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SheBelieves Cup 2018: USA v France – live! SheBelieves Cup 2018: USA 1-1 France – as it happened
(35 minutes later)
France came into this game with nowhere to go but up. They shook up the lineup and stuck with it most of the game. The result? Not bad at all. They matched or even exceeded the USA’s physicality, and they had several incisive passes to set up chances denied either by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher or defender Tierna Davidson.
The USA get a mixed report card here. They’re still missing Becky Sauerbrunn on the back line, and that was probably a factor in conceding the equalizer. More worrying was the lack of U.S. chances. France outshot the USA 13-11 and put four shots on goal (most of them late) to the USA’s two. And the goal was a messy scramble with more than a little luck.
But this tournament is supposed to be a difficult test. And the USA are certainly coping better with it than they did last year. Today was just a reminder that the World Cup is never a lock. On any given day, many European powers (and Japan or maybe Canada or Brazil) can play toe-to-toe with the Americans.
Thanks for following along with us today, and enjoy the England-Germany game in about an hour.
The whistle blows after a thrilling finish.
90 mins +4: A cross finds Le Sommer at the far post with a difficult angle, and she can’t quite direct it on goal.
90 mins +3: Free kick for France, 45 yards out. Le Sommer gets a shot, France appeals for handball, and a follow-up shot is deflected to Naeher as the ref whistles for offside.
90 mins +2: Press cleverly wins a throw-in deep on the left wing. The U.S. attackers play the ball around the box but can’t get a decent shot, and France strips the ball from Morgan.
90 mins: The corner comes to little, the USA play it all the way back to Naeher to prevent a counter, and then Le Sommer catches Dahlkemper with a leg to the stomach. YELLOW CARD
We’ll play four more minutes.
89 mins: Press gets the ball deep on the left side and pops it into the air, where an exhausted Morgan can’t quite get it. But the USA win ... wait for it ... another corner kick.
85 mins: Bouhaddi comes out to snag a high cross from O’Hara.
Then Dunn joins an attack that quickly fizzles, but the USA is back to defend.
SUBSTITUTION: At last, France changes its lineup. Kadidiatou Diani replaces Gauvin, who nearly gave France the lead a couple of minutes ago.
82 mins: CHANCES. And as I type that, Asseyi finds space past Dunn and slips the ball to Gauvin, who elicits a top-class save from Naeher.
And the U.S. keeper comes up big again when the corner kick skims across to the far post, where Henry takes a close-range rip.
Naeher, pt. 2. pic.twitter.com/Qu0ZCYEXAp
81 mins: After the corner, France’s Amandine Henry hands the ball over to McCaskill, whose cross hangs in the air and is cleared for ... another corner. Maybe France should consider one of these new-fangled “substitution” things.
79 mins: Alex Morgan tries to slip the ball to Press but slips herself. She gets up gingerly. Maybe not the best idea to play her the full 90 today.
Williams wins yet another corner for the USA.
76 mins: So it appears Crystal Dunn, a defender in college and in her first NWSL years but an energetic, skillful attacker since then, is now at left back. Not sure why we’re not seeing Sofia Huerta, who is being converted to defense.76 mins: So it appears Crystal Dunn, a defender in college and in her first NWSL years but an energetic, skillful attacker since then, is now at left back. Not sure why we’re not seeing Sofia Huerta, who is being converted to defense.
75 mins: The stretcher comes out for Casey Short. She stands up, then hops on one foot to get in good position to be carried off the field.75 mins: The stretcher comes out for Casey Short. She stands up, then hops on one foot to get in good position to be carried off the field.
SUBSTITUTION: And it’s the forward Christen Press. What in the world kind of shape is the USA using now?SUBSTITUTION: And it’s the forward Christen Press. What in the world kind of shape is the USA using now?
74 mins: No, I haven’t been forgetting to report French substitutions. They haven’t made any.74 mins: No, I haven’t been forgetting to report French substitutions. They haven’t made any.
Now the USA may need to make its last sub. Casey Short rolls her ankle.Now the USA may need to make its last sub. Casey Short rolls her ankle.
72 mins: Oh my. Do we have VAR here? The ever-dangerous Pugh gets the ball in the box and falls to the ground as she plays the ball out. Replay shows ... Pugh actually went down a little too easily.72 mins: Oh my. Do we have VAR here? The ever-dangerous Pugh gets the ball in the box and falls to the ground as she plays the ball out. Replay shows ... Pugh actually went down a little too easily.
SUBSTITUTIONS: And it’s an embarrassment of riches here, with Carli Lloyd and Crystal Dunn coming in for Pugh and Andi Sullivan.SUBSTITUTIONS: And it’s an embarrassment of riches here, with Carli Lloyd and Crystal Dunn coming in for Pugh and Andi Sullivan.
71 mins: Pugh wins another corner, this time on the left flank. McCaskill plays it to the middle for Morgan, who plays it backward. They try to play it back up the field, only to be caught offside.71 mins: Pugh wins another corner, this time on the left flank. McCaskill plays it to the middle for Morgan, who plays it backward. They try to play it back up the field, only to be caught offside.
70 mins: Alex Morgan goes 1-on-2 and goes nowhere.70 mins: Alex Morgan goes 1-on-2 and goes nowhere.
67 mins: O’Hara, one of the wingbacks spending very little time in her own half of the field, wins another corner kick. McCaskill whips it into the box for Morgan, whose header is easily corraled. And Morgan stays down for a bit.67 mins: O’Hara, one of the wingbacks spending very little time in her own half of the field, wins another corner kick. McCaskill whips it into the box for Morgan, whose header is easily corraled. And Morgan stays down for a bit.
(Mallory Pugh, incidentally, has recovered and is still playing well.)(Mallory Pugh, incidentally, has recovered and is still playing well.)
O’Hara doesn’t take kindly to France not playing the ball out, so she slides through a French attacker to stop play herself. She is surprisingly not given a card.O’Hara doesn’t take kindly to France not playing the ball out, so she slides through a French attacker to stop play herself. She is surprisingly not given a card.
And France gets its second shot on goal with a clever play. Le Sommer runs over the ball and into the box, and Majri sets her up with a short pass. But Le Sommer’s shot isn’t struck well, and Alyssa Naeher catches it with ease.And France gets its second shot on goal with a clever play. Le Sommer runs over the ball and into the box, and Majri sets her up with a short pass. But Le Sommer’s shot isn’t struck well, and Alyssa Naeher catches it with ease.
65 mins: Julie Foudy makes a good tactical observation -- with Andi Sullivan dropping back to play a de facto central defender, the U.S. midfield is outnumbered. The wing backs are too far out to provide any useful link to the masses of forwards and attacking mids.65 mins: Julie Foudy makes a good tactical observation -- with Andi Sullivan dropping back to play a de facto central defender, the U.S. midfield is outnumbered. The wing backs are too far out to provide any useful link to the masses of forwards and attacking mids.
When they can get the ball forward, the attacking play is promising.When they can get the ball forward, the attacking play is promising.
63 mins: It’s not a bad U.S. attack at the moment, with some clever interchanges. They are indeed trying to play the ball a bit more patiently now, and they’re just a touch or two away. Alex Morgan pounces on an errant clearance to shoot from the top of the box, but it’s blocked.63 mins: It’s not a bad U.S. attack at the moment, with some clever interchanges. They are indeed trying to play the ball a bit more patiently now, and they’re just a touch or two away. Alex Morgan pounces on an errant clearance to shoot from the top of the box, but it’s blocked.
61 mins: From a free kick and now from the run of play, France has created a good chance to Alyssa Naeher’s right with a diagonal ball. Removing Taylor Smith apparently didn’t solve whatever problem Jill Ellis saw.61 mins: From a free kick and now from the run of play, France has created a good chance to Alyssa Naeher’s right with a diagonal ball. Removing Taylor Smith apparently didn’t solve whatever problem Jill Ellis saw.
59 mins: Morgan Brian, who plays in France with Lyon, swoops back to take the ball away after a giveaway by Andi Sullivan. Sullivan is nominally a central midfielder but has been dropping back while the U.S. defenders go elsewhere -- up the flanks, perhaps up in the booth with the U.S. women’s hockey team, etc.59 mins: Morgan Brian, who plays in France with Lyon, swoops back to take the ball away after a giveaway by Andi Sullivan. Sullivan is nominally a central midfielder but has been dropping back while the U.S. defenders go elsewhere -- up the flanks, perhaps up in the booth with the U.S. women’s hockey team, etc.
57 mins: The stereotype says American players are athletes and Europeans are soccer players. But the French team is certainly holding its own physically against the USA here. Le Sommer shugs off a hold at midfield and works the ball forward, where the French eventually win a corner off a panicked clearance by Casey Short.57 mins: The stereotype says American players are athletes and Europeans are soccer players. But the French team is certainly holding its own physically against the USA here. Le Sommer shugs off a hold at midfield and works the ball forward, where the French eventually win a corner off a panicked clearance by Casey Short.
54 mins: Another big play by Tierna Davidson to break up a French attack. The 19-year-old defender is still in college at Stanford, but she’s playing with a pro’s poise here and possibly making a statement to be the starter alongside Becky Sauerbrunn in the future.54 mins: Another big play by Tierna Davidson to break up a French attack. The 19-year-old defender is still in college at Stanford, but she’s playing with a pro’s poise here and possibly making a statement to be the starter alongside Becky Sauerbrunn in the future.
Tierna Davidson. pic.twitter.com/AsGlHVBYFiTierna Davidson. pic.twitter.com/AsGlHVBYFi
51 mins: There’s Mallory Pugh. She’s out on the left now, and Gaëtane Thiney takes a chunk out of her leg with a rash challenge. Why that’s not a yellow card, I have no idea.51 mins: There’s Mallory Pugh. She’s out on the left now, and Gaëtane Thiney takes a chunk out of her leg with a rash challenge. Why that’s not a yellow card, I have no idea.
She’s down. And still down.She’s down. And still down.
50 mins: So Lynn Williams has taken up the attack on the right flank for now (not sure where Mallory Pugh went). She wins a corner that Savannah McCaskill will take. The ball finds Morgan Brian, who is trying to win her way back into the U.S. lineup after some injury issues and puts the ball over the bar.50 mins: So Lynn Williams has taken up the attack on the right flank for now (not sure where Mallory Pugh went). She wins a corner that Savannah McCaskill will take. The ball finds Morgan Brian, who is trying to win her way back into the U.S. lineup after some injury issues and puts the ball over the bar.
48 mins: France make little of a corner kick. Then Casey Short gets the better of a duel with Le Sommer. No idea what’s happening now because ESPN is focusing on two members of the gold-medalist women’s hockey team visiting the broadcast booth.48 mins: France make little of a corner kick. Then Casey Short gets the better of a duel with Le Sommer. No idea what’s happening now because ESPN is focusing on two members of the gold-medalist women’s hockey team visiting the broadcast booth.
46 mins: SUBSTITUTIONS ...46 mins: SUBSTITUTIONS ...
USA: Lynn Williams replaces Lindsey HoranUSA: Lynn Williams replaces Lindsey Horan
USA: Savannah McCaskill replaces Megan RapinoeUSA: Savannah McCaskill replaces Megan Rapinoe
We’ll try to figure out the shape at some point.We’ll try to figure out the shape at some point.
Perhaps the worst news from the U.S. perspective is the tendency to rely on long passes from the back.Perhaps the worst news from the U.S. perspective is the tendency to rely on long passes from the back.
I believe ...I believe that ...I believe that we ...I believe that we are capable of building out of the back and playing through the midfield.I believe ...I believe that ...I believe that we ...I believe that we are capable of building out of the back and playing through the midfield.
The substitution is still a puzzler unless Taylor Smith was carrying an injury we don’t know about. She certainly wasn’t playing badly. If the USA wanted to make a panic substitution on the back line just before halftime, you’d think they would withdraw Abby Dahlkemper, who was beaten on the French goal and hasn’t had as much impact as fellow center back Tierna Davidson.The substitution is still a puzzler unless Taylor Smith was carrying an injury we don’t know about. She certainly wasn’t playing badly. If the USA wanted to make a panic substitution on the back line just before halftime, you’d think they would withdraw Abby Dahlkemper, who was beaten on the French goal and hasn’t had as much impact as fellow center back Tierna Davidson.
Again -- this team misses Becky Sauerbrunn.Again -- this team misses Becky Sauerbrunn.
But they’re showing off their versatility. Kelley O’Hara, who can play anywhere in the field, moved from left to right back, with substitute Casey Short assuming the watch on the left.But they’re showing off their versatility. Kelley O’Hara, who can play anywhere in the field, moved from left to right back, with substitute Casey Short assuming the watch on the left.
Put another way ...Put another way ...
Une 1ère période de qualité ! On a su revenir au score rapidement et reprendre la possession du ballon. Il reste 45 minutes pour prendre l'avantage!💪 #USAFRA pic.twitter.com/qUCXOPkr1BUne 1ère période de qualité ! On a su revenir au score rapidement et reprendre la possession du ballon. Il reste 45 minutes pour prendre l'avantage!💪 #USAFRA pic.twitter.com/qUCXOPkr1B
A few flurries of interest, and France have to feel much better about bouncing back from their game against England. (That, or the USA must be living in terror of their upcoming game against England.)A few flurries of interest, and France have to feel much better about bouncing back from their game against England. (That, or the USA must be living in terror of their upcoming game against England.)
45 mins: The AR puts up a flag to draw attention to Mallory Pugh being dumped to the ground. Rapinoe lines up a free kick from 30 yards out. France decides to play it with no defenders in the box. It works.45 mins: The AR puts up a flag to draw attention to Mallory Pugh being dumped to the ground. Rapinoe lines up a free kick from 30 yards out. France decides to play it with no defenders in the box. It works.
42 mins: SUBSTITUTION on the way, with U.S. defender Casey Short coming in to replace Taylor Smith for some reason. Smith has been strong at the back and an occasional threat going forward.42 mins: SUBSTITUTION on the way, with U.S. defender Casey Short coming in to replace Taylor Smith for some reason. Smith has been strong at the back and an occasional threat going forward.
Play continues, though, with France again getting with 12 yards of the U.S. goal.Play continues, though, with France again getting with 12 yards of the U.S. goal.
41 mins: This is your reminder that Becky Sauerbrunn, whose name keeps eluding FIFA voter for major awards, is not in the U.S. lineup today as she recovers from a “stress reaction” in her left foot.41 mins: This is your reminder that Becky Sauerbrunn, whose name keeps eluding FIFA voter for major awards, is not in the U.S. lineup today as she recovers from a “stress reaction” in her left foot.
Meanwhile, Taylor Smith cleans up to Naeher’s right.Meanwhile, Taylor Smith cleans up to Naeher’s right.
The French start simply got a step on Dahlkemper and rounded Naeher.The French start simply got a step on Dahlkemper and rounded Naeher.
37 mins: CHANCE. Well, this got interesting. Valerie Gauvin nearly made Alyssa Naeher pay for her tendency to leave the line, getting in the box and chipping the ball up and over the misplaced U.S. keeper. To Naeher’s relief, it lands on top of the bar.
After some delay from the yellow card, Megan Rapinoe plays a free kick toward the near post, where maybe 10 players are gathered. It pings around off players and post before Pugh gets a foot to it. Bouhaddi gets a solid hand to it, but it’s a long way to the far post, and the ball spins gently inside it.
Pugh puts the U.S. up, 1-0. #SheBelievesCup pic.twitter.com/VatMfrL0R7
Pugh now has both shots on goal in this game. The first was very early.
33 mins: YELLOW CARD - Again drawn by O’Hara, as the U.S. left back gets past Marion Torrent a few yards outside the box and Torrent responds with a grab.
31 mins: CHANCE, and it’s squandered by Mallory Pugh after a sustained U.S. possession and a deft short pass from Alex Morgan. No test for Bouhaddi.
YELLOW CARD: Viviane Asseyi slides too late to get the ball and instead gets Kelley O’Hara.
29 mins: Alex Morgan finds Mallory Pugh on the right flank, and the young winger takes the ball from the midfield stripe to the end line, searching in vain for a way past Aïssatou Tounkara.
28 mins: Nearly a lapse for the U.S. defense. A clearance attempt gets plenty of height but no distance, and France quickly play the ball into the box, where an alert Kelley O’Hara springs into action and whisks the ball from danger.
27 mins: The USA remain strangely attached to these 40-yard passes from their own half. France’s defenders have been up to the challenge thus far.
25 mins: Adventure for Alyssa Naeher, the No. 1 U.S. goalkeeper (we’re assuming that from the fact that she’s the only one who ever plays). She runs out of the box into a group of players and knocks the ball up the field, grimacing a bit as she gets up and returns to her post.
24 mins: The USA rev up the high press, with Rapinoe buzzing around several defenders.
France respond with a ball over the top to Le Sommer, who has no defenders near her. Nor, unfortunately, does she have any defenders in front of her. She’s several yards offside. Meters, even.
21 mins: Finally a tiny bit of possession for the USA in the French box, but Mallory Pugh is dispossessed by a pair of defenders. They try again on the left flank, but Lindsey Horan impulsively whacks a ball that skitters across the field for a throw-in.
18 mins: CHANCE at the other end. Young American defender Tierna Davidson has to slide to break up a promising low cross.
These chances might get both teams going a bit. The ball is moving much more than the players, like some sort of tentative Subbuteo clash.
17 mins: CHANCE. Sort of. After the teams trade hopeful balls forward, the ball goes wide to ... well, possibly meant for O’Hara, but Rapinoe is also there, and she plays it nicely into the path of Alex Morgan. Morgan puts the ball in the net, but the whistle had gone. She was a foot or so offside.
14 mins: France returns to their right flank, challenging Kelley O’Hara, a versatile player who loves to wander forward. They find some space and win a corner that’s headed wide.
Encouraging start for France, as if you haven’t noticed.
12 mins: Can France punish the USA for sending its flank defenders forward? They’re trying, with a good ball down the left to force right back Taylor Smith to recover. The cross doesn’t get the job done.
9 mins: France with sustained possession on the right flank. This is looking more like the tactically and technically sound French team we would expect.
The USA are evolving ...
Remember that disastrous match vs. France at the last SheBelieves Cup? Sure you do: https://t.co/umfTrYrHqU Well, only 2 players on the field right now started at that France match-up a year ago: Naeher and Brian. #USWNT
That lineup: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 20-Allie Long, 7-Casey Short; 16-Rose Lavelle (2-Mallory Pugh, 46), 3-Samantha Mewis (9-Lindsey Horan, 70), 6-Morgan Brian (8-Julie Johnston, 70), 17-Tobin Heath, 10-Carli Lloyd (capt.) (5-Kelley O’Hara, 78); 12-Lynn Williams (13-Alex Morgan, 70), 23-Christen Press (19-Crystal Dunn, 46)
6 mins: End-to-end. No chances.
But then the USA tests the reconfigured French defense, with Taylor Smith marauding up the right flank and crossing toward Morgan, where Bouhaddi and her defenders don’t handle it convincingly.
4 mins: Alex Morgan tangles with Aissatou Tounkara to the referee’s disapproval. Eugenie Le Sommer does the same to Abby Dahlkemper at the other end. And both keepers make a play outside their respective boxes.
Curious start here. It’s as if they’re making up for all the long balls they couldn’t play in the wind a few days ago.
2 mins: France shows some intent early. Thiney’s through ball to Gauvin is just a hair too long.
The USA responds with some direct play -- Tierna Davidson blasts it forward for Mallory Pugh, who blasts it on goal for an easy save.
1 min: France kicks off and blasts the ball down the right wing.
It appears the ad break is over. ESPN commentator Ian Darke (yes, dear folks from across the pond, we’re still borrowing him) is showing pictures from his treacherous trip from Columbus to New York through the snow.
Darke and Julie Foudy attribute the Ertz and Lloyd absences in the starting XI to nagging minor injuries rather than the utterly sensible idea of rotating your squad through what’s essentially a friendly.
Revenge on the mind: A reminder of what went down 362 days ago with your commentator in attendance, a 3-0 win for France.
Ellis doesn’t use the 3-5-2 any more.
Get in touch: As Oklahoma celebrates its apparent come-from-behind win in the national cheerleading competition in the lead-in to our game on ESPN2, a quick reminder that you can reach me by email at beau.dure.freelance@theguardian.com or share your thoughts @duresport
In case you were wondering what one of England’s brightest women’s soccer minds is doing over here in the States ...
Turned over to ESPN 2 to watch @ussoccer_wnt and caught a remake of bring it on. Goooooo Toros
Last night, Annapolis, Md. (Washington Capitals vs. Toronto Maple Leafs, outdoors at the U.S. Naval Academy’s football stadium). Today, Harrison, N.J.
Busy time for women’s hockey gold medalists:
The gold medalist of US women’s hockey on the sideline! pic.twitter.com/66hMOBFQQL
Starting XI for the USA ...
1-Alyssa Naeher, 3-Andi Sullivan, 5-Kelley O’Hara, 6-Morgan Brian, 7-Abby Dahlkemper, 9-Lindsey Horan, 11-Mallory Pugh, 13-Alex Morgan (capt.), 15-Megan Rapinoe, 17-Tierna Davidson, 22-Taylor Smith
So the tradition / mistake of playing one and only one goalkeeper ad infinitum, firmly established during the Hope Solo era, continues here.
The only changes are in midfield, with phenom Andi Sullivan and Morgan Brian replacing the cornerstone Julie Ertz and big-goal scorer Carli Lloyd.
Coach Jill Ellis has opted for the rarely seen 5-6 formation:
3️⃣ Spirit players named to the #USWNT Starting XI for today's #SheBelievesCup match! Let's go @sunshine_sully, @taylornsmith11_ & @MalPugh!#WeWill // #USAvFRApic.twitter.com/gBSxAHusEi
Starting XI for France, from U.S. Soccer’s email ...
16-Sarah Bouhaddi, 2-Aïssatou Tounkara, 6-Amandine Henry (capt.), 7-Amel Majri, 9-Eugénie Le Sommer, 12-Gaëtane Thiney, 13-Valérie Gauvin, 17-Marion Torrent, 18-Viviane Asseyi, 19-Griedge Mbock Bathy, 23-Grace Geyoro In graphical form:
On connaît la compo de ce 2ème match de la #SheBelievesCup contre les Américaines💪Coup d'envoi à 18h00 sur @CStar #USAFRA pic.twitter.com/85KnlrtmQS
That’s a change in goal, with Bouhaddi replacing Karima Benameur. And several more. Here’s the lineup from the unfortunate game vs. England:
1-Karima Benameur, 3-Eve Perisset, 19-Griedge Mbock Bathy, 4-Laura Georges, 22-Sakina Karchaoui; 10-Aminata Diallo; 9-Eugénie Le Sommer, 14-Faustine Robert (12-Gaëtane Thiney, 61), 6-Amandine Henry (capt.), 20-Kadidiatou Diani (18-Viviane Asseyi, 61), 11-Ouleymata Sarr (13-Valérie Gauvin, 74).
How many of those changes are simply a planned rotation in a busy stretch of games? And how many are a reaction to the catastrophe vs. England? Je ne sais pas.
Weather check: The winds that rocked Columbus for our opening games moved on to the Northeast, where they spent roughly 48 hours picking up tree branches and hurling them at power lines and houses.
Such nastiness has passed. Mostly. The good folks at Red Bull Arena just outside New York City should have a typical March day -- cool but not frigid, windy but not ridiculously so.
Good morning, America, how are you? And good afternoon to those of you checking in from Europe to see how the French team is doing, and good middle-of-the-night to those of you in Japan checking out the competition for next year’s Women’s World Cup.
The first games of the SheBelieves Cup took place Thursday in heavy wind gusts that certainly affected play. We might not be able to read too much into the USA’s win over Germany, where a lot of balls played in the air dropped like lawn darts. The U.S. women looked competent, given the circumstances.
France did not. Now we’ll see whether that was a one-game aberration in which they forgot how to play defense or a sign of something worse.
Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how France got on in their opener:
Phil Neville’s reign as England Women’s manager got off to a successful start with a 4-1 demolition of France and a performance that was brimming with attacking intent and purpose.
This mightily impressive display was only a start – acid tests against Germany and the United States follow in the remaining games of the SheBelieves tournament. Then the real work of preparing for an assault on the World Cup begins in earnest.
“I was a little bit nervous before the game, I had a few butterflies, but my players didn’t. That’s the most important thing,” said Neville.
“There is great expectation and I love that expectation. On the bus, on the way to the ground, it felt right. It felt right standing in the technical area and the most important thing is the players are enjoying the raised expectations and the higher profile.”