If it was a 0:1 loss, may be that would be understandable as their having a bad day without soccer luck being on their side. But to concede three goals without scoring even one goal is simply inexplicable and to some extent, even deserves an investigation to see what went wrong and how to put a bandaid on it. It is possible that the team was having some psychological problems and other issues, such as serious infighting and personality conflicts which impacted their performance and overall coordination on the field. Something definitely was wrong with the team judging from their below par play reflected in so many missed passes and lackluster kicks when in front of the goalpost. They need to fix whatever the problem is if they hope to rebound from the shocking humiliation and make it through the competition, especially if they want to retain their crown.
Whatever happened was largely technical and occasioned by a management team which failed woefully and could not read the match correctly to enable them make necessary substitutions that would have rebooted the team and achieved a different outcome. For instance. USWNT's Jersey number 7 Tobin Heath should have been replaced much earlier as she was not in her element. She missed a lot of scoring opportunities and was very angry throughout the match which led to her not playing at her usual terrific capacity. Even substituting Crystal Dunn was another technical mistake as the problem was in the center forward offense which could not and did not convert the many goal scoring opportunities that were presented to them. Why she was removed was beyond ICHEOKU as she was brilliant throughout the game and saved the team with her fantastic tackles.
ICHEOKU says the Swedish team outplayed and outflanked the American team in practically every department, but majority of the blame goes to coach Vlatko Andonovski for his failure to read the game properly and adjust the pattern of play accordingly. There were changes which he ought to have made much earlier which he failed to make or made too late into the game. There were also too many dribbling and even in front of a yawning goalpost that were not necessary. Some of the players held unto the ball for too long and longer than would have impacted the outcome differently.
Candidly speaking, Megan Rapinoe has in fact outlived her utility and usefulness in the team as she no longer possess the killer instinct and warrior fighting spirit which made her a tireless robot in her glorious days. She has now become an unneeded extra weight to the team bordering on a distraction to the team and needs to go; or at most, not allowed more than ten minutes playing time in any game. ICHEOKU says does not want to go into her extreme left liberal woke politics and personal lifestyle choices, which have cost the team so many fans; and speaking of her hair, did she go to the Tokyo with her personal stylist as she is definitely outdoing the late Prince in the color purple department.
Anyway, lets hope that they will summon themselves up on Saturday and redeem themselves by making the game with New Zealand a complete routing walkover. If in any event, they suffer another loss to the Kiwis, their coach, Vlatko Andonovuski should be summarily fired right there on the field without even giving him the respect of superintending the next game with Australia. ICHEOKU strongly believes that World Cup winning coach Jill Ellis would have corrected the obvious mistakes immediately after the first goal and would have guided the team to a victory over Sweden. Something went awry and needs to be fixed by the Saturday game, including settling any infighting among the women. It was difficult suffering through the 90 minutes plus of a total and complete Swedish domination as they literally walked all over the American ladies; and were also more physically conditioned than the Americans.
Alternatively, coach Jill Ellis should be flown immediately to Tokyo to serve as a consultant assistant coach to Vlatko Andonovoski through the remainder of the game. But whatever happens, the team must not allow themselves to be sent out of the Tokyo 2020 competition as the country needs something to hold unto. American people needs something they can unite on, since the politics of the November 3rd, 2020 election and the coronavirus vaccination has torn them apart as never before and the chasm is becoming unbridgeable too wide. Losing the Saturday game to New Zealand is not an option and both the coach and the ladies need to understand this clearly as they walk into the pitch by on Saturday. Like Jesse Jackson would say, lets keep hope alive and pray that the God of soccer stays with them on Saturday. It is sad.
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