TWG Live!: USWNT vs. Spain

0:00The one question I get most after all that football memory making we experienced across America this summer is, how do I keep the magic going? Let's start by saying, articulate what you love the most and then build on it. First that, find a team that will most probably break your heart and then add all the supporting necessities to build your weekend tradition, the key to so many of mine. It's Walmart, the place that has it all, the snacks, the coffee, the pies. You can also get the TV at Walmart, the hoodie to wear on your couch, get the couch if you need it and wait, it gets better. Because they're expressed delivery can get it right to your door so you're all set for kick off. Whatever you match, they need to, you can find them at Walmart.com slash soccer. Delivery-tombing varies by order size, traffic, weather and demand, subject to a availability fees and terms apply. Electric is easier than ever.

1:00Right now, save instantly on a new Toyota EV with special incentive programs for first-time EV buyers and prior EV owners. Choose the sleek, busy, the adventurous, busy, woodland or the sporty CHR. But don't wait, these special savings won't last. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. You're listening to the MIB Media Network and this is the Women's Game. Hello everybody. We are here. I see you all in the chat. Disgusting what just happened. Welcome to the Women's Game. We are live. It's just moments after the US Women's National Team friendly against Spain where the US Women's National Team lost, two to nothing to Spain team. But definitely outplayed us at times, but really just finished their early chances. There really is so much to talk about, including the long awaited Prototype Niles Wanson, the starting center back pairing, and what this result and this loss really means for the US Women's National Team right now. So luckily, we have Ali Riley here to help us figure it all out. Ali,

2:03hello, thanks for being here. Obviously, feeling some mixed emotions. I think there were lots of positives about some of our attacking chances, especially in the second half, but we lost the game. Exactly, Sam. And the last time we did this was the second Brazil game, the last time the national team played. So I was prepared for anything from this aim. But I did feel like the US forgot that they were like that B for a moment for maybe the first half. And I was glad to see more of that in the second half. So can't wait to hear what the chat is saying, but this is such a good game to break down. And also the perfect timing to play the world number one and learn some important lessons. I totally agree. I think it feels obviously weird to say we are trying to beat the best team in the world. Instead of we are being the best team in the world. But I do, I do think in some ways, Spain showed that today. Again, I think, especially in the second half, we looked more like ourselves. We outshot them. We had a lot more chances than them, especially in that second half. But what it really came down to for me was Spain's quality in finishing their

3:06chances. That's why they won the game. So let me quickly just explain the show today. This is Titu Bajul Live. So obviously our listeners are here with us right now, right in this moment. And you're going to get to ask us questions about football or life a little bit later in the show if you want to. You can scan the QR code that's in the top left of your screen. You're going to go into a Zoom with our producer Leo who will get you set up to ask your question. You're not going to be on camera. It's audio only. So don't worry about that. Those are coming up a little bit later in the show. Get in line now. Make sure you get your question in there. And if you don't want to ask a question, just give us a like. Make sure you hit that subscribe button here on YouTube. We'd love to have you. I do see some of you in the chat already. Oh my gosh. I'm a hot dog and a time waste or go women sports. Thank you guys so much. We really do love you. I do see a lot of people discussing the midfield discussing the back line. I definitely want to get into that first goal against and how and yeah, honestly, even the second goal against how pulled out of shape we were. Let's start with the starting lineup though, Ali. Okay. Up top, we had Trinity Rodman on the left hand side, which is a bit of a change up for national team. She's usually over. Right. So

4:06few else in starting in the night. Alyssa Thompson on the right in the midfield. I'm actually interested to hear your thoughts or after that about this midfield combination of Rose the Val Lindsay heaps and Lili Johannes. Okay. You're the midfield expert. Let's not forget that. But I wasn't surprised just because look, we're huge clear Hutton fans, but the commentators were saying it as well. Of course, our amazing studio. There is a connection between Lili Johannes and Lindsay heaps, even if they don't play together anymore that could that had me understanding why if you're going to go with one of our extraordinary young talents in the midfield that you would go with Lily. She's so composed. She is so smart. She's calm and let's not forget that she has a lot of experience playing against Spanish opposition with the Champions League. In fact, she played in the Champions League final against a handful of these players. So look, Rose has been phenomenal. I set it on my own podcast. I think she might be the first player on the team sheet. And so I wasn't really surprised by

5:08this trio. Maybe didn't go as well as I had anticipated. But what were your what was your gut that I think proved to be right? Well, my gut before this game was that we'd see clear Hutton start because I just think of clear Hutton as more of the out and out six. I think that Lindsay and Lili are so similar in that they both have a tendency to get forward. And I think what we saw today was a hole in that six where say I'm coffee would have been. And so I it's so tough because I all of all of our midfield options I love individually. And what I think is Emma's next project is finding the right combination to go and win a World Cup. I don't know that the combination that we saw today is that right combination. And I think that we're going to get a little bit more into that. I think clear Hutton coming into the game. We're already down to nothing. It wasn't necessarily what we needed to see. But I feel like I missed San coffee today. I missed somebody who is going to just kind of hold in that six position, especially with Spain's ability to combine right in front of our backline. So we'll talk more about midfield. But I do think that that was a little bit of like a

6:13flag to me of this is an area that we can work on. Back to the starting lineup. Every Patterson started as left back then it was Turner Davidson Kennedy Wesley, which I think that was an exciting position to see fields today. Everybody was kind of waiting to see who was going to play that other center back position and that Emily Fox as usual out on the right with Claudia Dickey and goal. I felt pretty good about our lineup. I think one of the big storylines coming into this game was just the number of injuries for both teams. Neither team is at full form right now. So it doesn't feel like our most experienced squad. We're missing Naomi Gurman Emily Sonnet and Sam coffee. But it wasn't Spain's best starting lineup either. They are midfield class players as well. So it felt like it should have like, you know, even this out. I think right off the bat, first three minutes of the game, we got reminded of exactly what makes Spain special. Whether this is their strongest squad or not. And it's their ability to tactically manipulate their opponent. Patrick Eharro scored early with a beautiful shot from distance. But our midfield and our backline

7:16were just pretty quickly and easily pulled a little bit out of shape with simple play. I felt like we got manipulated on this goal. Again, it was a great shot. I don't necessarily think Claudia Dickey could have saved it. But going down a goal against the best team in the world so early is just so tough. It is, it is. And there was some concern just about or conversation around this was an inexperienced backline inexperienced this. You know, we're still not entirely sure. Is Claudia now the number one? Who is the number one goalkeeper? But I kind of think that narrative needs to stop because Emma Hayes had said, has said we have I have never been able to use my best 11. And I never will. This is the reality. Of course, we're hoping that some of these top players that you mentioned who would start for the US national team are available. But we still have Lindsay Hebs and Tyrann Adavesson leading up the core of this team. So I think this manipulation,

8:18like you mentioned, isn't so much about the US teams in experience. It is just showing how good, how fluid the Spain team is. And we see it on the club level with the team like Barcelona. We see it with the national team and not every player when we talk about that first goal. Yes, we gave her too much space, but not every player can hit the ball that cleanly. And there was traffic. There were numbers in front of Claudia. I mean, it was a banger. It was a banger and it was from quite far out. So that is something that I could see happening to any national team, any team when you've a player of that type of quality. So that was a lesson. That was an important lesson. And we didn't see that type of strike happen again in the game. We were, you know, the US got scored on a different way. Well, totally. And I think it's like, look, in Patrick, he's a very special player. One of the best in the world. We talk so much about A town of Oma, T and Alexi Patez as being these. And they are

9:18the, you know, two of the best midfielder in the whole, Patrick, he's not talked about nearly as much, but she is just as deserving of of this kind of credit. And I think on a different day against a different team, it's like you get scored on the first three minutes, a shot from distance. Everybody's kind of like, okay, that was weird. And we did create enough chances. We hit the crossbar. We had a PK that we missed. We had a goal that was called back for upside. Like we did create enough chances to come back from that, which we could count as a blip in our game. I think that what I saw in the next 10 to 15 minutes after that kind of does show that it wasn't just a blip. Spain was creating such an overload down there left hand side of the field sending Corralas high, pulling MR defender Emily Fox in centrally. Yes, that became in those minutes our own answer to getting out. Alyssa Thompson just equally as Spain was having success down our left hand side. Alyssa Thompson was having success down our right hand side getting forward. But I think that what

10:19I really noticed and appreciated about Spain early on in that first half, they were holding the ball. They're perfectly comfortable holding the ball deep. They're goalkeeper puts their front on top of the ball invites us to press. And then any gap if our forwards press but our backline doesn't, they take advantage of that gap in our in our pressure. They find the space. They manipulate Kennedy Wesley to step way out into the midfield to try to press. I think Alexi Putea's yes, that was an issue tracks all the way across the field out wide. Spain gets across off and now it's our two outside backs defending inside of our box, which I'm just like this can't be like yes, it's emergency defending and like do whatever you can, but this can't be how we get manipulated where both center backs are nowhere to be seen. It was just so smart of Spain. Navara was able to get on the end of it and finish. That goal for me was like, okay, the first goal wasn't a blip wasn't just a mistake. It was so disorganized and so manipulated that I mean,

11:22I give Spain so much credit, but it was really that goal for me that was like, ah, Spain like got us on that one. And that takes so much communication from the backline to each other, from the backline to their midfield. When you have a player like it's not even just Putea's. You had Paruelo going inside, you had Edna who was out on the wing, you had all these players. They're so comfortable in tight spaces. That's what you're just mentioning in their build. And then they're also comfortable playing all different positions. So we saw Alexia Putea's so high, we had five Spain players on the line pretty often. So when someone then and it was her in this case checks into the space hard, what does that mean? Can you afford to follow? If you are going to follow into the midfield and then the ball goes wide, what does that mean about a midfielder? Who is responsible? Some teams, if the backline shifts over, you're counting on your weak side winger to become the weak side fullback. Other teams, they bring a six in. There's different ways to solve. But the US didn't seem to have a solve in that first period. And that is

12:27definitely how that second goal happened. And look, Avery Patterson, yes, that player is a wide, I mean, what a volley. But there's nothing you can do as the weak side fullback. You have to slide over and take the more dangerous player and that left someone sprinting in wide open. But it was an impossible situation. Nothing Claudia could have done either. But it is that that's a next level of like you said manipulation of movement that I don't know if we see from any other team in the world. That's why they are the best. Yeah, I think obviously as a you know, I used to be on the US national team. I am obviously fan and hearing it's an impossible situation. I'm just like some, well, then I guess somebody had to track and I don't know who I'd have to rewatch it. It could be exactly. It could be the are you don't send Kennedy. I don't know. I don't know. Exactly. There is the game. It was brilliant of Spain. But I think what I will say is like that was all in the first 15 minutes. And that was where it was like, okay, this is a bit much. Spain is so good. And

13:31that was crazy. I feel like we responded pretty well. I think, you know, yeah, look, we lost this game. That is a big deal. Spain in periods manipulated us and we're better than us and had more quality than us. Obviously going down to nothing in the first 15 minutes felt terrible. We responded pretty well. We ended up getting a lot of chances back. A lot of possession back had a lot of momentum. Alyssa Thompson, I thought stayed positive in that first half. I think early on there was still lots of movement and energy in our midfield, especially from Rose the Bell. Alyssa Thompson got that good chance off a slipball in behind. We had some kind of missed touches on set pieces. Alyssa, I know you had mentioned like Trin had a few touches in the box that just came in really hard to her. I think we can do better on some of those. But Lily Johannes had a decent shot that went just wide. So Fina Wilson ends up hitting the crossbar. It's not like we crumbled and got trounced all game. We responded and we created some chances that we just didn't finish.

14:32And that was my biggest positive take from the first half, especially that right hand side. Just relentless both defending and attacking Emily Fox. Emily Fox is so good. Some of her recovery runs and I know because she is so good and we have seen Alyssa Thompson usually on the left. We've seen her start with her sister behind her. I like this combo because Emily is so good and when Alyssa is having to do so much work, I just think you can be so confident with someone like Emily behind you and she put some big stops in. Alyssa even was defending in in the US's own box. We don't want to see that, but she did the work when she needed to. And there was just a determination. Like I didn't see panic. The only thing that frustrated me was the game was so transitional for the US. So it felt like Spain. It felt like the US was like thinking they were playing cat and mouse, but Spain was like, no, actually you keep doing these transitions, but then we catch you out. So

15:34we and also never using that left hand side, which again, when you're transitioning, you're going to go as fast as possible. Alyssa was on, but it just meant that I felt like those balls coming in for Trinity, Rodman. Let's say she had around three touches in the in the box in the first half. Those came at times where she hadn't had the ball in so long. So she's getting these infrequent touches with a whipped ball bouncing behind the back line or in the air, expecting her to be able to get a left foot volley. She's one of the best in the world. We should hold her to a standard. But I also think getting her in a flow in a in some cohesion, just getting more touches with the team would have helped. And so I was so glad we saw that in the second half, but it felt like this stress because Spain was so good and was maybe dominant in a way that the US isn't used to, that then there was a rush. There was a stress to it. And Tyrann Davison said coming off the field.

16:37And that's a tough time to do an interview. I mean, wow, credit to her to be so calm in her mind to go in at a half time, two zero and speak to the broadcast and said, we need to have more time on the ball. And we need to find ways to do that. And whatever happened in that half time, it was it was a different team. It was a different game. Yeah, no, I agree. I think that what's tough about playing a team like Spain who are so good at keeping the ball is it it's when it when you get the ball back and you've just been defending, it's so much harder to make that next decision a good decision. Yeah, because if even if a transition is on transitions are risky and you might just lose it and then you're stuck defending again and then you get out of breath again and then you make another bad decision. But if you just keep it every single time, you never get a chance because then Spain's vulnerable when they are all pressed high and forward. Spain's vulnerable in transition. So if you just then keep it every single time and then try to go up against Spain's organized defense, you're not getting the opportunities that you would otherwise get

17:42if you could just make that good decision out of breath. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, it's such a balance. And there was no balance, I think, in that first half. I know. And I think that it's Emma had Emma had mentioned this. It is Spain's ability to keep it so well themselves that makes you make your ability to make a good decision when you do when it back that much harder. Yes, yes, absolutely. I also thought a bright point though and we see it later in the game was Sophia Wilson. She it felt like she was on her front foot how to chance their first when she was driving forward and has a lisa, but you can see the center back pointing and you know, you're kind of playing Jedi mind tricks here when you're doing that as a defender. You're saying, I know you're going to go there. So, you know, you shouldn't. But also their body language, she could have maybe slipped a lisa, but I love that the space opened up and she found that shot. The goalkeeper had absolute blinder tonight for Spain pushes it onto the crossbar. We saw another one where just before

18:46half she rolls, she's one of the best players back to goal, I think, in the world. She looks like she has to go backwards, has no space and she turns the way she turns and and had that opportunity rose was pressing. It was a bad touch by Spain and she riggles through and gets that shot that just misses the far post. But that I think voted well in terms of having a little bit of a momentum shift. I think if she have scored that would have been even more positive, but I do think the message would have been the same regardless at halftime. So I think that gave the team a little bit more confidence in terms of what they could do in the attacking third because they can do it. Well, didn't try to finish it today, but I think I love that you spend some time on Sophia Wilson because I really appreciate her ability to either be back to goal herself and turn and create a chance to slip somebody else in behind. So the Wilson was also drawing a lot of fouls today. I think that's something we saw obviously so much against Brazil and where and you know, Rose,

19:48Rose the bell was drawing a lot of fouls today. Yeah. When the other team is beat, it feels like a game plan to play against us is to just foul us. And they the luck fortunately the ref brought out some yellow cards early, which was necessary. Yeah. And you know, that is always when games get out of hand is when your beat you commit a, you know, gamesmanship type foul, a tactical foul, and the ref does not give you a yellow then that gives you free reign to keep going. But it does feel like if we are going to be getting fouled when we beat a player, we have to become really efficient at our set pieces. And obviously we didn't really see that today. I do appreciate the work we saw from Sophia Wilson to create chances kind of out of nothing to draw fouls in dangerous areas. And then I want to, you know, she had that great chance. I think it was like, you know, the 20th, 30th minute that the ball ends up hitting the crossbar. And so we were seeing some positivity. We already talked a little bit about what Tirena kind of said coming off, going into halftime. My advice would have been like, we have to manage our own press without getting so pulled out of

20:54shape. Like we have to get pressure on the ball without leaving a huge gap, whether that's in in the middle of the field in our backline or around where our six should be. But like we have been saying, there were some positives. What would you have actually applauded from our first half performance going into halftime? I think it was, we were able to see how dangerous Alyssa Thompson is. I think that relationship again, she was playing on a different side than we're used to seeing, but the relationship between Rose, Sophia Wilson and Alyssa again, Tren wasn't being utilized as much in that first half gives me a lot of hope. That is, that is a really, really exhausting player to go against over and over again. And I like how in the beginning, I think she was, or she changed it up. Sometimes she was wide and would put an early ball in. Then she drove towards the goal. We saw in the second half a cutback that almost was a goal from Tren. But I just think varying her service, she's so dangerous. And I think some of the timing, there's one time

21:58where she and Sophia run into each other in the second half. And all of that will just continue to grow and continue to get better and better. And again, I think that Rose is an important part as a creator in that. And that goes all the way back to our conversation around that midfield. And how many players do you want to be going forward, having that attacking mindset? And do you need then a midfielder who is going to be that lock keeping an eye on that space? And just in general, what you were saying about the press, that's one of the hardest things to do against a team that Spain, I think you can get sucked into this kind of idea of tiki taka and you think of it's like rondo's. They're just going to keep the ball and pop it around you. Yes, Spain will do that. But there's always an intention and there's always a purpose going towards goal. So Spain would sometimes go direct. And then there's a one touch pass, lay it off to someone who plays it to someone wide, who lays it off to someone. That's when the spaces get big because all in a split

22:59second, when they play on one touch, you have to back up, you have to take a few steps forward, you have to back up again, you have to shift. And that's where that confidence and that communication becomes so important. I remember Ali Krieger saying that this was drilled into the back line. You just go, one step, two steps, three left. And everyone knew and was drilled into this discipline. And you know, who does that well? Emily's on it. So sorry, you asked me some positives, but I kind of went on a tangent there. Well, I mean, I'm glad you did. I think like the emotional response, it's like, where did we end up? It's like, yeah, we are missing some players. And I do see people in the chat, Spain is missing some players too. I know we've already talked about this. Arguably Spain may be missing more of their starters than we are. And so we have some work to do. I think we like learned that today. Again, it's we lost the game. We clearly have some work to do. I do not think that especially like statistically that game was not out of reach for us. Would I love to see our best 11 versus spades best 11? Yes. But like we have said, that may never happen.

24:01Unfortunately, that is not all that's not in anybody's control. I want to come, you know, kind of go back to this idea of our left hand side. It's been I think the whole thing has been kind of circled in my mind because when we go back to our last major tournament, it was mouse wants in out wide left. And something we see with a player of that profile is that she'll come in and sometimes play as more of like a second 10, which leaves a lot of space for our left back to get high up the field and attack. We have seen MAHs utilize that as a tactic on and off for the past two years with different personnel playing left wing and left back. An interesting one was both Thompson sisters doing that together. Alyssa is another player profile who can come into the midfield and turn and create spaces in the pocket. Trin can do that. But I also maybe wouldn't like make that as the game plan. Like I probably would prefer to have Trin out wide or making flashing runs in behind then coming into the pocket to turn. So I was interested to see Trin on this

25:03side of the field today starting when we saw just L Thompson sub on for every Patterson at half time. One of the things you had been mentioning, Alyssa, is that Trin didn't get the ball to feet a lot in the first half. Did you see our tactics change? Did you see Trin get on the ball more? Like what is your take on our left hand side and the tactics that we're using to get our left wing or the ball and our left back high up the field? In general, I just saw a shift in mentality, confidence, psychology. I don't know remembering who they are because I thought we saw much more established possession in Spain's defending half. And that's where we saw Trinity get on the ball more. Again, I don't know if that's because I was just thinking about it a lot. I don't know how many touches she actually had compared to the first half. But I do think that like what you were saying, we're used to maybe say it fits Alyssa going more central and then you have the fullback high and wide. We saw that with a listen, Giselle. This time, I think we saw Giselle making playing more inverted and making run centrally, whether she got the ball or not.

26:07And then that left Trin isolated 1v1. And this was a battle I was really excited to see Rodman, Vatier there on that channel. And I think we saw it for the first time in like almost the 65th minute in terms of like Rodman ball defeat going 1v1. She held the ball up there for a really long time. And so I think that's where the balance that I see the US why they're so successful. As a team, a player on a team had to play against the US so many times. I always think of the US as a team who is good in transition, is good at possession, can go direct, can pop the ball around you, finds different ways to win. And this is where we saw it. We still found a listen on transition. But on the other side, we're having more established possession. And I think even when the ball was going to the right, there was one play I loved. I think it went Jacelle Lily huge switch. There are not many players in the game who can play that switch. It goes out into acres of space

27:11and a lissa is just zooming down that right hand side. And so finally, even using the left side, not even to attack, but just to get a switch of play, it just opened the game up the spaces more. And yes, then the US was able to find to try to punt Spain when they send their left side. Also, Kerov has a splashed organized off day. I think the US is a team to still manipulate that team because that goes to play bar. Yeah, I totally, I mean, I love that we're looking at some of the positives from the US's attack in the second half. We've been saying we created a lot more chances. We had more shots on Golden them. Spain's goalkeeper and Nanclair as was really incredible. Today, she made a lot of saves. So if you wasn't good score, she did, she did really well. So if you wasn't did score in the 53rd minute, it got called back for upside. But I do think it was an important like break or moment for us to be like, we can score in the run of play. We are creating

28:15these types of chances. It is close. And I think we kind of continued creating those chances. What did you like about our attack in the second half about the chances that we created? I thought they were varied. I thought, you know, even our substitutes came in and had a positive impact in a lot of ways. What did you notice about the way we changed our play in the second half? Oh my god, Ali's gone. Okay, everybody bear with me as we just figure out. I think Ali's internet was cutting out a little bit. Hi, it's Sam US of the Women's Game podcast. If you listen to or are listening to Goodbub's FC right now, you'll know I absolutely love Oli Pop. After a long summer practices in the grueling heat, my sister and I would always stop for a soda on our way home. And cracking a lemon lime Oli Pop takes me back to those summer days with my sister exhausted and thirsty for something cold and refreshing. Today, it's become a staple for both me and the

29:17Goodbub squad. With up to nine grams of fiber to support digestive health, Oli Pop is made with real ingredients and has around 90% less sugar than traditional soda. But it seriously tastes like the soda you grew up sipping. And with 21 flavors ranging from classics to fruity varieties, there's a flavor for every mood. Personally, I always keep lemon lime and vintage cola in my fridge. And you can find your flavor at drinkolipop.com slash gvfc where you can receive a buy one get one free offer redeemable at any retailer where Oli Pop is available. If you buy two Oli Pop's, our great friends at Oli Pop will Venmo or PayPal you back for one of them. Oli Pop can be found all across America in stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Croger, Whole Foods, HB and Publix. Thank you to Oli Pop and all our listeners for supporting the women's game. I will just say and I'm happy to just keep going until we have her back. But I do think that we had a lot of chances. We started making some substitutions. Lindsay and Rose had that little

30:22miscommunication. And if people remember where the ball was there for one of them, Lindsay went and she kind of tried to back heel it to Rose and it didn't end up working out. But like I've been saying, there were these moments of positivity that I feel like just didn't necessarily go our way today. I mentioned this a bit at the beginning, but I do feel like this combination of midfielders, we just lacked somebody holding in that sex. Well, I think all three of them contributed really positively in other ways. I think that Rose is such a creator. She is so like feisty in that final third. She's drawing fouls. She's winning the ball back. She's pressing high. She presses with like a lot of emotion. And I actually love when I see her bringing people up with her bringing people along. I think that Lindsay is, you know, I want her to fill that role of being the passer and the connector and the common presence. Whereas like Ali was just saying, I think that Lily stretches the field so much. She has such a range of pass. But we just really need somebody to

31:24like hold in there. And so we did see Claire Hutton come in for Lindsay. And then I think that we saw Claire and Lily, you know, kind of sharing in that role. It still didn't work out, you know, perfectly. Obviously, we continued to see some subs. Oh, hold on everybody. Ali's going to come back. And then we're just going to pretend like this never happened. You guys have my back. Hey, my back. You're back. I was just going a little bit of a tangent. I think your internet just cut out a little. Oh, you're such a professional. Well, I lost my way. Everything went black. I lost my way of it. You seem like you're back now. I did move on a little bit. I'm right around here. So we saw some more subs come in after Claire Hutton. Mouse wants in makes her return for the first time since having a baby, which is so exciting. And then Ashley Sanchez, who has been away from the team for two years and has done so much to earn her way back. And I think like, you know, we're having this long conversation about the game and the loss. And

32:26I want to celebrate both of these players. Like, I love Mal and I love Sanchez. And I do want to pause for a second to congratulate them both for Mal coming back for the first time to the US Women's National team and playing in a game since having a baby is just such a huge accomplishment. And it's like just so incredible to like see these women doing this. Oh, it's so important. And they deserve their flowers and definitely gives us all some perspective around these two amazing women and what is really important. And Ashley Sanchez, wow, I mean, the roar when both of them came on the field was so amazing. And I mean, they made immediate impact. So I think both just what they've achieved as we both know what it's like being out of the game for a long time, trying to come back for different reasons, but to be out there to have that trust from your national and team coach so, so deserved. And and then we saw what they can do on the field too. I know I do

33:26think there was a notable difference. And I think that there's energy around Sanchez being there. You know, I think everybody knows the Sanchez's story. She didn't play at the 2023 World Cup. She kind of fell out of favor with the national team. And now she has scored 20 goals and as boys to break the enemy cell single season goal scoring record with the North Carolina courage this season. She has earned this opportunity to come back and to sub into a difficult game and to make her taste for herself to be there. I think she started the attack pretty soon after she came in and it ended up that so if you listen, earned a penalty kick off of that attack. Sanchez was a big part of that. Sanchez had her own great chance a few minutes later that I'm going to ignore and just let that one go. But we are in this penalty kick alley. Lily Johanna steps up to take it and Spain's goalkeeper and Anclerus saves it. I know. Okay, just to add on to this goalkeeper is great night, but it wasn't the best penalty and obviously I probably wouldn't be even asking you this if the ball had hit the back of the net. But I thought Sophia Wilson was going to take it. I thought that when

34:28Trin was holding the ball was kind of spot protector, you know, waiting that Sophia would step up. She's been so clutch for Portland. Lily Hottest is also so common composed and we'll score that nine out of 10 times. But I was just surprised. But I'm assuming like every team that the US has their list of takers and she must have been. Yeah, so they show, I mean, you know, for people who might not know this in your set pieces presentation the night before the day of the game, they'll show like probably one, two, and three of the PK takers. Notably, Lindsay and Rose had just subbed out. But I'm kind of with you that and I don't know. I kind of assume Lily isn't Leones is number one PK taker just because that team has so many experienced players. So I'm kind of with you that I would think a player who has been regularly taking them all season. And I don't know this for a fact. If I'm wrong, Chat, please tell me that it only takes them all the time for Leon. A player that's been taking them all season would have taken it like so if or even Sanchez. Yeah. Oh my gosh, imagine. I thought about it. I thought about it, but it's not up to me.

35:34I it was, you know, great for the goalkeeper to save this. Obviously, I think if Lily had another chance, she could she could of course do better than that. Yeah. Bummed for her to miss because it's a huge moment. There's a lot of pressure. We're down to the nothing. Yeah. I think it just sucks. Like I think, you know, not squaring your PK in a game like this is definitely super unfortunate. James Bolkipper was a huge difference maker today. And I do want to use that as an opportunity to kind of start to do some takeaways of our own. There were, you know, several more things happened in this game, but if we do start to like zoom out, I want to talk about Claudia Dickie's performance. You know, all we talked about, we talked about this on good vibes earlier this week. We had a listener come on and kind of be our goalkeeper expert of like, who is the starter? Who should be the starter? What do you think Emma is thinking? Claudia Dickie started today, which I think indicates that she has an edge to be the starter. She led up to goals. And I do think she might have looked a little bit like rocked by that. One of the things that

36:35Lisa said that I thought was interesting was she said whoever can handle the pressure that will be the deciding factor. And I think it's tough to come into a game like this and let up two goals. Though I don't know any other goalkeeper would have saved either goal, but what do you make of her performance? What do you make of the goalkeeper situation? Chat, we would also love to hear from you guys because we don't know. Hey, Sam, you're talking to the right woman when trying to get to the bottom of this because I find it's so hard to analyze critique goalkeepers because it is such a different position. And even if we as defenders spend a lot of time with them and in front of them and alongside them, it's just it's such a different position. The one thing that I look for and listen for is communication and someone that exudes confidence. And I'm not saying Claudia Dickey has that persona in general. Obviously I watch pretty much every end of a cell game. That's not like her number one thing, but I did feel that from that first goal going in, there was a moment really early on as well.

37:40She kind of it's not a punch. It's not a save. And then Samma Paruayla was able to keep the ball in and I was just like, oh, this feels unsure. And so I can't help but again, if Emma has already decided Claudia is my number one, you go girl. Then I'm totally off base here. But while all this conversation is swirling around, I almost feel like it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. How can you feel confident if you're still being tasked with handling the pressure? Like that is of course how you compete. But also one of these players has to be given that role and told like, we trust you. And if you let into goals or if you make a mistake, you will be on the field again. Like it is a very fine balance is why I'm not a coach. But I just think that position, the mentality is so important and the trust, the confidence. And I don't think that these were

38:43easy saves. She should have had by any means. I almost wish not saying I wish Spain had more chances. But I almost wish she had an opportunity to show later in the game like, no, I do have this and like have a moment to make a big stop or do something with her feet to regain that kind of confidence or that edge. But I still as a fan, you know, feel really up in the air about it. And I just wonder how it feels among the the GKU in the US camp. I know. It's so good to hear somebody else kind of saying this because I think that that's what is going around like, you know, internally at TWG. It's kind of like should we be picking somebody? And we did talk to a listen air about it. I think that conversation is still really relevant if people haven't listened to good vibes yet from Tuesday. I think one of the questions I asked Alyssa was due because Alyssa was doubted before 2019. Yes. The media was really like Alyssa's not ready. And Alyssa of course was ready. And so I asked

39:44Alyssa if she trusts the process and she was like, yeah, I do. And so from the outside, it's like, I think we are going to have our question marks around a bunch of stuff. And it's like, that's our job Sam. I know. That is our job. But it's like whoever starts it's like that. The only way we'll have an answer is to see how it goes. And it's like, it isn't up to us. And we, you know, there's nothing we can do but wait and see. I don't know that today was super decisive either way because like I said, it just feels like kind of an impossible ask to be like, should you have saved one of those? I don't really think so. I think there are a lot of other important things to fix on those goals against. So the goalkeeper question, I would say it's safe to say remains unanswered. Do you think do you think we see a different goalkeeper game today? I don't know. I think it feels like it would be a big statement to see a different goalkeeper. But I don't know that it actually I don't know that it actually statement either way. I think I think but but then it's like, is it? Is it a huge statement? What if we just come up with the

40:47exact same turning line? But she's like, try again. Yeah. Yeah. Well, someone made a good shot about Silke. I think that's awesome that she got her call up and yeah, what an exciting opportunity for a young keeper, whether she gets minutes or not to be in that camp. I think it's really, really huge testament. Bay hasn't had a great season, but the fact that she has been so outstanding, I think, is really, really cool that she got the call in for the camp. I just felt like it threw even more. Yes. It does. It's a huge fire of uncertainty. Of like, I thought we were going in one direction. I thought that the trio at least was like maybe had a had a, you know, a couple step, were a couple steps ahead of of Claudia Dickie, Valentine's Joyce and Mandy McGlid. And now I'm like, oh, maybe not. And I'm excited for Jordan Silkewitz. I think it's cool. Imagine if Jordan Silkewitz starts. That would be a statement. Okay. Last thing I want to talk about because of this warrants

41:50discussion, Michelle Cooper subdawn. Just for about the last 10 minutes, she comes on an outside back again. She came on from Emily Fox. Not the first time we've seen her, a, you know, a forward kind of step into that outside back position. She did that against Brazil as well. And I actually kind of like it. Obviously, I don't think she's like trying to start an outside back, but it's like an in game tactic more than it is like an actual position change for Michelle Cooper. But she really does offer a lot from there, especially to close out a game, especially if we like need a little bit of extra like oomph into our attack. I love that she gets forward and can provide service. And she also drew a red card for the end of the game. Obviously didn't change the storyline, but it's a big contribution to be out there getting amongst it and drawing a red card. What I really, really respect about Michelle Cooper is, let's be honest, she could start for a lot of national teams. And she is playing a position. She hasn't played regularly, does not play regularly. She doesn't start. And she just embraces her role. And I think,

42:55I hope, and I remember from conversations that Emma has had about her. She has Emma's trust. Emma hypes her up. And I just think that's what a weapon to have a player like that. I'm sure she would prefer to start. But she comes on and makes a difference. And the fact that Emma wants to have her on the field, whether it is at fullback, wingback, winger. And I just think her stop keeps rising. And she is, her name is like getting etched onto her seat on the bus to the world's cup. I think with her showing up the way she does. And I really didn't like seeing that. I mean, it wasn't even a ponytail pull. It was like the bad. I don't know. I don't know how that went down. But yeah, her mentality, I think there are a lot of young players who could really, really learn from that. Well, I, I mean, I agree. I think that she has become a lock not to start necessarily. Like, I'm not saying she's like pushing to be a starter next summer. But I think that playing the role of

43:57subbing in off the bench in an important game is just as important as being a starter. And I think that you're right to say, like, if she is good with that for this world cup, and she maximizes that she could be one of the biggest names coming out of the tournament. She could have the most impact. And I think that that's like an incredible thing to understand about the game and understand about what you're bringing and understand that that's an important role. So I like love seeing that from her. I think she really could have a huge impact on this team. I think to summarize, and I'm actually we're about to be at the point where we're going to hear from you all our listeners. And I'm excited to hear from you all because I still like have some questions. I think I have some questions about our, you know, I don't think our quality on set pieces was good enough. I also think that and I saw this in the chat that there is this lack of clinicality in our finishing lately that Spain didn't have. Spain kind of had three champs as a nice core two of them. And that was all they needed. And we created a lot. And it's like I for years have been saying it's so positive.

45:00We're creating a lot. We'll score it when it matters. And maybe we will. Maybe it's all going to click next week. Maybe we will. Just in time. But I just I want to know if people agree and think that our lack of clinicality is something to be looking at and and really considering and a little bit like expecting better. It's not just electric. It's Toyota electric. And during Toyota's easy toy sales event going electric is easier than ever. Right now save instantly on a new Toyota EV with special incentive programs for first time EV buyers and prior EV owners. Choose the sleek busy, the adventurous busy woodland or the sporty CHR. But don't wait. These special savings won't last. We make it easy. Toyota let's go places. We have reached that part of the show. We're going to hear from you all. Just one more time really quickly. If you do want to join us here live on YouTube, scan the QR code in the top left of your screen. You go into zoom with our producer Leo. Leo will take care of everything. You're not going to be on camera. And then please just give us a like. It's actually really,

46:03really helpful. Okay. So when I call your name, remember to take yourself off mute. Tell us where you're from and ask your question. First, of course, we have Avery Avery. What's going on? What's up? Avery, can you hear me? Avery. Join us. All right, Avery. We'll come back to we'll come back to next up. We're going to go over to Bongo. Bongo, can you take yourself off mute? Oh. Oh no. Seems like we are having a. It's not just me. No, I can't hear them either. Give us a minute, you guys. Give us just one second. I will try one more. And then we're going to take a pause and figure out what's going on. Sarah, if you can hear me, can you take yourself off mute? Sarah. Oh gosh. All right, let's try Maya. Maya, I recognize you.

47:09I know you've got this. Maya, can you take yourself off mute? Okay. All right, everybody. Give us just one minute. It seems like maybe we're just having a little bit of a technical issue where we just can't hear our caller. So bear with us. We're going to try one more time. Avery will come back to you if you can hear me. Take yourself off mute and say hello. It's not a show unless we hear from Avery. I know. It's really tough. It seems like this might not be happening today, everybody. We should you unbox your crystal bubble head? Is that? Is that what? Oh my god. How fun. How fun, everybody. I want to lean back and get it, but it's further away than it looks. I'll unplug some. Yeah, it looks really good. I'll have even more of a technological issue. Okay, okay. Well, shout out, Crystal.

48:09I think this is a great idea. I'm going to find a couple of questions from the chat. Throw your questions in the chat. We'll answer one or two if we can figure out the technology. Great. If not, we're going to go. So let's see. It's because the US lost everything is a mess. I know, Trisha. You're absolutely right. Let's see you guys. There are some questions over here. I'm going to scroll the way down. Ellie, we want to hear about the painting behind you. Oh my gosh. You know, I'm going to tell you a funny story. So Lucas and I are actually in Lake Arrowhead could explain the Wi-Fi issue. And we are staying at Stuart Holden's house. So what am I going to find? Is actually a shrine to Stuart Holden and maybe his favorite painting. So I thought this would give more luck to the US. But you know what? We have, I have, look at this. I have a, oh my god. I really thought this was something. We have his, we have his cleat.

49:14We have a lot of Houston dynamite stuff here. So yeah, very, very cool. Are you guys on a little vacation? Yes. It's two hour drive. We just needed, as you have so kindly supported me and allowed me to share just a journey with IVF. And it's been a lot harder and longer than we thought. I everyone probably says that. So the Holdens were so generous to say we could come up and like have a little getaway for a few days. So yeah, we've been here. That is so nice. Well, I'm so glad that you're enjoying it. And thank you for subbing it. Not subbing in. Thank you for clawing in. Wait, who was I supposed to do? Literally nobody. I asked you to do this in like August. So I was like, are you all set for the first game? Oh, I like this. I like this. Changes. Changes Tuesday. Would you, would you make changes? What I make changes, I want to see if it's not a personnel change. I do want to see the midfield look like they are intentionally trying to play with more of a sex. I don't know if this is like an antiquated opinion. I just didn't think it was. We trust you, Sam.

50:20You know, I just didn't think we had enough like stability in the midfield. And so I don't necessarily need to see a personnel change, but I would like to see like a little bit of like a tactical shift. I vote to I want to see Ashu Sanchez. Like I don't know like I am on Ashu Sanchez is like train. I just want to see her out there. I think for somebody to be in such great form right now, it would be a loss to not see her like have this real opportunity. As far as what I think is, you know, the other up in the air positions, I think goalkeeper, maybe one of the center back positions and maybe left back. I think state those still feel a little bit like they have a question mark. What would you do there? This is always the hardest question. And I think something that maybe fans don't always realize when they comment on social media, like every time you say you want to play, like you have to say who you want to be benched. And when it comes to the US national team, I find that so hard. Obviously I am a huge Giselle Thompson fan. And I, I don't know, maybe I would

51:24like to see her in a list. I think that is a combination that has worked again. I just went on and about how well Emily and Alyssa work together. But I do think they really instinctually just know each other. And that's where that kind of who's going to be outside, who's going to be inside could. But I don't think every did anything that warrants her, you know, not getting the start, but because the US played so differently, I think in the second half. But Ashley Sanchez is one that again, I hope that she does get even more minutes because again, she came in and did well. And when you don't have as many camps under your belt as some of the other players, Emma said, you have to come in and show that you understand the way we play and what your role is. And the only way you're going to be able to do that, I feel like is with time on the field. So I'm on the train with you. Like, and I want her to get that goal 21. So, oh my gosh, I know. I know. I agree. Um, I, you guys have so many great questions in the chat. I am

52:26just going to answer. I think it says turn her words because you've asked it so many times that like you just need to know and I need to help you out when to players find out opposition lineup in their own. Usually you find out you kind of know from training during the week because you'll do set pieces or like a walkthrough in the starting 11. But it's not official until the official meeting, which is usually I'd say for the US the night before you find out your own lineup. And then the other teams lineup, it's not until it's like out, which like is probably an hour before the game. Yeah, no, for sure. But you'll do like a scout and you usually have like 90% of an idea unless they do something crazy. Yeah, don't you usually come in from warm up and it's like on on the white board. Someone has come in. It's definitely while we're out on the field. Yeah, one of the coaches has come in and put it up. Yeah. But then they'll like reiterate some of your scouting report or game plan, depending on what it is. And they'll put the numbers for set pieces and who your player marking, they'll then officially put in who you're marking. And this is the same for for the NW

53:27S. All. This is the same for for any team really. But it is you really you you make an educated guess. But sometimes even a formation, you find out pretty close to the game that they're suddenly putting a spanner in the works. Yeah, totally. Okay, well again, apologies to you guys on the technical difficulties. Ali, I did just want to ask you one more question before we let everybody go. And hopefully are all set for next time to hear from you all. Crystal Dunn was actually honored today for you know, of course, she had such an incredible career with the USO MS. Ashrill team. She has been so important to the growth of the game in this country. She often talks about being one of the the few black players on the team and how she has represented that to so many people and really just been this like icon of like being an incredible player, playing all over the field. But really for the USO MS. Ashrill team holding it down at that outside back position, I got to play with Crystal a lot. I love her so much. And it was really cool to see so many players there at the game supporting her today. I just want to know from you,

54:30Ali, obviously anything personal you have, but also like as an outside back, what was it that made Crystal such a good player? One of the things we expect from our outside backs and you and I have spoken about it. We've both spoken about it and our podcast is about this modern fallback and that's it's just an expectation now, right? That all of these full-bikes can attack so well, maybe used to be wingers and Crystal, the number of goals she scored for the USO MS. Ashrill. Did they say it was 25 today? It was yes. Was it 23, 25 also had 20 assists, something like that? Like those numbers are really really unusual for any defender, especially one that's probably not scoring a lot off a header, off a set piece. So I think that in the way she did it with style, creativity, and flair is why she will go down in history as one of the best full-backs, best players, and I think such a role model. But something really important about Crystal is something I think we all need to

55:34remember. She had a lot of fun. She has a lot of fun. She is a lot of fun and she is smiling and she is dancing and it is so easy and this is this is world mental health day and I think it's important. It's supposed to be fun and it gets really hard sometimes when you're a professional, when you play for a national team. Look, of course, we're nitpicking and breaking down a loss for the US, but sports are supposed to be fun and for her to be able to be this beast on the field and obviously take her job very seriously, but to be this presence, I never shared a locker room with her, but she exudes it and you felt it and it was a nice reminder to me, even watching her from afar, that it's supposed to be fun and you can be yourself and be embraced for that and I appreciate and respect that so much and I know she's bringing that already into her broadcast career as a mom, all of her dancing, her flute playing. Oh my god, I know. It's been so amazing, woman. We're very lucky that she has been a prominent figure in our sport because of I think the type of person

56:40and the amount of fun that she had while being one of the best players in the world. What a great answer and every single word of it is true as somebody who did share a locker room with her a lot. Something she said today when she was sitting on the broadcast desk that I just wanted to share is Crystal said, embrace every obstacle you face because each one brings you that much closer to achieving something truly incredible. Crystal is somebody who faced a lot of adversity in her career faced a lot of obstacles. She was so strong in the face of all of that and so so proud of her. So happy that she got celebrated today. I love when USOcker just gives people who really deserve it. Their flowers and Crystal is definitely one of those people. So it was fun to see her get celebrated today. All right everybody, thanks for bearing with us today. I know we had a few things but you know what? There's a first there's a first time for everything. We will be back on Tuesday for our next live reaction show. Lin Biandolo is going to join us after the next US Women's National Team game against Spain. So join us right at the final whistle of that one and come with your questions. We'll make sure to take some extra ones on Tuesday because we didn't get to them today. Make sure in the meantime that you're following along

57:41across all of our social media, Instagram threads, Blue Sky, TikTok at Women's Game at MIB. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter and you can even send us an email at women's game at myb at minima.com. Allie Riley, thank you so much for being here. So Mewis, thank you for having me. Enjoy the rest of your getaway. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks to everybody for being here. Shout out to the chat today. I'm Sam Mewis, this is the Women's Game and we'll see you soon. Bye guys. Bye. It's not just electric, it's Toyota Electric and during Toyota's easy toy sales event, going electric is easier than ever. Right now, save instantly on a new Toyota eB with special incentive programs for first time eB buyers and prior eB owners. Choose the sleek,

58:43busy, adventurous, busy, woodland or the sporty CHR. But don't wait, these special savings won't last. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places. With the Amit's Gold Card, you can earn four times points at US Supermarkets because the best nights in start with the grocery run that makes it happen. Apply for the Gold Card at AmericanExpress.com slash Explore-Gold Terms and Points Cap Apply.