The Group Stage Recap Part I: USA’s Problem, Phnom Linda Caicedo and Good-bye to the GOAT #1831
USA,Brazil, Columbia
The Real Yet Clear Problem with USA Underwhelming World Cup
The United States women’s national team came into this World Cup having won the trophy in the last two tournaments. They came with pressure and expectations to deliver a third. While you can argue that the 2019 World Cup win was a stroke of luck in the semi-final and final. There’s no doubt that over this last era they have been the dominant force in women’s football. At this world cup they ran into a brick WALL. They were a post away from being knocked out of the world cup. There was a millimeter separating them from elimination. Completely underwhelming against Portugal. The USA doesn’t have the individual prowess that they once did. Of the Top 15 players at the world cup. 0 comes from the USA. Portugal severely outclass them. They had a nightmare dealing with Jessica Silva. Against the Netherlands they were outclassed by Jill Rood and Lieke Martens. Even though they beat Vietnam Alex Morgan missed a penalty against vs 5'5 goalkeeper they had a goal that should not have counted and overall put together a rugged performance. The United States women’s national team has not looked good in any of their three games. They are very fortunate that they have gotten through into the round of 16. They will play Sweden. Sweden thus far look like one of the favorites. Sweden in all likelihood will pulverize them. Lindsey Horan has been very good Sophia Smith has had her moments and Trinity Rodman has shown flashes from time to time. Not having the individual advantages has now gone against them. There’s very little optimism one could give from their three group games. Carly Lloyd had very harsh criticism of this year’s team. Describing their performance as lucky to still be in the world cup. She also suggested that Alex Morgan should be dropped from the starting lineup. She took some criticism for it but also was given praise for her harsh checking of the national team. Alex Morgan in the three game looks like she doesn’t belong. The only player on the entire team that has been consistently good is Lindsey Horan. It also highlights something that has been echoed. Yet the obvious has been completely ignored. Not only by the coaches but also by the players their actions. Lindsey Horan is a perfect example. The reason why is clear. Lindsay Horan, even though she recently spent time in the United States. However, at the start of last season she joined Olympic Lyon on loan. She helped guiding them to a league title and another Champions League. Even though she spent some time in the US prior to that, She played for PSG too. She has played 99 games in Europe. The vast majority of this squad has very little experience in Europe. The case studies that they have are not promising either. The vast majority the squad is currently playing in the United States. Of the teams playing in the round of 16. The best player of all 16 teams is playing in Europe. Not to mention the vast majority of those squads are european-based. This means on the 23 squad that the u.s brought to the world cup. Only one player is going up against the best of the best on a regular basis. That individual is Lindsey Horan. The reason they are failing and falling flat so substantially is because 99.9% of their squad is not playing against the best and being tested on a regular basis. The reason that the United States only has one player playing in a European league is because only one player has had the courage to do it. The manager has been horrendous but the manager did not have a lot of players to pick from that are playing in Europe and are getting tests in our regular basis. While Lindsey may not have played against all the top players. She plays with and against players that operate in a high level. She knows how to adequately and substantially match up with these monsters. She knew how to respond and got into it with Daniëlle van de Donk They are teammates at Olympic Lyon. If the United States had 11 players with the ambition mentality and attitude of Lindsay. They would not be falling flat the way they are. They’re not going to be able to continue to be one of the great teams in women’s football. If the majority of the squad isn’t playing in Europe’s top leagues. Sophia Smith and Trinity rodman have an excellent future and are young catapults for the World cups to come. The USA will sabotage the talent at their disposal. If in the next World Cup. The majority of the players are playing in the u.s the problems will continue . Carly Lloyd brought up a lot of issues. There’s many issues but this is the reason that they’ll be going home soon. They took a gamble and they’re being punished for it.
Linda Caicedo in the Next Star In Womens Football
At this women’s World Cup there has been one breakout star. A lot of people speculated that would be Sophia Smith she was expected to be the star of the show I don’t mean to dunk on the United States again, but she was blindsided by a rising star in Colombia. The big breakout star at this World Cup is Linda Caicedo. The 18-year-old phenon is not someone that will be forgotten anytime soon. We have seen a superstar spread her wings at this world cup. Columbia against the odds has just about qualified for the round of 16. While it has been a collective effort Linda Caicedo has set the pace on this Columbia side in their near historic berth. She is already netted twice at this world cup and could be in for an even bigger moment in the round of 16. While it hasn’t been confirmed officially. All they need is at least a draw against Morocco to qualify. She opened up her World Cup account against South Korea. However, the goal everyone will remember from this world cup is her late strike against Germany as Colombia and ended up pulling off a huge upset against the World Cup favorites. They have won the opening two games at this tournament and seem to be building themselves as a dark horse in the next round. They’d only been elected to play at the World Cup twice. They did make the round of 16 and 2015 but at this world cup they have an opportunity to potentially take another step forward. Linda Caicedo is a huge difference maker. It is truly remarkable that this young woman is only 18 years old doing what she is done. Scoring against Germany is difficult in itself, but bagging herself a winner is something different entirely a historic moment for Colombia’s woman football. The Real Madrid rising Star is only warming up. There is still one more group game to play with a high possibility of the knockout stage. She was named the best player at the Copa America leading Columbia to the final which they ultimately lost. She also made the World Cup under 17 final and was one of the best players there. This just seems that it’s in the prophecy. Linda Caicedo World Cup has just begun. She is certainly been the breakthrough star. She scored three times in 14 games for Real Madrid. A big move for her career following a successful run in her home country. She is truly one of the stars of the show in the 2023 World Cup. Linda Caicedo has only just begun as she continues to ascend is one of the brightest stars in the women’s game. If she’s doing this a just 18 years old. Imagine what she can do as she continues to progress into a superstar.
Marta: The Greatest of All time Final World Cup Moment
Marta Final World Cup ends rather ingloriously as Brazil are ousted from the world cup. Still a game to go. However, what was supposed to be a magical moment for a Brazilian icon has been overshadowed by the vulnerabilities and in deficiencies shown by Brazil throughout the world cup. Marta is a Brazilian icon and the greatest player of all time. While there may be cases to be made for Mia ham and a couple others. No other has ever done the things that Martha has done. She has been the most dominant force in women’s football for over two decades. She has one the Ballon D’or six different times. She delivered on a high level both for club and country. Something that is incredibly difficult to do. She made one world cup final in 2003 and perhaps her inability to bring Brazil. The World Cup trophy will always be a dart in her legacy. She has had so many incredible World Cup moments and certainly the best player in World Cup history. She played in 6 World cups scoring 17 goals. That is the most World Cup goals scored by any player, men or women. Could dig even further. She’s won the Copa America on three different occasions. She scored 115 goals in 174 matches for Brazil. She operated at a high level at club level playing in the United States, Brazil in Sweden. She was an absolutely menace for rosengard and went on European runs quite regularly. She also took a small team in Sweden to the Champions League final. Even if she came up short in the end, very few could have had the career that she has had. She is a footballing genius that are operated at a level that very few could match. Just from an individual perspective, no one can touch her legacy, at least not yet. This was not the way it was supposed to end for Brazil at the World Cup, but for more importantly Martha’s final moment.
