Tony DiCicco – Fox Soccer Analyst for the World Cup
Great
television audiences from around the world have shown real interest in the
women's game. The USA had 3.3 million watch their opener vs Australia and
Germany, Japan, Canada, China and other countries displayed impressive numbers
as well. Some very good games - with impressive worldwide television audiences
- served to get the Women's World Cup off to a great start.
Group A - Canada, under coach John Herdman, is playing with a
purpose. Coach Herdman has done an excellent job of getting the Canada team to
believe and their late penalty winner to open the tournament vs China was not
just a stroke of good luck... it was part of their enhanced collective
mentality and preparation.
China
looks well organized but with little punch. New Zealand and the Netherlands
played a competitive match but a first half driven-bending strike by Lieke
Martens was the difference.
Group B - Germany destroyed the Ivory Coast and Norway pounded
Thailand for each to earn 3 points. Their next match against each other will be
very interesting to see who will win the group. Germany is now ahead in
goal-difference.
Group C - Japan had to battle in its game against Switzerland,
winning 1-0 after a penalty was awarded and Cameroon surprised by winning 6-0
vs Ecuador.
Group D - This group is a lot of fun because all four teams attack. Sweden
was surprised after going up 2-0 at halftime and had to survive the last few
minutes to earn a 3-3 tie with Nigeria and the USA, although outplayed for most
of the 1st half, outlasted Australia. Megan Rapinoe scored twice, one in each
half and Christen Press got the winner. The USA knows they have to be better against
a Sweden team that beat them in group play in 2011 and will want a better game
two performance.
Group E - Brazil won 2-0 vs South Korea and Marta scored her 15th
World Cup goal to put herself above any other player in history. She was tied
with retired Germany Birgit Prinz and stands 2 ahead of Abby Wambach.
Spain
scored first but Costa Rica scored 74 seconds later and that game ended 1-1
which means the upcoming group games are critical for both teams.
Group F - France beat a lackluster defensive England 1-0 from a
first half rocket-strike from Eugenie Le Sommer. I loved how one English
journalist called the game "Heart vs Art"... meaning England played
with heart but the artistic play of France was a pleasure to watch.
Mexico
lost its chance to win its first ever World Cup game, conceding late a goal
late and then being on the wrong end of a questionable referee decision that
called the winning goal back.
SUMMARY - Here's what will be interesting, remember there are 24
teams in the competition and 16 will move to the knock out stage, so it appears
that if anyone wins a group game and earns 3 points they will get out of their
group. That makes the third games to end the group even more important than
they normally are and that should be fun to watch.
You
can go to FoxSports FIFA World Cup and get a complete World Cup
television broadcast schedule. Fox is showing all 52 games and 16 will be on
Big Fox (network), including this Friday's match - USA vs Sweden.
I
am here in the broadcast booth with former Soccer Champions Coaches' Clinic
presenter and USA National Team player Cat Whitehill. Also, Hope Solo - a
former SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School camper - had a great first game vs Australia
for the USA and that was the margin of victory.
Stayed
tuned -- the best is yet to come at the 2015 Women's World Cup!
Best,
 |
Tony DiCicco
Soccer Champions Coaches' Clinic Co-Founder |
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