Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
I don't know if they decided to play defensive in 2OT, they were just gassed. Their strategy in the game was to run run run run and pressure the Japanese midfield giving them no time on the ball. It worked except the US couldn't score on their chances in the 1st half and they gave up that weird riccohet goal to Japan to tie it 1-1. In soccer it just takes one mistake.
And then they gave up a goal on a backflick on a corner. That's just a skillful goal, not a defensive error.
The Americans were the much more tired team after 120 because they had played 'fullcourt press' almost the entire game.
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I found this statement interesting if not ironic. Could be due to a massive improvement by the Japanese who could not even break the group stage last WWC. And again, why they needed to play full-court press? An immensely talented team failed to calculate its stamina against the underdog.
But overall, it's always good to see new up-start teams to be competitive. It makes the sport much more entertaining to watch.