United States Women’s Soccer Team Comes Back to Beat France 4-2: Fan’s Reaction

On Thursday, July 25, the United States women's soccer team came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat France 4-2 in its first match of the 2012 London Olympics. Alex Morgan scored two goals for the Americans.

 Here are three thoughts on the game:

Sloppy defense

 There are many positives to take from this victory, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Americans' defensive problems. The French took the game to the U.S. back line with two goals within a three-minute span in the first half. Normally, I wouldn't worry too much about the U.S. having a rough game defensively, but this match is different.

 The American defense was slow to react to the ball on both goals. I know the squad was nervous entering their first match of the Olympics, but it's a little disconcerting to see one of the best, if not the best, women's soccer teams in the world struggle to defend the ball in and around the penalty box. Hopefully, the U.S. can seal up the back line by the time it gets out of group play.

Character

 There aren't many teams in the women's tournament that could comeback from a 2-0 deficit to beat a club as talented as France. That's what makes the U.S. women special: they never give up, even when the chips are down. That kind of heart and character is what has epitomized the U.S. women's team for years. I'm proud of this squad, and I look forward to seeing what it can do throughout the rest of the tournament.

Abby Wambach

 The key to any great team is leadership, and that's what Abby Wambach continues to provide for the U.S. Her perfectly placed header in the 19th minute brought the Americans back to within one goal of the French and set the tone for the rest of the match. From that point forward, it seemed as though it was only a matter of time before the U.S. took control of the game.

 I know that many American fans consider Mia Hamm to be the best player in the history of the women's national team, but I think it's time to add Wambach into the conversation. She's constantly been the go-to person for the team throughout the past few years, and it appears that Wambach will continue to fill that role for the foreseeable future. Her talent and leadership are what fuels the American squad. Let's hope that Wambach gets that gold medal that she's been looking for.