WWC2015: Group Match 1 Thoughts

{Written after viewing all of the initial group games in the 2015 Women’s World Cup}

Canada’s World Cup has started with an odd mix of the scintillating, the sublime, and the snooze-worthy. Some miscellaneous thoughts on the games so far, focusing, quite predictably, on some of the younger players involved.

• Canada was fortunate to gain their three points, and need to be much, much better if they want to challenge in front of the hometown fans. Here’s hoping Jessie Fleming both gets more time and does more with the time she’s given. Here’s the thing: it’s not that rare for a defender or a striker to make their debut at a young age: sometimes you just have a kid that is bigger, stronger, faster than everyone in their age group. But a central midfielder? That’s a different situation entirely, and it’s part of why Fleming (and, in an only slightly lower key, Morgan Brian) has so many people so excited.

• Vivianne Miedema (ah, we remember when she was simply Anne, dominating the U17 brackets) got all of the attention and, yes, had a solid game. But Lieke Martens isn’t exactly a grizzled veteran, and her strike for the Dutch win was amazing. Overall, I thought the Netherlands played very well against a game Kiwi side who was, at the end of the day, outclassed. I was struck (as were many others) by how determined the Dutch were to “play the way they were facing.” A good lesson there for young players about making the game simple, retaining possession, and all that.

• The two initial games in Group B were indicative of some of the current difficulties in the game. One of the signs of a sport that is still maturing is the gap between tiers of teams: if there is an argument against the expansion of the number of teams, this is it. We really didn’t learn much about Germany or Norway from their initial games, and the matches did little other than position a few players as more likely to win the Golden Boot. Was Germany impressive? Of course. But the performance against the Côte D’Ivoire does little to prepare them for Norway. Still, if they run out a first team lineup against Thailand, it will be interesting to see if they can put up another double-digit haul of goals. If nothing else, their confidence should be sky high for the second round.

• It was nice to see Sara Däbritz score and Leonie Maier start, but it’s more important to see if Melanie Leupolz is healthy. Leupolz is, for me, the standard-bearer for the next generation of German soccer, and her absence would be felt by the national team, even at her age.

• For Norway, it was great seeing Ada Hederberg play so well. She should be a dominant force in the game for the next decade: strong, smart, good in the air, good off the ball. Complete package.

• I did not anticipate Cameroon drubbing Ecuador like that. They looked good, but clearly suffer from some of the same illusion as mentioned above. However, neither Japan nor Switzerland were particularly impressive, so perhaps they have a shot. Gaelle Enganamouit and Gabrielle Onguene deserve all of their plaudits, but (I know, predictably) I remain a big fan of the hard work that Raissa Feudjio (still a teenager) does in front of their back four.

• It’s hard to find positives for Ecuador, especially defensively, but sixteen year old Kerlly Real survived at right-back for them, and just that experience will serve her well. Sixteen years old, 26 international caps and not a GK or an imposing physical specimen.

• If Nigeria can defend a set piece, they could do some damage, right? As nice as it was to see Osinachi Ohale (who became a family favorite last year, when she went from walk-on to regular starter for the Houston Dash), she has to take some responsibility for two of the goals. FIFA’s official stuff can be so odd (great week for that sentence, huh): their tactical sheet for the match shows Ohale as a right-back, which is just wrong. It also shows both teams in a straight 4-4-2, so …

• The France – England game was the disappointment of the round for me. Granted, playing in gale force winds is no fun, but still … I still think France is the dark horse of the tournament, but they’ll need to show far more; and England seemed more concerned with only losing by one than, you know, doing anything themselves.

• Cecilia Santiago has been around forever, and is still only 20. But she seems to have regressed in her fundamentals, consistently making oddly maverick choices around the penalty area. I don’t know if it was an off day, if she was told to take more risks by her coach, or if she has stalled in her development. In any case, I hope she turns it around. Mexico seems to be trying to duplicate history: their backup GK for the WWC is another 16 year old, Emily Alvarado.

Looking Forward …

I see wins on Thursday for Germany, the Netherlands, the Côte D’Ivoire, and Canada (although I think New Zealand could surprise if Canada does not raise their game, and Norway will prove a much sterner test for the Germans).

On Friday, look for Sydney Leroux to tear Sweden’s defense apart with her speed, and for Nigeria to give Australia as much as they can handle. The Japan – Cameroon match will reveal a lot about Group C.

On Saturday, England is in a “must win” situation (or, at least, must tie), and I would not be surprised if Spain surprises Brazil: they have the talent, and Brazil looked awfully flat in their opening game.