Editor’s note: Shannon Mac Millan is a US Women’s National Team legend who made 176 appearances, scored 60 goals, and won the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and 1996 Olympic Gold Medal. She is currently the VP of Community Relations for the San Diego Loyal.

“Shannon’s Take” will run throughout the FIFA Women’s World Cup on USL channels, including a limited-run newsletter. Sign up to receive “Shannon’s Take” directly to your inbox.

Follow Shannon on Twitter at @Shann8nMac.

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Hello, everyone. This is coming a few days later because I had to take a moment to process and digest what we witnessed in the USWNT’s match vs. the Netherlands.  

We all knew going into this match that it would be the first test for the US, and we certainly saw that come true.  

What we didn’t expect was that it would take Lindsey Horan getting an NHL-style bodycheck in the 60th minute before we would see the “American mentality” show up. 

Before that, the Netherlands put on a clinic. The Oranj are a top 10 team and showed everyone why in the first half. I found myself counting the orange jerseys as it felt like they had 3 more players out there. They dominated the midfield with their physicality and possession -- at one point they had 350 passes completed to the USA’s 150. You continually saw the frustration on the faces of the US players from the tackles and hits.  

In short, credit the Dutch execution for their game plan and congratulate them on a point. 

HORAN’S RESPONSE

Note to the rest of the world: Don’t piss off Lindsey Horan.  

As mentioned, after Danielle van de Donk’s hard tackle on Horan, the fire ignited in the US team. Horan headed Rose Lavelle’s perfectly placed corner kick into the net with every ounce of rage she had boiling inside of her – you couldn’t have scripted a better response than that!   

Not to be overlooked is the leadership from Julie Ertz after the incident to help Horan take a breath and channel that energy into the next play and not into retaliation. Last thing Horan needed was to pick up a yellow. 

FINAL THIRD

Couple comments on our action in the final third. 

The Netherlands were in a 3-back. Which means that our front three should have been running at them with all night long – offensively and defensively. 

First, defensively. The attack sets the tone of your defense. The forwards need to be flying around and being a nuisance on the defensive side of the ball. You don’t expect them to win the ball, but they make the play more predictable for the midfielders and defenders behind them to step in and win it. If the frontrunners do manage to pick the ball off a defender, that is an added bonus!   

Unfortunately, the US didn’t press the Netherlands in the first half and found themselves chasing the ball and game.   

Now, offensively. I’m still waiting to see the chemistry between Trinity Rodman, Alex Morgan, and Sophia Smith.  All three have off-the-charts talent, but they’ve struggled to flow together and harness the collective power as a trio. Final passes are lacking or too heavy and finishing was just not there against the Dutch.   

THE LAVELLE FACTOR

Rose Lavelle had an impact from the moment she stepped on the field against the Netherlands. She helped the US team gain control of the midfield. Her movement on and off the ball, how she read the game, and her ball skills and passing made her the player of the match for me, even if she only played one half. 

At this point, plain and simple, Rose needs to start.  

Yes, I realize she is coming back from an injury and is on limited minutes, but why not use those minutes from the get-go? If she starts and plays the first half, she will set the tone and rhythm for the game from the start, and, in theory, she won’t be needed for the second half – though she may be able to squeeze in 10-15 more after the break.  

THE BENCH

As a player on that bench – and I speak from experience here – you are ready to give anything to get in the fight and help your teammates. Whether head coach Vlatko Andonovski realizes it or not, when he looked down that bench late in the game as both teams tired and decided NOT to make any changes, a message was sent. A message of doubt. A message that, in his mind, those players waiting in the wings would not be able to affect the game in a positive manner.   

This is a long tournament, and it takes ALL of your players to make a deep run. Sharing the load helps unite the team and builds confidence throughout.  

We didn’t that against the Netherlands. And now go into a game 3 without a stranglehold on our bracket and many players with 180 minutes in their legs.

UP NEXT… PORTUGAL 

The USWNT now go into their game against Portugal having shown a few cracks in the armor. The Portuguese definitely saw those vulnerabilities, and they will come out fighting. They are hungry to pull off an epic upset after they beat Vietnam for their first ever World Cup win and are now in a position to advance with a win over the US. 

The US just need a tie to advance. But more importantly, they must come out looking for a “statement” win, a big win, a win that sends a message to the rest of the world that despite the performance against the Netherlands, the US are the defending champions for a reason. 

I believe that the players in the US locker room are just as frustrated and disappointed as we fans are. I also believe this adversity will make them stronger. They will embrace it, and the team leadership will help them turn that frustration into fuel for their Portugal game.   

The frustration of fans – and former players like me – is NOT a sign that anyone has given up on our team. Just the opposite, in fact. Everyone who has ever been blessed to wear the crest on their chest and everyone who has supported the women on the field is ready to pour their hearts and souls into their belief that this team is not done.  

We KNOW they have the players to win the whole thing.  

So let’s all exhale, keep the faith, and remember that we are asking this team to do what has never been done before – win a third consecutive world championship and an unprecedented 5th star. It won’t be easy. The rest of the world is getting better all the time. But so are we. I expect we will see the evidence of that in full force in the next game.  

LFG!