Like the 2M rule also, but hard to take advantage on the right wing without a lefty.
A lefty shooter would add options, but there are a lot of ways to use what is essentially a pass from behind and close to the goal for quick shots–or to pull defenders from in front of the goal to press the passer in order to prevent them. I think we’ll see more creativity as coaches and players experiment with the new rules. Looking forward to the Croatia game later today. I think a US win is a long shot, but hope springs eternal!
In Group B play today, Hungary beat Serbia 17-13. Japan beat Australia 14-13 in a game that had no effect on Group B’s standings. Because Australia beat Hungary earlier in group play, Australia won the tiebreaker with Hungary and finished second in Group B. Spain finished first, Hungary finished third, and Serbia finished fourth.
In Group A, Greece beat Italy 9-8. I think Croatia would rather play Australia than Hungary in the quarterfinals but the only way that can happen now is if Croatia loses to the United States in a shootout. That would be cutting it pretty close for Croatia. I don’t think Croatia wants to risk finishing fourth in Group A and playing Spain in the quarterfinals. Moreover, if Croatia beats the United States in regulation, it will finish first in Group A and play Serbia in the quarterfinals. The United States must beat Croatia in regulation play to finish third in Group A and face Australia in the quarterfinals. Otherwise, the United States will finish fourth and face Spain in the quarterfinals.
In other words bad news for the US. Croatia will come to play today. They need to play a near perfect game to win
Great 1Q and without getting Hallock the ball
And continuing into the second. Couple of monster steals by Weinberg. And some really good field blocking on 6-5. Catch and shoot by on 6-5 by Hallock makes it 10-3. The skeptic in me makes me wonder whether Croatia is tanking for a match-up, but I can’t figure out why they would.
Too many exclusions. Foul trouble is coming into play
They can’t give up the counter anymore and get Daube the ball
I don’t think they are. No team wants to meet Spain in the QFs. Just a bad game so far by them
That was a huge goal by Max!
Phew! Nice job by Irving out of a 3-3 6-5. Still a lot of time left.
With this win, the U.S. will definitely believe they have what it takes to beat Australia. However, Australia has impressed everyone in this tournament and it will take another amazing defensive effort and taking advantage of man up opportunities to make the semis
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Wow that was a big goal
Man, that Bowen shot was risky, but that goal puts the game away barring a miracle for Croatia.
Tony just put the jinx on them. Australia is going to be a handful with a goalie like Porter. MVP to Weinberg and the post in this game
Good win. Especially pleased to see none of the US players get sucked into stupid fouls in a very physical game where I saw a bunch of ugly Croatian fouls go uncalled. There was one, I think late in the third, where a Croatian player had one of the Dodd’s either by the cap strings or his eyesockets. Vrlic was a one-man wrecking crew of just-below-the-threshold physicality on offense. Despite the foul trouble early, only Obert fouled out, and not until late in the 4th. I tihink Croatia might have won with Bijac in goal the entire game. Things certainly turned around when he came in.
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We are definitely favored to beat Australia. They have been playing amazing and I don’t want to discredit them, but their group was much easier with Serbia, Hungary, and France underperforming the entire tournament. It is going to be a very tough game though
The Croatians looked slow the whole game. Quoting from the @totalwaterpolo Instagram account, the Croatian coach has complained about the facilities, food, and overall conditions of the Olympic village. With an average age of around 30 years, and the oldest being 37, the Croatians are probably having a hard time recovering and will be worse as the tournament goes on
I think the bigger question is not whether the US has the ability to beat the Aussies–it’s whether they can string together two wins against quality teams back to back. This group seems to have good days and bad ones. Today was a good win, but that second half was nothing like the first. A 7-goal lead makes up for all kinds of weakness afterwards.
Yes, but I think that speaks more for how badly Croatia played in the first half than how the US played in the second half. There’s no team (even Spain) right now that is going to blow out Croatia the entire match.