USA Stumbled Against Colombia, but It’s Their Gold to Lose in Rio

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: August 11, 2016

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It's not easy being the best team in the world. Expectations rise, and targets are painted on your back. Apart from your own fans and a select few others, everyone is waiting for you to fail. This is no different for the United States women's football team at the Rio Olympics.

However, if you are hoping for them to fall down, it doesn't look like it's going to happen anytime soon.

Jill Ellis' side finished top of Group G with two wins and a draw. They will receive a more favourable route into the semi-finals, yet the 2-2 draw with Colombia in Manaus that has led to some questions over the coach and her decisions. However, we have to look at the last group game as a singular event and one that is unlikely to happen again.

From the moment she picked the starting XI, it felt as if she was underestimating the South Americans. Yes, Colombia had all but been eliminated—bar a goal-difference miracle—but Ellis’ decision to start Megan Rapinoe for a pre-agreed 30 minutes was just bizarre.



Rather than seeing how the game was going to pan out, you are already pencilling in a change midway through the first half. It would have been much simpler to monitor how the game started, settle the team in and try to take the lead. You can then comfortably give the midfielder a good 30 minutes off the bench.

Rapinoe had a mixed half-hour on the pitch, clearly shaking off some cobwebs. There was a reckless tackle that could have seen red, and she was to blame for the free-kick that saw Colombia take the lead.

It's safe to say, it's unlikely she'll start another game in the knockout stage.



That is the first Olympic fixture since 2008 that the four-time gold medallists have failed to win. However, it needs to be put into context.

Colombia were not great. On another day, USA would have easily won that game at least 2-0 and we'd be talking about their invi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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