The United States Women’s National Team keeps getting results.
The U.S. won its first game of the Women’s World Cup knockout stage last Tuesday and advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Colombia, 2-0.
In fact, the U.S. has won all of its games but one in Canada — a frustrating 0-0 draw against Sweden. But it’s hard to be blown away by any of the team’s performances to date.
Other elite teams, such as France and Germany, have both come away with statement wins in the early part of the competition, something the U.S. has yet to do.
The top-ranked Germans put four goals by Sweden in a comfortable 4-1 win in their Round of 16 match, but the U.S. simply could not break down the Swedish defense in the group stage.
Since suffering a shocking 2-0 defeat to Colombia, France completely outclassed Mexico, 5-0, and always looked in control in a 3-0 win against South Korea to earn a spot against Germany in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. will get the winner of France/Germany in the semifinals if it gets past China. China is by no means a pushover, and France or Germany present arguably the toughest challenges the U.S. could face in the competition.
Although results are the only thing that count, you wonder how long any team can survive relying heavily on grit, especially when every team remaining is willing to scrap just as hard to move on.
In other words, it’s time for the U.S. to put its quality on full display and assert its dominance.
The players speak about improving each and every game. Now is the time to shift into the higher gear that only elite teams possess.
The U.S. not only has a chance to reach the semifinals with its game Friday, but it also has a chance to send a warning message to France or Germany with a dominant display. A U.S. side playing to its full potential is a scary prospect for any opposing team.
But first the U.S. has to raise its game against China, and it must do so without two of its most creative players in midfielders, Megan Rapinoe and Lauren Holiday, who are suspended for yellow card accumulation. There are capable replacements on the bench who will not only have to step in but also step up.
If the U.S. wins in impressive fashion without two highly influential members of its preferred XI, Germany or France will hardly be quaking in their boots, but you have to think one or two alarm bells will start to go off in the back of their minds.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.