The US Women’s National Team have been slammed forward of their important Round of 16 conflict with Olympic silver medallists Sweden in Melbourne, with one pundit declaring their performances as “the worst I’ve seen them play”.
The top-ranked crew on this planet, led by midfielder Lindsey Horan, scraped via to the knockout levels after failing to win in opposition to the Netherlands and Portugal, and having the scoreline flatter them in opposition to a valiant Vietnam outfit, and now face a dominant Sweden facet who’ve received each sport to date, together with a 5-0 demolition of Italy.
With the width of the put up being the one factor between the USA and a catastrophic early exit from the World Cup for the reigning champions, former Matilda Catherine Cannuli informed Optus Sport that she wasn’t impressed with the Americans.
“The movement off the ball for the USA the other day was non-existent. It‘s the worst I’ve seen them play in a long, long time,” Cannuli stated on Optus Sport.
“Before, they have been in a position to dominate groups with their physicality. Now, groups are beginning to tactically outplay them, and that‘s going to be a big problem for them going forward.”
Former Denmark keeper Thomas Sorenson said that the current American transition would take time.
“It‘s a culture shift, and it takes time,” Sorenson said.
“They‘ve come from a period of great success, and now they’re struggling, it takes adjustment. All they want is one large win to kick on from, and there’s an opportunity they go far on this event.”
Cannuli, nevertheless, blamed coach Vlatko Andonovski, saying that the institutional domination of the Americans meant the nation had no excuses.
“Vlatko has had so much time with this team. He should be in a better position with the quality of the girls he has,” she stated.
“Yes there‘s a generational shift, and a lot of players coming through, but all of his players play in the US and he gets them whenever he wants them. The NWSL stops so they can go on camps and play games. He should be doing better, and they should be asking what he’s been doing in this last four years.”
American star striker Alex Morgan has herself remarked on her facet’s issues in entrance of aim, telling press it had been a specific focus.
“I think we’ve broken down what went wrong, how we can fix that,” Morgan stated.
“In possession, out of possession — how we can capitalise on the chances we have in front of goal, how we can create more chances in front of goal, how I can put away the chances that I’m given.”
The US Women’s National Team are essentially the most dominant crew within the historical past of the game, and are gunning for a historic third consecutive World Cup title.
They haven’t been ranked decrease than first on this planet for over six years, however have struggled to date this World Cup amid traditionally poor kind.
They play in opposition to Sweden in Melbourne at 7pm AEST, who defeated them 3-0 of their final head-to-head conflict on the Tokyo Olympics.
Originally printed as ‘The worst I’ve seen them in a very long time’: USA slammed amid group stage struggles
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
