Women’s World Cup Preview: United States vs. France

The engraver has already written USA as winners on the trophy. It fact, that was done about 4 weeks ago.

Well done Ladies! A good win. Rapinoe was excellent much to the dismay of some bitter people. Dunn played superbly as well. As anyone knew who was paying attention she was going to be constantly tested by Diani and Cascarino and she handled the pressure well. The USA controlled midfield in the first half but France stepped it up in the second half and Ellis bringing on Horan for Lavelle was a smart move. Renard's goal was a beauty but never should have happened as the USA defense had one important assignment on the night for set pieces and corners, make sure Renard was marked, she scored uncontested through blown coverage. France fought valiantly but in the end the cohesive defensive performance by the entire USA side sealed the victory. Onto the semi final!

Confidence without humility is simply arrogance. It’s past time for the US team to show they understand the difference. If they fail to win tonight in Paris I hope they conduct themselves with the grace and class only real champions possess.

Hoping for an entertaining and positive game with a good referee, a clear winner and NO controversial VAR episodes.

"[Megan Rapinoe stood by her remarks that she would not visit the White House after the World Cup.]" Very few women on the US National Soccer Team will go anywhere near Donald Trump. Almost all of the women on the team have shown support for their Captain in this regard. Trump is a misogynistic sexist. He is credibly accused by 16 women of having physically assaulted them in the past. His comments on "Access Hollywood" are well documented. Trump's attack on Roe vs. Wade is a matter of public record. Further, Mr. Trump is a blatant white nationalist. His policies against LGBTQ Americans are deeply upsetting. His constant attacks on people based on their skin color, their ethnicity and their religious preference are repugnant. It is amazing that anyone would want to be in the same room with this man. He is the antithesis of what it means to be an American. Ms. Rapinoe speaks for most of America, when she says she will not go to the White House, while this odious man and his sycophants are dwelling there.

You go U.S. ladies! Sock it to ‘em!

3pm the conference room tv becomes soccer central here in my NY office. We’re super pumped up for this and can’t wait! But I think this is going to be THE game of the cup. If US looses, the US audience will drop to single digits. If France looses, the entire host country would no longer care less about the cup. Maybe just wait to read in the paper who won at the end. You know, like when the Yankees are in the play offs, if we win, the rest of the country ignores the World Series. If we loose, the rest of the country watches, and the NY tv audience watch something else, the season over. Both teams had it way too easy so far (Thailand? Really? Spain gave the game away with 2 penalties and scored one earned goal against the US); not exactly awe inspiring Still, 3 pm cannot come soon enough.

I hope the US loses 14-0 and the French players celebrate goals 9-14 deliriously right in front of the US bench. And I hope every member of the Thai team is either in the stadium or watching on TV. And for anyone who mentions “goal differential” I hope they will be incensed by the French team’s celebrations and had bet heavily on the US team. Karma.

While I believe that the calm and collected Jill Ellis will guide the team into victory, one should never underestimate France, being the host and whose men’s team are the current world champions. They will certainly put up a fight. I hope Alex Morgan is at the top of her game after the repeated battering of Spain during the last game. More than ever, I want the US to prevail, if only so that Megan Rapinoe and company can snub Putin’s puppet in the White House. Go USA. Make it a beautiful game.