Never a doubt for U.S. women in tense semi
How best to describe it?
Let’s leave it to the injured superstar, the lady expected to dominate the game — but whose tight hamstring kept her out entirely.
“They weren’t afraid of the moment,” Megan Rapinoe said of her teammates, after they eliminated England 2-1 in the semifinals of Women’s World Cup on Tuesday.
I’m trying not to sound like a complete homer here, but the truth is that the USA women — starters, reserves, stars, role players — ALWAYS seem to embrace the moment when the pressure would strangle most teams.
Even though this was a thrilling one-goal game, and England had a goal ruled out by VAR for a tight offside call…
It always felt like the U.S. would find a way to win.
It did.
I’ll bet English fans had that same sensation in the pits of the stomachs.
This sounds absurd, but I actually EXPECTED goalie Alyssa Naeher to save that weak, frightened penalty shot from Steph Houghton.
It’s just what the Americans do.
MORE THAN that, you felt that if Houghton had scored to make it 2-2, the U.S. would have found another goal to win it.
ESPN expert commentator Alejandro Moreno put it perfectly: “As much as England had the ball and had possession, you always got the feeling that the U.S., if they’d wanted to, if they’d wanted to push the pace, they could have created a lot more scoring chances.
“They’re just a better team and deserve to be in the final.”
The Americans were not without some bother in this semifinal, however.
Besides the surprising news that Rapinoe — four goals in the past two games — would not even suit up, spectacular young midfielder Rose Lavelle came off with her own hamstring issue in the 63rd minute.
Lavelle had been making England defenders look like department store manikins at times, setting up shots for herself and others.
Moreno made an excellent point, although accidentally.
He pointed out that without Rapinoe knitting things together, U.S. attackers like Alex Morgan didn’t really have the best of games.
And yet…
It was Morgan, with a picture-perfect header off a pass from Lindsey Horan, who scored the winner and then annoyed the hell out of the Brit contingent by pretending to sip a cup of tea after the goal.
ARE THEY arrogant?
Maybe a little.
But when you’re so good and so confident and that everyone else in the world wants you to lose…
That’s the kind of team that turns a bit of arrogance into performance — the kind that, in the heat of battle, gives off the feel: “Play however you want, but we’re going to win. Remember who we are.”
The fear of this USA team — if you want to call it that — even extends to coaches.
England’s Phil Neville tried to get super-clever with his tactics, and simply made life easier for the Americans.
Neville changed to a 4-4-2 formation, thus breaking up his most explosive right-side combination of Lucy Bronze and Nikita Parris – while also playing straight into the defensive speed of Rapinoe’s replacement, the excellent Christen Press.
Neville also chose Houghton to take the make-or-break penalty kick in the 84th minute – rather than red-hot Ellen White, who had already scored a goal and drew the penalty herself.
Meanwhile, U.S. coach Jill Ellis did everything right, using Press for Rapinoe (who may actually have been resting for the final with Press a special option for England) and the always-busy Horan in midfield.
She got a goal from Press and an assist from Horan.
The classic difference between these two teams came when the English were down and desperate in the final 10 minutes.
A wild challenge by England’s Millie Bright got her sent off with a second yellow card, and then the U.S. — mainly Morgan and Crystal Dunn — kept the ball right near the offensive corner flag for an absurdly long six minutes,
It was a combination of the Americans’ talent and savvy, along with the flailing Brits’ needless fouls and poor recoveries.
And when you think about it, that might do as a pretty good overall description of the game.
Hate to say it to my pals across the pond, but…
Never in doubt.
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Steve also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball once monthly during the off season.
Email: scameron@cdapress.com