Group of Death Day Two

USA 2 – 0 Sverige
'34 Wambach (pen)
'58 Wambach

Against North Korea the big story was the Wombat, Abby Wambach, leaving the game to get a gigantic gash in the back of her head stitched up so it wouldn't gush blood into her eyes, and the rush to get her back. Today she lived up to some of that attention, cracking Sweden to put the US on top of the Group of Death, in a game that was a lot more evenly matched than I would have expected. Ultimately the Swedes just got outplayed, and Abby Wambach appeared to be a big part of the difference, converting a penalty in the first half and just accelerating between two defenders to pound a cross home on the second half goal.

조선민주주의인민공화국 2 – 0 Nigeria
'16 Kim
'21 Ri

The North Koreans are quick: they're quick to get bodies up into the box, and they're quick to get back, swarming to the ball on defense. The Nigerians lined up defensively but didn't show much of a counter-attacking strategy, and didn't have the speed or desire to get forward faster than the Koreans could get back. Eventually they did start to push more players forward when the Koreans had them down 2-0 so early, but failed to make the passes they needed to get around the Korean defense, players were holding the ball too long trying to beat four defenders on their own and getting closed down. That kind of individualism has been killing the African Cup of Nations on the men's side where everybody's trying to sign a big contract in Europe, and it's sad to see such a lack of organization and teamwork when there's so much talent in Africa.

North Korea didn't get too organized on offense either, but got enough possession in the last third to create opportunities, particularly by winning corner kicks. On the first, Kim Kyong Hwa scored directly off the corner, exposing one of Nigeria's weaknesses: their keeper Precious “What's in my Pocket?” Dede has a tendency to go on walkabout, in this case straying from the back post and allowing Kim's corner to swing in. The second goal was off a corner as well, when nobody picked up Ri Kum Suk on the back side, and Dede and her defenders left the far post unguarded as well.

Group of Death
USA 4pts +2
PRK 4pts +2
SWE 1pt -2
NGA 1pt - 2

The Swedes can advance by staying organized on set pieces, and most importantly by putting the ball in the air to get behind the Koreans. I can't see Nigeria pulling the upset on the USA, who will go through, but they really need to outperform the Koreans to clinch first place and avoid the Germans in the quarterfinal.