In the most-anticipated quarterfinal match in Women’s World Cup history, the United States struck first.
Megan Rapinoe whipped a wide free kick low toward goal, a cross/shot that somehow eluded everyone and fooled France goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute.
After watching Jessica McDonald’s story from the USWNT 23 stories, we learned what motivates her to pursue her dream of playing professionally. Her mother had her and her brother right out of high school and struggled to give them the life they deserved, so she ended up being raised by her grandmother.
Friday. On Friday, you don’t work. On Friday, you watch perhaps the most anticipated match in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The USA vs France World Cup 2019 predictions, previews and general hype train is building to a crescendo, like a Marta message to the children.
We’ve all seen him by now, the USWNT assistant coach.
With a broad, reassuring face and hair pulled back tight, he shadows U.S. head coach Jill Ellis on the sidelines, almost brother-like in appearance.
So who is this guy anyway? And what’s with the man-bun?
It’s no secret Donald Trump hates anthem protests; he’s said NFL players who kneel during the national anthem shouldn’t be in the United States. So it’s no surprise the U.S. president is criticizing USWNT captain Megan Rapinoe for continuing to protest during the national anthem throughout the Women’s World Cup.
With the USWNT and Spain knotted at 1-1 after the hour mark at the Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims on Monday, La Roja’s Patricia Guijarro broke free on the left-hand side of the U.S. defense and fizzed a shot just wide of Alyssa Naeher’s far post. It was in this moment that a possible upset of historic proportions went from “there’s no way in hell” to “oh shit, this kinda feels like it’s happening.”
The USWNT overcame a spirited, physical and tactically disciplined Spain to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup and setup an enthralling match with France, but the manner of the victory was hardly assuring.
The U.S. required two penalties from captain Megan Rapinoe — one in the seventh minute and the next in the 76th — to overcome a defensive error that allowed Jennifer Hermoso to score the first goal against the USWNT of this tournament.
For all the crap we put up during the 2018 World Cup from FOX, the U.S. broadcaster is doing better this time around for the 2019 Women’s World Cup. FOX seems to give a damn now that the U.S. is involved, and the broadcasts have improved because of it.
But there remains a group that would rather not listen to JP Dellacamera describe every single second of action when the USWNT plays.
For those viewers, another option has cropped up for how to watch USWNT vs Spain on Monday.
The USWNT discrimination suit may be decided by mediation after the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
The U.S. women’s national team players sued U.S. Soccer in March as part of a long-running fight for equal pay. The women must play and win more games than the men’s national team but still get paid less.
Three years ago, the USWNT suffered its worst defeat ever. OK, it wasn’t USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago bad, but it was, by the high standards of the American women, a major disappointment when Sweden knocked the U.S. out of the 2016 Olympic quarterfinals.