Sweden stuns U.S. 3-0 in women's soccer; Japan, Canada draw 1-1

Always good to see the Yanks lose

Not over yet.

Iwabuchi's goal was an excellent strike, taking it early before the Canadians could knock her off her stride. Japan may be particularly vulnerable to more physical teams. The latter stages of the game were good to watch.

Why do strikers muck about taking penalties? Just hit it hard, on target. Everything else - going for the corner, waiting to see which way the keeper is moving, pausing run-ups - invites disaster. Use your advantage, don't undermine it.

If you wanted to see some real Olympic spirit at a difficult time, you should have watched the Zambian women. They never stopped running. And when they got the ball, they just attacked (impressively - they were good going forward, despite the score). The Dutch were sucked into an extraordinary game and will feel it tomorrow. The Olympics is energy-sapping tournament football. They would normally have killed the game when it was won, subbed their best players and coasted.

Given the atmosphere surrounding the Olympics in Japan, it must be difficult for Japanese athletes. It's unfair to take out your feelings about the government or IOC on them. Some have spent five years, perhaps most of their lives training for the only event that puts their sport on the front page. Put yourself into their trainers and support your Olympians. If you don't approve of your government, you can make your point at the next election.

Why do strikers muck about taking penalties? 

They try to outwit & out-psych the keeper.

The English PK takers did the same - stop, start, do a jig. Just choose a spot & kick it hard !

Couldn’t agree more, especially this current team of arrogant loudmouths led by arrogant loudmouth-in-chief Rapinoe.

Yeesh. NO man, Rapinoe talks the talk, but walks the walk. All the time. Whether it's on the pitch or standing up for LGBTQ, her beliefs are solid with integrity. Watch her on youtube or whatever, you might change your mind. She is not just the loud mouth, you perceive. I respect her...she's not some flake like N. O.

Sweden stuns U.S. 3-0 in women's soccer; Japan, Canada draw 1-1

Good.

Always good to see the Yanks lose

3-0..

WAHAHAHAHAA!!!..

You Aussies are bitter.

Go Canada go!!!

Always good to see the Yanks lose

I'll cheer for the better team, but always hope the Americans win. A good match with world-class skills on display is what we like to see.

I'll cheer for the better team, but always hope the Americans win. A good match with world-class skills on display is what we like to see.

Yep. A lover of the game. The patriotic nonsense belongs in elementary school. Enjoy the match.

The English PK takers did the same - stop, start, do a jig. Just choose a spot & kick it hard !

I agree in almost all cases. One interesting exception was Matt le Tissier who I think scored 48 out of 49 from the spot. He said he would change his mind last second if he saw the keeper move early. Then again, he had incredible ball striking technique which the vast majority of players don’t have.

Most are very probably best off blasting it in a corner.

Haha take a knee, get a loss.

maybe focus on the game next time?

Rapinoe. A fine soccer player. But. There is an arrogance among the U.S. team, which she aptly reflects. The best U.S. team was 2011, essentially led by Wambach. Many moons after retirement, Wambach made a witty comment regarding the overzealous displays by the U.S. team after scoring a goal - pointed in Rapinoe's direction - about team members practicing their spontaneous displays prior to the game, Wambach found it silly & unnecessary. But such behavior is symptomatic of a team that often is not sportsman-like. It has grown exponentially over the past few years.

As for Rapinoe's off-field antics. However thoughtful, she does not display a deep understanding of the issues she champions or those criticized. She has, after all, spent her life as an athlete and not a scholar. Rapinoe is mostly opining and if pressed, fails to provide the exact reason for her pronouncements. It is basically emotive.

Good to see the playing field is being levelled. The USA is buoyed by a university system and now a professional league to develop their players. Europe and Japan are emplacing means to equalize those advantages.

Haha take a knee, get a loss.

maybe focus on the game next time?

The Swedish players also took a knee as far as I know. I’d happily take a correction here.

@richard

well said.

its one thing being bad losers, but the yanks constantly show how they can be bad winners

The Swedish players also took a knee as far as I know. I’d happily take a correction here.

Yes. Both teams did.

Some people get their nuts in a tangle about it though. lol

Somehow I read “tangle” as “triangle”

i spent the next 5 mins pondering how that would be possible.

the IOC said no politics. Too bad. Now go play sportsball.

The Swedish players also took a knee as far as I know. I’d happily take a correction here.

Yes. Both teams did.

Cheers.

Looks like taking the knee is really helpful for focusing on the game. Sweden took the world champions to the cleaners.

Just using Blacklabel’s approach.

Congrats Sweden, they deserved it. As long as the women’s US team are putting all of their focus into gender politics, hating their country, taking a knew and restorative justice they’re going to continue to lose, they’re not playing as one especially with their other teammates that are proud Americans that want to win, they won’t get a lot of support back home especially certain team members that continue to make the games all about themselves.

As long as the women’s US team are putting all of their focus into gender politics, hating their country, taking a knew and restorative justice they’re going to continue to lose, they’re not playing as one especially with their other teammates that are proud Americans that want to win, they won’t get a lot of support back home especially certain team members that continue to make the games all about themselves.

But they've already been doing that during their 44-game unbeaten streak

This is their first loss in 45 matches. How do ya explain those 44 other games?

Apparently that didn't stop them in those 44 other matches, while winning the support of stadium-filled soccer fans

So pleased to see Sweden take rapinoe down a peg or three (nil).

So pleased to see Sweden take rapinoe down a peg or three (nil).

That was beautiful wasn't it?