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Meanwhile, as we wait for the match to start...transfer news:

Harry "Slabhead" Maguire seems destined to make a big-money move to a top six team this summer. Both Manchester clubs are interested but Leicester want Virgil van Dijk money for him...who will pay out?

The Arnoutovic saga continues to grind on at West Ham.

Liverpool have released, sold or loaned out, seven players, and brought in just one, a backup centerback/prospect in the form of Sepp van den Berg. Some fans seem nervous about the lack of signings but overall I'd say the squad depth is good. The most pressing need is a backup for Andy Robertson - quality left backs are hard to find, but Liverool don't need a starter. A replacement attacker to fill the hole left by Sturridge is also probably something that should be addressed. But the fact of the matter is that the key players are all in place at the moment.
 
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The announcement of Megan Rapinoe not starting took some people by surprise, but not me, Christen Press with her faster speed will be a better matchup against England's Lucy Bronze.
 
Meanwhile, as we wait for the match to start...transfer news:

Harry "Slabhead" Maguire seems destined to make a big-money move to a top six team this summer. Both Manchester clubs are interested but Leicester want Virgil van Dijk money for him...who will pay out?

The Arnoutovic saga continues to grind on at West Ham.

Liverpool have released, sold or loaned out, seven players, and brought in just one, a backup centerback/prospect in the form of Sepp van den Berg. Some fans seem nervous about the lack of signings but overall I'd say the squad depth is good. The most pressing need is a backup for Andy Robertson - quality left backs are hard to find, but Liverool don't need a starter. A replacement attacker to fill the hole left by Sturridge is also probably something that should be addressed. But the fact of the matter is that the key players are all in place at the moment.
Arnie can go if he played the way he did since the rumoured January move!
He signed an improved contract extension in January now his brother (who no doubt gets a cut of any transfer fee as his manager), is moaning how we are using him? How exactly?
I suspect China won’t suit him at all and he’ll not honour his contract there either.

Makes me sick players like that.
 
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Big win for USA in a tight match against England. Rapinoe left out with rumored hamstring trouble, but Morgan stepped up and got the winner.

I think USA earned their win, but heartbreak for an England squad that came so close, and squandered a golden opportunity to force extra time with a terrible PK. England lost their heads a bit at the end, but they went toe to to with USA for much of the match and a semifinal appearance is nothing to sneeze at - after all, England progressed farther than Germany and a highly-rated France side.

For USA, on to the final...Rapinoe faces a race to get fit for the big match.
 
Rapinoe was supposedly simply rested, though the tactical matchup against Lucy Bronze probably also played a factor, and Press did score the opener.

Going to be sweating on the fitness of Rose Lavelle for Sunday.
 
Rapinoe was supposedly simply rested, though the tactical matchup against Lucy Bronze probably also played a factor, and Press did score the opener.

Going to be sweating on the fitness of Rose Lavelle for Sunday.

USA have the tools to beat either the Netherlands or Sweden in the final. They simply need to stay physically fresh but maintain their mental focus. So far they have excelled at doing that, but there is one test remaining.
 
Not sure what I was expecting per se’. But, I was underwhelmed by the official release of the Adidas kit for Arsenal.

When we did the Puma launch, it was a massive affair on the bloody Thames...
 
No Copa America title (or even final) for Argentina and Messi, this year either. Argentina haven't won since 1993, and Messi continues to go without that - all important - international title; which must hurt given that Portugal and Ronaldo won the Euro championship in 2016.

Also: Congratulations to the USA for getting to the World Cup finals. Feel a bit sorry for England, since it was a tight match, but USA has looked a bit sharper throughout the tournament, so far. I think this was the de facto final, and only complacency can rob USA of the title against Netherlands or Sweden.
 
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Glad for the American win against England, I was just not pleased with Alex Morgan's tea drinking faux pas after the match. She is better than that.

It was a big match, emotions ran high. Both sides could be criticized for different aspects of their behavior. But overall, mostly just a storm in a teacup (couldn't resist).

By comparison, there was a lot more more diving, fouling, whining, complaining, and time-wasting in the Copa America match between Brazil and Argentina. Messi's complaints were a bit unseemly, though I think VAR has unbalanced the refereeing of matches now, as we've discussed here before. You could make the argument that VAR is solving some problems but actually generating an even greater number of new problems.
 
Having friends in Sweden and the Netherlands, I will remain neutral and hope for a will played match.

Very cagey, not much to watch. But both teams showed quality and the USA will have to take care not to underestimate the Dutch in the final. If Jill Ellis continues her super-conservative "let's protect a one-goal lead by going to a 5-4-1 with an hour left to play" approach, I'm in for a stressful time of it I suspect.

I was complaining to a friend about this and he pointed me to a piece on Deadspin the encapsulates exactly what I've been thinking.

Speaking of finals, there are THREE big finals this Sunday: World Cup, Copa America, and CONCACAF Gold Cup (USA v Mexico). We are truly spoiled. Not to mention that the AFCON is moving into the knockout stages.

I expect Brazil to walk the Copa America final but I really hope Peru give them a good game. Brazil are, as an organization, a shambles, but they always expect their talent to pull them through.
 
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Looks like the Chelsea fans will be happy with the appointment of Frank Lampard at least for awhile, he very well liked there.
 
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