FRA - USA Game Notes

The US, like Brazil, relies far too much on individual players' skillsets and athleticism to win games. Other teams, like France and Spain have surpassed them in passing acuity and accuracy.

Player Reviews
   M. Nahar
      For the most part, she played it safe and smart, sitting back and letting her defense deal with every dangerous situation. As a result, her work consisted mainly of picking off the deflected shots the US defenders bravely blocked. Though there were a few occassions where she could've come off her line to collect balls in the box and give her defenders some much need respite, her over decion-making was spot on. She flailed at a few crosses, but there wasn't much she could do on the Renard header from 5 yards.
     
   M. Rapinoe
      Big players make big plays in big games. If you're gonna wear the silverpink hair, you better put away your penalties. Like many strong, outspoken females, she's a magnetic and divisive personality. She's also the heart and soul of the team and after her last two performances and recent press, she's team's leading star. She ran her socks off in this game and did yeoman defensive work in addition to scoring both goals. She's definitely grown into the tournament even if she's still prone to the cheap giveaway or rash decision from time to time.
   C. Dunn
      She was always going to be a target in this game and indeed, most French attacks came down the US left side. Her one-on-one battles with Diani were epic and Crystal more than held her own- her quickness, speed and downright tenacity making up for her sometime lack of game and positional awareness. She got turned a few times, but she's got the legs to get back. She really must work on her passing though. She and the US were unlucky to have a third goal ruled off for offside (and confirmed by VAR evidently). FIFA really must do something to clarify basic rules such as offside and hand ball in the age of VAR.
   T. Heath
      She's always full of running, energy and endeavor. Always. The end product isn't always there, but she was able to beat the French offside trap and lay the ball back for Rapinoe to slot home the winning goal. More importantly, she made many key defensive interventions to thwart the persistent and talented French attack. She was unlucky to have her goal called back for a marginal offside call.
     
   J. Ertz
      A total warrior in this game. Ertz and O'Hara made a series of brave a strong challenges to repel French forays. Ertz's arial challenges were especially crucial.
   A. Morgan
      Another frustrating game. She worked hard but was never able to get the better of Mbok-Bathy


?? Official Game Stats
completion% per player, etc.

RIP OJ

It's good to be here with all of you today, to share some words, thoughts and remembrances of my father, Oneil Joseph Landry, Jr. As we say goodbye to him today, I’d like to share some of the things that come to mind when I think of my father and some of his gifts that will persist with me and perhaps with you as a result of knowing him.


I like to think of Dad as a timid adventurer. While he was largely content to stay close to home and surround himself with familiar people and things, deep down he had a spirit of wanderlust. He drove motorcycles for many years. His midlife crisis car was a burnt orange MG Midget that met an untimely demise (thankfully he and mom did not). And his retirement dream, partially realized, was to travel around the country in an RV. There were trips to Alaska, France and Spain. While the adventures may not have been numerous or extraordinary, they satisfied the curiosity of the farm boy from White Castle, and, more importantly, inspired others, like me, to pursue my own adventures.


Of course, when it came to choose between relocating for work to either Greece or Magnolia, Arkansas, Dad opted for Magnolia, much to the disappointment of my sister and I.  Hence the temerity.


O.J. was a supporter of social justice causes and invested his time and energy in helping the less fortunate. There is a story, embellished perhaps, of he and mom being gassed at a civil rights march in college. In recent years, he volunteered at the Baton Rouge Food Bank and would gladly cook up his notable jambalaya or gumbo for a worthy cause. The fact was, Dad would help anyone who asked, and many who didn't- the Vietnamese family resettling in Baton Rouge with barely a suitcase, to the neighbors in need of a sitter. The exposure to those with less wealth and more hardship taught me appreciation and humility. And his willingness to always help taught me what it means to be a good friend and neighbor.


O.J. was an avid sportsman. He was an original member of the White Castle High School football team. He ran track, an activity which cost him his two front teeth. Some of my earliest memories are of dad in a striped shirt, refereeing church league basketball games. He was always willing to play catch when he got home from work. Most significantly, for me at least, he coached our little league softball team for several seasons. Those were the glory years of my childhood, and the memories of “the great catch”, “the clutch hit” and “the championship game” are still vivid in my memory as I'm sure they are in the minds of so many of the other boys on those teams.


He coached like he parented, like he lived- modestly, calmly, with a clear purpose and staunch work ethic. Mostly, he was a quiet, gentle man who welcomed everyone and made them feel at ease in his presence. Several friends have commented to me how he always made them feel welcome and comfortable, never judged.


O.J. wasn't a great man and he certainly wasn't perfect, but he was good and kind and patient and he touched the people he came across and we are the better for it.

RIP Raymond

Dear Aunt Linda, Kelly, Ray and Laura-

In the midst of this difficult time and the swirl of emotions that each of you is traversing, I wanted to briefly reach out and let you know how much I admired and appreciated Raymond. In many ways, he epitomized for me what it meant to be a self-made man (a few times over even). From humble beginnings, and equipped with enviable ethics and values instilled by Oneil and Agnes, he forged his way in the world, fearlessly from what I could tell from a distance. While most of the family stayed close to home, Raymond, and you with him, ventured out. I remember a backyard swimming pool in Dallas, a mini-farm in Lafayette, a historic home in Gulfport, and exotic globe-trotting vacations. All these exploits of a sharecropper's son inspired me.

I also admired his sense of duty and commitment to family. As the eldest sibling, he looked out for the others. The story I remember is that when O.J. joined him at LSU, Raymond arranged a job for him at one of the cafeterias so he could be assured of eating. I remember his moving eulogy at Agnes' funeral. Of course you know all of this and so much more. I simply feel compelled to let you know that I grieve with you, and that I love and respect Raymond Landry. He was a good man. A good son. A good brother. A good husband. A good father. A good grandfather. A good uncle. And I count myself fortunate for having him, and each of you, in my family, and as an influence and aspiration in my life. Peace.

Of Dads and Daughters...

I consider myself fairly well-read and informed. As my kids headed into puberty, I thought I knew what to expect. And with my son, the elder, that was certainly true. He and I navigated the tidal wave of hormones, bodily changes and burgeoning sexuality with relative ease. In his case, puberty served to settle his anxiety and mitigate some of his overreactions to stress. Surely, my daughter, who's historically been the easier to parent, would be even easier to transit through the troubled waters of prepubescence.  I could not be more wrong.

Virtually overnight, I was confronted with a surly, temperamental and downright rude doppelganger who seemed to delight in taking oppositional positions just for entertainment. Gone was the sweet child who would seek out my lap for respite. Gone were the hugs. Gone were the "I love you"s.

I was left stunned and reeling. After a few weeks of flailing around and feeling personally hurt by some of her new behaviors, I realized we need to seek to re-level things she and I. Her transition through puberty is very different than my son's and I need to adjust my expectations and parenting style to accommodate. There's a strong foundation between us that is revealed in more relaxed moments and I want to ensure that we emerge stronger from this experience.

Whereas my son was eager for the changes that come with male puberty- becoming stronger, more manly- my daughter's mindset is completely different. Her attitude is one of trepidation and uncertainty. Her anxieties about her body image and academic abilities have increased notably as she enters middle school. All of this is, of course, expected and predictable, but I've been blindsided by the rapid onset and magnitude of the changes in attitude and behavior.

There is much advice and counsel to be found for the concerned parent. But, as with most guidance, actually finding what works takes a good bit of trial and error. I've resigned myself to having to deal with a bit of attitude from her as I recommit myself to modeling good behavior and maintaining a meaningful connection while coming to terms with her new demands for independence and responsibility.

Wish us luck.

How to Move to Canada: A Discontented American's Guide to Canadian Relocation

My amazing ex-brother-in-law had a book released recently. It's quite a fun read and I'm so impressed with his creativity and his ability to evolve.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1492647330/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_2t-fyb7PQ0GXY

I've given up trying to keep up with my kids. I've lost them to the vortex of adolescence. They are traversing the dark side of the moon. We will attempt to reestablish radio contact when they emerge.