by Tiffany Weimer
When you think of England what usually comes to mind is the changing of the guards, and not necessarily the changing of the flags. Right?
Maybe not now?
Dear Future Organizers of the major world events: Google is a very helpful tool. Furthermore if you are going to mess up a flag, perhaps choose two countries that have not been embittered towards each other for the last 60 years. In addition, did ya think they wouldn’t notice?
Despite the exciting football that was on display in day one of the Olympics, day one will be remembered most, not for fantastic goals or almost-upsets, but for a screw up of epic proportions when Olympic event organizers displayed the South Korean flag next to a North Korean player. North Korea promptly did not take the field in protest, causing their game versus Colombia to be delayed by over an hour.
Notes for 2016: Get correct flags.
So what else happened yesterday?
Here is our game recap for New Zealand vs. Great Britain
And video highlights
Moving on to the U.S. vs. France…
With what likely shocked everyone but no one, France went up early on the U.S. after scoring two goals in the first ten minutes. The first a rocket from about 20 yards out by Gaetane Thiney and the second a strike from inside the 18-yard-box by Marie-Laure Delie.
It was hard to tell if the French were surprised by their own two goals or if they were just nervous about what was to come.
Scoring two early goals against the U.S. is like waking a bear.
After losing Shannon Boxx to injury (seems to be a hamstring injury) a more offensive Carli Lloyd stepped on and the game changed. The bear was awoken. In the 16th minute Abby Wambach got on the end of a Megan Rapinoe corner kick and without a solid man mark, headed the U.S a goal back.
France then realized they had woken the bear and it would be an uphill battle from there.
In the 30th minute, a punted ball from Hope Solo just barely missed the head of Wambach as she tried to flick it on to Alex Morgan who was streaking through the French defense. The ball got through untouched allowing Morgan to stay onside and side foot it over goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi’s head to tie the game at two.
The second half started in similar fashion as the U.S. kept attacking with numbers, this time getting their flanks more involved, including lots more touches for players like Rapinoe and Tobin Heath.
A Rapinoe square ball set up one of Lloyd’s famous long-range shots that hit the back of the net from outside the 18-yard-box. The goal put the U.S. up 3-2 in the 55th minute.
Lazy defending by the French allowed Heath in behind on the left side from a mint through ball by Rapinoe. Heath took the ball end line and with a little toe poke, sent the ball across the goal where a sliding Wambach made a near post run that dragged her defender, allowing Morgan an easy tap-in goal at the back post in the 65th minute. That was a mouthful. But such an eventful goal.
Morgan’s second goal of the game would be the last of the match as the final whistle blew. The final score stood at 4-2 and although France had a dream start, they couldn’t be happier for that whistle to blow at the end.
Brazil vs. Cameroon
Francielle started the game off with a brilliant free kick, followed by a corner kick that found the head of Renata Costa to give Brazil an early 2-0 lead on Cameroon.
Giving up two set piece goals in the first 10 minutes and going into the half with a 2-0 deficit to Brazil was pretty darn good for Cameroon.
That would be good for most teams against Brazil.
The second half would tell a different story and that would be where Marta and Cristiane would come in. After a Marta penalty kick, the rest would be downhill for Cameroon. I do think they were more impressive than most thought, especially with this being their first major event and playing against one of the best teams in the world. I wouldn’t count Cameroon out of getting points this tournament.
The positives for Brazil? They didn’t let up a goal. In the past there have been defensive lapses in their games, so a clean sheet to start the tournament could be a sign of things to come.
North Korea vs. Colombia
Despite the delay, which was quite a big deal, the North Koreans went on to beat Colombia 2-0 from goals by Kim Song Hui.
After going off with an injury though, it’s in North Korea’s best interests to do everything they can to get her ready for the next match.
Fitness seemed to be a concern for both teams throughout and it just makes me wonder what teams do when they go into their preparation camps. If they were to watch any game film on the U.S. or Japan they would see how fitness is such a major factor, especially in a short tournament like the Olympics.
Colombia need a change if they’re to claim any points in this tournament. And North Korea will be hopeful that their correct flag appears in their next showing.
Sweden vs. South Africa
This was the one game I was unable to watch. Disappointing to say the least as one of my favorite players was on the pitch for Sweden in Lotta Schelin. Here is a link to the game report provided by Ray Curren at All White Kit. And the one from The Equalizer.
