Re: USA-Japan
Re: USA-Japan
Japan was in group B, the easy group as the seeded team. And after a 2-0 loss to England they didn't win it. They also are not the Asian champs after losing to Australia 1-0. If you saw England and Australia they are good teams not great. So is Japan they kind of slot in there, but the USA is a great team. Japan beat Germany in a huge upset and it will take another huge upset to beat USA.
A lot of the reason I'm betting USA is the two games on ESPN which I watched just before the tournament. In the first Japan dominated the first 25 minutes with their passing and possesion game. But they did not generate even one real scoring opportunity. That is a problem, other than Sawa they lack finishers. The USA dominated the rest of the way, won 2-0 and it really was not even that close. Bad finishing by the USA.
In the second game also won 2-0 by USA, USA dominated from start to finish and again it really should have been worse. USA not only beat Japan badly twice they frankly made them look incompetent as in the two games Japan did not even generate one shot that tested Hope Solo. Solo is easily the best keeper in the world and gives the USA an edge in this game. Japans keeper is short and generally suspect.
In the USA 2-1 win earlier this year Hope Solo was still injured and did not play. In the 3 games USA outshot Japan each time ( not shots on goal, just shots) 16-6, 15-9, 15-8. USA has a 22-0-3 career record vs Japan.
USA height advantage is huge, not just on offense but everywhere. When Japan tries corner kicks or crosses, USA defenders just head them away. USA will be looking to find Wambach for headers. Wambach will be like Shaqzilla in this game. Lauren Cheney is big too, if Wambach is Shaq, then Cheney will be Alonzo Mourning. And there is not much Japan can do to defend them in the box, you cant just foul them there. Like I said when USA plays a short team its like watching a middleweight try and box a heavyweight. USA just pounds on them.
USA is very tough to defend as it isn't like Wambach has to carry the load. They have a lot of players out there who finish scoring chances well. Megan Rapinoe has been a live wire. Cheney keeps putting nasty hard shots on goal. Carli Lloyd has a cannon. So does Rapinoe. Alex Morgan is super fast and super good. I hope they start her instead of Amy Rodriguez who has been misfiring.
I've tried to think is their something I'm missing? Something I have not thought of? I know Japan beat Germany and Sweden. But I just don't even see a ray of sunshine for them here. Not saying Japan has no chance but I think USA wins by 2 goals.