Under Pressure: The U.S. Women's World Cup Team

Can't believe that I liked the Matildas doco more. There were no game results leading up to the World Cup. Probably because it would have predicted the ending pretty well, which is also a problem. We know the results and the doco doesn't add any more excitement to the journey. I was trying to like any of the players. Not Alex Morgan (zero goals). Not Sam Kerr's partner. I stand with Sue Bird's partner but I don't root for her. Lynn Williams may be a favorite but she's not a star.

Good: Media day. The future looks bright. I think. I don't know because we didn't get to talk to the younguns, especially Mallory Swanson. Episode 4 was the best episode because it wasn't about the uswnt. Kelley O'Hara. I want her in my corner. I don't know how Ian Wright got in this but his insight was welcome. Unapologetic Carli Lloyd. Correct Carli Lloyd.

Bad: "Oosa Oosa Oosa Oosa." Their game day space suits and glasses. Apple and facetime ad/product placement. Limited access to players and their stories. I don't feel like I know the TEAM. I can listen to Linsdsey Horan all day but she also scares me. Some of these women are not ladies. And they don't have to be. Back and forth in the timeline between episodes. The next episode tease without telling you it's a tease. The slice of life moments (mani-pedi, grabbing a coffee, meeting the family) were mostly boring.

Ugly: Sad Mia Hamm. Poor Charlie Morgan.

FIFA was involved in this so we got great video but better subjects would have been the English team, who I picked to win it and had a 30-game win streak, or the Spanish team, before and ,especially, after the tournament, or even the Australian team, who never got that far before and was involved in one of the greatest games ever. How cool would it have been to hear from Lucy Bronze or Clare Hunt after their last game?

#USWNT.

The documentary was well done with what was in it, but it kind of failed with what was left out. In that FIFA had a hand in its production, I think, explains this. FIFA does not want their brand to look bad.

So, to what am I am referring to? Well, there was nothing about the stink and controversies back at home in the U. S. regarding the behavior of Megan Rapinoe and others on the team. There was no mention of not singing the national anthem during group play and only three of the eleven putting their hand over their heart during it. That was a major ruckus back home, causing a loss of support and some even rooting against them, and all that got back to the team. Did it affect their performance? We do not know since, again, no mention was made of it. Did it affect the locker room? We do not know since, again, no mention was made of it. Was there a psychological impact? We do not know, since, again, no mention was made of it.

How what was the biggest story about the team, until elimination, was completely and utterly avoided is a head scratcher. It would be like doing a documentary on World War II and leaving out either Germany or Japan. There will be good information to be had but with something major left out. It was strange and peculiar.