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Beyond the Pitch Episode 71: Internationals!! Netherlands-China, Brazil's double over Australia, England-USA
12 Plays20 days ago
Join Catherine for discussions about the INTERNATIONAL period, covering the Netherlands - China, Australia - Brazil and the big one - England - USA.
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Beyond the Pitch'
00:00:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to Beyond the Pitch, a daily women's football podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm Catherine and today I'm going to talk all about international fixtures.
Scottish Hopes in Euro Qualifiers
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, as you probably know, we've had quite a few international friendlies over the past week and also um some Euro qualifier playoffs. Come on Scotland, I believe in you, you can do it. Let's go to Finland and get a goal and win the game and qualify for the Euros. I really want to see Scotland there. I'm half Scottish. I want to be conflicted if England and and Scotland face each other.
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Come on, Scotland, woo! Anyway, yeah.
Key Matches: Netherlands, Brazil, England
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So today I'm going to be talking about internationals. um Today I'm going to focus on, first of all, the Netherlands, China. ah Secondly, Brazil's double over Australia. And I'm going to end with a little game that a few people attended, not you know not many, only 78,000 people.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah England and the USA, the big one. It was Wiegmann versus Hayes and yeah, it was electrifying. There was a light show and ah yeah, it was great. So, firstly, the Netherlands and China. Just set the scene.
Netherlands' Euro Qualifying Journey
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Netherlands came out, they had quite a mixed Euro qualifying period. They beat Norway and Finland, they lost to Italy, and they drew with Finland, Norway and Italy. In different legs, obviously. ah They were without some major players, however, like Jill Ward and Vivmie Demar only came back in the last qualifying game against Norway.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, she came on quite late, scored, and they rescued a point which sealed automatic qualification. If it had stayed as Norway winning, Norway would have gone through and the Netherlands would have had to go through the playoffs. So yeah, I mean, initially I expected them to walk that group. Um, I was quite ah disappointed that they didn't. However, they did get there in the end. And as I said, they were missing Jill Ward and Miedema, you know, quite important players for them. So we can't be too um critical about them.
00:02:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Following that, they had two friendlies. They won 2-1 against Denmark and 15-0 against Indonesia. A little word on Indonesia. So they have a women's team, obviously. I think i think it's unprofessional, um their women's team, as in all the players have jobs and don't get paid for playing football I might be wrong it might be semi-professional but anyway you can really see that I mean I really hate it actually when you see these score lines because I think it just shows how far we still have to go in the women's game you shouldn't be losing 15-0 20-0 against anyone um that just shouldn't be a score line that can can happen
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um ah Yeah, I really don't like that. Previous ah to playing the Netherlands national team, they actually did a friendly against a club out of the Hague, who I've talked about before.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, and they lost 12-1 to Addo. And that's quite an interesting game because Addo, I was hoping to, I was hoping to see one of my favourite Eredivisé players, Lob Kalunan, because just check out her goals. I've mentioned her like 10 times, but check out her goals. um Yeah, so I watched that game and Addo mainly played, I think, their youth team. ah They do have a very good youth team, but still, again, you shouldn't be losing 12-1.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So please Indonesia, let's fund those, that women's team. Let's have a league, a really good league. Uh, yeah.
Building Confidence Against Weaker Teams
00:03:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So coming into this kind of block of games, Andrew's Yonker, who is the head coach of the Netherlands national team, made some interesting comments. Um, he said that the window is about building confidence and especially in the absence of these, you know, their major players, they wanted essentially to look to play teams they kind of expected to beat. um He said, Mr Quote, look at what the Dutch men's team achieved with victories over Canada and Iceland in the run up to the European Championship.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were then numbers 1575 in the world. But after that, the team, the staff, the media and the general public were bursting with confidence. um He also said something, and maybe this is a translation error, but I love this expression. He said something like, we are tired. The pipe is now empty. um I just really like that. It might be a translation error. It might be a Dutch expression. Either way, I really like it.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And just as a little aside, that's a very different approach that England are taking running up to the Euros. I mean, Serena Wiegmann has talked extensively about really wanting to expose England and challenge England against really strong opposition so that we know where our weak areas are.
Strategies of England and Netherlands
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I totally get both sides. I think there's merits to both approaches. um I think of course the hope would be that you expose yourself to this really top opposition and win all of the games and build momentum all at the same time. But yeah, that's quite unrealistic.
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, I think there's merits to both approaches. It's just quite different.
Lily Johannes' National Team Choice
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, I really like Andries Yonker, actually. He's very tactically astute. The Netherlands next game is against Emma Hayes and the USA, who just drew with England, which I want to talk about later. I'm really looking forward to that managerial matchup. Just a little, another little aside, it will be played at the home of Ado, who I talked about with the Indonesia game. A big narrative will be around Lily Johannes. um In case you don't know, she had the choice between the US and Netherlands national teams. She was born in the States, but moved to the Netherlands when she was 10.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think in Andries Juncker's eyes, she left it a bit late to make a decision. um He kind of made a few comments him ah suggesting that. She ultimately decided on the US. She said, it feels good. I've made my choice. I took my time. I'm happy. I've received many very nice messages. um She just said, it's the country of my birth. I lived there until I was 10.
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everything just feels good. I'm happy I made that choice. I think Emma Hayes and the US will also be very happy she made that choice. um I've watched her a few times for Ajax and yeah, she is a real talent. She's 17 years old and scores, you know, some great goals. She's a midfielder, scores some great goals, um quite physical. Yeah, I really enjoyed watching her when I watch Ajax.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, so yeah, that is a big boom. And I will say, I think it would be quite like Emma Hayes to start her against the orange lionesses. Um, yeah. And that should be a very exciting game and add another narrative to it. And yeah, I'm really looking forward to that game. Anyway, back to the Netherlands versus China.
Netherlands vs China: A Confidence Boost
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Netherlands struggled for the opening kind of, uh, 60 minutes. They spent a long period of the game, one nil down.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
They were dominant, but it was kind of like a blunt dominance. It was, you didn't feel like they were going to score despite the fact that they had the ball all the time. And they did have quite a few like strong chances, you would say. You still didn't think the ball was going to end up in the back of the net.
00:07:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
which again, I will emphasize they are missing Vivme Damar and Jill, uh, Jill Road was on the bench, but they are missing Vivme Damar. Um, Chelsea's weaker captain was brilliant. She was their man of the match. She scored a great goal. Um, Esme Brute, I mispronounced that I'm sure, also scored a brilliant goal of, uh, watch those goals back if you can, uh, cause those goals were great. Yeah. Um, Once they equalise, the goals did keep coming and you could sense that they're kind of confident shot up. um And it will be a nice confidence boost going into Tuesday's game against the US, which will be a very different animal. It kicks off at the same time as England vs Switzerland. um I have to say, I expect there to be more goals in that game. I think England put on a very strong defensive display.
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, there were a few weaknesses in the US attack that I think Emma Hayes will sort out, uh, very quickly over this weekend.
USA vs Netherlands Predictions
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
She spoke in the post-match press conference about, um, kind of players not being where they should be in the box, like in England's box. And that there were kind of crosses going in there and there wasn't the player there who should be there, whether that's Lindsay Horan or someone else.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, yeah, and I think they'll get that sorted out. I do think the Netherlands will score. Um, Oh, I think they definitely are capable of scoring. Uh, however, there are quite a few narratives again, around this game. Also, it will be Alyssa Ney heard the US go goalkeepers last game for international football. She's retiring. That will be a strong one. She will want to keep a clean sheet. Um, if I had to give a prediction, I think I would probably go.
00:09:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
3-1 to the US. I think they will want goals after being goalless against England, but I do think the Netherlands will still have enough firepower. ah They arrested Gilles Ward for most of the game against China. I do think they'll have enough firepower to ah put one past the US. Let's see, maybe I'm wrong. I do not have a crystal ball.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcast in five different languages. This is your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So for our second topic, we're going to talk about Brazil and Australia.
Brazil's Dominance Over Australia
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Brazil did the double over Australia. They played each other twice. I always think it's really interesting when you have back to back games against one opponent. um We saw it with England recently had games against France. We lost the first game, won the second game away and it was the first time we'd beat France away, I think.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, it's always interesting because you have that first game and I always feel like whoever loses the first game will learn more than the team who wins the first game. ah So yeah.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Australia came out of last year's World Cup, remember they were hosts, with women's football being really popular. I think it's had kind of, ah they got to the semi-final and I think it's had a similar effect um as kind of England's Euros had for the English population over there. um Yeah, they did really, really well, got to the semi-final, were beaten by England 3-1. Yeah, that was a brilliant game as well. Just kind of daydream about that game. There were lots of goals in it.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, ah the second game with Brazil was their 16th consecutive sold out home game. Wow. ah That deserves a clap, so imagine I'm clapping right now.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Although apparently it was quite stormy on the day, so some of the people um who booked tickets didn't actually go. However, every seat did sell. um Attendance was still a respectable 25-ish K, I think it was.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, coming into the games, Australia have quite a new head coach. They've swapped to Tony for a Tom. ah He's Scottish, Tom Samani. He used to manage New Zealand. The first game, let's focus on the first game first. That kind of makes sense. It was very physical. It looked like half the players for both teams would end up injured. I think they got a quite lightly. There was a red card. It was a second yellow. Late on for Victoria,
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
k k ha Kalhau of Brazil and a few new faces in the Brazil team as well. Obviously the legends, the goat Marta has retired um so she wasn't there which of course is a massive shame and I'll come back to her in a bit. ah Caitlin Ford of Arsenal scored an absolute banger and it was 2-1 before half time. Yeah Brazil kind of came out of the blocks really really quickly and it was 2-0 but then Caitlin Ford scored And I thought Australia would come back into it. I have to admit, I thought Brazil, their missing martyrs leadership and just the presence of a player like that can make the difference for a game. And I did wonder if kind of mentally they would be more susceptible to someone coming back at them. I know that doesn't really make sense, but that was just what I was feeling at the time.
00:12:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brazil definitely deserved to win. Um, Australia edge possession, I think it was 52% to 48%. Um, Australia had two shots on target compared to Brazil's six. It was by no means a walkover though. Uh, in the latter stages, especially Australia gained a lot of momentum in front of thousands of Tillies fans. Shout out to them. Um, yeah, they really gained momentum in the second half and I still thought they might come back into it.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
but it wasn't to be, and it ended 3-1 to Brazil. The second game followed quite a similar pattern to the first. However, it was more evil, more equal, more equal, as you would expect. Australia, again, had slightly more possession, ah but the major chances fell to Brazil. It was another very physical game. No red cards this time, thankfully. ah The Aussies had seven shots on target, so that was much improved. And they settled into the game a lot more quickly.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think the first game, they were a bit stunned. kind of it It felt like they were a bit stunned first of all and didn't really know how to deal with Brazil and it took them quite a while to figure that out. However, in the second game, I feel like they figured it out quite quickly. um And you could see them really start to come into the game and gain a bit of momentum quite early, especially compared to the first game.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So that second game ended 2-1 to Brazil. And before we move on, I just wanted to touch on Arthur Elias or Arthur Elias, sorry. ah What a manager. I mean, we all talk about Emma Hayes, Serena Wiebman, and I love them both, but let's talk about Arthur Elias for a minute. I mean, he led Corinthians to a double before joining Brazil and getting silver in the Olympics.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Brazil were not a team I expected to see in the Olympic final, I must admit. I mean, obviously you knew that Marta it was her final international tournament. She would want to go out strong. However, I just, I don't know why I just didn't see them as being that strong contenders. Um, it was a very tight game at the end against the Emma Hayes US in the gold medal match. Uh, eventually the US s won one nil. Um, but again, it was by no means a walkover and.
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Brazil really had their chances and could have ah could have nicked the game. ah And what a journey they had. They beat France, they beat Spain. ah They beat Spain. If
England vs USA: Anticipation and Drama
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
you have a chance, look up that game, Brazil versus Spain in the Olympics. That was quite a game. I think it ended 4-2 to Brazil. And Spain initially scored the two, I think. And then Brazil came back into it and then scored another two on top of that.
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, what an amazing game and what an amazing manager. I just wanted to give him a shout out. I know he's been nominated for a bunch of of the awards, very well deserved. And yeah, so that is Australia, Brazil.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those zooms and hours. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:16:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So finally, I saved quite a lot of time in this podcast for this one. A tiny game between two very small footballing nations no one really thinks about, two managers who no one knows about. I mean, who's the US manager again? I forget. Hmm.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was the big one. It was England versus USA, Serena Wiegmann versus Emma Hayes. It was a massive, massive occasion. I was there. um it it was The weather was actually quite reasonable. It was a bit wet out, but ah the temperature was decent. It was actually warmer than it was in Coventry ah for the South Africa game, I think. So yeah, it was a big game. I was really happy to see so many American fans there. That was really nice. And shout out to the two Americans I actually sat next to who had snuck into the home section ah because they didn't know how to book in the away section.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, they said to me that they would really try not to score, ah not to shout if the US scored because they didn't want to get beaten up. And could I just say to any Americans out there or any opposition who's coming over to a Lioness' game, I don't think you'd get beaten up. Maybe maybe in the men's game, um but I think in the women's game we're a bit nicer than that. um the Yeah, I mean, I did tell them I would protect them too, um if anyone tried to beat them up for scoring if the u s ah for shouting of the US score. Anyway, welcome home Emma Hayes. Lovely to see you. I'm so happy you didn't win though. ah Yeah, that was quite quite an evil cackle. I didn't quite mean to do that. um So yeah, before the game, there were so many narratives around this game, so many stories.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Most of them going against England, which is why, frankly, I was really scared about this game. Of course, you had Emma Hayes returning. ah You had ah Emma Hayes, Millie Bright. I just love their relationship so much. um I love Millie Bright. I love Emma Hayes and the two of them together. Yeah, I mean, that's really heartwarming.
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was not surprised that Millie Bright didn't play, um given how well she knows Emma Hayes and ah more to the point how well Emma Hayes knows Millie Bright. um I initially was thinking about that and I was thinking, hmm, we could really use Millie Bright's physicality, because I think that's really what she brings to her defence. But yeah, I get it that ah Emma Hayes knows her inside out and knows all of her um kind of weaknesses inside out. So yeah, not surprised.
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
more narratives around the game, a little bit of pressure creeping in on England after two kind of a little bit lackluster performances. Again, you know me, I am very measured about it. I say these are friendlies and it's all in the name of progress.
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
you want to be losing games now ah instead of when they're competitive games. So yeah, I'm glad we didn't lose to the US, but I wouldn't have been that upset. ah Both teams missing major players, the US were missing the triple espresso and England from missing, oh gosh, Neve Charles is a huge miss for any team. Also missing Hempo and oh gosh, Hempo, I miss Hempo so much, her speed.
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I really hate it when people say, oh, if such and such happened, then this would have happened, because you don't have a crystal ball. You don't know. But I did feel like if we had Hempo's pace, we might have scored um at some point. I just love Lauren Hemp. She's just amazing, as they all are anyway. um Also, missing Lauren James, again, that creativity going forward, missing Ella Toome, who again, with that creativity going forward,
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um There was also the discussion about who England's number one should be, Hannah Hampton ah or Mary Earp's. A lot of people very conflicted about that. um There was the conversation of who's the best, Emma Hayes, Serena Wiegman. You know my thoughts. I believe that there's enough room for both of them. They're both goats. um I mean, as in greatest of all time, not animal goats. ah Yeah.
00:20:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Before the game, I felt really nervous about the team selection. um I don't like criticizing managers because I always think we know very little compared to what they know. And it's kind of like we criticize their decisions without having all of the facts. And
Team Choices and Defensive Strength
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
we wouldn't do that in other areas of our lives. Like um at work, for example, you wouldn't criticize a colleague if you knew that you didn't have all of the facts about a situation. um But yeah, I mean, people have been criticising Serena a lot, um saying that she never plays the kids and that she has favourites. And yes, I was really nervous about this team selection. Honestly, I expected it to be Mary-Ups, Bronz, Bright, Williamson and
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jess Carter. um I thought she would go with Clinton in midfield. Jess Park was brilliant, so, ah you know, again. And I knew Georgia Stanway and Kyra Walsh would both play because they're you wouldn't not play them. ah I thought Chloe Kelly might start because she, although she isn't getting minutes for Manchester City, she was one of the best players on the pitch against South Africa. I thought she might start. But then I knew it would be Miriam Russo up top.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I definitely see that Alex Greenwood's inclusion was a very good one. ah Again, especially switching Jess Carter and Alex Greenwood. So I think Alex Greenwood was playing at left back, um which really worked. I think she can play there, obviously. I think she's played there before for England as well, maybe in the World Cup at some point when we were struggling with injuries.
00:22:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh she was immense but yeah i didn't think that she would start and i had expected i was prepared for just a barrage of criticism and abuse on social media about starting favorites this that and the other i just wanted to actually come back at that a little bit because one thing that i've kind of noticed is pundits have been really harsh on the lionesses at the moment And I was talking to ah some Americans at the game about this and asking, kind of are your pundits the same? Are your commentators always really, really harsh about ah players' performances and things?
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they said no, not not particularly, sometimes, but not always. And I was thinking about why it is. I think we are quite pessimistic as a nation. um But yeah, that's just really interesting to me. Ian Wright, I actually tweeted it in a fit of feeling a bit ah upset with his post-match comments. Because okay, he said he wants to see new players. We made eight changes for the South Africa game and then another like three or four for this game.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you want a whole new starting 11 then? Like who have never played together before, have had like a week of prep and before then have very rarely played together? I mean I don't get that. I don't get piling the pressure on youth by saying Oh, let's start Aggie Beaver Jones at Wembley against the US against her former manager when she's barely played 10 minutes before for England. I just think that's such I think she's so talented. Don't get me wrong. I want to see her against Switzerland at some point, but I just think that's such an immense pressure for such a young because we forget how young these players are and how big the step up is from the under twenty threes to senior international football and form for club is not the same as form for country.
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anyway, I'll leave that. um I was especially nervous about conceding. I kind of felt, yeah, after the Germany game, when our defence was so non-existent, I did feel like we were going to concede. um I think the defence was definitely the bright spot in the game. It was it was absolutely amazing.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Lucy bronze, very rightly, player of the match. She was everywhere. Jess Nas put in a real defensive shift as well. ah And then Leah Williamson.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
was immense. I think we can settle that she's had a formed debate. ah i I was really happy with her performance. There were a couple of times she lost the ball but again that is football. Everyone loses the ball at some point and Jess Carter had a really good game as well which I was happy to see because I think she gets a little bit of flack sometimes. So yeah I was really happy defensively Midfield, we did get overloaded a bit. um I think when you're putting so much effort and so many players into defending, like Jesnaz, Jespart were being forced kind of to help out to put in a defensive shift. It was like we couldn't get the ball up to Vuso enough.
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And when we did, it was kind of the US, obviously, they're a good team, they're number one in the world. they were very able to deal with us. um So obviously I think attacking is where we will need to do some work. Beth Mead as well just to points out also did a very good defensive shift. um Yeah she looks really good. I think she's been looking quite good for England and yeah I don't like it when people kind of talk about her form as well because I think she is putting in good shifts
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So yeah, it was very much a game of kind of two halves, defence and attack. And the attack I think will come as well when we get these players back like Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Ella Toon. To be honest, I think that could be completely life changing for the England team. ah One question I do have is when these players come back,
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
have kind of Jess Nas, Jess Park done enough that they will still start when the likes of Lauren Hemp, Ella Toon come back, Lauren James, like will Lauren James come in and immediately reclaim a starting spot because she will be coming in to a competitive game, I think the Spain game at Wembley. um So will she come up come in and immediately reclaim that space. It's the same with Neve Charles. Will she come in and immediately start playing in defence again? I think these are interesting questions. On the goalkeeper situation, so I alluded to it before, Serena's very kind of forthright about it, saying Hannah Hampton and Mary Earp's are in a battle for that number one spot. Personally, I agree with Serena, I think it's too early to say. I think
00:27:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hannah and Mary both are brilliant goalkeepers. I think Anna Morehouse is a brilliant goalkeeper and deserves to be kind of talked about more. um But in terms of like these friendlies, I think she obviously wanted to give Mary and Hannah a big game each so they each got a Wembley game.
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Mary was immense. I think that performance will definitely be kind of a tick in her box and compared to Hannah did have a few wobbly moments against Germany.
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, I don't like criticising goalkeepers because I actually think it's the most difficult job on the pitch, but also Hannah Hampton is so young. A lot of
England's Goalkeeper Debate
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
people were talking about ah Mary Utz's presence, her kind of command of the box, and I do see that. I really do see that. However, I think Hannah Hampton will develop that as she gets a bit older and she has to be exposed to these kind of high pressure, pressure cooker games to develop that.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think you can't really develop that character and that strength without exposure to those games. And you have to make mistakes. You have to be allowed to make mistakes. And it's just unfortunate that for a goalkeeper, when you make a mistake, it normally ends up in a goal ah for the opposition.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
In terms of tactics, so um Serena spoke about England in possession were 4-3-3 and went to a 4-4-2 out of possession. She talked quite a lot about these different shapes at different phases of the match and needing to be adaptable um like that because it makes it more difficult for the opposition obviously then to ah defend against and yeah.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
442 overturned to the World Cup days, we were much more comfortable with the 442. I think it was again that because the US really did try and overload us in midfield, having that kind of extra body dropping back a bit really did help.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, I've said that defence is brilliant, attack a bit disjointed. um It was interesting taking off Jess Nas and Jess Park for Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly. I love both Fran Kirby and Chloe Kelly, um so I wasn't unhappy to see them come on. People are complaining again because everyone needs something to complain about ah that we didn't make enough substitutions and we didn't make them early enough. My argument to that would be kind of that period of 50 to 70 minutes where you would normally think about subs is when we were pushing for a goal we did have that momentum and I definitely understand not wanting to disrupt that momentum
00:30:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
for the sake of making changes. um However, I think the reasoning for bringing Kirby and Kelly on was probably to give a bit more experienced solidity in that midfield, because when you're getting to that stage of the game, the US under Emma Hayes do like to score a goal quite late on and nick a win. They're very patient like that. And I think the thinking was with Kirby and Kelly to kind of bring in a couple more experienced players, especially in that midfield area for Fran Kirby.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
just to kind of give them a bit of solidity um with the fear, obviously, that the US would score on light the 87th minute and nick the win. Conclusions ah for this game for England. It was important to see the progress. And I think we did see that progress um defensively, especially with the attack. I think it is just such a shame that we have so many injuries in kind of ah attacking um players.
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I think it's a completely different game when you have players like Lauren James and Lauren Hemph on the pitch. It completely changes the game. However, I am glad that this opportunity has been afforded to Jess Nas and Jess Park ah because I think they are obviously going to be important players for us going forward. I would have liked to see Grace Clinton. um I hope she features against Switzerland. I think she might start because we didn't see her in this game. ah So yeah, that would
USA's Attacking Challenges
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
be nice. In terms of the USA, I enjoyed their performance.
00:31:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought they would be a bit more ruthless up front. Either that or our defense was actually just so good. We shut them down. Emma Hayes spoke in her post-match conference of someone needing to be in the box, but nobody being there at times. And I agree with that. I think there are times when there was a cross into the box and the player who it was intended for was kind of a meter or so away.
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that gave us, it's just that split second of time, gave us the opportunity to defend defend it. And because we were kind of switched on defensively, we did. um Whereas other teams, I feel like like I have a feeling the Netherlands will concede quite a few goals possibly. um If you're not absolutely switched on, you won't have you know you won't be able to get there. But it was a really entertaining game. I'm very happy it ended in a draw.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, yeah, I think, I think that's a really good result. Um, so yeah, that's great. I think that's all we have time for today. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to welcoming you to the next episode of Beyond the Pitch.