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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Wow!  This morning's matches were nail-biters. I don't think anyone envisioned Germany getting bounced this early, especially when you looked at the strength of the group based on rankings. Now Germany, Brazil, and Canada are all out - Morocco, Jamaica, and South Africa move on. Watching the German women's tears and utter disbelief at this outcome should make US fans appreciate the fact that their team was able to make it through.

The images of the Moroccan players and coaches watching the end of the Germany game and then celebrating their remarkable achievement were incredible. I was crying right along with them, just as I did yesterday watching the Reggae Girls celebrate their own history-making advancement to the knockout round. All of this is what makes the WC so special.
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Incredible final day of group matches. I can't think of many sporting events that rival the drama of the last group games of World Cups. What a day for Morocco in the same year that their men's team made history. First ever Arab nation to qualify for the women's WC goes through at the expense of one of the top teams in the world, who they had lost to by 6 goals in the first game. But they beat Korea and Colombia and Germany couldn't. A bit lucky against Colombia but they defended well and looked dangerous on the break. The draw ended up working out well for them as it's always easier to play the top team in the group in the last game.

Hard to pinpoint what went so wrong for Germany. Apparently there were lots of injuries so some of their best players have been playing out of position. But no team is ever at its ideal full strength through a  WC, making it as much a test of a team's depth as it is of quality. Clearly, their finishing and combination play in the attacking third weren't good enough in the last 2 games. An awful year for German soccer, with the women, then men and the Under-21 men all falling at the group stage of world cups. I (and many Germans I am told) wonder whether in turning their teams (both women and men at all levels) into attack-minded units with highly technical players, they have somehow lost their defensive mojo.

The fate of Germany, Brazil and Canada also helps add some perspective to the US team's showing so far. This is not the women's game of the 1990s or even 2000s, when the top teams would sail through  the group stage. The gaps between national teams have closed dramatically as the game has gone global (most teams have at least a few players playing for top clubs with players from the top teams). This is the way it goes in the men's WC and it's fantastic to see the women's game go in that direction. Clear proof of the extent of growth of the sport worldwide. Soccer fans like us love it. This also means that top teams and their fans need to adjust their expectations. Put aside the arrogance of expecting to win, stop incessantly talking about the irrelevant past (thereby increasing the pressure on your players), and celebrate the hard-earned successes. For all you know, what you interpret as your team not playing as well as their predecessors could just be that the opponents are playing much better. And stop insulting other teams (such as US should "rest" players because Portugal is not a good team).

The US haven't been playing too well, but to give credit where it's due, the defense has held firm as a team, with just 1 goal conceded so far and few shots on their goal. Defense is not just the CBs, it's the team as a whole and shows the commitment and organization of players. Teams that defend well can go far in the knockout stages of a tournament like this. This has been proved over and over again in the men's tournament, and as the quality of teams converge in the women's game, it will be true for this WC as well.

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