Women's Football

[Stavros]

I have been watching the Women's World Cup in Germany on the BBC, some of the games have been quite good, but some of the refereeing decisions are so bad it is in danger of making the game a mockery -a player with Equatorial Guinea picked up the ball in the penalty area and held it quite brazenly for a few seconds before dropping it -no penalty! Bizarre. England-v-France should be an England victory. Anyway, it's an improvement on that sport where kit cars go hurtling around a strip of tarmac, assuming they can get to the end. Or cricket...

[robertlouis]

Agreed, Stavros. What the women's game lacks in physical impact, it makes up for in movement and dare I say it, sports(wo)manship. And the skill level of some of the players is quite astounding - with sufficient refereeing protection Kelly Smith, the marauding English midfielder, could grace any men's team. She has a real football brain, as does Jill Scott, the more defensively minded of the midfield partnership.

And we've yet to see the brilliant Brazilian women, no slouches in comparison to their male counterparts.

It's a great competition, and I'll certainly be glued to the screen this afternoon for the England vs France quarter-final.

[robertlouis]

England went out last night after a thoroughly exciting and gruelling game against France, which went through extra time and into a penalty shoot-out, which, of course, being English, they lost.

Watching those girls at the end of the game, inconsolable and in tears, having run themselves ragged for 120 minutes - and these are part-time professionals at best, without access to the training or support services which their obscenely overpaid and over-pampered male counterparts enjoy - was a stark reminder of what the true meaning of sporting sacrifice is all about. I sympathised with them in a way I certainly didn't after England's men's team's disgraceful capitulation in South Africa last year.

[Stavros]

Hope Powell made the fatal assumption that England had their 1-0 victory and took off two experienced defenders -not only did they they concede but it was one of the inexperienced defenders who shot wide in the penalty shoot-out. The substitutions also meant that when Smith was injured there was no replacement even if she did take a vicious penalty to score -I am amazed they were all still on their feet by the end; a great pity, but a great performance too, so its not all doom and gloom -ultimately someone has to play Brazil....

[robertlouis]

According to press reports Hope Powell is likely to step up to a strategic role within the FA with total responsibility for women's football development but continuing oversight of team and squad activities through a replacement manager. She has been a wonderful servant to women's football and indeed football in general in the UK and deserves a rest away from the direct involvement with the team.

Interesting and sad to hear that a lot of the girls bottled out of taking a penalty on Saturday. Kelly Smith, who could hardly stand, slotted the first one in magnificently and that should have encouraged the others. Where were experienced players like Farah Williams, Jill Scott, Ellen White and the rest?

It also seems that with England out, we're unlikely to see any of the remaining games on the BBC. Shame, especially since Japan, whom England beat in the Group stage, beat Brazil in their quarter final.

[Stavros]

You are a charitable sort of guy Monsieur Louis -I thought Hope Powell calling her players cowards was a low blow from someone who played a major role in the problem by withdrawing experienced defenders whom we needed to prevent what happened: a French goal and defeat. Anyway, at least the team played with passion and conviction and looked liked they wanted to be there, unlike the useless bunch of tossers who showed up somewhere in South Africa last year.

USA look like favourites now...

[robertlouis]

You are a charitable sort of guy Monsieur Louis -I thought Hope Powell calling her players cowards was a low blow from someone who played a major role in the problem by withdrawing experienced defenders whom we needed to prevent what happened: a French goal and defeat. Anyway, at least the team played with passion and conviction and looked liked they wanted to be there, unlike the useless bunch of tossers who showed up somewhere in South Africa last year.

USA look like favourites now...

On the night, I agree, Stavros, it was a petty thing to say. But her overall record as England manager is outstandingly good, especially given the resources and finances she's had to work with.

Although her despairing touchline cries of "Hit it over the top!" during the French game didn't do too much for her tactical reputation! :)

[robertlouis]

BBC3 is broadcasting the final in full this evening at 8:30. I'll be watching.

USA vs Japan. I thought it would be Germany vs Brazil, so it should be very interesting.

Sad that nobody from the US has posted on this thread, particularly when you have a very good team, and you've made the final.

Or is women's soccer just too girly for you?

[Stavros]

I can only get a clear picture on BBC1, the other three channels are a bit cloudy; all those other ones, threes and fours are out of the range of my obscure building....I expected the USA to win, but it was penalties although I think when the US won this in the 1990s it was an heroic performance by their goalie in a penalty shootout that won it for them.

[maaarc]

congratulations to the Japanese team - I am not much of a football fan - however I did enjoy this exciting contest. It looked to my inexperienced eyes that the US team was dominating play for most of the game. Yet the Japanese girls were tenacious and would not be denied - every time they got knocked down they got back up and evened the score. I was happy for them considering what Japan has endured recently I hope this victory can lift their spirits.

[robertlouis]

What a brilliant game of football - US brawn and skill against Japanese skill and organisation. Shame that either team had to lose. I only hope that the momentum this excellent tournament has generated will be maintained.

[russtafa]

i bet they have a great time in the shower afterwards

[SammiValentine]

The Goalies are usually really , really, really, wank. Any improvement this tourney ?:)

[robertlouis]

The Goalies are usually really , really, really, wank. Any improvement this tourney ?:)

The US keeper was really good, but the little Japanese lass was brilliant in the penalty shootout in the final. One or two outfield players who could possibly make it in the men's game too. The Japanese captain was brilliant - golden boot from midfield, the US striker Abby Wambach was unbeatable in the air, and I've always liked England's Kelly Smith, great engine, a proper football brain and a killer left foot.

Looking forward to the women's olympic footie more than the men's! :)

[SammiValentine]

Just been watching little luis in the copa.

cant wait for august. :)

[robertlouis]

Just been watching little luis in the copa.

cant wait for august. :)

Has Kenny signed you yet?

He rang me just the other day..... seems to be signing up half the world.

Top four this season, top two next?

[SammiValentine]

no expectations, each game as it comes - and surprise everyone. hopefully.

[robertlouis]

no expectations, each game as it comes - and surprise everyone. hopefully.

Agreed. English football without the real big three - Liverpool, Arsenal and Man U - challenging each other for honours just isn't right.

[robertlouis]

I can only get a clear picture on BBC1, the other three channels are a bit cloudy; all those other ones, threes and fours are out of the range of my obscure building....I expected the USA to win, but it was penalties although I think when the US won this in the 1990s it was an heroic performance by their goalie in a penalty shootout that won it for them.

Blimey Stavros - you must live halfway up a mountain or in the middle of a moor. As a lover of the visual and musical arts you have to get Freeview access so that you can watch BBC4.

[Stavros]

In fact the opposite -my building is 'in a dip' at the bottom of a hill which means the surrounding buildings shut me out of the signal -I bought a Freeview box for the World Cup last year and had to take it back to the shop to get my money back as I couldn't get a thing out of it. SKY is apparently the only solution, but it means sticking a UFO on the outside of the building, and paying Murdoch's outfit £25 a month -no thanks.

[BBaggins06]

BBC3 is broadcasting the final in full this evening at 8:30. I'll be watching.

USA vs Japan. I thought it would be Germany vs Brazil, so it should be very interesting.

Sad that nobody from the US has posted on this thread, particularly when you have a very good team, and you've made the final.

Or is women's soccer just too girly for you?

Maybe the few of us who watched the game are still pissed off at the colossal choke job of the US side. Dozens of squandered scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half, and an especially horrible and retched defensive lapse in front of their own goal after their first goal led me to try to purge any memory of that abortion of a game from my mind.

I'm not going to celebrate a team who wet the bed so badly. They had never, ever lost to Japan in 25 matches and had outscored them by like 70 goals. It's probably the biggest choke job in the history of all sports and I shan't be wasting any more of my life watching any putrid women's soccer.

[robertlouis]

In fact the opposite -my building is 'in a dip' at the bottom of a hill which means the surrounding buildings shut me out of the signal -I bought a Freeview box for the World Cup last year and had to take it back to the shop to get my money back as I couldn't get a thing out of it. SKY is apparently the only solution, but it means sticking a UFO on the outside of the building, and paying Murdoch's outfit £25 a month -no thanks.

I trust it's not so much the monthly pony and more the fact that it would go to Murdoch that sticks in your craw, Stavros? ;)

[robertlouis]

Maybe the few of us who watched the game are still pissed off at the colossal choke job of the US side. Dozens of squandered scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half, and an especially horrible and retched defensive lapse in front of their own goal after their first goal led me to try to purge any memory of that abortion of a game from my mind.

I'm not going to celebrate a team who wet the bed so badly. They had never, ever lost to Japan in 25 matches and had outscored them by like 70 goals. It's probably the biggest choke job in the history of all sports and I shan't be wasting any more of my life watching any putrid women's soccer.

Hang on, just because the US lost a final that they should have won doesn't make all women's soccer putrid???

The quality of the women's game improves all the time, and the most heartening aspect of the recent world cup is that the vast gap in technique and stamina, that was so obvious only a few years ago, has been closed so that it is finally feasible for teams like Japan to reach the final and to match the US. Don't take your ball home just because your team lost.

[Stavros]

I trust it's not so much the monthly pony and more the fact that it would go to Murdoch that sticks in your craw, Stavros?

The owner of the building is going to stick a UFO on the back of it and wire up the apartments, I don't know how he intends to get me to pay if he is asking for a sub. Maybe he will let us have it for free (we don't pay water rates, for example). I still would decline the offer, I just dont watch much tv compared to most people. I read, surf, and watch films -and football if its on.