WWC2015: Group Match 2 Thoughts

{Thoughts on the Match 1 here.}

Ultimately, I’m conflicted. The round 2 games were, overall, a bit underwhelming. But they set up a fantastic set of clashes for round 3, with almost every game having potential impact on what nations make it through to the next round.

GROUP A

China impressed me in squeezing out the win, but really none of these teams have hit their stride. If Canada can’t beat New Zealand (who, yes, were quite game), they can’t go very far, and China can’t continue to rely on last gasp goals to win.

All that said, the Canada – Netherlands game should be quite good.

GROUP B

Watching the Côte D’Ivoire battle Thailand was enjoyable, but not a great argument for the strength of the women’s game. It’s part of the difficulty of expanding the field, and the first mention of an ongoing theme: if these countries invest in their infrastructure and support their players both at home and abroad, either of them could make a mark over the next 4 to 8 years. The talent is there at the top end, it just drops off too precipitously.

The other game, now that was a different matter altogether. Look, Germany is a great team and will most likely play in the final, but this game certainly showed that they can be beat, or at least competed with.

GROUP C

Japan‘s first half performance was quite strong, but they were, in the end, quite fortunate to gain all 3 points against Cameroon. The Switzerland – Cameroon game should be fantastic: Switzerland is nowhere as good as they looked against Ecuador, and Cameroon will cause them some troubles.

GROUP D

My apologies to FIFA. Nigeria did indeed play Osinachi Ohale as their right-back, which is among the most befuddling choices I can think of. Ohale is hard working, tall, strong, slow changing direction, and incredibly awkward with the ball at her feet. Huge fan, but she’s a center back, and putting her on the wing is begging trouble.

The game with Australia was quite even, but Nigeria never really got going, unable to create enough space for Asisat Oshoala to really shine, and unable to threaten much elsewhere. While Kyah Simon got the goals, it was Lisa De Vanna doing what Lisa De Vanna has done for years that turned the game.

Mix that with a bit of a lackluster performance by the USA, who needed all 64 inches of Meghan Klingenberg to survive, and the final matches should be stunning: Australia v Sweden could very well be win-or-go-home, and Nigeria is totally unpredictable: if they play to their potential, the USA could lose and need help to advance; or the USA could expose their weaknesses in the back third of the field and win 5-0. Make it 5-1: I want Oshoala to provide one highlight reel moment.

GROUP E

Costa Rica was a lot of fun to root for, but don’t be fooled: relying on both of your shots on target resulting in goals to eke out a tie is not a strategy for success. Still, second place is wide open, any of the three teams chasing Brazil could end up there (especially if Brazil rests some key players, having already sewn up their spot in the next round).

If I were picking, I’d pick Spain, who have the marks of a team that is on the bad side of variance right now: if you generate enough near-misses, you eventually generate a bunch of goals.

GROUP F

And here we are. Everyone who picked Colombia to be on top after two games raise your hand. And … no one, other than Lady Andrade‘s immediate family. France was pretty dreadful, and my dark horse pick is looking worse and worse with every game. I’d like to say the trick is they need to bring on Kadidiatou Diani and Griedge Mbock Bathy, but the truth is they need Louisa Necib to be far more creative, and they need Eugenie Le Sommer and Claire Lavogez to play like they’ve played over the past year.

England did not impress me as much as they did others, and while both Fran Kirby‘s goal and story are compelling, the team looked unable to really capitalize on either Jill Scott or Eniola Aluko up top. Scott needs another player to combine with; Aluko needs one more touch to get free. Either could score a brace against Colombia, or the whole team could go down in flames.

Mexico flatters to deceive: at the end of the day, they just aren’t that good, and are another country that, with proper support, could emerge quite suddenly as a great team, but not this year. I would still tip England and France to move on, with each of them winning their final game. But anything could happen.

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Best teams through the first two games: Germany, Norway, Japan, Cameroon, USA, Brazil. That includes both the USA and Brazil under-performing. Perhaps Cameroon is a surprise there, but it’s not like I think they will win it all.

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Players who have impressed most so far: Gaelle Enganamouit from Cameroon has been a constant threat, somewhat unlucky not to have scored even more. Germany’s Celia Sasic has been a constant threat, and Leonie Maier has looked fantastic on their right flank. Switzerland’s Ramona Bachmann is as good as there is when she’s on her game, and their blowout win may have put her there. Norway’s Ada Hegerberg remains, along with Maier, the best of the young talent on display.