If the purpose here is to win the World Cup early next month, the United States is going to have to go through either Germany or France. Although the latter had its slip against the same team the United States beat Monday, in this tournament, the Americans haven’t come close to playing as well at their best as Germany and France have at their best.
Now the final opportunity to find fifth gear in advance of that potential game will take place without two of the players who would be integral to it.
Maybe it works out for the best. Maybe Morgan Brian, likely to replace Holiday in the middle of the field, and Christen Press, a good bet to replace Rapinoe wide, will be great against China. The Americans have long touted their depth, and on the oldest roster in the tournament, Brian and Press are two of the potential stars for 2015 and 2019.
Maybe that will give Holiday and Rapinoe valuable time off to rest and recover.
But the clouds that hovered just beyond Commonwealth Stadium on Monday night didn’t look like they had any silver linings. They just looked like trouble.
Read it all.
(ESPN FC) Graham Hays–US Women win but do not Impress in 2-0 Victory over Colombia
If the purpose here is to win the World Cup early next month, the United States is going to have to go through either Germany or France. Although the latter had its slip against the same team the United States beat Monday, in this tournament, the Americans haven’t come close to playing as well at their best as Germany and France have at their best.
Now the final opportunity to find fifth gear in advance of that potential game will take place without two of the players who would be integral to it.
Maybe it works out for the best. Maybe Morgan Brian, likely to replace Holiday in the middle of the field, and Christen Press, a good bet to replace Rapinoe wide, will be great against China. The Americans have long touted their depth, and on the oldest roster in the tournament, Brian and Press are two of the potential stars for 2015 and 2019.
Maybe that will give Holiday and Rapinoe valuable time off to rest and recover.
But the clouds that hovered just beyond Commonwealth Stadium on Monday night didn’t look like they had any silver linings. They just looked like trouble.
Read it all.