It’s As Easy As Un Deux Trois

Head Columnist: Nick Rog

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

After the emotional roller coaster that was the USA Brazil quarterfinal game, I wondered would the American women come out flat versus a dangerous French team?  This was a question I asked myself before the 12:00pm eastern time kickoff Wendnesday.  The woman seemed to continue were they left off, with a sense of swagger and loose confidence that put me at ease to start the game.  This feeling was increased when Carla Lloyd passed behind her back at about midfield to Heather O’Reiliy who assisted Lauren Chaney who buried the first goal into the back of the net.  This could be a bloodbath, I thought to myself.  But, my limited soccer knowledge coupled with my nieveness that France was one of the final four teams left in the whole tournament quickly turned against me.  The French went on to dominate the rest of the first half possession as well as shots on goal.  Shot after shot seemed to sail into Hope Solo’s arms or off the crossbars causing many of us watching to hover on the edge of our seats.  The Americans seemed tired, half time was needed before the lead was lost.  Before the half ended there was a ray of hope as the Americans kicked a cross from the left to the right of the field right to the star of the previous game Abby Wambach, they shot actually looked identical but Wambach’s connection was off the lead stayed at 1.  The half came to an end and I was seriously worried about the poor way the Americans seemed to play after the goal was scored.

·      My fear of France scoring was realized in the 55^th minute as Sonia Bompastor struck the ball past Solo to the back of the net.  This is when the substitutions began for the United States.  Amy Rodriguez left the game for Alex Morgan the 22-year-old striker.  The play of the Americans seemed to be improving, this trend continued in the 65^th minute as the seemingly flatfooted Carli Lloyd was taken out for Megan Rapinoe.  The entrance of Rapinoe seemed to make all the difference, she was the shot of energy and poise this US team needed to push forward.  This was capitalized on in the 79^th minute when a corner kick was pushed to the opposite side of the goal where (in my opinion) the most dangerous weapon the US team was waiting [Wambach’s head] to put the Americans up 2-1.   The game was put away just 3 minutes later as Morgan beat out 4 defenders and danced around the French goalie to give the Americans the insurance they needed.  3 goals would be enough to get the Americans to their first final since 1999 (which they won).  They will face Japan on Sunday.

Scott Heavey/Getty Images

·      Although this game wasn’t the comeback story that they game versus Brazil turned out to be, the scrappiness and talent of the team showed through.  The officiating the game was not an issue which was a treat after the quarterfinal match as well.  The French team impressed me greatly. Unlike the Brazilians (and the male French team) they did not flop, at all.  They matched the Americans in their intensity and grit in a game full of collisions and high contact ball.

·      The final is at 2:45 versus Japan in Frankfort, Germany. See you there… on the couch watching ESPN.