England don't make it to the knockout phase though

Come on guys banner

Tancredi the #9

Sesselmen the #10

Canada, you disgust me

Tancredi wears #14

I believe Belanger is #9

Bélanger #9
Sesselmann #10
Tancredi #14

It is going to happen. Should be a great 3rd place game.

I think both the U.S. and Germany have underwhelmed. Not sure if that's on them or the gap is closing. Germany has looked more vulnerable more often though, against similar overall competition so I slightly lean to the U.S. especially as underdogs. Feels like 0-0 or 1-0 type of game either way.

Japan has to me been super impressive. I really like England but I think Japan may well be the best team in the tournament and betting them to win it all at +350 seems like a good risk. Should be a good game but I think Japan's crisp passing on offense gets it done.

So which decent team has Japan already played against?

I agree w Clark re: Japan. They aren't spectacular but their overall level of general competence is dangerous. They can beat any of these teams on any given day imo. Only thing that makes me nervous about them is that keeper, that goal was SO wtf.

I mean, we all keep saying that about basically every team. "Who have they beat"? Japan has basically been in total control every match. Really dominated Australia on two days less rest. Owned the Dutch. Handled the Swiss. Their offense has been crisp and sharp and their defense quite organized. I think they've looked much sharper than USA or Germany (I mean, Germany played 3 remotely legitimate teams so far - two draws and a beat down of a winless Sweden team). I am willing to say all 3 of USA/Germany/Japan are roughly similar due in part to pre tournament information but Japan have been arguably the most impressive IMO.

Weirdly, Japan played a different keeper in each of their three group games. Also weird... two of them kept a clean sheet but the only one who conceded was chosen for the RO16 match against the Netherlands. Also a little weird that she made such a howler in that match and kept her place for the QF, even though there are two other keepers they're apparently happy to use. I guess it was decided in advance to do it like that.

GK weirdness aside, I am also up on Japan. They play a disciplined game that has seen them keep clean sheets against respectable Australian and Swiss attacks. They've won all five games so far which is impressive however you look at it. All have been by the odd goal which might suggest it's a slightly dangerous game they are playing, but in every game I have seen they have appeared to be in complete control. Defensive discipline with just enough creative spark to win by 1 or 2 goals is a formula that has worked pretty well for Mourinho over the years. You could argue it's an even more potent formula in the women's game where even the stronger teams give up a couple of freebies per game.

I'm English so of course I'll be cheering against Japan.

The one thing I think we may have going for us is an ability and inclination to adapt. 3 of the 5 forward options we've used regularly have scored (Carney twice) and there seems to be a lot of variety there. I expect us to go with Carney and Taylor after the performance against Canada but Aluko, Duggan and especially Kirby are great options to have depending what the situation requires.

I still think Japan will have too much for us but at least it's not hopeless.

Germany will beat USA IMO. Agree with the 1-0 either way comment but see it more likely to be Germany. I think against the USA they'll have more sustained periods of possession than France let them have and they have the quality to make it count. If USA do it, I think it's likely to be from a set piece.

Rapinoe (and Holiday) back amd rested and a more focused US team I think makes it worth +125 to advance.

England can win it all. I think are likely the 5th best team in the tourney. They have creative goal scorers. Wouldn't shock me of they won but they will have to be much tighter on their back line than they were against Canada. Japan's short passing game could eat them up if not.

Hoping today's US lineup finds a way to get Brian in the starting lineup. Don't see that kind of creativity coming though.

Sit holiday have Brian as dm and Lloyd as b2b. If they run holiday and Lloyd Germany is going to wreck our mf.

Yeah, the obvious play would seem to be to leave Brian in and Holiday out. I actually think that is more likely to occur than leaving Wambach out of the starting XI now that Rapinoe is back.

I don't follow the women's league at all, so I didn't realize Lloyd and Brian play on the same club. Seems there would be obvious value to their on field chemistry and complementary play.

Which sucks because I actually like wombat as a late sub to crush in the air against tired defenders legs.

Having her fresh and able to play like 60 min full throttle as a late game sub if it goes into OT would be pretty valuable vs having her start and inevitably get gassed. If she starts we can't press aggressively either, which France clearly showed as the best way to deal with Germany.

If Ellis goes with something similar to the China game I think US can go punch for punch with Germany. If she goes for the lu she's used the rest of the tournament I expect us to have to bunker and hope to luck box set piece goals.

My real hope is that Wombat (who I think is a lock to start) gets up for this and had her motor on super high. Same with Pinoe who has an insane work rate when motivated. They are rested and will view this as the title game and I just hope they can flip the switch. Pinoe can. Not so sure about Wombat, who has been a prima Donna the whole tourney IMO.

I got the US crushing.

Like if we don't have a midfield then we can really get the ball to them. We haven't had a midfield until last game.

I would agree with you, Wambach is going to be ready and turn it on

RAPIGOAT gonna prove she's the best player in the world tonight.

https://instagram.com/p/4ib7iywLv2/

MEGAN