2-1 USA -- Germany will want vengeance and I think they'll get a goal on a set piece breakdown or just through perseverance. I think one of the front three will score, but also a midfielder or defender (maybe Crystal?? Or Rose or Horan). We'll see!!!
Fantastic conversation! Sam's questions were great, designed to stimulate in-depth answers. And Viv's responses & analysis were so wonderfully thoughtful (and funny at times). Her experience & insight make her the perfect pre-post & in-game guest. I feel that I learned so much about women's soccer from listening to these two. Thank you! & more Viv please
This podcast is like give me the secret sauce about the opponent collectivly and individually so i can pas on the message. Sams face when miedema talks is hilarious 😂😂 love the content
Brazil is ridiculous. They make flagrant fouls, then create chaos with the ref. Brazil players fake injuries continually When they are being pressed to break the rhythm of the other teams. The ref should yellow card them early and often!
If Viv Miedema wants to be a coach, it’s clear she’ll be successful. Clearly understands the game. I’ve enjoyed every episode, but this Viv Miedema episode and the Brandi Chastain episode have both been fantastic.
Miedema staying in the WSL for me as a Chelsea fan is exactly what the league needs to be honest the NWSL is catching up and keeping our stars like Viviane is what the league needs to stay ahead...
Nah I can see her in more in punditry tbh I can see getting annoyed easily with less talented players usually happens with generational players like Miedema
@@erobinsonii as a Brit it's funny whenever we hear PK because it's very American. We just say penalty. Training instead of practice. Changing room instead of locker room. No disrespect. Just different, but the same. 🤗
@@erobinsonii only Americans say PKs so it just sounds so funny, also the rest of the world says "penalty" or "penalties" for short but mostly we say the full sentence "penalty kicks" we never abridge. People don't say FR for free throws.
Absolutely LOVED this, thanks!! Actually have absolutely LOVED this whole ‘series’…so many hugely influential, World Class, intelligent players. I have honestly learned SO much! 👏👏👏
Hello Sam. Yet another great chat. So funny how Viv has a Scottish accent but says things like she was from Yorkshire when she talks about Beth. Good luck again USA and Emma Hayes. I hope for a USA v Spain final, having watched Barcelona the last couple of years on DAZN. I commented before about Midge Purce being my favourite current US player, so I am looking forward to seeing you two in discussion.
I think I have heard her talk about her accent somewhere. Apparently her first years at Arsenal she had Lisa Evans (a Scottish player) as a roommate and practiced most of her English with her.
Alex Popp will not be in the squad today due to injury! Without Poppi and Obi (Lena Oberdorf), it's really going to be tough for Team Germany. But as coach Ted Lasso always says so beautifully: "Believe!" USA - Germany 1:2 Greatings from Germany
My biggest concern is the US midfield. Not to focus on individuals - though Lindsey hasn't looked her best in the last couple of games - but the midfield doesn't seem to connect the back and front lines very effectively. Against Japan, Lavelle didn't seem to be herself, not much on the ball, not much trying to pick the lock of that low block. Albert did well, but her assignment seemed to be to occupy and control a gap in the center of the pitch. I didn't count the number, but she seemed to occupy that space frequently, Japan worked around her, and there were few passes to her. Granted, she was supposed to be the defensive midfielder and she did well with that, but when she went just a bit higher, I think she was overlooked. She's a very good passer, but didn't have much opportunity. A team with a great midfield (Spain, Germany with Oberdorfer) will cause the US a lot of problems.
Horan has been horrible (8 giveaways against Japan - maybe injured) and Rose is so fragile and, so far, non-impactful. Coffey coming back, Albert should start and there should be more use of Nighswonger, who has a wicked crossing left foot.
Horan has been bad, but Albert cannot turn with the ball on her feet to save her life. She was always playing while watching Girma and Sonnet instead of turning and see the field. So in Horan's defense I would say it is difficult to play when you dont get good ball in good positions. Now, against Horan's last game she should have come down to help Albert much more. Actually, Lavelle should have helped in that as well. They made Japan's life much easier.
This biggest mistake I saw from that last game was not using the left side of the field NEARLY enough. Countless opportunities missed when having possession around midfield and not even LOOKING to the left. They’re wearing Rodman out on that right side. Use the WHOLE field. Take home gold, ladies. USA.
Sam, that's my girl vivi miedema, she will be a good coach, tactician. Her brain is filled with football game. love you miedema. I prayed for your quick recovery when you got injured. Happy to see you back on the football pitch .
I think ths group games should be played 3 weeks before the olympics and quarterfinal, semifinal and final played during olympics. This would help with attendance too. Pretty empty stadiums for all the group games anyways
Emma is not good, she is excellent, but her teams very rarely play beautiful football unless they are downhill, which I think makes for some of the criticism. She is more on the pragmatic side of the coaching spectrum.
Please bring Viv back for a do-it-live conversation after the USA v England friendly in November. When Sam & Viv team up its like a master class in football tactics & personalities.
That was a great point from Viv about going straight to penalties with no extra time. It happens in the age group competitions, and I think it has been a great innovation for the Summer Cup. The Olympic schedule is absolutely brutal, and should be completely overhauled before the next Games. Players are playing in expanding leagues and there are more international games. Well done to Viv for saying that basically, the players are pushing their physical limit for competitions like this. The knock on effect for returning to domestic play must be a total nightmare for so many players who may well struggle to end the season in a completely healthy state. Playing an extra 16 minutes of extra time in a half of football is totally unacceptable. But some of the players bring it upon themselves with pointless time wasting. Perhaps if they knew it was going straight to penalties, it may actually encourage both of the teams to try and get a result in regulation time. Please, let both of these games finish in 90 minutes, ( or 100+ minutes, which seems to be the norm for the modern game). Brazil are unlikely to win, but just to see the Redemption Game for Marta will surely be one of Games highlights!
Such a good episode, Viv is such a good guest and gives so much insight. I do agree with the Olympic schedule shouldn’t be extra time and should go to penalties. Also to mention France, Germany and Spain have now 4 back to back major summer tournaments with the euros next summer. Loving the Olympic content, best out there 🔥
I was so happy to see Viv back 👏. You both were giving so much information on the mindset of the different matches I could listen all day. Can't wait to see Viv play again. I'm praying that it's a great fit. I have no doubt she is going to help her team blow by the competition. (Sorry, Beth) I ❤ the channel Praying Lynn gets paying time and scores!!! Go USA
*The USA must avoid to foul so as not to give the Germans the oportunities of scoring with set pieces. To avoid corners is another priority. The Germans have a couple of specialists who are excellent with the headers. Good luck to the USA team and God protecs them. Duty - Honor -- Country.*
A couple of extra days would be helpful. I'm new to watching your channel but you have GREAT guests and I've learned more about the game in just 2 segments I've seen then any other place in 9 years! ;). US 2-1 over Germany to play Spain. I do think Spain is the best team right now, but under Emma the U.S. team has definitely turned the corner and the young players are awesome. I do miss watching Sam, Julie Ertz and my other fave Becky Sauerbrunn who was a joy to watch, one of if not the greatest center backs to ever play IMHO.
1. “Spain a way better on the ball.” Nonsense. Anyone can pass the ball laterally almost indefinitely as they do, but when they get into tight spaces they’re no better than anyone else. Japan showed that in their decimation of Spain during the WC23. Spain are decent and obviously a top 5 team, but not a mythical giant and is beatable as shown but the decent but not top team Colombia. 2. France has success with club teams PSG and Lyon, but choke in international tournaments. This is obvious, as their league is top heavy with only 2 decent teams, while the rest are scrubs. Much like the USWNT having their way during the 90s when they and Norway were the only decent teams winning everything, the top teams have to adjust when others come up and challenge them. So far, the USWNT has benefited from a competitive domestic league, but NOT France so far. PS. Viedema obviously wants Spain to win in a hypothetical final vs the USWNT, but just didn’t want to offend SM.
1. Spain is not only better on the ball. They are years light ahead of most countries, especially in tight spaces. Where they are not good is in defense, or in finishing plays. Although they have great fullbacks these are not particularly good on 1v1 and the lack of consistency in take ons extends to their wingers (which are their most glaring black spot). Mariona starts in the left-wing and is an excellent player but she is really more of a midfielder than a wide player. That is the reason why sometimes their attacks stall and look clogged. Regarding the Japan example in the WC, is growing old. Every team has bad games and no-team is unbeatable. Now, I wonder why you did not use the example of Japan-Spain in the Olympics
@@aletapequena 1. You bring up a good point with Spain’s defensive weaknesses. However, they are NOT “light years ahead” of the top 8 countries… “most” countries doesn’t cut it because there are only 8 teams that are consistently competitive. 2. Spain vs Japan in this Olympics was not a game I watched, so I can NOT comment on what happened and why the results were so heavily favorable to Spain.
@@sheldoninstIn the top 8, barring Japan no team come close on the ball. And that has been shown against Sweden (multiple times last year), England in the WC final, Netherlands (a couple of times in the last year) and France in the Nation League final. USWNT and Germany have not played against Spain lately and we have not been able to see it side to side. But by the eye test Spain are clearly way above them in terms of ball control.
@@aletapequena I’m not as enthusiastic about Spain’s ball control, nor do I see it as “light years ahead”😂… Instead, I see it as more crisp passing side to side, or “tiki-taka” as is usually said; this is a style of play that the Latin teams seem to favor (Argentina, Spain, Italy). The numerous short passes takes skill for sure, but likely more practice… and hence I don’t see Spain’s skilled position players as being any better than any other top team’s skilled players.
@@aletapequena With the benefit of hindsight and seeing Spain nearly crumble to Colombia and despite statistics, got the score ran up on them by Brazil… so yeah, you’re correct, Spain’s defense is atrocious! Finally, the USWNT had a far more difficult path to the Gold Medal game than Spain… though I would’ve preferred to go up against Spain, we’ve a pretty good shot against Brazil.
Sounds to me that Germany is going to eat us. They are extremely fit; have great speed ; and some young stars. They will win on set pieces as well. And if Davidson and Fox are both out…..no chance.
@aletapequena You must forget that group stage game. It does not matter. They will adjust to what we did in the grouo game, and most likely play in a low block. Most importantly, the US is exhausted. I don't know how much Germany rotated in their other game, but we haven't rotated at all.
@@mikes.mad.movies6060 Of course Germany hasn't forgotten. I said you must forget it. This is a knockout game in the Olympics. Higher stakes than a group stage match. Germany will be more intense and more focused.
Can we also talk about how weird (i.e. incomplete) this tourney is without the Netherlands, England, and Sweden?! Or were they tucked away in some hidden Group Stage?!
Only 12 teams in this tournament, to originate from all continents. (after all, it should be a world sport, not a European sport) Only two European teams qualify, plus France as hosts. So yes, qualification is harsh.
A big issue is that the women’s football tournament at the Olympics is smaller than the men’s. The latter have four more teams with 16. The Olympic Committee claim that it would cost too much to change this (bizarrely wittering on about the cost of reducing the men’s competition by four teams, when I think people are actually clamouring for the women’s to increase to be on par with the men’s), but this is the usual cop-out due to entrenched sexism within the Olympics itself. If the tournament grew to equal the men’s, we would have more European representatives. That would in turn help grow the sport, as a number of these sides have high profiles. People - often Americans - proclaiming things like ‘you have to qualify’ don’t seem to be taking into account how much easier it is to do so in their federation (and others like Australia in the Asian Football Federation). The US and the Matildas generally faced far inferior opposition in qualifying, whereas the European teams had numerous strong sides competing against one another with very few spots available. FIFA have put a lot of pressure on the Olympic Committee to expand the women’s football tournament to equal the men’s, but so far they have resisted any changes. This will happen eventually, but there needs to be more public pressure. There were a couple of articles on the topic, but headlines were misleading clickbait pandering to misogynists and as a result what was a genuine issue got lost in all the noise.
@@phengvue21That kind of glib comment completely ignores the fact that it it much harder to qualify from Europe. The US and teams like the Matildas come from federations where their opponents are far inferior according to FIFA rankings and as a result breezes through into qualifying (there is a world of difference between playing somebody like Uzbekistan and a top team like Sweden). European teams were split into ridiculous groups where numerous top sides were pitted against one another with barely any slots available to proceed. Many finished qualifying with ridiculous records that would have guaranteed an Olympic spot on any other federation. This is the result of a lack of equality at the Olympics, as the men’s football tournament and four more teams than the women. If the women’s competition were expanded, there would be more space for at least one other European side. So it really isn’t as simple as ‘you gotta qualify buddy.’ Widespread inequalities between federations and national teams mean that it is hardly a level playing field. Having such a small Olympic tournament means that it is never really a fair fight.
Would be very surprised if Germany win. They haven’t been the Germany of old for a long time now. In my opinion the US are pretty much guaranteed a medal (although watch me be wrong, as this tournament has been crazy so far!). Wish we could just enjoy the whole thing without the doom-mongering naysayers though - every game now sparks this paroxysm of criticism and doubt with fans turning on players, Emma Hayes and anything else they can possibly deem not up to par. It’s football. Someone has to lose. If the US do go out in the semis, then they have still done well, but no doubt people will start reading the most ridiculous things into it, as if their departure is some kind of biblical sign or secret symbol of the end of ‘Wokedom’ [pass sick-bucket now].
