Clear 13 oC
| FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 - U.S. vs. France |
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| Written by Carey |
| Friday, 15 July 2011 19:35 |
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The seventh ranked French (in blue) were the underdogs going into the game while the number one ranked U.S. (in white) is a veteran team, so veteran that they are the oldest squad in the World Cup. France had advantages in two categories: they are the team with more pace and they had one extra day of rest before the semis. The field conditions in Monchengladbach (quite a mouthful!) were wet at the beginning of the game, which led to the ball moving around quite quickly on the wet surface. In the second half it even began to rain. No complaints from the players about the conditions, I’m sure as the cool weather really helps them. The weather did not discourage people from coming to the game as over 25,000 fans packed the stadium. Coming into this game physically dominating U.S. striker Abby Wambach was looked to as being a key player on either side The U.S. had only lost two games in which Wambach scored over the course of her career. France was not especially concerned about that stat, at least on the outside, rather they had made comments pre-game about Wambach’s tendency to go to ground easily. The focal point of the French attack is striker Marie-Laure Delie. For France the World Cup was already hugely successful and they, courtesy of their reaching the semis, have already qualified for the 2012 Olympics. Don’t fool yourself though, the French came here to win. France did not play the game like a team intimidated and even ended up with most of the possession (55%-45%) of the ball. Early on in the game it was Les Bleus who had the first good chance. In the 7th minute off a French corner kick, midfielder Louisa Necib let off a good shot, if not the best placed one, that forced Hope Solo to tip it over the bar. Early advantage France. Being a veteran team, the U.S. were not easily rattled nor did they lose their heads over the fact that France had the ball more during the game. They know that the only thing that counts in soccer as in any sport is scoring. And when they were afforded or created opportunities that is exactly what they did. Not long after the first good scoring chance by the French the U.S. broke out of their own end led by Carli Lloyd. Knowing that the French defence would be focusing on Wambach, Lloyd found midfielder Lauren Cheney unmarked with a clever ball inside the 18 yard box that Cheney just had to deflect past French goalkeeper, Berangere Sapowicz, who was making her reappearance in the French net after serving a one game suspension. The game was only 9 minutes old and it was 1-0 U.S. Despite the fact that the U.S. has been in every semi-finals of this tournament this was their first goal since 1999, the year that they won the World Cup. Talk about an ice breaker and an important goal for the psyche of a team! In the 23rd minute the U.S., who used their air dominance to their advantage all game, had a glorious chance to go up 2-0. Off a U.S. corner taken by Cheney (the girl who was everywhere all day), Lloyd manages to get her head to it, but it goes wide of the left post. She really should have done better with an opportunity like that! At the time you had to wonder if that would be fatal for the U.S. as it probably would have killed the spirit of the French a mere 23 minutes into the game to go down 2-0. The French, instead of collapsing after giving up an early goal, turned it up a notch and started peppering U.S. keeper Solo with shots from everywhere. Over the course of the game they directed an amazing 25 shots at the U.S. net. France really began to dominate late in the 1st half. Their best chance was a close in one by Gaetane Thiney. Thiney was sent in courtesy of a great ball by Necib. Solo timed coming out of her net perfectly, made herself large and got a glove on Thiney’s shot. Another great chance came almost immediately after at the 32nd minute. France was awarded a free kick on the left side roughly 10 yards out. Who else but the playmaker Necib took it. She played it back to Sonia Bompastor, who left footed a shot that beat Solo, but hit the crossbar. Unlucky! Shots by Thiney and Abily followed soon after that were off the mark.
France continued in the beginning of the 2nd half like they left off in the 1st with The U.S. were back on their heels with France scoring and continuing to dominate the game. Then they made a couple of substitutions that made a big difference. In the 56th minute Amy Rodriguez was taken out in favour of Alex Morgan and in the 65th minute Lloyd was taken out in favour of Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe has been an important player for the U.S. when she’s come in as a sub in the midfield. She has contributed to a couple of U.S. goals including the all-important tying one late against Brazil in the quarter finals. In the 79th minute the head of Wambach once again resulted in an important goal for her team. And it added to the excellent record the U.S. has when she scores. Cheney placed her corner kick at the back post and the French keeper misplayed the ball as she got tied up with a U.S. player disallowing her to get a fist to it. Of course, the always strong in the air, Wambach got a head to it and it was in the back of the net just like that. 2-1 U.S. That was quickly followed up by the nail in the French coffin courtesy of the combination of subs Rapinoe and Morgan resulting in a goal. In the 82nd minute Rapinoe played a through ball that sprung Morgan in alone on Sapowicz. Morgan very coolly chipped it over the French keeper, who came out then looked like she ducked under the shot. Another error by Sapowicz. France does not really threaten the U.S. net after that and it is actually the U.S. who has the best scoring chance. In the 88th minute Morgan has another chance to score (what an impact by the sub!) after she is sent in by Wambach, but Sapowicz manages a save. No matter as the game ends 3-1 U.S. Another high quality game in the World Cup. This would be the first World Cup final for the U.S. in 12 years. The game will be held in Frankfurt on Sunday. It was the end of the road for France, but they gave a good account of themselves and could still come out of it with a bronze medal. Game Stats: |
This was game one of the Women’s World Cup 2011 semi-finals. The U.S. has been to at least the semis in every single edition of the World Cup. Impressive! The U.S. was facing off against the upstart French, who were only in their second appearance ever at the World Cup. Their last time was 2003 in the United States. Both teams have qualified for the semis via penalty kicks. The U.S. defeated Brazil and France defeated England.
At the beginning of the 2nd half the French coach Bruno Bini made an odd change in that he brought out Delie and put in Eugenie Le Sommer as the striker. Strange change because Delie is such a strong player and because if he wanted a change up front then Elodie Thomis, a player with a lot of speed, would have been the more logical choice. Thomis did come into the game later (78th minute), but it was too late at that point.