The United States women’s national team, by the standard of all national teams, is still really good. They’re going to advance out of their World Cup group, they’ll probably beat a good team or two. By normal USWNT standards, they’re extremely disappointing, and this is the first time in history they’ll head into a World Cup with no one considering them as one of the two or three favorites to win it.
Backheel Breakfast: The USWNT isn’t inspiring any confidence
Jill Ellis is getting piled on by other coaches now.
John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
They drew Iceland 0-0 in the Algarve Cup on Monday, and Iceland’s manager took shots at USWNT coach Jill Ellis after the game.
“We forced them to play the long ball since after watching their first two games, we saw that when they get under pressure they tend to resort to the long ball,” said Frey Alexandersson. “I don’t understand it because they can play the ball on the grass. I would expect a team 20 seeds (ahead of us in the world rankings) would trash us.”
Basically, it was pretty easy for him to figure out what the U.S. was going to do and what they struggled with. He used a simple tactic to get the USWNT to do what he wanted them to do and it worked.
“Maybe he’s unhappy because his team is at the bottom of the group” was Ellis’ comeback, which is the adult version of “I know you are but what am I?”
This team is mediocre, their manager isn’t handling it well, and it’s going to be bad for soccer in the United States when they crash out of the World Cup in the round of 16 or the quarterfinals.
In the news
Danny Welbeck scored against his old club on Monday, so naturally people tweeted at him that they hope he dies. (Mirror)
”The best solution would be not to play [the tournament] in Qatar and to rectify this erroneous election,” said outgoing FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwaniger about the 2022 World Cup. (AS)
These James Milner rumors are looking more like news. He’s talking to Italian and Spanish clubs about moving abroad on a free. (Guardian)
Millwall have said goodbye to Ian Holloway. (Telegraph)
Gus Poyet has denied the FA charge against him. (BBC)
The perpetually injured Stephan El Shaarawy says he’ll be back to face Inter on April 19. (Football Italia translating Gazzetta Dello Sport)
You should be reading
Uli Hesse on the fall of VfB Stuttgart. (ESPN FC)
Michael Cox on Angel Di Maria’s struggles. (Guardian)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously.
Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini seems to think he can get Yaya Toure. (Gazzetta Dello Sport)
A bunch of English clubs and Atletico Madrid are chasing Lazio star Felipe Anderson. (Football Italia)
Arsenal are eyeing up a move for Dortmund defender Neven Subotic. (ESPN FC)
Yesterday’s games
Defensive errors and Angel Di Maria’s antics helped Arsenal to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup. (SB Nation)
Fiorentina got trucked by Lazio. (Viola Nation)
Paul Pogba rescued Juventus against Sassuolo. (Black, White and Read All Over)
What to watch on Tuesday (click for listings, all times ET)
Real Madrid vs. Schalke (3:45 p.m.) - Don’t expect a miracle comeback from the Germans.
Porto vs. Basel (3:45 p.m.) - This game is better. Watch this game.
Copa Libertadores (6:30 p.m.) - We’re opting not to list all the games Tuesday individually because it’s a weak slate, but here’s a listing for all of them.
See More:
