Team of the Tournament
i already came up with the team after the Semi-Finals, because i felt i have seen all i needed to see.
gk: Hope Solo (USA)
the japanese keeper kaihori ran her close, but hope solo got the nod, because she saved 2 penalties(unofficially) and is a great shot stopper, whereas Kaihori has impressed not because she is the best keeper, but because she functions so well in her team.
left back: Aya Sameshima (Japan)
the best left-back in the tournament, solid at the back, swashbuckling going forward. she weaved her way into the swedish box 3 times at least and also did the same against the English.
centre back: Laura Georges (France)
to be honest, after the game against Sweden yesterday, i seriously reconsidered my choice. but it was just one game and the 2 mistakes against USA. other than that, she has been the best defender in a suspect French defence. the only constant (along with Bompastor)
centreback: Charlotte Rohlin (Sweden)
i don't understand why Nilla Fischer is captain when Seger isnt playing. Rohlin is the real voice in the team, next to Seger. commanding centreback, organised the solid swedish defence well.
rightback: yukari kinga (japan)
basically the same thing for sameshima applies to her as well, just that going forward, she is less a silky dribbler, more power in her style of going forward.
centre mid: homare sawa (japan)
current joint-top scorer with 4 goals. heart of the japanese team. tackling, distribution, goals, leadership. what more do you want in a central midfielder?
centre mid: mizuho sakaguchi (japan)
for me the unsung hero in the japanese team. quietly doing her job in defensive midfield. she reminds me of amandine henry with her play because she is also so skilful and composed in her distribution.
other contender: lisa dahlqvist (sweden), elise bussaglia (france)
left wing: aya miyama (japan)
first name on this team sheet. interestingly, if not for her, this place would really have been up for grabs, with gaetane thiney(france), therese sjoegren(sweden) and megan rapinoe(usa) all putting strong claims for this spot.
amc: louisa necib (france)
disappointing end to the adventure, but necib is a joy to watch on the ball, her passing bettered by only Miyama.
amr: abily (france)
not her natural position, but does well there, playing the Lara Dickenmann role for France.
forward: Lotta Schelin (Sweden)
excellent finish against France. has got only 2 goals so far, but it is really her intelligence and movement that impress and really make the difference for the Swedes
contender: abby wambach for her heading, but schelin is a much more complete player.
supersub: megan rapinoe (usa)
i have said that she makes an impact every time she comes on.
coach: norio sasaki (japan)
i think he has been shrewd tactically and also the personnel changes.
the interesting thing in this world cup is perhaps the lack of a right-sided attacker. it is like every team plays its best attacker on the left flank, hence the competition for that spot if not for aya miyama. these same left-sided attackers are all predominantly right-footed, suggesting that the idea is to let them shoot or whip in inswingers with their right foot.
gk: Hope Solo (USA)
the japanese keeper kaihori ran her close, but hope solo got the nod, because she saved 2 penalties(unofficially) and is a great shot stopper, whereas Kaihori has impressed not because she is the best keeper, but because she functions so well in her team.
left back: Aya Sameshima (Japan)
the best left-back in the tournament, solid at the back, swashbuckling going forward. she weaved her way into the swedish box 3 times at least and also did the same against the English.
centre back: Laura Georges (France)
to be honest, after the game against Sweden yesterday, i seriously reconsidered my choice. but it was just one game and the 2 mistakes against USA. other than that, she has been the best defender in a suspect French defence. the only constant (along with Bompastor)
centreback: Charlotte Rohlin (Sweden)
i don't understand why Nilla Fischer is captain when Seger isnt playing. Rohlin is the real voice in the team, next to Seger. commanding centreback, organised the solid swedish defence well.
rightback: yukari kinga (japan)
basically the same thing for sameshima applies to her as well, just that going forward, she is less a silky dribbler, more power in her style of going forward.
centre mid: homare sawa (japan)
current joint-top scorer with 4 goals. heart of the japanese team. tackling, distribution, goals, leadership. what more do you want in a central midfielder?
centre mid: mizuho sakaguchi (japan)
for me the unsung hero in the japanese team. quietly doing her job in defensive midfield. she reminds me of amandine henry with her play because she is also so skilful and composed in her distribution.
other contender: lisa dahlqvist (sweden), elise bussaglia (france)
left wing: aya miyama (japan)
first name on this team sheet. interestingly, if not for her, this place would really have been up for grabs, with gaetane thiney(france), therese sjoegren(sweden) and megan rapinoe(usa) all putting strong claims for this spot.
amc: louisa necib (france)
disappointing end to the adventure, but necib is a joy to watch on the ball, her passing bettered by only Miyama.
amr: abily (france)
not her natural position, but does well there, playing the Lara Dickenmann role for France.
forward: Lotta Schelin (Sweden)
excellent finish against France. has got only 2 goals so far, but it is really her intelligence and movement that impress and really make the difference for the Swedes
contender: abby wambach for her heading, but schelin is a much more complete player.
supersub: megan rapinoe (usa)
i have said that she makes an impact every time she comes on.
coach: norio sasaki (japan)
i think he has been shrewd tactically and also the personnel changes.
the interesting thing in this world cup is perhaps the lack of a right-sided attacker. it is like every team plays its best attacker on the left flank, hence the competition for that spot if not for aya miyama. these same left-sided attackers are all predominantly right-footed, suggesting that the idea is to let them shoot or whip in inswingers with their right foot.
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