As November departed and consumed USA Women’s National Team fans with trepidation and waves of blizzards encompassing most of the nation, a wonderful cycler event began to transpire. Underneath the frozen terrain, perhaps, yes perhaps, seeds of offense began to sprout for the US Women.
Anticipation and pure giddy excitement has begun to engulf my soccer tactical logic. Why? Based solely on highlight feeds (I know…dangerous to analyze highlights) the USA has created more intelligent offensive movement since the World Cup Qualifying closely contested matches. Over winter, like many soccer fanatics, I wondered if the USA could ever find their way out of an opponents 4-5-1 (or similar) formation. Our midfield lacked poise, control, and creativity. Our defense at times (despite not yielding numerous goals) appeared panicked, angered, and often resulted to simply clearing balls rather than developing an attack. The strikers, well, the strikers seem tired and frustrated running after numerous 50/50 balls. The USA game was played primarily within the center of the pitch. Ugly.
Coach Pia Sundhage knows offense—at least I am convinced she does. However, many fans were becoming impatient. US women soccer fans fail to comprehend losing. US Women’s Soccer, UCONN Women’s basketball, New York Yankees, LA Lakers—these are all teams that win year in and year out. So when the US Women were on the verge of not qualifying based on “one” loss, it became news. As a more intelligent soccer fan, the lack of the USA understanding how to play against a 4-5-1 became my news. Pia went to work.
While many soccer experts were rightfully pointing out Pia’s change and experimentation with the defensive back four, another storyline was developing to coincide with the defensive exploration. We found width! Could it be that the USA will no longer be “boxxed” in the midfield (forgive me, could not help myself) against teams that wish to close out our central space?
Watch the highlights from the Iceland match on the USWNT website. Viewers are consumed with overlapping runs, balls played out to the flanks, and several US attackers crashing the goal on slotted balls. High pressure, patience, creativity, and smiles. Highlight videos make me feel good. Megan Rapinoe and Heather O’Reilly controlled the flanks with confidence. Rapinoe was patient, composed, and timed her crosses perfectly. Soccer was fun again.
April 2nd will provide a clear picture on the USA’s progress. The match against England is to be televised (as of now) thanks to ESPN2. Until then, USA players and fans will continue to allow their confidence to grow.
