Fantastic game US women v Sweden, in the World Cup

 I love following the US women in the World Cup. But they played so poorly in their first three games, and Sweden (ranked #3 in the world) played so well, that when the oddsmakers came out favoring the US to win today, I knew the smart bet was on Sweden.

The odds were really lopsided. The US was a clear favorite: For very dollar you bet, you would get $2.50 back if Sweden won. This was despite the facts that: The US was missing five starters to injuries; the US was missing its best midfielder due to two yellow cards; the US front was playing really lousy, uninspired soccer for all of its first 3 games in the Cup; and I thought "everybody knew" how great a team Sweden is.
So I placed a big bet on Sweden to win. The game was at 2am today. SURPRISE! The US played the best soccer I've seen in maybe their last 10 games. Inspired, hard-working, driven. But they could not score against Sweden. Similarly, Sweden was outplayed on the field by the US today, but they did have some good drives, yet they could't score either. Nobody scored in the 30 minute extra period. And in the shootout, our retiring superstar Megan Rapinoe missed her shot, and so did our next shooter, and so the Swedish player could win the game for Sweden if she made her shot. It was a great shot, but it was a great save by the US keeper. However, it wasn't quite a save, as the replay clearly showed the ball's force had pushed it, by the barest margin--maybe even 1/16 of an inch!--entirely inside the goal before the keeper reached it a second time and batted it out. Sweden wins! Not the way I thought they would, but I'll take it.
Kudos to the US team. It is (so far) impossible to win the World Cup three times in a row, and there is no shame in not being the first to do it. Also, it is of course gratifying to see the TV ratings climb ever-higher for the women's World Cup. Soccer is a perfect game for women, and the quality of their play has risen so high, all around the world, that it's getting to the point that any team truly might beat any other team. That is what you want in a fantastic, competitive, entertaining league!

https://www.cnn.com/sport/live-news/uswnt-sweden-womens-world-cup-knockout/index.html



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