Yes!! our American girls remained amazing and outstanding despite the distraction created by Greg Ryan in using Scurry at the cage in lieu of Solo...Perhaps, that move might not have changed the outcome vs Brazil but doing so at the last minute would certainly raised a lot of eyebrows...However, our Ladies stay put..sliding away this noise and outplaying Norway this morning winning the bronze medal for the 3rd time (1995, 2003 and 2007)..
What strucked me was the audacity of Ryan not putting Solo at the cage in the second half..Again, our Ladies ignored that arrogance by beating Norway 4-1..Ambach, O'Reilly and Chalupny were the authors of that victory...I have been up since 5:00am ET to witness greatness of which I was not disappointed for two reasons: 1) America was ranked by FIFA as the #1 seed thus they have to fight to be among the three bests in the World (and the team proved it vs. Norway) 2) America has to prove its resourcefulness, that the team has enough back ups to win....to finish third despite Shannon Boxx's absence..
This is the image the team is striving to convey to its fans and foes..unity, friendship and loyalty or:
This one but preferably with Solo who was the talk of the town despite her alleged absence on the bench/in the stadium.......I am not discounting or minimizing Scurry skills but Ryan's attitude vs Solo was questionable at best..He should have used Solo in the second half in both vs.Brazil and Norway..It remains to be seen how that animosity between the two is going to unfold in years to come as Germany is thinking to a hat trick in 2011 as the host of the WWC...Similarly, the US team is dreaming of becoming the first to win the title 3 times..In the meantime, Brazil is not going anywhere as the team missed this golden opportunity to get the trophy for the very First Time...I am sure they will be back as Marta will be only 25...
The Americans have nothing to be ashamed of....In order to be the best, they have to beat the best...that saga among the soccer powerhouses, the triumvirate( Germany, Brazil and USA) is there to stay and we cannot wait to see them again in Germany which will be the defending champ for the second time....
Papipoul
Third place finish though commendable was actually less than the team had been hoping for.Now they'll go on to the Olympics most probably as one of the favorites. But most certainly behind that of Brazil and newly crowned champions Germany. Who proved themselves to be worthy defending champions and the outstanding team of the tournament.
tophatal
Last edited by tophatal on September 30th at 10:39 AM.
Papipoul
I've two new posts up and I'd like your opinions on them both. They're titled What Happened In Little Rock Reverberrated Around The World....Fifty Years On ! The second is titled Paper Tigers, Champions Or Simply Not Just Good Enough ? They're written under this guise. I look forward to reading your comments.
Topha!! Your two posts are on the mark..They addressed the most burning questions the American society is facing today but it seem to be like a DEJA VU phenomenon..To deny that African-American has not made progress on the social,economical and political front since MLK movement will be a grave disservice to the civil right movement but as many of us noticed (Black, White and Brown) we have a long way to go...There are still some who do not want to divorce with the JIM Crowe's era...these underground activities constitute a slap in the face of those who rejected this oppressive mentality..Perhaps, the next generation will be the one to put a term at this master-object dichotomy....
I have already opined on the last night fight featuring Taylor (bad intentions) and Pavlik (the ghost)...I am patiently waiting for the bout between Mayweather vs. Hatton...
Last edited by Papipoul on September 30th at 3:38 PM.
Mean!! How are you my Bro?? At least, we can console ourselves with a bronze relegating the copper to the Norwegian girls...A good sizeable of fans' wish was a final between US and Germany but Brazil got into the way...For the Samba Queens, beating US women soccer is equivalent to winning the title..They have spent most of Thursday, Friday and part of Saturday dancing, chanting forgetting the real purpose of being there..WE still have to keep an eye on them for the 2008 Olympics in China as any opportunity to beat us again or this time particularly Germany will be like vindication and payback.................
In order for the US to get back to its MO, the women soccer team needs to beat everybody in China for the Olympics next year so there will be no IFs, ANDs or BUTs...........................
Papipoul - perhaps her last name speaks volumes of her character...Solo. As in single. You don't call out your coach or teammates even if you disagree with the coach's decision. A very classless move. I heard she apologized to the team later. Now let's see if she can move past this.
Mean - just slowly working up my post game crtique of the OU-Colorado game. The boys smelled up the joint on Saturday...from Stoops on down. Probably have it up tomorrow morning. You?
I figured you were ruminating on your boys poor performance, so I didn't seek you out. As long as the Sooners learn from their mistakes they should boucne back strong. Still, they can't afford another stinker.
I watched these games. Yes, I was the one, being that most were played at 4 a.m. here. These young women deserve our gratitude. While they fell short of their ultimate goal nevertheless job well done.
...and they can be just as ridiculous by talking to media and putting feet in their mouths.
Who's going to be the National Team goalie in the future. Job's open.
Thank you GUYS for stopping by while I was helping my son with his homework...I am not ready to censure Solo but her youth has played a major part in her loquacy and her impulsivity...Being politically correct is not always a good thing...It seem that her verbal performance will cost her her career..Poor thing!!! On that note, I will say to all of you Hasta la Vista!! Hasta Luego!! It is 10:57 PM ET, time to go to bed.....
Papi, well done...Our girls have now lost one game in their last, what, 53? Brazil played a masterful game against us, but perhaps celebrated a tad too much before the final. Germany was too big, too solid, too organized. Zero goals against tells it all.
Ryan's tactics to use Scurry and long balls instead of midfield play backfired. Scurry should have pounced on that first goal before Leslie Osborne arrived. Marta's first goal seemed weak from that distance, especially to the inside post. Solo would have had those two.
But the killer was Shannon Boxx's red card in the most inept piece of World Cup officiating I've ever seen. She was clearly tripped from behind, but the ref was apparently watching the ball and blew it. Shades of Eddie Pope vs. Italy.
Brazil was too quick to employ long-ball tactics and finally has learned how to head the ball out of their area, but not on attack.
Our girls were unprepared, outplayed and out-coached, not to mention lacking a leader on the field like Julie Foudy, who would make a great coach. I loved her commentary.
Welcome aboard LJRJ!! At the very least we have a soccer-minded blogger who tried to balance things..It is refreshing to see a fellow take the time to analyse the US women soccer team backward and forward going back to their heydays (1991 and 1999)...Mia Hamm would be also proud of them specially when we have a veteran like Kristine Lilly among them..Welcome aboard LJ!!!!
PIGGY!! I know you hate the Beautiful game...That is OKAY...I will never give up on you..One day...I mean one day you will love it specially with Corporate America which is currently investing in imported players like Beckham in LA Galaxy, Denilson from Brazil in FC Dallas and countless Mexican soccer stars spread all over MLS...One day you will be a soccer-addict similar to NFL, NCAA, BCU,BCS and Baseball..
Last edited by Papipoul on October 2nd at 5:31 AM.
ED!! Of course, I will report on college women soccer but the current event was about WWC..I am still learning and searching for what club these current US women soccer stars are playing..That will be my project for next time......Nice to see you..SEE YOU!! no..to cyberchat with you again...
Gcoach!! Thank you for peeping by...I agree that Hope...Solo (something is wrong with this name)is brainless..Perhaps she is hoping, wishing to be single or stay single..Yes!! she has asked for it..She will spend the rest of her life soccerless...in SOLO....
Sis!! You are right..She is unemployed as we speak because of her verbal diarrhea..That was a miscalculation on her part..Her teammates did not go along with her rantings..I can see why her last name is SOLO to parody gcoach....
Last edited by Papipoul on October 1st at 8:16 PM.
I am a Mental Health Professional practicing in Washington, D.C.
I would like to be a PRN Blogger at this time.
I am the new kid on the block.
I played soccer and volleyball when I was a youngster.
Recently, I have been glued to my TV on weekend watching or replaying the BEAUTIFUL GAME.I also enjoyed watching my 13 years old son playing basketball on weekends.
I am also a big fan of Hockey, North American Football specially playoff time, and Boxing.
Any comments? Any questions?
This is the image the team is striving to convey to its fans and foes..unity, friendship and loyalty or:
This one but preferably with Solo who was the talk of the town despite her alleged absence on the bench/in the stadium.......I am not discounting or minimizing Scurry skills but Ryan's attitude vs Solo was questionable at best..He should have used Solo in the second half in both vs.Brazil and Norway..It remains to be seen how that animosity between the two is going to unfold in years to come as Germany is thinking to a hat trick in 2011 as the host of the WWC...Similarly, the US team is dreaming of becoming the first to win the title 3 times..In the meantime, Brazil is not going anywhere as the team missed this golden opportunity to get the trophy for the very First Time...I am sure they will be back as Marta will be only 25...
