WWC2015: Wrap Up & Awards

{Preview of the final here.}

I admit that, as a sports fan, my preference is for white-knuckle, tension-filled games that are won in the agonizing final minutes … but that USA win was still pretty enjoyable.

There’s not a lot to say about it: when you convert every early opportunity and have the game by the scruff of the neck and then you decide to go all fifty-yard-shot-cuz-the-keeper-is-off-her-line … yeah, it’s pretty much over.

My favorite moments:

• Carli Lloyd‘s run on her first goal: she started from way outside the box and was just a bullet through the box to get to the ball. And, the golazo, of course.
• Morgan Brian‘s pass to Tobin Heath for the fifth goal. Scrumptious.
• The clear respect everyone has for Homare Sawa.

MOST OF ALL … As the USA was getting their medals, Meghan Klingenberg was towards the end of the line. As she moved past the trophy, she reached out one finger and touched it briefly, as if she were reassuring herself it was really there. Fantastic.

On the least favorite side, it just burns me up how poorly the announcers pay attention to anything tactical. Japan‘s first sub removed one of their two central defenders (Homare Sawa for Azusa Iwashimizu). And the commentators never mentioned it. Not once. Not even a very short, easy to digest, wow, Norio Sasaki is really going for it: he’s pulled one of their four defenders in favor of an attacker. That means Japan may be more susceptible to counter attacks, but it means they’ll have more players at midfield and even higher up the field.

And if the tactical change is done by a lesser known team … well … you can forget about it.

Just fries me. #GetOverIt

AWARDS

These are a bit idiosyncratic, so there you go.

All-Tournament Team

GK: Hope Solo (USA)

D: Meghan Klingenberg (USA), Steph Houghton (ENG), Julie Johnston (USA), Lucy Bronze (ENG)

DM: Lena Goessling (GER)

MC: Carli Lloyd (USA), Anja Mittag (GER), Aya Miyama (JPN)

F: Célia Šašić (GER), Ada Hegerberg (NOR)

My suspicion is Klingenberg, Houghton, and Hegerberg are the surprises, although the USA win makes Klingenberg more likely to get love. Houghton was an absolute rock all tournament, culminating in an amazing game against Germany. Hegerberg was, I think, the most consistently dangerous forward we saw: lots of shots, most on target, and all over the field.

Second Team

GK: Karen Bardsley (ENG)

D: Allysha Chapman (CAN), Elise Kellond-Knight (AUS), Kadeisha Buchanan (CAN), Leonie Maier (GER)

DM: Fara Williams (ENG)

MC: Solveig Gulbrandsen (NOR), Elodie Thomis (FRA), Gabrielle Onguene (CMR)

F: Eugenie Le Sommer (FRA), Lisa De Vanna (AUS)

Putting Kellond-Knight as a DC is a bit of a cheat, as I think she spent more time at DM during the tournament. I’d be fine with Amandine Henry instead of Williams as well, and I think that Gulbrandsen’s play received far too little attention. Onguene had the performance of the tournament until Lloyd’s hat-trick, putting Cameroon on her shoulders in their victory over Switzerland. And, yeah, I do think Bardsely had a better tournament than Nadine Angerer. So did Lydia Williams.

Finally, my favorite two. Whenever I blog, I hope to continue blogging: if successful in this endeavor, we’ll check back as qualifications for France 2019 get underway.

Under 23 Team (Players born no earlier than January 1, 1993)

GK: Cecelia Santiago (MEX)

D: Kadeisha Buchanan (CAN), Caitlin Foord (AUS), Alanna Kennedy (AUS), Noelle Maritz (SUI)

DM: Morgan Brian (USA)

M: Andressa (BRZ), Mana Iwabuchi (JPN), Melanie Leupolz (GER)

F: Ada Hegerberg (NOR), Samantha Kerr (AUS)

Honorable Mention: Raïssa Feudjio (DM – CMR), Melissa Herrera (CRC), Tang Jiali (M – CHN), Fran Kirby (F – ENG), Ashley Lawrence (M – CAN), Ngozi Okobi (F – NGA), Kerlly Real (ECU), Yoreli Rincon (M – COL)

These are in alphabetical order, and the D’s don’t really work (both Foord and Maritz play on the right).

U23 Players Most Likely to Star in 2019 or 2023 Not Listed Above

Remember, some of the stars of the next two WC’s weren’t on these rosters–especially in the stronger programs, there is great talent knocking on the door (Crystal Dunn or Caroline Hansen or Mallory Pugh or Bethany Mead or Lina Magüll or Alex Chidiac or dozens of others, I’m looking at you). These are players who either performed fine (but below a “best of tournament” level),underperformed, barely saw the field, or were only in Canada “for the experience.”

GK: Cecille Fiskerstrand (NOR)

D: Griedge Mbock Bathy (FRA), Jennifer Cramer (GER), Alex Greenwood (ENG), Amel Majri (FRA)

M: Jessie Fleming (CAN), Alexia Putellas (ESP), Lia Wälti (SUI)

F: Claire Lavogez (FRA), Vivianne Miedema (NED)

Had to mention: Pauline Bremer (F – GER), Daisy Cleverley (M – NZL), Sara Däbritz (F – GER), Barla Deplazes (F – SUI), Kadidiatou Diani (F – FRA), Meikayla Moore (D – NZL), Sarah Nnodim (D – NGA), Asisat Oshoala (F- NGA), Leicy Santos (M – COL)

These are in alphabetical order–although the back line could work, Greenwood – Bathy – Cramer – Majri.

Bottom Line: I don’t think there has been a better time to be a fan of the women’s game.