25 Comments

She is exceptional. My favorite by far. Is tactically so smart and explains it so well. Also has wonderful stories to share too. Great mix of experience and brilliance.

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IMHO she is right and he won't change. But at least I hope he moves Dunn to the midfield and starts Fox at LFB and OHara at RFB. People say Sullivan has been good at the six but I havn't seen that and the fact that Kyle and Ali Riley are calling for Ertz at the six makes me think others that should know agree.

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Agree, not going to change. Cook is much too big a risk against the Swedes front line. Fox at left full is the much better choice to take on the locomotives that will be coming down their right side. Apparently Vlatko likes pairing Dunn and Smith on the flank. But Soph looked lost and quite honestly Dunn looked gassed and turnover prone. Sullivan needs to sit. Slot Dunn in for Lavelle, and try to get a solid 45 from her. Could Dunn move over into the six? Actually, I’m just spitballing here. I have no idea.

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This makes too much sense and that's the problem, unfortunately (I agree of course).

Smith and Dunn have built one of the best combos in NWSL, they have elite chemistry. However, it's done with Smith as a 9 and Dunn as a midfielder.

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Aussie news has this on Kerr's working her way back.

"Matildas captain Sam Kerr had a ball at her feet and looks set for her long-awaited return in Monday’s must-win World Cup clash with Denmark after smiling her way through training on Thursday.

“It was a banger – that was a good choice,” Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said.

“She has her own individual plan that she’s doing with the doctor and physio, getting her ready to join in with the team,’ Arnold said of the Matildas captain.

“What she had to do, she looked like she was quite comfortable doing it, and she was in high spirits after the (session), so I assumed it all went well.”

"The Matildas took to the field in Brisbane for the team’s first training session since their stunning demolition of Canada which ensured progressing out of the group stages. Arnold confirmed that Kerr, who is yet to play in the World Cup due to a calf injury, took part in the session, and had her own training program as she continued her bid to play against the Danes."

If she can play, the Matilda's ranking jumps over quite a few teams, I expect.

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Wow, if they keep winning, Kerr could easily play herself into fitness and form.

Luckily Australia has other options to start off the game too.

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R16 teams in order of confidence they can win the whole thing, by tier:

(T1- The faves)

1. England (lucked out with the way the bracket fell and have looked good)

2. Japan (best team so far by a good margin)

(T2- Flawed contenders)

3. Spain (I can’t quit them)

4. France (arguably the most complete team)

5. USA (if Vlatko pulls his head out of his ass)

(T3- Fringe contenders)

6. Netherlands

7. Sweden

8. Norway

9. Australia

10. Nigeria

(T4-No)

11. Jamaica

12. Colombia

13. Denmark

14. South Africa

15. Switzerland

16. Morocco

Semis: Japan, Spain, France, England

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Me reading #3. 100%

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That's pretty nearly my view too. I'd move Nigeria down a tier (unfortunately since I like them). I'd move USA down a tier too. Although the soccer skill on our team is incredible, we just can't seem to play together, and since it's been this way for many months, I don't see it changing in a few days. I'm also tempted to move Sweden up a tier, but I haven't watched their latest game which was apparently not so promising.

Also agreed about the teams that will make the semis. Then I think Japan beats Spain again, England tops France, and England triumphs in the final.

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Sweden’s starters for that game include 9 players from the second team. They played the entire game. Didn’t look great, but still handled the opponent. Means Aslani & Co. will be well rested. The U.S. side are gonna have to find a gear we have not seen so far.

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Yeah the U.S certainly deserves to be in the tier below on form and would be lower if I was power ranking, but I think they have the talent to win it if they can get their acts together -- however slim that possibility is-- more than the teams in the tier below.

Im also really high on Nigeria. While I felt that other two African teams (Morocco and SA) got mostly outplayed, I thought Nigeria was comfortably the best team in their group and they have a legit star in Oshoala. I don’t think they’ll get by England, but I do think they’re the best team out of the other relative surprises (Colombia, SA, Morocco, Jamaica).

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Anybody know why the bracket is set up so that you have the potential for rematches in the knockout stage? It seems like you would want to put teams from each group on opposite sides of the bracket. I guess that the current format prevents a rematch from the group stage at the final, but it seems much more likely to get rematches. Is that supposed to be a positive?

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We have our potential Semifinal groups.

I don't really feel like past results are helpful to predict future outcomes in this tournament. Maybe it is because I have just been around the NWSL to long but I am using just Vibes to rank how likely I think they reach the semis finals.

Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland.

Japan, Sweden, USA and Norway.

England, Nigeria, Colombia, Jamaica.

France, Australia, Morocco, Denmark.

From Japan, France England And Netherlands I guess Japan to win it all, but I have no confidence in my picks really.

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Yeah I think past results don't help much at all, except the experience.

We have similar semi-finals!

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I am the same and I agree with your semi-final picks, but if the US can make it into the semi-finals it would mean they found their mojo and I think they are the most talented team.

But Japan, Yes! I have had in the past a tendency to underestimate them, but Hina has been revelation. We expect them to be tidy and disciplined, but they are often assumed to be slow, small and not very physical. I remember Bill Russell as a color commentator for an Olympic basketball game he said of the Japanese team "they are short, but slow." What we have seen from this current generation like Hina and Jun Endo is there is fast and there is quick, Japan is quick. Japan was out possessed by Spain and yet was so clinical with their shots.

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Colombia is a country, Columbia is a river.

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Thank you for the correction.

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And a district, and a Canadian province.

Give it time, though. Maybe we'll get to having a District of Colombia and a Province of British Colombia.

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Into the round of 8:

Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Sweden (prove me wrong, US!), England (but Nigeria will rough them up), France, Australia, Jamaica.

Wow, if the US win they likely get a rematch with the Dutch. Neat!

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Top 4:

France, Japan, England and USA

Australia is a wild card as a host nation, so they are number 5.

I think France will win it, but look out for USA. They have a big chip on their shoulders. Last world cup it was clear that there were technically better teams and there are even more contenders this go around, but I'm counting on them to be extra motivated because everyone is counting them out. They will find a way.

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England beat up on China but looked out of ideas in their first two games. Although they have a nice path to the final I worry they will struggle against better teams. #2 feels high. Sweden probably deserves that ranking more but got a tougher draw with the US.

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I don't disagree about their first two games. However, they have this confidence about them that makes them know exactly what needs to happen to win. It's cool to see. I think they're peaking as they go as well.

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They were looking good against Denmark then lost Keira Walsh. They then readjusted in a significant way and beat the defending AFC champions 6-1. That’s impressive. Maybe they still go out to Nigeria - there are significant transition issues - but they are still up at the top based on talent and I think have the best coach.

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Nigeria is severely underrated for sure. However, Sarina Wiegman is class and like you said the best coach. These are the types of games she has them overly prepared for (compliment). I do worry about them defending counters tho. However, running the double pivot should help immensely.

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