Read Caitlin Murray's match report
Closing with the mailbag ...
Oh my, the mailbox exploded. A few highlights ...
Michael Konopka: “If VAR has shown anything, it’s a strict adherent to the letter of the law, even if by a millimeter of distance or millinewton of force being applied when kicking an opponent.”
Mario S: “Hopefully the US will score at least one goal not through a penalty shot otherwise the critics will all claim the US should not have won.”
Even then, that call changed the game, and Spain had to chase from there. (Not effectively.)
Michael Waechter: “Why hasn’t Jill Ellis sent in Press and Pugh? Our left wing is useless (except for taking (undeserved) penalties).”
Jeff McCrum: “Spain is getting away with murder here, the ref has zero respect from them.”
Joe Pearson: “Corredera and Rapinoe swapping shirts was a nice touch”
Eric Gordon: “Could someone please explain to me why USA and France have ended up in a predictable quarter final showdown .. and not the semis .. were they not both convincing top four favourites from the get go …. So , now either the hostesses or the Legion of doom go out …. Not that as a Canadian I’m really complaining ..”
It’s not seeded, and this is an idiosyncrasy of the 24-team field. That said, if you have 32 teams, you may have even more group winners playing in the quarterfinals.
Courtney Shin: “Wanted to throw in my two cents that despite the controversy of that last penalty call, Rose Lavelle has proven herself a necessary force for her team. She had some peaches of passes, and her and Sam Mewis were clear US standouts for me. All this to say that Spain had an incredible, incredible game. I can only hope the US bring the same level of verve, intensity, and commitment to their next game against France. And maybe a few less fouls.”
Twitter is decidedly split on the penalty call.
Most worrying for the USA -- no goals from the run of play, and they didn’t even force a difficult save. But neither did Spain -- the goal was really their one good chance.
For the neutral, that was awesome. For US fans, that was torture. And the next three games might be the same way.
Thanks for following along with me. Check here for the match report shortly.
Updated
Positives for the USA ...
1. While Rapinoe and Morgan struggled, the latter because of some intense and sometimes illegal defensive attention, Tobin Heath was excellent.
2. On the few times the Spanish attack went down the left flank, Kelley O’Hara promptly stopped it.
3. Rose Lavelle played terrific through balls.
4. After her early mistake, Alyssa Naeher controlled her box very well and distributed with no problems.
5. Abby Dahlkemper, the less experienced half of the center back tandem, made several important clearances.
6. Samantha Mewis was an imposing force in central midfield and played the ball forward quite well, perfectly complementing the reliable Julie Ertz and the playmaker Lavelle.
The tactics were bizarre at times. Crystal Dunn is a fantastic player, but when you’re protecting a 2-1 lead and she has been repeatedly beaten, why would you not sub for her? Perhaps because Casey Short, a true left back, wasn’t on the bench?
But they survive and advance. And France look anything but immortal.
Let’s finish up on the controversy, then get to the positives for the USA ...
There was contact.
There was not enough to make someone fall down. The word “trifling” is part of the referees’ vocabulary.
Final comment:
VAR hasn’t been a great one for the underdogs, has it #FIFAWWC #ESPUSA #USWNT
— AllForXI (@AllForXI) June 24, 2019
All that said, it was a poor game all the way around for the VAR crew. They could have reviewed a few more incidents in each box, and if Spain hadn’t delayed the penalty, that call might not have been reviewed at all.
Now on to the positives ...
FINAL: USA 2-1 Spain
It was more controversial than convincing, but let’s count the reasons the USA deserve this result ...
1. More possession.
2. A defense that took the edge off most of Spain’s chances after that early goal.
3. As soft as the second penalty call was, some other Spanish fouls went uncalled.
So now a quarterfinal between two favorites, the USA and France, who looked far from dominant in the round of 16.
Updated
90+8 min: Spain try to switch fields, but the impatient Caldentey takes it at midfield. Finally a long ball into the box ... Paredes is down seeking a call. We’ve seen no indication of a VAR intrusion, not even after the ball is out of play.
90+7 min: Rapinoe, with her last kick, puts the ball out of play. Press comes in to replace her, and Rapinoe exits on the far sideline in accordance with the new Laws of the Game.
90+6 min: Ertz has dropped from defensive mid to the center of defense.
Rapinoe is fouled by Corredera and takes some time to adjust her socks. No question about the foul.
Christen Press is warming up. Naeher clears the ball long.
90+5 min: You’d think Ellis would slow things down and use her third sub. Not at the moment, while the USA keep possession down the left flank for a good long time.
90+4 min: Dahlkemper with another vital interception.
Replay shows Paredes wasn’t fouled on the prior play.
NOW the US defense are passing the test.
Updated
90+3 min: Long ball to Paredes, who has run up from center back into the box. She tumbles. Ref isn’t interested.
90+2 min: O’Hara slides cleanly to stop a counterattack. Dahlkemper heads a cross clear.
Spain really haven’t had a promising attack in some time.
Updated
90+1 min: Heath falls on the right side. Spanish player motions for her to get up. Replay shows ... maybe impeding?
90 min: Lloyd gets the ball and is rather ridiculous taken out. That’ll only hurt Spain.
A replay shows an arm around Rapinoe’s neck on a previous play.
We’re getting seven minutes of stoppage time, much of it surely for the VAR review.
89 min: Sandra Paños holds the ball despite a collision. No foul, which is probably the right (no-)call.
88 min: Heath earns a corner, and Horan replaces Lavelle. THAT is a sensible substitution, as long as Horan doesn’t pick up a yellow.
#FIFAWWC
— Dio Jiménez ♀️ (@Dio_Jimenez) June 24, 2019
Tonight's attendance for this enthralling match: 19,663.#USAESP pic.twitter.com/2xfEYCkHbL
Should be more.
87 min: Lloyd’s first contribution to this game is an offside call. Replay shows the call probably wasn’t right.
Lloyd is one of the two or three best clutch scorers the USA have ever had. This is not the situation for that.
85 min: Dunn and Rapinoe win the ball from three Spanish players, one of whom falls. Paredes responds by wiping out Rapinoe and getting a yellow.
And now Lloyd comes in for Morgan, which makes no sense whatsover. A speedy counterattacker, OK. That’s not Lloyd.
82 min: Correction -- the third Spanish sub is coming in now, with Caldenty replacing the goal-scorer Hermoso. Or not. Torrecilla is down, and she’s the one who’ll come out.
The previous sub was Falcon for Putellas.
Meanwhile, while straining to protect a 2-1 lead, the USA turn to ... Carli Lloyd. I don’t want to live on this planet any more.
80 min: We still have a good game in progress. Rapinoe goes close from a tough angle. Naeher punches clear in a tough collision. Morgan clears the ensuing corner.
Spain have made three subs now. The USA have made none. If ever there was a time to bring in another defender.
Roger Wallace: “As a US fan I hope they overturn this penalty. I think there have been a ton of fouls that should have been called on Spain, but this would just leave a bad taste in the mouth for everyone. So soft”
Henry Flory: “Enjoying the commentary, but “anti-homer” sounds right, if you’re going to call it a dive at least wait for one replay showing an absence of cleat-to-shin contact?”
I’ve seen the replay. Lavelle went flying.
Roger Theberge says there was contact but it was soft.
Tom Wahl: “You’re doing your job right when a homer accuses you of being anti-homer. Keep up the fair and open minded critique. Don’t fall into the trap of these fans who think the women’s team can do no wrong.”
Thanks. I look forward to being burned in effigy on Twitter later this afternoon.
The view from Canada:
I’m sorry but that’s never a penalty in any sane universe
— Duane Rollins (@24thminute) June 24, 2019
GOAL! USA 2-1 Spain (Rapinoe pen 76)
The penalty is given after review.
The ref tells Rapinoe to move the ball back onto the spot.
Nearly saved but not quite. She went the same way as her first. Keeper guessed correctly, but it’s a low hard shot.
This game is now officially controversial.
Updated
Twitter is divided ...
THAT BETTER GO TO VAR. #USAESP
— Shireen Footybedsheets Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) June 24, 2019
Because the defender kicked Lavelle's leg with her studs.
— Dan Smith (@dsmith147) June 24, 2019
That should probably come back, tbh. #ESPUSA
— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) June 24, 2019
Christina Unkel (Fox rules expert) says there was contact. Aly Wagner says Lavelle’s leg didn’t move.
Updated
Review
Spain does everything they can to delay the penalty, and with good reason. The VAR crew takes a full two minutes to awaken from their slumber and alert the referee. It’s a great game, folks. Wake up.
Updated
70 min: When will we see a sub?
I like the term “anti-homer,” by the way.
Graavarg says the USA lead the world in unsportsmanlike conduct.
And right on cue, Lavelle dives for a penalty. If this stands, that’s a robbery.
Comments:
Henry Flory: “If I were to sub in an American attacker, I’d tell whomever is coming on to give something back to the Spanish CBs, who have been pretty damn rough, especially #4. Since the very opening, when Morgan was knocked down twice off the ball, it’s been non-stop. I suppose, if you’re someone who believes Barca’s dominance is built on a foundation of cynical fouls and dramatic falls, you wouldn’t be surprised...”
I think the USA have taken some dramatic fall.
Joe Pearson: “Stop being such an anti-homer. Morgan is being fouled whenever she even gets near the ball. Spain is playing very cynically and daring the ref to make the calls. She is bottling it.”
Feedback noted.
Mario S: “I have a bad feeling that the US is going to start pressing too hard. They are missing shots they should be making and Spain is going to get a breakaway with US defenders up in the wrong box.”
Quite possible.
Paul G. Frazer: “just have to say, if alex morgan is really struggling, shouldn’t she be subbed?? I am a bit worried about this one,”
You’re not alone.
On Rapinoe:
@duresport If Ellis takes off Rapinoe it’ll be a rare bit of evidence that she’s something other than a figurehead.
— Gefan (@Gefan5) June 24, 2019
Rapinoe's forever a deity. But this is 2 straight games she's been off her game. Way too many attacks dying with her on the ball https://t.co/IlF4xPSInR
— Jerry Hinnen (@JerryHinnen) June 24, 2019
Brilliant career, but she’s flailing here.
Naeher collects a cross and boots it to the other box. Heath was within 20 yards, but that wasn’t dangerous.
65 min: The international broadcast shows Hope Solo again after that play. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Solo didn’t play left back.
And now Mewis goes somewhat close with a long-range shot. I need a hydration break.
63 min: CHANCE FOR SPAIN! Dunn is beaten again, and Guijarro gets a cross/shot past Ertz and Naeher that barely slides past the far post.
Updated
Mailbag ...
Roger Theberge wants the US to shoot while the sun is in the Spanish keeper’s eyes. Not a bad idea, and they’ve done so twice in the last few minutes.
61 min: Garcia slides past Dahlkemper down the left and cuts the ball back to the top of the box. The only person there is Ertz, who is not on Garcia’s team.
Isn’t it supposed to be hot? This is end-to-end and frenetic. I’m trying to get to the mailbag, but this game is too fast!
60 min: CHANCE FOR USA! Rose Lavelle’s 22-yarder just goes over the bar.
Best chance of the 2nd half so far falls to Rose Lavelle, but her rip from distance goes just over. #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/p4YfysHuCW
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 24, 2019
Updated
59 min: More passes in the US half than we’re used to seeing, and Mewis ends up charging forward with the ball. Spain win it, and Ertz slips on a challenge and wins a foul.
Please show more replays of these.
I want Tobin Heath to score but I don't want #USA to win. #conundrums
— Shireen Footybedsheets Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) June 24, 2019
Fair enough.
Rapinoe's forever a deity. But this is 2 straight games she's been off her game. Way too many attacks dying with her on the ball https://t.co/IlF4xPSInR
— Jerry Hinnen (@JerryHinnen) June 24, 2019
If I may backtrack a little -- Rapinoe is one of those players who can destroy a team in an instant. But if that doesn’t happen soon, will Ellis go to the bench.
Probably not.
56 min: Now THAT’S a foul. Paredes slides through O’Hara on the edge of the box. And the ref ignores it.
55 min: CHANCE FOR USA! They played the ball to Heath! Lavelle sends it to her, and Heath shoots from a tough angle just over the bar.
54 min: Naeher is up to the challenge with a strong punch in traffic.
And Morgan falls again. If these are legitimate fouls, we’re long overdue for persistent infringement.
I don’t think that’s a foul. Morgan swings an arm first.
53 min: Free kick to the USA as Morgan tumbles again, this time a bit too easily for my taste. Look, if you’re going to say Corredera fell too easily on the Rapinoe slap, well ...
The USA lose possession and concede a corner.
50 min: The ref apparently missed a couple of off-the-ball fouls, including one in the box. Heath is hurt for a moment as she and Virginia Torrecilla slide into a challenge simultaneously.
Now Morgan is down, and Jill Ellis really should take her out.
48 min: Rapinoe and Corredera renew their 1v1 battle. This round to Corredera.
Apparently, the USA weren’t listening to me when I reminded them that there’s a right flank on the field, and Tobin Heath is there.
47 min: I’m going to be chuckling for a while at all the Fox commentators and analysts in a state of disbelief over the current state of this game. Fox already had to broadcast a men’s World Cup with no US team. Imagine if this game goes awry.
46 min: No subs mentioned. The USA get a free kick from ... call it 35 yards. Or 30 meters.
Heath takes it, which is not her strong suit, and Paredes clears with ease.
Updated
Wow what a half! Correderra v Rapinoe match up on the left is a whole show in itself. #ESP midfield pressing well although when Lavelle breaks the line, dangerous! USA for the first time look rattled. #ESP #USA
— Eniola Aluko (@EniAlu) June 24, 2019
Agreed.
#USWNT rather robotic today from my viewing of things. Will not be surprised if they go to Carli Lloyd fairly early in the 2nd half. Have not dealt well with #ESP pressure. Some opportunities created, but not building well in the middle of the pitch. #USA #FIFAWWC #USAESP
— Jeff Castro (@JACastroTTU) June 24, 2019
Disagreed on Lloyd, who’s basically a goal-poacher at this stage of her career. She’s not going to break down the defense in the middle of the field.
If I end up eating those words, fine. I didn’t have much for lunch.
Armchair US tactician says ...
1. Get the ball to Heath early. She’ll create the goal to break the Spanish resistance.
2. Consider bringing in Tierna Davidson at left back and moving Crystal Dunn up the field, replacing either Rose Lavelle in the midfield or (ducks from Twitterati who think that if Megan Rapinoe says the sky is green, then it’s green) Megan Rapinoe up front.
3. It’s not happening for Alex Morgan today. Pick any forward to come in.
Best players of the half:
USA: Mewis has more than justified her inclusion here, bossing the midfield and playing sharp balls forward. Heath has been brilliant every time she’s seen the ball -- maybe Jill Ellis should be telling the team to get the ball to her more often instead of assuming Rapinoe will always do something brilliant on the left.
Spain: Brilliant finish from Hermoso, but Garcia has been the persistent danger. Paredes also deserves credit for bottling up the center of the defense.
Updated
Mailbag!
Paul Thompson (the guitarist?): “That was incredibly lazy on the US part, and an evidence of incredibly poor preparation. If a defender cannot handle the pressure in this situation, the preparation for the match was extremely lax.”
It was an appalling decision from Naeher to play that ball.
Roger Wallace: “I know it’s probably near sacrilege to say this, but despite the penalty Rapinoe has been just about the worst player on the pitch so far this game to my eye. Undisciplined several times, losing the ball or wasting excellent balls from Lavelle or others many times, horrible shot. If I were the U.S. I’d get Press or Pugh in there at the first opportunity.”
Hmmm. I don’t think I can agree with that, but it’s funny that the ball was rarely on the far side of the field. Tobin Heath has seen little of the ball aside from winning the penalty, and Kelley O’Hara has had naught to do because Spain simply haven’t attacked down that flank.
Joe Pearson: “Never in my life have I been slapped so hard that I fell down. Seems to happen to footballers all the time.”
That’s just because the refs can’t see everything. Gotta draw attention somehow!
HALFTIME: USA 1-1 Spain
The score is no fluke. The USA have had more possession, but Spain have asked many questions of the US defense, and they don’t have good answers.
Off to the restroom and the fridge, and I’ll be right back to argue with all of you from Twitter and the mailbag. (No, no -- I appreciate all of you.)
45+2 min: Morgan is fouled 25 yards out. Irene Paredes disagrees. Rapinoe and Morgan lobby for a yellow, more likely for persistent infringement than that foul alone. Refs never give persistent infringement, and they should.
The US play the free kick to perfection, with several players racing unimpeded toward the goal, but Rapinoe’s delivery is poorly weighted.
45 min: Better from Dunn, who takes the ball to the outside under pressure and wins a foul.
We’ll have three minutes of stoppage time, which will surely irk Spanish supporters.
44 min: Rapinoe’s corner is dangerous, but Sandra Paños punches it well, and the USA can’t control. Goal kick.
The foul call was certainly just -- yes, Twitter, it was. The yellow might have been harsh.
Yellow card? 🧐
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 24, 2019
Megan Rapinoe gets booked for making slight contact with Marta Corredera's face. #FIFAWWC
The two have a fun little exchange in the end 😅 pic.twitter.com/0UCzrYUwF2
The @AmericanOutlaws are now booing Corredera every time she touches the ball. 😂
— Caitlin Murray (@caitlinmurr) June 24, 2019
I miss Sam’s Army.
Meanwhile, Corredera is beaten in the corner by Mewis, whose cross is blocked out for a corner. Virginia Torrecilla took the brunt of it and is down.
40 min: Spain have the ball down the right, and the cross bounces in front of Naeher and, fortunately for US fans, bounds over the head of Alexia Putellas.
Did we warn you that this might be a tough game? Didn’t we?
38 min: Spain show intent, and Lucia Garcia has been a handful. Dahlkemper has to block a shot in the box, and Naeher alertly grabs a ball over the top to the onrushing forward-ish player.
YELLOW CARD! (Rapinoe 37)
The crowd may not like it, but even Megan Rapinoe isn’t allowed to slap a defender in the face, which is what she did to Marta Corredera. Rapinoe sportingly smiles and offers what appears to be an apology.
Updated
36 min: Rapinoe and Mewis take turns taking inconsequential worm-burners from 25 yards that go well wide.
Pretty loud chant of “Es-pan-a” from this crowd. Plenty of Spaniards appear to have made the trip as well. #FIFAWWC
— Caitlin Murray (@caitlinmurr) June 24, 2019
There -- here’s your Hermoso goal ...
SPAIN ANSWER RIGHT BACK! 😳
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 24, 2019
Jenni Hermoso makes the U.S. pay for the turnover and it's 1-1 inside 10 minutes. What a start to this one! #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/G1zwO1ZLYw
Mailbag: Stephen Holliday rightly takes me to task for focusing on the US error rather than Hermoso’s brilliant lob.
Also, Kyle Brown writes: “A Guardian commentary a few days back mentioned the US playing the rare 0-0-10. Are they at that again today?”
No, Kyle, you are wrong. It’s a 1-0-9, with Sauerbrunn back.
30 min: Rapinoe hits the ground on what appeared to be no contact whatsoever. Play on, says our ref.
Garcia gets the ball with roughly 40 yards of space in any direction. Her cross is collected by Naeher under a strong challenge.
Alex Morgan is down at midfield, and Spain are making a sub. It’s the luckless Losada, who was banged up earlier on a play we haven’t seen again. She’s in tears as Nahikari García comes in.
28 min: And again, the US defense have a nervy moment. The ball is played over the top to Garcia, who races past the US defense. Naeher has to collect it on her chest just outside the box. Oh dear.
Spain again send it through down the right, but the excellent Sauerbrunn interposes her body and wins it back to Naeher, who actually has time to play it this time.
Updated
27 min: More shakiness on the US backline, as Dunn plays a hospital ball back to Naeher near the side of the box. Her initial clearance clangs into an onrushing attacker, but they clean up.
25 min: Dunn commits a foul, and it’s a free kick to the USA. OK, then.
It’s cleverly taken to Mewis, who’s sprinting out of the center toward the left. Kelley O’Hara (right back) passes in the box to Julie Ertz (defensive midfield) who shoots over the bar.
Where, exactly, are the forwards supposed to go if the defense is 15 yards from the Spanish goal?
Art Levy writes: “Proud team USA supporter here, but it doesn’t feel right that Losada looks like she’s going to need Mickey to cut her, and we haven’t seen a view of Apollo Mewis’ clocking her.”
It’s OK -- the domestic commentary team assures us it was an accident. We believe them, right?
Meanwhile, a stat on the screen says the USA lead in passes, 95-37.
23 min: Now Spain have the ball ... oh, wait, no they don’t, and Lavelle runs straight down the middle. Ball is played out.
Is 11 am too early to start drinking? I’m too sober and stressed for this game. #FIFAWWC #USAESP
— Kimberly Harvey (@kibby2991) June 24, 2019
If it makes you feel better, it’s past 6 pm in Spain.
The internet isn't working for many of us reporters, so that's not ideal, @fifamedia, @FIFAWWC!
— Caitlin Murray (@caitlinmurr) June 24, 2019
It’s stunning how often this happens at major events. Except in Beijing.
19 min: Rapinoe wins the ball, Mewis plays to the eagerly overlapping Dunn, whose dangerous cross goes through to Spain’s relief.
It’s safe to say Spain have not established their possession-based game here.
Updated
17 min: Quick free kick, another slippery run from Heath, and Rapinoe and Morgan each get a half-chance.
16 min: Morgan isn’t seeing much of the ball in the center, but Rapinoe is giving experienced right-back Marta Corredera all sorts of fits.
Abby Dahlkemper shoots/plays the ball from Carli Lloyd 2015 range, but Sandra Paños easily catches in mild traffic.
Updated
13 min: CHANCE FOR USA! Take THAT, Rose Lavelle haters. A gorgeous through ball gives Rapinoe a close-range shot. It’s saved but might have been going wide anyway -- the purple-haired veteran should’ve done better.
Updated
The empty seats were not happy...
— Bea Redondo (@Iniyi) June 24, 2019
Looks pretty full at the moment.
Jill Ellis and company are looking at a tablet on the sideline while trainers tend to Vicky Losada, who got the worst of a collision with Mewis.
Updated
GOAL! USA 1-1 Spain (Hermoso 10)
And the US defense flunks its first real test.
Naeher plays the ball to Sauerbrunn, who’s already under pressure from Garcia. The ball gets to Spain’s forward Hermoso, who chips it over the out-of-position Naeher.
Before you start -- Hope Solo has done that in a major tournament, too.
Updated
No controversy about any of that. Heath was just too much for Mapi León, the first player to earn a transfer fee in Spanish women’s soccer. She’s also interested in going into the tattoo business after her playing career. Well, she left a mark on Heath’s leg, but that’s probably not what she meant.
GOAL: USA 1-0 Spain (Rapinoe, pen 7 min)
Short runup, blistering shot, keeper guesses wrong anyway.
Updated
5 min: PENALTY TO USA! Ball played directly from defender Dahlkemper to the ever-dangerous Heath, who cuts the ball back. Mapi Leon left her leg in, tripping Heath, and Rapinoe goes to the spot.
Updated
Mario S. is annoyed that Fox has not seen fit to interrupt its daytime programming for this game: “I just love that here in the USA our only access to watching US Women play is via pay TV (Fox premium). That’s a great way to build consensus support in the USA. Bah! Humbug!”
Technically, Fox Sports 1 is usually available on a sports tier on most cable systems, and it’s part of most streaming services. But the point is well made.
Updated
3 min: An early sign of the USA’s aggressive approach -- they win a throw-in deep in Spain’s half. Rapinoe throws it in to Crystal Dunn, who’s theoretically the left back.
1 min: CHANCE FOR SPAIN! Ball played down the left, crossed, not quite cleared, and Guijarro’s shot nails Becky Sauerbrunn in the face.
1 min: And we have a foul call? No, the ball hit the ref. That’s now a dropped ball.
Reminder of the lineups ...
Spain: Paños, Corredera, Paredes, León, Ouahabi, Losada, Torrecilla, Guijarro, Lucia Garcia, Hermoso, Putellas
USA: Naeher, O’Hara, Dahlkemper, Sauerbrunn, Dunn, Lavelle, Ertz, Mewis, Heath, Morgan, Rapinoe
Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary) . The ARs are from Hungary and Croatia. The VAR crew is from the Netherlands, Poland and the Czech Republic.
By the way, it’s hot.
Here we go.
Spain’s weakness -- possession without goals
As you might expect from a side drawing heavily from Barcelona’s Champions League-contending squad, Spain can possess the ball.
The problem is converting all that possession to goals.
Spain kicked off Euro 2017 with a 2-0 win over Iberian neighbor Portugal. In their next two group games and a quarterfinal matchup with Austria, Spain had at least 70% of the possession -- including 78% against England -- according to Vavel.
In this tournament, Spain opened with a 3-1 win over South Africa. Then 59% of the possession against Germany, to whom they lost 1-0.
The offensive stats against China were staggering -- 61% possession, 24 shots to China’s 1, nine shots on goal to China’s 0, eight corner kicks to China’s 0. Final score: 0-0. The draw clinched their spot in the knockout rounds, but still ...
Spain’s US ties ...
In addition to Losada and Boquete, another Spanish player has had an impact in the USA. Backup defender Celia Jiménez played at Iowa Western Community College, then drew plenty of interest from top-level programs. She chose Alabama. Why?
The player who’s NOT here
Maybe it’s not quite as notable an absence as Ada Hegerberg for Norway, but Spain are playing in this tournament without a legend -- Vero Boquete, so revered in her home country that she has a stadium named after her.
Her club career can best be described as “peripatetic.” She has passed through the USA a couple of times, establishing herself in WPS while that league existed, returning for a stint with Portland and now playing for the Utah Royals.
But coach Jorge Vilda dumped her from the national team for Euro 2017, and she’s not here this time around.
Eleonora Giovio, writing in our team guide:
Vilda is always keen to stress the importance of the collective rather than any individual stars and he has not called up Boquete for that reason.
Boquete led a player revolt that led to the dismissal of longtime coach Ignacio Querada, which was noted in passing when El Pais reported her absence from the Euro squad.
Spain’s stars
Supporters might be a little happy to see Vicky Losada in the lineup:
Wooo @losada_vicky back for #ESP #FIFAWWC 🇪🇸😍🔥👀💯⚽️👏🏻👏🏻 The G.O.A.T has returned pic.twitter.com/itNLYFtU0u
— Adam (@AdamReapa) June 24, 2019
Losada started against South Africa but was pulled at halftime. She’s familiar to US fans for her stint with the Western New York Flash.
She’s also one of five players who made the 55-player shortlist when FIFPro compiled a World XI list for 2017. The others:
- Goalkeeper Sandra Paños, who has played the whole way for Spain so far in France
- Center back Irene Paredes, also ever-present
- Midfielder Silvia Meseguer, who has played little in this Cup
- Forward Jennifer Hermoso, by far the leading scorer on this team heading into the Cup and the penalty-taker for Spain here
The only US players on that list were Alex Morgan and Carli Lloyd. We’ll leave it to others to say whether the omissions of Rapinoe, Heath, Sauerbrunn et al undermine the credibility of said list.
Updated
Spain lineup
🚨 ¡YA TENEMOS EL ONCE CON EL QUE ENCARAREMOS EL PARTIDO MÁS IMPORTANTE DE NUESTRA HISTORIA Y CONTRA LAS MEJORES DE LA HISTORIA! 🚨
— Selección Española Femenina de Fútbol (@SeFutbolFem) June 24, 2019
🇪🇸-🇺🇸 #ESPUSA @FIFAWWC 1/8 de final ▶️
⏰18:00h#JugarLucharYGanar pic.twitter.com/GvaPEz8zz3
The news here is that Vicky Losada, one of Spain’s star players, starts after playing limited minutes in the group stage.
Next, we’ll explain why Spain can beat the USA.
U.S. lineup: One surprise
Lindsey Horan, a sturdy presence in the U.S. midfield, is not starting. Defensive midfielder Julie Ertz is too vital to omit, but supporters may be surprised to see Samantha Mewis and Rose Lavelle.
The reaction is mixed.
Horan dropped. She is not injured, USSF says.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 24, 2019
Goff goes on to point out that Horan has a yellow already, and they don’t want to go without her when they face France. Oops ... if they face France. Can’t take this one for granted.
Which explains this reaction ...
Resting Horan in a knockout game is wild arrogant man lol https://t.co/vSTCi0b5ol
— Kim McCauley (@lgbtqfc) June 24, 2019
And this one ...
Listen when I said to start Sam Mewis I didn't mean to say sit Horan!! I wonder why Ellis is so against a 4-4-2 diamond formation?
— Rachael McKriger (@RachaelMcKriger) June 24, 2019
We'll see what happens today.#USAESP | #FIFAWWC https://t.co/1aDq9jH5fp
Probably because the only way to do that would be to bench either Megan Rapinoe or Tobin Heath. Or perhaps to shift one of them back to midfield, and then you’re asking Mewis or Lavelle to carry the load at attacking mid, anyway.
Preamble
Untested yet dominant, the USA have stormed into the knockout rounds with a +18 goal difference, no goals conceded and a lot of questions about the defense.
None of that makes sense, does it?
It’s not the US women’s fault. You can only play who’s in front of you, and in the group stage, the teams in front of them were two overmatched side and a surprisingly toothless Swedish side.
Now they face Spain, a side which absolutely has the capacity to cause an upset here.
Will we see another nail-biter as we saw with France yesterday? Or another dull rout? Let’s find out.
Updated
Beau will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s what we can expect today:
Alyssa Naeher isn’t exactly one to talk about herself. That’s why a reporter thought Carli Lloyd could fill in the gaps: what should the world know about USA’s starting goalkeeper? “I think Alyssa Naeher doesn’t want anybody to know about Alyssa Naeher,” Lloyd said, laughing.
Naeher is USA’s first World Cup starter in goal not named Hope Solo or Briana Scurry in two decades and, although casual fans may be unfamiliar with the spotlight-shy goalkeeper now, she will eventually step out of the shadows of Solo and Scurry. Either because she will finally concede a goal in this tournament, or because she will save USA’s hide. Neither has happened yet, but with the US facing Spain in the last 16 on Monday, both those scenarios are coming into view.
Although Sweden were supposed to be the first “real” test of the US back line, the Swedes were already through to the knockout round and content to rest top players when the two teams met last Thursday. Spain, meanwhile, will be playing for their World Cup lives.
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