Time to finish the job

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/07/2019 (2601 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

To hear them tell it, to see them do it, the United States women’s soccer team never doubted that they’d get here — to a third successive World Cup final and a 90-minute opportunity to repeat as champions. The opponent, which happens to be the Netherlands, never mattered; the path to Sunday’s match was never the point. This was always a squad designed with the single purpose of lifting the trophy in France on July 7.

“We are here for one thing. That’s it,” U.S. head coach Jill Ellis said after Tuesday’s semifinal defeat of England. “Not lawsuits. Not silly, trumped-up things. Not external noise. We’re here for one thing: that’s to win.”

Naturally, with a team this confident and players this recognizable, there follows a certain amount of attention. A lot of it, actually. Notoriety, sometimes. Esteem, often. The spotlight, ever present. “Some teams will visit pressure, but we live there,” Ellis stated before facing the host country in the quarterfinals. They won that, too.

But they also invite the pressure.

Earlier this year, the U.S. women sued their country’s soccer federation over alleged gender discrimination. In their first match of the 2019 World Cup, they celebrated excessively, and were rightly criticized, as they thumped Thailand 13-0. Star forward Megan Rapinoe claimed she wouldn’t “go to the f—ing White House” if invited. Striker Alex Morgan marked her winning goal against England by pretending to sip a cup of tea. “You see men celebrate all over the world in big tournaments, you know, grabbing their sacs or whatever it is,” she said.

The Netherlands, for their part, are trying to use the Americans’ considerable self-assurance against them, as a kind of inspirational poster material ahead of the World Cup final. They’ll grab at any advantage they see, or can create for themselves.

“I think those Americans are rather arrogant. They put a lot of pressure on themselves,” midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk said in an interview with De Telegraaf. “Everyone expects America to win on Sunday. That takes away some sort of pressure from us. The only thing we can do is surprise.”

And it would be a surprise if the Netherlands prevailed in Lyon. It would be stunning, an almost inconceivable upset. But it’s that “almost” that they’re clinging to, as well as their status as European champions. At that tournament, goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal reflected in De Telegraaf, everything they touched “turned to gold.” These are players who know how to win, even if they’ve never before faced an opponent like the United States with so much at stake.

Could they really, actually do it? Might there be a wrinkle in what has seemed all month long to be the Americans’ fate? Probably not. Then again, “probably” never guaranteed anything.

Here’s what we know about both sides — how their strengths, weaknesses and personnel could affect an expected triumph or unlikely upset on Sunday, with a few tips for the viewer thrown in just for fun:

Biggest strength

United States: They believe they’ll win the World Cup, that it’s their destiny. They have a history of success and a string of recent performances to back them up. It’s not easy to dislodge an opponent so certain of glory. But beyond their mentality — which remains one of a kind in women’s soccer — this is a team that commands the centre of the park. Julie Ertz, the veteran of the midfield trio, provides a reliable shield in front of the defence. Rose Lavelle, who sustained a hamstring injury against England, but is nevertheless in line to start the final, delivers the sort of transition passing that makes the Americans’ downfield movement appear effortless. Finally, Lindsey Horan is an all-action presence and played the superb, back-spinning ball to Morgan that produced the winner against England.

Netherlands: Similarly, the Netherlands are a team that can both stifle an opponent and launch meaningful attacks from midfield. Van de Donk is coming off a title-winning season with Arsenal and has more and more been replicating her club form as the knockout stages have progressed. Jackie Groenen scored the semifinal winner against Sweden and admits she has been encouraged to shoot more often. If she could provide a threat of goal from midfield, she’d show the U.S. a look they have yet to see at this competition. Sherida Spitse has played nearly 170 times for her country and did exceptionally well in limiting the effectiveness of Swedish attackers Stina Blackstenius and Sofia Jakobsson.

Biggest weakness

United States: In Spain, France and England, the United States haven’t exactly had a straightforward route to the final. They conceded in all three matches, and — but for goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s penalty save on Steph Houghton following Becky Sauer-brunn’s late foul — they’d have been forced into extra time by England. Sauerbrunn and Abby Dahlkemper are vulnerable in defence and Crystal Dunn isn’t a natural fullback.

Netherlands: Aside from Vivianne Miedema — who at 22 is already her country’s all-time leading goal-scorer — the Netherlands never really know where their offence is going to come from. Lieke Martens, a Champions League finalist with Barcelona last season, scored twice in the round of 16 against Japan, but is battling a foot injury and is questionable to start on Sunday. Shanice van de Sanden, meanwhile, has been a huge disappointment in France and was benched to begin the Sweden match.

Key matchup

For the Netherlands to have any hope in the final, they must somehow take control of midfield. Spitse will have her hands full minding Horan, but her job will be made much easier if van de Donk can manage the tempo and release Groenen to join the attack, where she’ll no doubt come into contact with Ertz. Should van de Donk and Groenen outplay Horan and Lavelle, the Dutch might just stand a chance. Desiree van Lunteren will also look to win her matchup with either Rapinoe or Christen Press, the latter of whom was unstoppable against England.

Possible heroes

Rapinoe, Morgan, Miedema and van de Donk are the obvious difference-makers, but big-game heroes aren’t always the biggest names. Lavelle has had an excellent World Cup and could play a memorable part in a win for the U.S. On the other side of the ball, Groenen could help lead an upset if she replicates her semifinal performance.

The broadcast

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Jen Zoratti | Next

Wednesdays

What's next in arts, life and pop culture.

Sign up for Jen Zoratti | Next

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Canadians will be able to watch the final (10 a.m.) on either TSN or Fox. Pick TSN. The international broadcast will avoid the flag-waving of the American press box, and the studio panel of Kate Beirness, Clare Rustad, Kaylyn Kyle and Diana Matheson — which has been a breath of fresh air — will provide sounder and more entertaining analysis than that of Fox, which has inexplicably platformed Alexi Lalas and his disconnected, sometimes sexist antics over the course of the competition. On hand-held screens, Unusual Efforts will be an excellent Twitter companion for the match (the account is named for the unusual efforts women have to go to in sports media), as will Hope Solo, the former U.S. goalkeeper, who has brought candid punditry to the BBC broadcast team.

jerradpeters@gmail.com

Twitter: @JerradPeters