Women's World Cup Pt.2

Homare Sawa and co. were able to overcome attack after attack from the US women to win the FIFA Women's World Cup on penalty kicks. Credit to Japan for their never say die attitude but the Americans only have themselves to blame for not being able to replicate the memorable 1999 win. Their poor finishing and poor defending were their downfall, they completely outplayed Japan bar a couple 5 to 10 minute spurts. Japan's 2 goals came out of nowhere, both against the run of play and both after the US had seemingly put themselves out of reach.

I'm surprised that we have yet to see a scapegoat named yet for the United States shocking loss. Look no further than Rachel Buehler who was at fault for both goals. Multiple factors could explain this poor showing, being thrown into a World Cup Final after missing the last game, perhaps it was a mental thing after her red card dismissal against Brazil? Regardless, there is no excuse for what she did on the first goal and I am surprised no journalists have touched on this. Even at the recreational level you're told to never pass or kick the ball across the face of goal and that is exactly what she did, IN A WORLD CUP FINAL! I don't care if it was last ditch defending and she was doing whatever she could that should have been seared into her brain after 15+ years playing the game. She also didn't properly track Homare Sawa on the corner kick that sent the game to penalty kicks, while not nearly as much of an abomination as her first miscue its still very frustrating to see someone play so badly in such an important game. These were probably the only two moments in the game where she was called upon and she failed miserably both times.

Overall we should be proud of the US Women for their performances at the World Cup but in the end they failed to reach their goal/destiny after overcoming all the odds in what seemed like the perfect set of circumstances.