out and just take Marta for security shot. No one will deny she is the best by far.

Regardless of what happens against Germany, a new world power has emerged in women's soccer.

If Brazil starts taking the women's game a bit more serious after this world cup, the rest of the world is in serious trouble.

espn-related question: if ellerton is as good as jullie foudy says she -- "the best one v. one defender the us team has" -- then why's she not among the starting 11? i know foudy wants to sound optimistic, but still...

and please, someone tell me what hits are?

scavendish, who switches keepers in the middle of the tournament?

Bradley, in the Gold Cup semi v Canada. Funny how we forget -- because we won. Had he lost...

trying to be optimistic - perhaps this WC will show how much talent there is around the world, and that there would be lots of qualified players to try to recruit to come play in WUSA2

I can't watch the game so thanks to everyone for providing enough detail to follow it. I think the whole goalkeeper switch thing is overblown. Some players are going to be on the bench, and they're going to be upset (Anybody think Scurry hasn't been upset about not playing up to this point?), part of their job is to shut up about it and find a way to support the team, which I assume Solo is doing. Also, players don't attach nearly as much importance to who's in goal as most fans (especially American fans) do -- the players all know that Scurry is great, and Solo is great. On the other hand, throughout this whole tournament everyone has recognized that the US midfield is not what it needs to be, and that's a lot more important than which of those two is in goal.

unfortunately this probably won't help the wusa2 but in fact a league is just what we need. US players aren't going to get better until they can play competitively more regularly against the best in the world. That's what the league did and that's clearly what we need. we have some good players and they are on this team but they've been playing against each other and weak teams for two years. no edge. and a false sense of superiority. ugly

The matchtracker shot map looks like the mafia opened fire on the US...

1) Where is our "mental toughness"?

2) I thought Brazil was supposed to make mistakes in the back?

3) Can our US team have ANY creativity?

4) Where's Wambach?

5) Should I let Greg Ryan coach my U4 girls team?

6) Is Marta the best women player ever?

So who's the next coach? And who will ESPN rumor about being the next coach?

I expect Klinsmann rumors.

Screw this idea of the veterans ending on a winning note at next year's Olympics. We need a new coach and new blood.

Thanks you Kristine Lilly and Briana Scury for all you've done for us. We will have great memories of 96, 99, and 04. But we need to move on.

Who's the next USWNT coach? It's got to be someone who's good at coaching young players and comes from outside. Even Pellerud is one of the better ones that has a good resume.

What happens if Kaka and Marta make babies? Creative babies? Passionate babies? Goal-scoring babies?

The matchtracker shot map looks like the mafia opened fire on the US...

Posted by: RK | September 27, 2007 09:48 AM
--------------------

Post of the Match!

Good points Leslie.

Can we give our youth players fewer lessons on speed and physicality and work with them on ball skill and creativity?

The US team look like a bunch of mechanized players, not only in this game.

We are a privileged country and we are not being smart about coaching our kids into soccer success.

Let's unite mental toughness with skill. They are not mutually exclusive attributes.

i will say: it is slightly surreal to see another country genuinely excited to beat the US in a soccer match.

If these players are the result of too much speed training, that training didn't work.

Just a plodding, heavy footed display this WWC.

The Jim Gabarra in 08 campaign started last week. I am the self-appointed campaign manager. Campaign contributions will be used to lobby Sunil Gulati.

I don't care if you made your money through pyramid schemes. Give your donations to the homeless guy panhandling at I-270, Exit 1. He is the campaign finance director.

Brazil are the better team, by far.

The USA looked awful. Two shots in the second half? Abby Wambach may be the best striker in the world but a lack of a midfield shows that she can't do it alone.

4-0 is a generous score for the USA. It could have been worse. That penalty kick that wasn't called at the beginning was scandalous.

Here's what I believe is the group-think among those with the USWNT: 1) Favoritism towards the veterans. Not just the peculiar inclusion of Scurry today, but their continued playing of a largely ineffective Lilly, starting Boxx against a quick Brazilian team, when she was shown to be a liability during her time against the quick North Koreans. 2)Favoring "athletes" over those with technical skills and soccer smarts. We see a lot of our midfield players good to get their foot on the ball, only for it to be played to the other team. These women stayed in residency training much longer than any opponent was able to afford, and they don't seemingly know how to anticipate each other's play.

WUSA2 just has to make sure that Marta's in the league!

Well ladies and gentlemen, game over. Brazil 4 USA 0 with show and what not. Spectacular game and here comes Germany.
Ah, for the curious, if Kaka and Marta make babies then even Pele will get nervous. His football reign would be in danger, but the show must go on. Joga bonito is the soul of football, and whoever does it will, soon or later, be established at the top. That's the only lesson Brazilian players have to give to the world. Results, money making, richest leagues and all the showbizz around the game do not keep the most played sport of the world alive.

Ugly, ugly, ugly. Total lack of midfield cohesion and creativity was probably more important than the goalkeeper switch. Scurry faced 18 shots - not sure Solo would have fared any better. It's the midfield and attacking where the US lost this match. That said, switching goalkeepers was a terrible mistake at this point. The comparison to the men's team in the Gold Cup isn't valid, because Bradley was trying out different players and no keeper had a lock on the job. Solo's been the starter for 2 years, and had shut out everyone but Korea in this tournament. This was her team.

Nike needs to make a new commercial for the Greatest Team You've Never Heard Of. Instead of Jim Mike, PR guy, have Greg Ryan speaking into a recorder "Note to self: Flip out and change goalie before semifinal"

Ryan should resign during the post game press conference. What a disgrace.

But isn't this just more evidence about where America really is when it comes to training its own?

The women were great because there was no other nation that gave them as many opportunities -- their raw athleticism and practice was good enough.

Now, when it comes to taking the next step, we can't do it. We don't have the systems or the training or the coaching to take us to the next level. Germany and Brazil do, and that's why they are in the final.

This loss should serve as a wake-up call to the entire soccer community that there needs to be a complete overhaul of the system if we ever want to compete at the top level.

Project 2010 anyone?

Great point RK. Unfortunately, if Greg Ryan is still under contract, I can see him remaining in his post for Beijing 2008, just like his simlilarly failed predecessor.

Hard to imagine that the best futbol countries of the world WOULNDT catch up to the US eventually. Brazil, in all its futbol glory, had never even gotten to the finals to the WWC. They showed they belonged there this morning.

Brazil looked good to me in 99, too -- with Cisse (think that was her name). She was a fantastic player...

OK, I am as depressed about this as everyone else. Want some good news? Freddy Adu finally got back on the pitch for Benfica last night and scored twice (sort of). One was a penalty shot in stoppage time that tied the game. As it was a Cup match there had to be a result, so it went to a penalty shootout where Freddy scored again.

Camacho rested most of his regular starters; Rui Costa and Leo weren't even on the roster. But still...playing time is playing time.

1. What's a shame about the Solo-Scurry switch is that's the convenient thing that people (and the press) will fasten on. This team didn't lose b/c of that switch. I do think Solo is the better GK and if I'm coach I don't make that switch. But it was stupid of Ryan to do it, at this stage, and to believe it would compensate for the other issues.

2. Don't talk about team toughness or preparation or nonsense like that. Or "how could the #1 team" yada, yada. The reality is that the USWNT has amassed an impressive record in the past 4 years but it's now clear that much of that is b/c countries like Brazil go on hiatus, don't travel their best players to away friendlies and don't take it seriously until before major competitions. We're not the #1 team in the world and haven't been for some time (yes, the USA makes a big deal out of the Olympics but to the soccer world that's kind of like the Confed Cup). Nor is this a case of favoring veterans. Lilly was on this team fairly. And this team has a lot of new faces (ie: WC newbies).

3. Like it or not, if you were honest about appraising the USWNT talent, you'd said we probably have the best backline in the world, we have possibly the best center forward in the world (Wambach), we have better depth than anyone else. We're big and strong, well-conditioned and well organized. But we lack creativity, we have no short-passing game, our first touch is weak, our tactical flexibility doesn't appear to be strong, and our team speed is weak. The last WC, the line was that the US couldn't score unless it was a restart. This WC (and the leadin to it) was that we needed Wambach or Lilly, played nothing but direct soccer (unless it was against a weak opponent) and needed restarts to score.

Part of it is that the world is catching up with us. Part of it is that our residency program allows us to look better than we are (b/c we dominate everyone in offyears and fail to realize that the rest of these teams don't exist except for WC's--they're other mostly pickup sides). Part of it (as Steve Goff has mentioned) is that we lack creative attacking players (much like the role Hamm could play--irrelevant of her goal scoring). I don't think the 433 helps us--you play that formation if you have the female equivalent of Zidane, Essien and Neeskens on your team--players who just eat up yardage with huge workrates, lots of versatility, great vision and first touch and the ability to be outnumbered yet still match up. Boxx is much better than she looked in this tournament. But coming back from injuries, her form doesn't allow for a 433. And if you conclude Boxx can't cut it in a 433, than there is no other midfield talent on this team that allows you to play that formation with those roles.

I don't think this delays WUSA2. I do think it probably provides a reality check for some of the former and current players. I do think the league helps the WNT (which will probably play fewer games as a NT).

Finally, as for Ryan's subs...too little, too late. Ellerton was, IMO, an attempt to redress the quickness issues the team had with Brazil.

Troy -- thanks. I follow YAs and missed that.

Rossi scored too :)

What a disaster... Brazil plowed right through us from the get-go.

There was an eerie similarity between the own goals today and yesterday....

It's a shame to end a 50+ unbeaten record in a WC semi.

As a number of us have been saying here during the tournament, the beautiful game has not been in evidence as far as the USA is concerned. And here you see the terrible consequence.

Now, will the women turn in their pompous gold jerseys for bronze or white ones?

Everybody should have seen this coming. I mean, which WC match previous to this did we actually look good? Not "beat the other team," but play well? Anyone? Anyone? That's right, there wasn't one.

Bad coaching is when you think that one player will be better than another situationally (keeper not excluded) but you don't have the guts to make the change.
He didn't put Scurry in b/c he thought she'd be worse.
We have zero creativity and attacking flair and speed. That is the problem.

Does this mean we can stop talking about women's soccer for another 2 years now?

A lot of Brazil's shots on goal against the USA that didn't go in STILL seemed to have Brianna beat. I know Scurry's been tremendous in the past, even against Brazil, but it's time for Solo to take on that role.

Is it just me or does anyone else believe that we did not have a chance in this game, I knew yesterday that the USWNT would not win, Brazil has just played better throughout the tournament hands down. All of this talk about the goalkeeper is such a non issue. How many (good) shots on goal did we get today? Brazil's keeper seemed as if she barely touched the ball. This being said the decision to switch keepers was not a good one but ultimately did not have that much impact on the game.

First of I congratulate Steven Goff to travel to China to cover this wonderful and beatiful game, unlike some other recognizable papers don't seem to have anyone there. Also, congrats to ESPN to bring every game. Please continue as it is. USA team has been great but they are facing much improved other national teams. Kudos to all. Very bad decision from the coach. It made Scurry bad too now. Hope Solo shoub be proud. If she started perhaps this may not happened. USA still is one of the top teams, otherwise it wouldn't be at the semifinal stage. Congrats to all. I enjoyed brief wathc. I couldn't see all because of the schedule. Cheers from Arlington, Virginia!

The best team you have never heard of?

Brazil

A solid win by Brazil but hardly a surprise against a very uninspiring US squad..

Germany should be a tougher opponent in the final, using the organized but predictable style the US has emulated in the past few years. Only Germany knows how to play like Germany.

It should be a great final with contrasting styles.

Does anyone else think that Formiga's haircut reminds one of Anthony Perkins when he wore a women's wig at the end of Psycho?

I agree with those who note that we lack creativity. My husband and I went to a Washington Freedom game this summer (the reduced squad playing in Germantown, Md., post-WUSA) and watched the players win by making perfect, chain-up, short passes after perfect little traps.

It was like watching robots dance. Should work OK if you are playing a mediocre team, but this U.S. style of coaching little girls and women to be perfect drones leaves players with nothing to rely on if the chips are down.

Then you have Marta's move today with her back heel and her balancing the ball and shifting it around on the top of her toes off the ground, holding it out like a toy for a dog but using her shoes! Half the men on my husband's soccer team -- at least the Caribbean and other foreign ones -- can do this bit of footwork readily.

Marta looks like the Second Coming to the TV commentators because the U.S. women and others worldwide can't do this move that so many men work on at pickup games.

Our women come out of stifling training programs and dreary coaching rather than playing on the street and on beaches and playgrounds and coming up with your own style and using your MIND as well as your body.

"What happens if Kaka and Marta make babies?"

Their babies would battle for world supremacy with any spawn of Vernon Davis and Serena Williams (who are rumored to be dating/have dated).

*If we can change keepers before a WC semi-final, why can't we change coaches before the consolation? Let an asst stand in Sunday, and start interviewing Monday. Either Gabarra or both, Tracy Leone, Jillian Ellis, Jerry Smith (?!), Mark Krikorian, Bill Irwin. The GK thing was simply the last straw, and really not the most impt one.

*Lilly should bow out gracefully. She was on this team fairly, but . . . . She has had an unbelievable run, which is now over. We need to re-load for the Olympics. We have many dynamic scorers on the WWC bench and at home. It is their turn. Funny, what we really missed in 07 was Lilly the 99 midfielder.

*Marta is a wonderfully gifted player; she is the greatest player in the world. That said, the dancing on the ball at the end of the game was not "happiness," as Foudy said, it was not classy, it was not "beautiful," it was taunting. The US women should not, can not, allow that. Ellertson should have put her on her butt. Also the diving and writhing and histrionic bullcrap after touch fouls -- Ronaldinho, is that "joga bonito"? Such "creativity" and "flair"! I wonder -- how can I teach my girls teams to do that? Do they learn that in futsal?

*The Brazil back line did not make mistakes, to their credit. Were they tested? I missed it if they were. They did not make mistakes across the entire field, to their credit. Their side was mentally tough today. Hats off. But in fairness it is a bit easier when you're opponent plays 45 minutes down a player, on a complete crap call.

*Everyone on planet Earth, even Ronaldinho, can see that the second card on Boxx was the worst call in recent memory. I don't think the first one was so good either. The Brazilians got off to the expected start, taking a gratuitous stomp on Chalupny's calf in the early minutes, and taking a complete DIVE in the box, either one of which could have been a card. After 10 fouls -- on tone set by Brazil -- up to then 7 Brazil and 3 US fouls -- the ref felt (as I predicted yesterday) that she needed to step in a start throwing yellows early. In some respects Ryan asked for this, which came back to haunt. That FIRST yellow on Boxx changed the game, it would never have been called but for the previous 7 Brazilian fouls -- and the SECOND yellow destroyed the game. I wouldn't draw too many conclusions about a half played short-handed against Brazil sitting on a 2 goal lead. Brazil dominated the first half too, but for different reasons than in the second.

*JoeW is right on as regards the 4-3-3. It's time is done. I've beat that to death here before (like, after every game). The problem is not the midfielders themselves, it is that there aren't enough of them. Chalupny was a total rock star this tournament, and Osborne, though today was, um, not her best game, has really shone heretofore. We have midfielders, we need to use them more effectively. I would be curious about how much of the WNT time in residency has been working on set pieces and banging long balls from the back line, versus possession and transition in the midfield.

*Ronaldinho, you are very irksome. I hope Germany crushes Brazil. GO DEUTSCHLAND!!!!

I agree about the stifling training thing. People work on skill in junior soccer in US(Ive been coaching for eight years and yes I played in college and I am an American) without applying it to what football is about, namely scoring goals ,which requires improvisation. it's like playing Henry Iba basketball vs. John Wooden up tempo, you'll stay in the game but you won't score much.

Jeannie1132, you're HIRED!

I could not agree more.

If I'm FIFA, Nicole PETIGNAT doesn't ever referee again at this level.

WNT fan,

The worst type of blind is the one who doesn't want to see.

Thanks for the coverage. Yes its a frustrating loss today. Especially watching it. However hopefully its a good wake-up call for the US.

Here's a turning point for you: watching a WNT game and wishing they would play more like the MNT. I kept thinking about how the boys stepped up in the Italy match last summer...
Maybe that's the difference between being an underdog and being a formerly dominant force adjusting to the new world order.

Great point RK. Unfortunately, if Greg Ryan is still under contract, I can see him remaining in his post for Beijing 2008, just like his simlilarly failed predecessor

---

Contract, Shmontract. Ryan should be fired by this evening...if he doesn't have the integrity to resign himself.

Our USA team was thoroughly outclassed in the first AND second half.

The 4-0 scoreline was very generous for us.

I hope our coaches and fans don't try to rationalize this loss and go back to the same way of doing things. A new approach is needed.

Thank you JP. I was inspired by Leslie's and Lloyd's comments above ours to keep harping on this lack of creativity and how poorly our girls are taught.

Where is the freedom and playfulness and individual stamp that you see on urban basketball playgrounds by American boys? Brazil has that same danceability in its women's soccer ... well barring the diving as noted above, and now that I think about it, the gloating by the Brazil player who "sold" the non-foul to create Boxx's second yellow.

yes the second yellow card was a horrible call but the US was already getting beat badly. Their "strategy" of hack-a-Brazil was not going to send them to the finals.

This World Cup was an utter disaster for the US - ranging from the terrible Nike ads to terrible coaching decisions. They never looked convincing except for maybe the second half of the England game. Greg Ryan should be fired immediately. The game today was all about the US being distracted and not focused and it is the coach's fault for putting his players in that situation.

Troy -- thanks. I follow YAs and missed that.

Rossi scored too :)

Posted by: RK | September 27, 2007 10:23 AM

ROSSI IS NOT A YANK! He made his choice. He's an I-tai. Let it rest.

Not sure if the switch at keeper is 100% responsible for such a huge loss. But when you change someone in such a vital position on the eve of an important match, I don't think that inspires confidence in your team. It's like changing a QB mid-game. Sometimes you have to do it but only if the current QB really really sucks. Not because the sub played better against your opponent. Besides, why do it on the eve of the match?

Still 4-0 is 4-0 and that's rarely the fault of a single player (keeper or otherwise).

BTW, I think the residency program is not a bad program to have. At least it allows the team to play together which is a problem African countries run into at the senior level. Although I don't know how they can keep it up if a pro-league takes off in the US.

I'm transferring my loyalty to Brasil for the next 72 hours, which means it is time to scrutinize Barcellos as closely as we have Ryan. For starters, why no subs today? That was a rather Ryanesque (non-)move.

UNFAIR to the team, UNFAIR to Brianna, to Hope.
Ryan is an idiot. I thought some of his earlier decisions in the tournament were questionable, but this is a glaring boneheaded mistake not tolerated at this level, in this tournament.
He needs to be fired. NOW.

Rossi is an American (and an Italian). Playing in the world's best league. That's all I care about. Until Szetela signed, we didn't have one American in La Liga (and hadn't for a long time).

...and now that I think about it, the gloating by the Brazil player who "sold" the non-foul to create Boxx's second yellow.

Posted by: Jeannie1132 | September 27, 2007 11:22 AM
_______________________________________

Yeah, I noticed that, too. Thanks for reminding us.

I want to see Germany teach Brasil a lesson. DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES! And even though the USA disintegrated today, Brasil still takes the prize for total disintegration and psychological meltdown in the 1998 finals against France. Alemanha vai dar uma goleada ao Brasil!

1. "Half the men on my husband's soccer team -- at least the Caribbean and other foreign ones -- can do this bit of footwork readily."

Are they teaching their daughters (and other girls)?

2. "watched the players win by making perfect, chain-up, short passes after perfect little traps."

We didn't see much of that in China.

1. I think some of comments about the dives and "gloating" are misplaced. Here is what a lot of Americans don't get (b/c we're often so insular about our sports and teams--even in international games): many people around the world feel about our WNT like folks used to feel about the German men's NT. The common review of the Germans was that they were "disciplined" (ie: didn't make mistakes, wore you down, were like a machine at times but didn't play beautiful soccer). I think there are very few people outside the USA who are sorry to see our women lose this game (and that's not just people rooting for the supposed underdog). When you get a 50+ game winning streak (though much of it in offyear games), people look forward to your comeuppance.

Take away a couple of the hard fouls early by the Brazilians, or the cards to Boxx or the dives or the gloating and the result of this match doesn't change much. Oh, the possession percentage would change. But if you look at the USWNT over the entire WC, it's a team that has gotten results but didn't show flare or creativity. And it's a team that has been outplayed in midfield nearly every match. And it's a team that depends on Wambach for offense (either to score or do something that creates a chance for a teammate). We're not the #1 team in the world and we're arguably significantly below Brazil and Germany with us, Sweden, N. Korea, Norway and England all battling it out based upon form and fitness. I would not be surprised if the USA goes on another 20-30-40 game winning streak. But part of the lesson of the 50 game streak is that all of the other nations don't fund and support their women so our wins are an organized deep side against a pickup team--until it's tournament time.

2. WUSA-2 will help the US women. It's dangerous to rely completely on FA staff coaches (and if you think I'm bashing USSF talent, just look at England's NT coach McLaren and some of his initial decisions). Weekly club competition keeps you sharp and tests you in ways that residency camps don't. The shame of the state of our NT is that residency camps are ideal for building particular skills or tactics and it's obvious from how this team plays what tactical approaches have (and have not) been focused on.

3. It's a bit ironic to me (and I take no pleasure in pointing this out) and the USMNT just did better against Brazil (a 4-2 loss) than the women did. Brazil was clearly the more skillful and creative in both games. But in the past, US organization, our resources (ie: residency camps even in offyears), our athleticism, our depth, and talent grown in college competition was enough to allow us to mostly dominate women's soccer. Now that some of these countries have reduced sexism enough so that some of the women play some of the time, or they have semi-pro sides (ala England), we're finding out that residency camps and college ball isn't quite cutting it. I don't want to say that WUSA-2 is the salvation but it's a very useful step in creating a more skillful and creative bunch of players. Afterall, don't forget that for all of Wambach's college and USSF exploits, she blossomed in the WUSA.

Why didn't Wagner play? Our midfield needed some serious help all tournament long.

If we want out players to be more creative and imaginitve than we need to stop overcoaching them at the youth level.

USA panicked. "we're losing, send it up to Abby!" Long ball after longball. We couldn't hold posession, had no skill with the ball, and looked lethargic we were so slow.

Wake up call for the Best team you've never heard of and hopefully for the USSF. We need speed, skill, and actual tactics. The same old "use the best athletes" thing isn't cutting it any more.

Calling Jim Mike, damage control, Jim.

I think some of comments about the dives and "gloating" are misplaced.
________________________________________

It's not that we think they affected they outcome of this particular match. Rather, they're the sort of thing that should be nipped in the bud in the women's game, having sullied the men's game. The disciplinary committee should be reviewing tapes of this game and taking appropriate action; even token fines would be welcome.

Enough of this.

Goff, when do you land?

The team is going to need Jim Mike for Solo's comments. She just blasted Ryan and Scurry.

While I am sad to see the U.S. crash out, I will say that watching this U.S. team was boring. Slow decision making, Route 1 football, and watching Wambach whale on people ... Just no where near as fun as watching everyone interchange like at RFK last night.

Everyone above me has said it, but coaches need to encourage that style of play. It's what's best for the game.

The team is going to need Jim Mike for Solo's comments. She just blasted Ryan and Scurry.

Posted by: sitruc | September 27, 2007 11:55 AM
_________________________________________

In what forum? Is there a video clip we can view, or a wire service report we can read?

sitruc, what was said?

So I guess Brazil (and maybe North Korea) is the greatest team I've never heard of...

Ives reporting MLS to Seattle in 2009.

We MUST have Marta and Christiane and Daniela and Formiga (to name a few) playing in the WUSA 2!!!

These are the type of players I want to have as soccer role models for my youth girls teams.

There are other women's leagues to play in...come to think of it, I wonder where they all play, now.

I used to love Michelle Akers and Mia Ham when they played but is Marta a lot better than they were?

She looks like she could play on a men's league, certainly MLS.

Forget about the Scurry versus Solo debate!

Hope Solo is downright better looking!

ESPN showed Solo responding to an interview. She basically said isn't 2004 and she would have made the saves. She also said it was a horrible move for her not to play.

Not that this is a youth coaching board, but . . . .it is an interesting thing about creativity and the Brazilians as role models. Marta's creativity was borne out of extreme poverty in a remote rural town where basically her only option was to play pick-up in the streets with boys, until her raw talent enabled her to leave home at the age of 14. I'm not sure what lessons to draw from that, but it's not as easy as you think to create the right conditions to foster creativity in youth players.

And for everyone who complains about the drone coaching etc, please . . . get in touch with your local club because there is plenty of opportunity for you to step up, even if it just to "supervise" a weekly pick-up game for the local kids to drop by and work in a low-stress environment on their "Martas" -- which is what that end line move should now be called.

Marta plays in Sweden for Umea.

So do we get to see Hope back in goal for the 3rd place game? She's the only reason why I've bothered watching. So HAWT! And a better 'keeper too!

Hopefully this link will work - if not the video is linked to on espn's mainpage.

It's of Hope Solo's reaction re the game and being benched.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3039111&categoryId=2378529&n8pe6c=2

WNT Fan,

The poverty disclaimer is partially true but too oftenly used as a cop out.

"We're not that poor so we will never be that creative" does not tell the whole story and certainly does not preclude our coaches from TRYING to be more creative and develop ball skills.

Kaka is a brilliant player and he came from a wealthy suburb of Sao Paulo. Ronaldinho and Robinho, played futsal and grew up in a great soccer structure provided by Gremio and Santos, respectively.

I would advise youth coaches to take a trip to Brazil and see how coaching sessions are done down there in some of these clubs. The kids are let to play the game, have fun and are drilled on the fundamentals of the game, including first-touches, passing and dribbling. They are told to be happy and confident and to take players one on one and not be so predictable.

Youth coaches here will yell at the kid who does not make the "obvious" pass or tries to do a few too many step overs. Kids have to conform to the "team" and lose their individuality.

I like your ideas for pick up games. Another idea is to let kids play against older kids and even adults. Then there are dozens of other ideas that can be used in a practice environment.

Let's not discard creativity for US youth players as impossible. Let's go out there and instill creativity in our players.

I have my own youth team and I have been doing it for the past 4 years (U11 now) with absolutely remarkable results.

MNT Fan said: "And for everyone who complains about the drone coaching etc, please . . . get in touch with your local club because there is plenty of opportunity for you to step up, even if it just to "supervise" a weekly pick-up game for the local kids to drop by and work in a low-stress environment on their "Martas" -- which is what that end line move should now be called."

I'm a VP of a local club. It is impossible to have pickup games in this area. There are too few fields for all the organized clubs/teams in this area. You need a field permit to step onto a field in Fairfax County. Pickup games work fine in Brasil because most of the people are dirt poor and play in any space that they can: the beach, dirt, concrete, parking garages and even soccer fields. Children here cannot because someone will call the police or someone will get sued.

I'm really worried about my U12G daughter after watching the US play in the World Cup. I've been sending her to technical training since she was 6 years old and it shows but every coach that is successful in this area turns their players into drones just like the WNT. Must I teach her Portuguese and send her to Brasil for her to be successful?

the uswnt were outplayed by a technically
better more creative br 11.
their comfort level with the ball was
revealing and the source of their creativity.watching my 5 and 6 yr gndkids
chase a ball around at weekly soccer practice was revealing.
sure it got them tired but the game is
about skill and teamwork to which their was
little time given.
this was very apparent in the match today

Kids would develop the skills they need even quicker if the structure of youth soccer was changed. Small sided games (5-5 or 6-6 rather than 8-8 or 11-11) would give kids more space, more touches, more time on the ball. They don't even play in full squad matches until the age of 13 or 14 in some of the better european and south american youth set ups.

Whoa...let's not go overboard on the "pickup soccer is great" argument.

Sure you can experiment more playing pickup and develop more personal style than in structured training. However, it is on the training pitch that you learn how to play within a team concept or philosophy, measure up against your peers, fight for a place on a team and develop the WORK ETHIC needed to succeed.

And BTW, there are plenty of areas where pickup is played in the area. You just have to look for them. Arlington has several fields designated for "community" use. The Screaming Eagles host a weekly Saturday pickup as well. There are also several Meetup groups dedicated to pickup in the area.

Drew --

I am not discarding creativity, or copping out on poverty. I think about how to foster it every day, and that's the truth. But we're just not going to see little girls in Metro DC kicking rag balls around dirt lots all day long. Among many other things, the academic demands on most girls are pretty intense from about U12. So what to do?

Pick-up games, mixed ages and genders, that's a start. One day you're bigger faster stronger, plenty of time to try something new, the next day you're smaller slower, better be quick and skillful! No field? Play on a tennis court or an outdoor basketball court.

Often overlooked is the benefit of girls watching quality mens soccer. The Brazilians, Germans, English women all showed great field vision this WWC. Our young girls don't have the same national soccer DNA. Cable TV helps, but it is far better to watch live.

The move to small-sided at young ages I think is also good. I think what organized ball Marta played before age 14 was 5v5 indoor futsal.

Drew:

to be fair, there is a structural flaw in the youth development systems for both men and women in the US. you nailed it when you said 'teamwork' was drilled into people. that's the problem, in a nutshell. success, especially in europe, for a youth coach, is defined by developing players who star at the next level. In the US that is certainly part of it, but it's also about winning. most teams don't have the luxury to practice and develop players in game situations, they need to play their best players now, mistakes aren't 'learning experiences' they are mistakes. so you make your best midfielder pass, over and over, to lesser players, instead of learning to beat others one v. one.

We care, and teach kids to care, if the JayVee wins. who cares if the JV team, (or the freshman team, or the u-15s, whatever) win? that's not the point, the point it to give the players who will be on the Varsity next year a chance to season and play and get better. Take DCU's reserve team, does anyone care what the score is? it doesn't matter (well, except to the goalies, perhaps) Does anyone think that Arsene Wenger or Sir Alex care about the score of the reserves game?

Whoa, Hope, no, no, no. You're probably right, but you just don't say that. Ever.

Quality posts on youth soccer. I think there needs to be a healthy balance of street soccer and training. Youth games have moved to small-sided which is great. When I played U10 in the early 90's we played 11v11 on a full size field. There was so much time w/out the ball, no wonder kids were chasing butterflies. I always let my kids play the last 20 minutes or so each practice w/out too much instructions. And another coach and I run street soccer on saturdays. Parents aren't aloud to say anything and the kids play on their own. They call fouls and keep score. We supervise. Only coaching points we'll make are encouraging creativity and to have fun.

but should little kids be learning a "WORK ETHIC" at such a young age? Doesn't that drive the fun and passion out of them? Let them run around and just have fun playing until they get to 12 or 13 and then start doing all the tactics, etc. You can have "organized pickup" where the kids get used to playing together. Encourage passing and moving, not just one on one hot-dogging. Instead of line up and run this drill let them have more time touching the ball. Part of the problem is that parents want to program their little kids into being "winners" instead of letting them just have fun.

I wonder if Ryan will sit Hope in the 3rd place game after those comments. Although I agree with what she said, a little more discretion would have been better.

Yes more microsoccer 6 v 6 and the like. Too much country "Club Soccer"
Just watched ESPN highlights and Hope's comment. I agree with her it is now 2008,keeper play was slow and passive and defenders were backing off dribblers and bad move to switch keeper maybe 2-1 Brasil instead. 3 of the goals were preventable. Brasil just wanted it more, maybe switching goalies was not a popular move and teammates voted with their feet.

Rossi is an American (and an Italian). Playing in the world's best league. That's all I care about. Until Szetela signed, we didn't have one American in La Liga (and hadn't for a long time).

Posted by: RK | September 27, 2007 11:29 AM

Ja!Ja!Ja!Ja!

A: Italy is not the World's Best league.
B: He was born in America to Italian parents. He has chosen to play his international soccer with Italy. He's an Italian.
C: What does Szetela have to do with the Rossi is/isn't a Yank debate?

Thanks for the ESPN link...

Wow. That's a bomb dropped by Solo. Stunning.

And now I've had a chance to see the "highlights" -- that red card is truly unbelievable. I just don't get it.
---

"Not an American", you are late to the conversation. I don't care about his being a YA. I care that there is an American to follow in La Liga (not Serie A).

Another hint on pick-up, and pet peeve ----- the only bit of "coaching" we will do -- make the kids play different roles on the field. We will stop every 10 or 15 minutes -- back line and mids move up, forwards back to the back line, someone else get in goal. No other coaching. I am still not sure how best to foster creativity (would love positive posts on this), but I've seen a lot of ways I think stifle it, and one is to fix a young player in a "position" -- even a keeper.

NAM:

Rossi plays for Villareal, in Spain. The other American citizen playing in Spain is Danny Szetela. that's your connection.

Agreed with DCAustinite. Solo's comments were /way/ out of line.

Can't wait to see USSF try to spin that.

Just saw some of the highlights/Solo's comments, and I have a couple thoughts:
1. Hope Solo's comments were completly un-professional and uncalled for. She might have saved the near-post goal. Otherwise, you just don't say that
2. When Marta was doing her best Samba with the ball, damn, step in there and knock that girl on her @$$. At least stick a foot in. Ronaldinho is the only person aloud to do that.
3. That yellow card...ouch. obviously the game had already been decided at that point, but, geez ref, what were you thinking?

And I just saw the samba dancing on the ball -- if that were late in the game, I'd hope that someone would show her what a good slide tackle looks like. If you are going to get a red card, at least earn it, unlike Boxx...

Whoa, Hope, no, no, no. You're probably right, but you just don't say that. Ever.

Posted by: DCAustinite | September 27, 2007 12:56 PM
_________________________________________

I think back to when I was Solo's age (26), when I said and did stuff that was equally ill-advised. I should consider myself fortunate that (a) I wasn't an athlete of her caliber, and (b) the Internet was still in its larval stage, so that what I did say and do couldn't have done laps around the globe in an instant.

Under the circumstances, I think a case can be made for starting Nicole Barnhart against Norway. Trying to choose between Scurry and Solo at this point will only make things worse, and the difference between third and fourth place in this tournament is just not that important. Ryan should heed the old saying: When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

DCAustinite-

You're wrong, bro. You DO say that, then you pack your bags and go home. Solo was the keeper for this tournament, and getting benched for no reason is akin to Sampson asking Harkes to play defense in France. It's wrong tactically, wrong for the team's psyche, and just @#&*$%& wrong! And for Ryan to say that it wasn't his problem if Solo was upset was just a slap in the face to someone who had worked her @$$ off for the last few years and was sat for no good reason. She should pack up and leave, right now, rather than play clean-up for Ryan in a third place match. If it were me, I'd have to walk, or I could never look myself in the mirror again.

Either Solo or Ryan will not be around in the 2008 campaign. There's no way you can repair a riff that is so obviously broken.

Hopefully US Soccer will be smart and keep the 'keep...

If Ryan gets fired upon arrival, Jim Gabarra is not the answer as the next coach. If you thought Ryan had some weird sub patterns or starting line-ups, then Gabarra is your guy becuase with the Freedom he was full of weird subs and lineups. I don't know how the next coach should be, but I know that it shouldn't be Gabarra.
As for the impact on WUSA-2, I don;t think it will have much of an impact, the Olympics will have a much bigger impact because of the proximity to the start of the league. A WC trophy would be nice but the Olympics is much more higher profile then the WWC and a gold medal there will have a much higher level of visibility in this country.

i agree with grotus, she had every right to make those comments after the way she got treated.

if ryan had told scurry months in advance that if they played brazil at any point in the WC, then he should have told solo at the same time.

for him to say whatever about it not being his problem is messed up.

Section410 - good call on the goalkeeper choice for next game.

Ryan could/should also consider playing Kai and the others who haven't seen playing time.

I don't think it mattered who the U.S. played in goal today, they got worked. Plain and simple. Not too surprised having watched their earlier games. They looked very choppy and uninspired, essentially relying on long balls to Wambach (who is very good) to score.

Maybe it's a good sign that so many people are calling for Ryan's head -- they do stuff like this in the rest of the world after a team loses after a 51-game unbeaten streak, so maybe we're catching on.

In case you haven't seen it ESPn has a short video package of the game highlights.
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3038594&categoryId=2378529&n8pe6c=3

It's easy to armchair coach, but on the own goal that ball is going directly to Scurry. Miscommunication or what but that should have been a routine save.

A WC trophy would be nice but the Olympics is much more higher profile then the WWC and a gold medal there will have a much higher level of visibility in this country.

---

Huh?

Sorry, I can't just agree with that statement. The World Cup is THE tournament that matters in world football. Do you think every single game of the Olympic soccer tournament will be on TV?

If Ryan had any respect from his players Solo would never be making comments like that. I don't blame her at all...

As for fostering creativity, I teach them moves and other things in training but I will also show them other tricks before or after practice that get them excited and experimenting. Sometimes I will tell them to invent their own move and name it.

How pathetic - the US WAS number one - they never played well in the entire tournament. They have the skill but Ryan has got to go.

Here is why:
ZERO imagination in the build up and attack.
Bad call to sit your number one keeper.
Bad midfield play in all WC games.

All three are because of poor coaching. Hire Klinsmann NOW!

Why are Americans pissed 'cos the Brazilians were dancing on the ball? Should they be sorry for the US? I thot it was entertaining as heck.

"The Olympics is much more than the World Cup"

huh? This couldn't be farther from the truth. Any soccer fan knows the World Cup is the BIGGEST tournament in international soccer. Plain and simple!

I'm of 2 minds about Solo's comment. Yes to "you do not mouth off on camera like that" but the way Ryan handled the change and how especially how he effectively dissed Hope is also something you don't do. Not at that level or any level for that matter..

That being said, you just don't walk away from the team so I hope that Hope plays on Saturday with the grace and finesse she usually displays.

And why did Natasha Kai hardly play?

Good lord, Ryan is going to be in a tough spot when he gets back here.

Goff,

Does this mean you are back, or are you sticking around for the final?

I hear Guadalajara is lovely this time of year...

Hope Solo's comments are fully warranted, and she is free to speak her mind when her coach has blown years of practice, dedication and sacrifice for all squad members to smithereens.

What's with the patty-cake attitude towards athletes being able to tell the truth? Sure 99 percent of the time it's best to be diplomatic, but this is the other 1 percent when a coaching error is so egregious that it has to be called on.

Wasn't there a no-criticism clause in the WUSA player contracts against saying a bad word against the refs or anyone? Sorry, this is keeping athletes in a state of perpetual infantilism.

We can't have drones in terms of either playing style or inability to express a sense of legitimate outrage if we expect to compete with a Germany or a Brazil in the future.

I guess Bri won't be painting Hope's fingernails Saturday.

You don't air your dirty laundry on public. It's true for families, organizations, and teams. Your teammates need to know that, no matter what goes on in the locker room, they can trust you to keep it internal.

This is why most athletes wait until retirement to blast everyone they know in a memoir.

YEA - I love it Hope - tell it like it is.

The coach helped lose this game. the bottom line is that the best players were not on the field today. The Zilian's smelled the blood in the water and pounced like any world class team does.

This is far from a quiet internal locker-room difference of opinion.

This is a public fiasco with the dirty laundry being merrily paraded around the world for 90 minutes of ESPN air time.

The talking heads are having a hard time even thinking of an equivalent coaching blunder in any sport.

Not surprised at Hope's comments following Ryan's earlier ones, but it was wrong to do so, and not very smart for her to do so, professionally. That, and she knows that Brianna is not the sole reason they lost this game. She effectively laid the loss at her feet, though the US did nothing to create and finish scoring opportunities, played lousy defense, and were slow and plodding on the field. Brazil was a better team.
One thing she did get right - it's not 2004, and these players don't show the drive and skill and creativity of the "old" USA. I put that solely on the shoulders of the coaching. Goodbye, Ryan.
Maybe one of the former players should take on the job? Why not?

Brasil joga muito bem, mas Formiga e feia demais! Precisa ir logo ao cabeleireiro!

Sure Grotus, pack your stuff and walk - and kiss your future career with the WNT goodbye. At least you have your pride, right?
We don't need any of the prima donna behavior we've suffered through in our other professional sports creeping into soccer.
Hope didn't use good judgement in her comments, but it's not a career-ender. Walking off would be. That's just stupid.

Any one know the specifics of her comments - were all the players made available to the media?

Dan Steinberg:

Nobody... I mean literally NOBODY is answering their phone at the DCU front office today!! Are they all out playing hookie? What's the deal?!

Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang
sollen in der Welt behalten
ihren alten schönen Klang,
uns zu edler Tat begeistern
unser ganzes Leben lang.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang!

I still can't understand why anyone would see Ryan's decision as "dissing" Solo. When you participate in sports at this level, you go in with your eyes open to many things, one of which is that the coach makes playing time decisions based on the coach's judgement of who gives the team the best chance of winning, and you have no entitlement to anything in that regard. It's very hard, because you have to have a monster ego to play goalkeeper in that kind of setting, yet you have to keep it in check because no matter who you are you're going to spend some time on the bench. Being able to pull it off is one of the skills necessary to be on the national team.

Scurry worked just as hard as Solo and "deserved" the start in that sense just the same -- except that deserving is a non-issue.

209 comments and counting .... Wow.

Is this now officially the biggest soccer blog in the country? The most read?

Goffinho is buying a round of drinks for all regulars with his bonus money ...

"I still can't understand why anyone would see Ryan's decision as "dissing" Solo."

Because he clued Bri in on the possible change a long time ago and apparently kept Hope in the dark.

WNT Fan,

I am happy to hear about your willingness to develop more creative players. Here are a few brainstormed suggestions that I have found successful in my practices (warning: still practice fundamentals, don't swing the pendulum too far in any direction):

- We do not emphasize physical conditioning much. I am a fit guy and I hate running. Roll a soccer ball in front of me and I can run 8 to 10 miles while smiling. The girls have a short warm up where they run with the ball, form groups of 2 and pass to each other as they run, dribble through cones AND natural obstacles (this is important to change their mindsets into a more creative zone: holes in the ground, goal posts, hydrants, etc), and other types of short jogs WITH THE BALL. All of their exercises are done with the ball glued to their feet.
- We mark the field with certain positions, place players in those positions and call the rest of the players ZOMBIES. The girls on the set positions are supposed to work the ball through the zombies (dribbling) and pass to the other girls in the other set (fixed) positions. We talk about how POSSESSION is the most important aspect of the game. That the ball is THEIRS and the opponents only touch it IF THEY ALLOW THEM TO TOUCH it. Otherwise, the opponents are no better than zombies (i.e. - idea of an inferior being with limited or mechanized skills).
- We also devote a good percentage of time in our practices to "keep away" drills where they are confined to a very small area and must play in teams of six, dribbling and keeping the ball away from the other team.
- Another hit with the girls is the "show off time" during our practices. After every practice, I ask them to go home and think of a new juggle, dribble, fake or whatever other aspect of soccer that is creative and they can demonstrate to their teammates. The response has been great. I ask for 3 or 4 volunteers in each practice to show off their skills and teach it to the rest of the team. The girls feel very empowered by this and they have spent quite a bit of time off practice thinking of ways to control the ball or dribble or shoot that can impress the other girls and potentially be used during games.

I could go on and on but the point is that I believe that creativity can indeed be fostered at the youth level with AMERICAN players.

There are some very knowledgeable and insightful people participating on this blog today.

I am taking notes on a few very interesting comments and suggestions.

Thank you!

I really like Foudy's point that Ryan didn't just screw Solo by benching her, he screwed Scurry by dropping her in this match with so little real playing time in ages.
Hope was untactful and arrogant to be sure, but I find it hard to blame her. As many have said, if Ryan had this up his sleeve for a year he did a piss-poor job of prepping EITHER of the goalies in question for it. And his substituting this tournament has been truly baffling. I'm still sitting here shaking my head.

Hope Solo is classless. She should be sent home from China before the US plays the third place match. She obviously has no idea what it means to be part of a team.

ussoccer has posted some post game quotes

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_2555913.html

including

Coach Ryan On Hope Solo:
"I haven't talked to Hope after the game, but we spent some time together sitting down and talking about things today, and just telling her that she's done great in this World Cup. She's got four games under her belt without a loss. She's a young, very talented 'keeper who will, I'm sure, lead this team many years into the future. I'm very proud of how she's played and she will continue to play in the goal for this team down the road."

Kristine Lilly on if the goalkeeper change affected the team: "I don't think so. It's a game out there. With everyone on the field, it wasn't about anything like that. It was a game that we came up short in, and if you look at it like that it was Brazil's day and not the USA's."

Goff was a lot easier on the 2nd yellow for Boxx in his article than most of the commenters here:

"Boxx got tangled with Cristiane on the left flank, and although the Brazilian appeared to initiate contact, Boxx was called for obstructing what would likely have been an excellent scoring opportunity."

No one else here has hinted at the smallest possibility that Boxx was preventing a scoring opportunity. I haven't seen the game or the highlights (lowlights?) yet. Any comments from Goff or anyone else?

Something that DiCicco briefly mentioned, and which someone has mentioned on another blog: Team psychologist Colleen Hacker, arguably one of the principal architects of the '99 WWC triumph, apparently was not in China, although she was accessible via emailing and texting, which seems like a poor substitute. Goff, is this so?

Goff has to write his report in real time and doesn't have the luxury of the halftime report. He was likely trying to explain the referee's decision. Maybe a different version will appear in the paper version.

Section 410: Foudy also mentioned that the team did not travel with a chef this time. Must be some budget cutbacks at USSF HQ. They would have been better off if they traveled without a head coach.

Unless I overlooked something, a link to Goff's report has not yet been posted. Here it is:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/27/AR2007092700756.html

"I still can't understand why anyone would see Ryan's decision as "dissing" Solo."

"Because he clued Bri in on the possible change a long time ago and apparently kept Hope in the dark."
---------------
This from an online AP story from last night: "'[Solo] knew there were certain types of games that I felt like Bri would be the keeper,' Ryan said." Of course she knew that. It has nothing to do with respect, Ryan put Solo on the US National Team and gave her start after start, what more respect could anyone ask for? But nobody owns a spot on the field. Nobody has to be happy, and nobody has to agree that the coach was correct in his assessment, but the idea that this is a personal affront to Solo is unrealistic.

A coach should always respect his players first. If you respect your players they will respect you back and run through a brick wall for you. Even professionals.

They showed the play in slo mo. It looked to me (blind as I am, and unwilling to see) that the Brazilian player changed direction and cut behind Boxx, and ran across the back of Boxx's legs. I don't think "got tangled" is fair, and obstruction on that call, no way. And the Brazilian got up rejoicing about the second card. According to posts above, the Eurosport annnouncers were just as appalled as Foudy and JP, and presumably they are unblinkered and unbiased. It was a crap call.

WNT fan: from my viewing of the replays, the foul, if there had to be one, was on the Brazil player, she took Boxx down, not the other way around. still, it should have been 'play on'.

new ref please.

Wow. 225 posts, and nearly all (except this one) are on topic and intelligent. Take that Redskins Insider!

Oh, fire the coach, and fire the person(or people) who've picked the last two WNT coaches.

"I'm a VP of a local club. It is impossible to have pickup games in this area. There are too few fields for all the organized clubs/teams in this area. You need a field permit to step onto a field in Fairfax County. Pickup games work fine in Brasil because most of the people are dirt poor and play in any space that they can: the beach, dirt, concrete, parking gar