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Onion Monster104 Fans12 minutes ago (6:53 PM)Nobody can compete with the US women on a physical level (maybe Brazil)... but soccer isn't a game of pure, physical competition. You don't win based on your shots off goal or your shots defended or by being bigger and stronger than your opponent.You win with tactics, ball handling, perseverance, and shots undefended (I'm ignoring the defensive end of competition theory here, it'll wonk up comparisons for the less academic in the crowd).Japan outplayed us the entire time I had the game tuned (I'll have to watch the first half later). Better group movements, effective defense, few miscues, little reliance on physical play, absolutely beautiful. America, on the other hand, looked winded, frequently out of position or scrambling to get to position, shots off goal, poor crosses.The PKs highlighted the difference. A composed, confident, accurate Japan easily took advantage of a flustered, off target, America.Cutting this short since Rapinoe is interviewing now, but even she's joking about US inaccuracy in the game. (She's so pretty.)