The Unexpected USWNT Triumph Over England in the 2019 Women's World Cup Semi-Final

I was on the field that day. The England side fell into the U.S.’s way of playing. It was quite clear that the U.S. was going to play a direct attacking style by not possessing the ball as much. The U.S. took the ball, sent it accurately via long passes, and headed it home. Both U.S.’s goals were like that. England came out with a formation they had not used for quite a few years, switching to a 4–4–2 from their usual 4–3–3. Parris was moved into a position she had never played in, leaving Bronze in a quandary as to where she should be positioned. Bronze was made a fool of by Press in the first goal. She stood there and watched as Press was alone and free to head the ball in. Press is NOT a good player in the air.

Strategic Punditry and Player Analysis

The pundits in the U.S. pointed out Phil Neville's attempt to neutralize Rapinoe, who didn't make an entrance due to injuries. However, Ellis was right to be secretive about the plans, leaving Phil Neville looking foolish while attempting to stop Press, a very fast player, using the technical but slow Bronze. Press out-ran her.

Self-Defeating Actions by England

England also defeated themselves with their notorious penalty-taking ability. The decision by the referee for offside kicked off ongoing debates, while the penalty decision and goalkeeper performance were also hotly contested.

The U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) is often referred to as the USWFT, which stands for the US Women's Football Team. They were better overall that day, with England being unfortunate in several aspects: an offside decision by the referee and a poor penalty execution, leading to a goal for the US.

Behind-the-Scenes Clashes

England's effort fell short partly due to an offside decision by the referee, which left many questioning the judgement of the officials. Additionally, the poor execution of a penalty kick by England contributed to their downfall. The BBC commentary was also criticized for its shameless bias, often referring to England as 'we', a term that many felt was inappropriate, especially considering the diverse opinions among the viewers.

There's still time to refrain from the first pundit to declare, “England were down to ten men,” unless it's already been unequivocally settled. Meanwhile, the commentary for the upcoming Notts County vs. Sheff FC match is hoped to be more measured and fair.