The 2015 Women's World Cup Final

How a tactical change produced the most dominant final ever and why it matters for the US today

The 2015 World Cup final is understandably known as one of the most brutal World Cup games ever. In a rerun of the 2011 final (and the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal match), the USA faced Japan. Within 16 minutes, they were 4-0 up. Carli Lloyd had already scored a hattrick. The game was as good as done. 

The remaining 74 minutes did bring three more goals with the match eventually finishing 5-2 but it was hard to consider the game as anything more than a total and utter demolition by the US. It was their third World Cup win, and of the four, their most comprehensive result. But in light of a disappointing 2023 performance, it is worth considering whether how they got there was more luck than judgement.