Carli Lloyd scores 3 goals, and we're up 4-0 within about 20 minutes. If you read this Blog, you'll remember that I had predicted that the US would steamroll Japan....and we did. The reason? Easy--the USWNT was on a 'playoff roll' and peaking at the right time. Japan was 'getting by' (own goal by England won Japan's semi-final match). There was absolutely NO WAY that the US would lose in the 2015 Final.
Here's an opinion for you: The National Team's of the USA--both Men's and Women's do better when attacking. And by attacking, I mean GOING AT the opposition in 'full throttle mode'. If you look at the USWNT matches, we did better when we high-pressured and 'took it to' our opponents. The USNMT in the past couple of games attacked Holland and Germany and Guatemala and WON.
Years ago, many of soccer's pundits wondered what the US 'style' of soccer would be. Would we be like the English, would be be like the Germans, would it be a hybrid of Anglo-European-'Murican soccer? I would postulate that our style is to attack. Go forward and keep going forward for the full 90 minutes of the match. It proved successful in the Women's World Cup and it can--hopefully--prove successful in the Gold Cup (which starts today) for the USMNT.
Congratulations to our US Women's National Team on their 3rd World Cup championship. A well fought and well deserved triumph. Good luck to our USMNT as they begin play in the Gold Cup. The pressure's on, Boys! Good luck.
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot everything right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV