Althouse: "No. 2 beats No. 1, and you can hear the 'U-S-A! U-S-A!' chants from here."

June 30, 2015

"No. 2 beats No. 1, and you can hear the 'U-S-A! U-S-A!' chants from here."

"Gutsy and surprisingly dominant performance from the United States. Surprisingly wimpy one from Germany, which scored 10 goals in its first game of the tournament but goes home after scoring none tonight."

21 comments:

mccullough said...: East Germany women would have won.; 6/30/15, 8:01 PM
Gahrie said...: Great tournament overall. I really like the way the US team played the last two games.

I hope England wins tomorrow..I like their team also. US V England would be a great final.; 6/30/15, 8:15 PM
avwh said...: Deutsche Blank, baby!!!!; 6/30/15, 8:27 PM
madAsHell said...: Is Hope Solo tending the goal??

I hate watching train wrecks.; 6/30/15, 8:36 PM
Bob R said...: My wife and son have been following the tourney, so I am following by default. This was a pretty exciting game. I mean, an exciting soccer game.; 6/30/15, 8:37 PM
Known Unknown said...: Soccer is actually exciting if you know what to look for. Near-goals can be as amazing as goals.; 6/30/15, 8:51 PM
Gahrie said...: Yes Hope Solo is playing goal for the US. She hasn't been scored on in the last five games, and has only given up one goal in the whole tournament so far. The back four have been playing nearly perfectly in front of her.; 6/30/15, 8:52 PM
Known Unknown said...: We could use a decent backup goalie. Maybe Ray Rice is available.; 6/30/15, 8:52 PM
YoungHegelian said...: @mccullough,

East Germany women would have won.

They would have gone balls out to get it done!; 6/30/15, 9:34 PM
trumpetdaddy said...: Solo and the defense have been stellar. One goal conceded the entire tournament, and 513 straight minutes of a clean sheet. That's unreal defending.

I'm just happy that the USA coaching staff finally figured out that the best place for Abby Wambach is on the bench. The football has been significantly more free-flowing and assured now that they decided to use her as a sub only instead of as a starter. USA are bigger, stronger, faster, and more fit than the other teams. It was ludicrous that prior to the last two matches, USA were just crossing balls into the area from all angles, hoping to get them on Wambach's head. That's ancient soccer tactics.

How they are playing now is far better on the eyes and on the score-sheet.; 6/30/15, 9:51 PM
sunsong said...: Wow! Congrats! I'm proud of them!; 6/30/15, 10:12 PM
mccullough said...: Fuck England. It's always UK in the Olympics and other stuff, but when it comes to soccer they actually break up the kingdom. You're either United or you're not; 6/30/15, 10:19 PM
BarrySanders20 said...: Took my daughters to games in Winnipeg and Vancouver. Was a lot of fun.

Beat the Germans and next maybe Japan.

Saw an American fan at the Vancouver game with a hat that said "Back to Back World War Champs". Was pretty funny and now maybe it comes true on the field.; 6/30/15, 10:32 PM
sane_voter said...: Great game with many chances and controversial calls. This seems to be setting up just like 2011. US wins a defacto final in the semifinal, then loses to a weaker Japan in the final. However, I think the US have figured out their tactics and lineup and will be tough to beat in the final.

If the US plays Japan next, the coach may feel Wambach will be a huge advantage against the shorter Japanese. I hope she keeps her on the bench and continues the flowing soccer they have shown against China and Germany.; 6/30/15, 11:11 PM
Mark said...: Agree on Wambach, much better game with her put and as a sub she attracts a lot of attention from defenders which can be helpful.; 7/1/15, 6:28 AM
Curious George said...: It was either watch the game or paint dry.

I'm not sure what I chose.; 7/1/15, 7:56 AM
Bobby said...: Gahrie,

Agreed, and with the one goal that Hope conceded against Australia, there's nothing she could have done to prevent it. But the backs have been nigh perfect since that moment and Solo has barely been tested.

I felt for Julie Johnston on penalty. But it worked out, and foul-mouthed Carli Lloyd (hey she's a Jersey girl, that's just how they talk) came through for us once again. It was awesome.; 7/1/15, 9:34 AM
Big Mike said...: Surprisingly wimpy one from Germany, which scored 10 goals in its first game of the tournament but goes home after scoring none tonight.

Tough defenses will tend to make you a bit wimpy-looking. Well done to the women.; 7/1/15, 11:45 AM
kzookitty said...: Guess there has to some sport the girls are good at. Might as well be kickball.

kzookitty; 7/1/15, 11:51 AM
Larry J said...: mccullough said...
East Germany women would have won.

If they were anything like their women's Olympic swim team, then yes.; 7/1/15, 1:02 PM
Anonymous said...: A young, soccer-playing, female relative will be attending the finals on the 4th.

Woo. U-S-A.; 7/2/15, 4:20 AM