No, I Really Mean It - Game On!

The last time there was a World Cup in Asia - the men's competition in Korea/Japan in 2002 - my rising well before dawn to watch US matches was rewarded with the opening upset over Portugal, which is a hell of a way to start your day! Like rolling out of bed to a beautiful blue sky sunny morning, complete with little birdies singing.

What happened this morning was more akin to being dragged out of bed for school by your Mom during the deepest darkest dregs of winter. The US opened its Women's World Cup play in China against North Korea this morning (yes, I got up and watched live). Not only did the Koreans hold the US to a 2-2 draw, but we were lucky to get away with anything at all. The Koreans enjoyed a majority of the possession and looked more consistently dangerous. The American midfield was nonexistent and we looked, well, skittish. With no midfield connection, defensive clearances just broke the Koreans' rhythm and gave them a chance to reload.

Having said that, but for a goal keeping blunder on the first Korean goal, we would have won it. Still, for the #1 team in the world that has never lost an opening round game in World Cup play to need to scramble back to scratch out a draw in its opener is not a positive sign. Hopefully, things will improve against Sweden on Friday.