Ok here it is.....lets go ladies.....you got this!

https://baltimorespo...-us-three-peat/

The Ringer: The Future of the USWNT Is Here

CBS Sports: 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup: USWNT's Sophia Smith leads list of 10 players to watch ahead of Thursday kickoff

https://www.cbssport...hursday-kickoff

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Teams that could surprise in each group, including Portugal, China, and Zambia

https://www.cbssport...ina-and-zambia/

Here's an interesting picture to put into perspective what I wrote about the USWNT and how deep they are. This is the pre WWC Best XI that won't be there due to injury.  Three of them are ours. And the US and England are both missing 3 so thats half the missing Best XI. Now you know why I picked those two in the final.

• Co-host New Zealand stuns Norway to start WWC
• Australia, without Kerr, edges Ireland in WWC

The Ringer: The 2023 Women’s World Cup Entrance Survey

ESPN: USWNT World Cup camp report: Rookies leaning on veterans

https://www.espn.com...s-lean-veterans

Was listening to SirriusXM FC this afternoon. Discussing the game tonight and is it a blessing or bad to have your easiest game first?

Lots of debate on both sides. But I think for this team its clear cut. Its a major blessing.

1. They are very talented team but they are young and several key players likely to start throughout the tourney have never experienced a WC. This gives them a chance to get their nerves under control in what should be an easy match.

2. Several key players are still nursing injuries (Rose Lavelle most notably). This isn't a game you need to risk playing someone who is not quite ready. Let them heal for a few more days.

3. The team will be able to try some things that they think will be important in the next two matches, especially against the Netherlands. Whatever weaknesses they perceive the Dutch to have this makes a great match to try and fine tune the things you want to do vs them during a match you should control fairly easily.

4. Get a solid lead by the half and sub liberally early in the second half. Keep the key players freshest for the Netherlands match. And if things go well and you win tonight and beat the Dutch it enables you to rest players against Portugal in preparation for the knockouts.

Tonight's Prediction - US wins 4-0

US vs Vietnam match report:

1. Solid overall effort. Totally dominated way more than the score line. 

Outshot 28-0

Corners 9-0

Big chances 20-0

2. Referee made mostly the correct calls. I do like how the Ref can verbally tell what the VAR decision is. Nice improvement. She was a little to tight with her cards then all of a sudden she carded Horan for a total nothing. Weird.

3. As some thought Julie Ertz was indeed moved to center back to replace Sauerbrunn. Interesting to see if that continues but she totally controlled the back 3rd of the filed. Just an outstanding performance. 

4. Lindsey Horan was my player of the match. Sure you have to give it to Smith for 2 goals in her first ever WC appearance. But Horan is so technically and tactically stout. if I had to start a womens soccer team from scratch you wouldn't be wrong to pick her and build around her.

5. 7 US players got their first WC minutes last night. Huge to get those initial minutes under your belt. Will pay big dividends in their comfort level the rest of the way.

6. Megan Rapinoe was not good. If she is going to help this team she needs to get it together. Her tactics were solid. But her execution was awful. 

7. Coaching was terrific. Game plan was great (yeah ok it was Vietnam) and the subs were timely and important to get players out to save their legs.

Last point - Ladies do NOT emulate the USMNT. Put the damn ball on frame. Its the 24ft x 8ft rectangle thingy......LOL

On to the Dutch

So after the completion of our group matchday 1 the US sits atop tied with the Dutch but ahead on goal differential. Huge game on Wednesday. But the Dutch looked solid toady. Gonna be a test for sure.

Huge match for the ladies tonight. For practical purposes this is the one to win the group. Winner tonight almost a shoe in to win the group. If it ends in a draw then its likely to come down to goal differential and that might make it advantage for the Dutch. They will have seen enough of Vietnam to put together a plan to pour goals in on them.

Game is at 9EDT.  

My key: Long balls over the top down the wings. Our speed on the outside could spell trouble for the Netherlands back line.

1-1. So much for getting revenge for the Men’s Cup. The Dutch seem to have our number.

Interesting match last night. The Dutch, in the first half anyway, reminded me of the USMNT. Forums were all lit up on how terrible the USWNT was playing and being totally controlled by The Netherlands. They did way out possess the ladies and were leading 1-0. But just like the US men all their possession really didn't amount to any offensive thrusts.  The US outshot the Dutch 9-2 in the first half.

My review:

1. The Dutch goal was a solid counter attack down the right flank. Our LB was WAY too far inside and the Dutch winger had 25 yards of grass in front of her. However, the defense was compact in the box and really gave them no play. The ball that was lofted into the box was cleared away but it wasn't hit strongly enough or wide enough and went right to a Dutch player. Now their shot was terrific into the corner of the goal.

2. The second half the US pressed more in the midfield and took away so much of the Dutch possession. And it was all US. The last 20 minutes they continually were putting balls into the area but just couldn't find that second goal.

US outshot the Dutch 18-5

US had 11 corners to their 1

US had 12 shots inside the area to their 3

US had 2 big chances to the Dutch's 0

3. Lindsey Horan was clearly player of the match.

4. Once again I was mystified by the ref. Especially in the first half. There were numerous fouls that were were excessive force. Twice a US player beat a defender and  the beat defender grabbed their shirt collar from behind and took them down. What's referred to as a 'professional foul' which are almost always carded. Yet not a single yellow was shown. Then in the second half when Rose Lavelle came on she committed a foul. A bit hard but less harsh than several the Dutch had already committed. And it was Lavelles' first foul but out came the yellow. 

5. Surprised at the US only using 1 sub. But in the second half they were playing well together so perhaps the coach didn't want to tinker with the flow of the game. I expect to see numerous subs in the final group stage match against Portugal. They only need a draw to advance and really should beat Portugal.

6. US still can win the group but will need some better finishing against Portugal. The Netherlands playing Vietnam will be looking to run up the score. Unfortunately for the US, with Vietnam already eliminated they will probably play a much more wide open game than they did in their first two. Coming in their coach said one of his goals was for them to score a goal. Which they haven't done yet. If they push more in the attack the Dutch might bury them with counters and it could get ugly. If Vietnam stays compact in the back then they may hold the Dutch to a lower scoring affair.

All in all so far so good. Could have been better but the second half yesterday showed a lot of promise.

Interesting nugget from the game last night.

To set the stage, Horan was fouled badly by one of her club teammates and apparently good friend. She didn't care for it one bit and was pretty amped up and in her face. Didn't help that the Ref didn't card the Dutch player, which she should have. For a minute it looked like it was going to get really ugly.

With Horan already sitting on a yellow from the first match, if she got another yellow she'd miss the Portugal match. Ertz stepped in between Horan and the Ref and said something to her as she shoved and pulled her away from a potential card situation. Which is exactly what a team leader like Ertz should do.

Well as it turned out Ertz had an interesting thing to say to Horan. She told her to go score a goal and shut everybody up. Well on the ensuing corner.....BOOM!

Turns out pissing off Horan is a dumb thing to do! LOL

• USWNT not in sync, unhappy after Dutch draw

Going to be interesting to see the lineup that gets sent out on Tuesday.

Like to see Cook started at CB and move Ertz to dmid.

Start O'hara at LB and take out Dunn.

Start Williams, Smith and Morgan up top.

ESPN+: World Cup last 16: Why every team left will, won't win it all

https://www.espn.com...y-team-wont-win

CBS Sports: USWNT vs. Portugal: USA live stream, how to watch FIFA Women's World Cup online, starting XI, start time

https://www.cbssport...-xi-start-time/

Draw against Potugal means they have to play Sweden in the Knockout round.  Lavelle picks up another (questionable) yellow and will be out for the round of 16 game