Women's World Cup?

[bobfoster]

Anyone watching? Any love for the girls? 

 

I know it isn't that popular in the US, but the World Cup (men's or women's) only happens once every four years, and it is a kind of big deal on most of the rest of the planet.

[cardia10]

9 hours ago, bobfoster said:

Anyone watching? Any love for the girls? 

 

I know it isn't that popular in the US, but the World Cup (men's or women's) only happens once every four years, and it is a kind of big deal on most of the rest of the planet.

The "US" women haven't really cared or shown they represent the US at all. All the buzz I've heard is that in the US, women's soccer is too political and it is driving people away.

[TiScape]

4 hours ago, cardia10 said:

The "US" women haven't really cared or shown they represent the US at all. All the buzz I've heard is that in the US, women's soccer is too political and it is driving people away.

It’s funny you say that. I’m super open minded and don’t really fit into any boxes, but definitely lean a bit more west. But as I was watching a little promo puff piece the other day about the team and it was all about this cause and that cause and… I thought to myself, this has gotten to b too much… Oh and I watched the last game. Over 90min, zero goals and I could barely keep my eyes open. Far from a soccer aficionado, but I’d say the US women are overrated this year. 

[Lobby]

Women fighting for equal pay is a bad thing?    Nonsense.

I'm watching the World Cup.   The US, though, have had two weak games.   I fear they'll be knocked out.   Sure, lots of strong players, but a few weak spots that the opposition quickly capitalizes on.

I have no idea who is the current front runner now.

[TiScape]

1 minute ago, Lobby said:

Women fighting for equal pay is a bad thing?    Nonsense.

I'm watching the World Cup.   The US, though, have had two weak games.   I fear they'll be knocked out.   Sure, lots of strong players, but a few weak spots that the opposition quickly capitalizes on.

I have no idea who is the current front runner now.

It goes WAAAY beyond equal pay Lobby. And it’s not the messages that bothers me by any means, it’s the unrelenting pushing it down my throat (everyone’s) and making it far more prevalent than the soccer. 

[84425]

Haven’t watched much yet. Saw yesterdays goals of the Netherlands game. They looked better playing then a couple of months ag (faster ball circulation and generally kicking the ball a tad harder than they did, which makes a huge difference at their level).  Sweden’s looking good I read, and South Africa with a great result yesterday. US team *I think* is past their prime, but then again could still go all the way. England probably the top favorites right now. 

[Cellis]

I have been watching a lot of it, I live for the World Cup, mens and women. First thing I have noticed, the women's soccer in general has dramatically increased with speed of play and physicality. The game is growing tremendously and it is so great to see. Especially now with smaller, non-powerhouse countries beginning to do well . With that being said, USWNT is such a hard watch. I think we got blessed for so long to have such a strong team, now all of a sudden we seem to be in a rebuilding period looking for a true leader. I will be very surprised if the US girls survive the next game, and maybe it is for the best for a wakeup call. Carly Lloyd's comments when they drew Portugal were spot on. 

[cardia10]

1 hour ago, Lobby said:

Women fighting for equal pay is a bad thing?    Nonsense.

I'm watching the World Cup.   The US, though, have had two weak games.   I fear they'll be knocked out.   Sure, lots of strong players, but a few weak spots that the opposition quickly capitalizes on.

I have no idea who is the current front runner now.

The equal pay argument is over a year old now. They got raises that is coming from the men's revenue. The women's team still doesn't' financially support itself, much less make enough to provide player raises. I always go back to their loss to the 13-14 year old kids team from Dallas a couple years back. Do you deserve 300K per year when you can't beat high school freshmen? 

[MattM97]

I've caught some highlights but the time when the games are played I cannot watch. Seems like there have been some exciting endings and upsets. 

[ode]

7 hours ago, TiScape said:

It goes WAAAY beyond equal pay Lobby. And it’s not the messages that bothers me by any means, it’s the unrelenting pushing it down my throat (everyone’s) and making it far more prevalent than the soccer. 

Try watching the game and turn off the news.  I have tape/tape delayed or watched the replays and there is none of that.

 

Re what's happening on the "pitch" I don't think there is much reason to panic.  The younger first timers aren't quite ready for the prime time IMO and need a bit more seasoning... Smith and the worms daughter!  Horan is a beast in the midfield but she has next to no help....Rosie is good but she's no phenom;  Dimelo is weak against the better competition.  Horan plus a good center mid who can dribble and dart through traffic would change this team.  They don't have it....and the service is not there. I like there fullbacks and I like there strikers but there midfield is weak as a whole!  They do an inordinate amount of chasing the ball on defense and are rarely there when the ball is on the feet of the opposing defenders.  They are like quick athletic zombies running at the ball and lunging for it when they get close.  Good teams will pass right around and through them or deek and dribble around.   Netherlands and Portugal exposed them in that regard.  That being said they still tied both the games they struggled in and IMO that means something.  Looking forward to see what they can do vs. The Swedes ....luck of the draw with the knockout round pairing, but it has potential to be a helluva match!

Edited August 3, 2023 by ode

[ode]

Interesting results this a.m.  Germany gets knocked out in the group stage by a tie with S. Korea who looked pretty abysmal their first two matches!  Morocco beats Colombia to advance....did not see either result coming.  Gonna have to check the matches out later to see what happened!

[NJBigFish22]

I’m not a huge soccer fan, in fact I probably haven’t watched a full game outside of a World Cup or Olympics.  I want the U.S. teams to win in anything we do, but this year feels different.  If they won, I could care less.  Lloyds opinion was correct, because this team looks out of shape, undisciplined and sloppy.  Is that because the amount of new players who think they can just show up and win like past teams, when the competition was less.  I didn’t care for the optics of them during the national anthem during the opening game.  Personally I think they care more about their causes and the name on the back of their jersey than the logo on the front.  

[Qqq123xx]

On 8/2/2023 at 2:28 PM, cardia10 said:

The equal pay argument is over a year old now. They got raises that is coming from the men's revenue. The women's team still doesn't' financially support itself, much less make enough to provide player raises. I always go back to their loss to the 13-14 year old kids team from Dallas a couple years back. Do you deserve 300K per year when you can't beat high school freshmen? 

That was just a scrimmage. One of the U.S. players actually assisted on one of the kids goals. They have afterall won the last two World Cups in case you didn't know. 

Edited August 5, 2023 by Qqq123xx

[Qqq123xx]

U.S. has tough mix of old and very young players, More younger than old. They are seasoning as each game progressess. Next game going to be a seriously b****. 

[bobfoster]

I ignore the politics. Like soccer, and love the WC (both men's and women's).

 

Hate to say it, but the US women are out. Can never really make a judgement after the first game or two, especially when you have so many new young players interspersed with returning vets (a couple of whom, frankly, seem to be there more for sentimental rather than tactical reasons). But the group round is now over, and some assessments are possible. 

 

First game was slightly concerning - the supposed #1 in the world only scoring three goals against a team that had never even played in the WC. Okay, shake off first game jitters. But then they (barely) tied the Netherlands - their first real test.

 

But the troubling thing is the nature of the games. They dominated on offense (in terms of playing time) in the first game, and in the second half of the second game, but they simply can't actually get the ball in the flipping goal (almost frustrating to watch). Then Portugal ... I didn't watch (I love soccer, but not at the get-up-at-3AM level) - another tie (apparently almost a loss), against a team ranked #20.

 

The US has a lot of talented individuals, but the question was whether they could gel as a team. They haven't. Great teams look like 11 bodies with one mind - everyone sensing where everyone else is, and what they are going to do. The last two US WWC teams had that, this one doesn't. They just aren't in sync. Have probably set a record for missed opportunities. They barely even made it through the group stage. And every other team watched that - they had a sort of intimidation factor coming into the tournament, but that is now completely gone. They haven't looked dominant, they just look confused and half-hearted a lot of the time ... and now have a really tough road ahead. Sweden first, and then probably Japan (who is on fire, and definitely has gelled as a team). 

 

Will still be rooting for the US, but don't really see them anywhere near the podium this year (though miracles are always possible, and this has been a sort of bizarre year). But really, the next four years need to be about re-building. And, bluntly, IMO they need a different coach. 

[Malvern]

I live in the time zone so it's pretty big here.

 

As far as I can tell people are "rooting" for anyone except the US and England.

[bobfoster]

Knockout round has started. Japan is through (so if the US gets past Sweden, they face Japan). 

 

But all in all this has been a wild WC. Spain looked really shaky and got trounced 4 - 0 by Japan in the group, but just (today) demolished Switzerland 5 - 1 (and the 1 was an own goal). 

 

Bizarre that teams like Jamaica and Morocco are in the knockout, and Germany, Brasil and Argentina are out. 

 

If you dig soccer, this is going to be a fascinating August.

[TiScape]

16 hours ago, bobfoster said:

 

 

9 hours ago, Malvern said:

I live in the time zone so it's pretty big here.

 

As far as I can tell people are "rooting" for anyone except the US and England.

I’m far more in tune with MLB than soccer and this is similar in that, fans root for anyone as long as it’s not the Astros! 🗑️ 👎🏼

#anyonebuthouston

🤣

Edited August 5, 2023 by TiScape

[bobfoster]

US is out.

 

But I'm still watching the WWC. 

[Lobby]

On 8/4/2023 at 8:31 PM, bobfoster said:

I ignore the politics.

 

I don't even see the politics.   I don't get the angst. 

[TiScape]

Well thank goodness for DVRs and fast forward. 
🤣

[TiScape]

2 hours ago, Lobby said:

I don't even see the politics.   I don't get the angst. 

Give me the address of the rock you live under. I’ll have the ladies pay you a visit! 😂 

 

Just a joke Lobby. Hope you enjoyed the game 😊

[ode]

They played well in that game and deserved a better outcome.  Three players cannot even put it on net in PKs is truly pathetic, started by Rapinoe a vet.  And fitting VAR rules the winning PK good by a hair lol!

[MtlJeff]

2 hours ago, TiScape said:

Give me the address of the rock you live under. I’ll have the ladies pay you a visit! 😂 

 

Just a joke Lobby. Hope you enjoyed the game 😊

 

If you have the ability to send Alex Morgan to my house i will literally give you whatever you want

 

Um yeah, i don't notice the politics either....um, what is equal pay?

 

Can you send her now please?

 

Edited August 6, 2023 by MtlJeff

[No_Catchy_Nickname]

The Japan-Sweden quarterfinal should be a cracker.

 

I'll be watching that one on TV while rooting for Nadeshiko.

 

Relieved to England go through against Nigeria. The English women managing what the men can't: win a penalty shoot-out.

[JungleJimbo]

25 minutes ago, No_Catchy_Nickname said:

The Japan-Sweden quarterfinal should be a cracker.

 

I'll be watching that one on TV while rooting for Nadeshiko.

 

Relieved to England go through against Nigeria. The English women managing what the men can't: win a penalty shoot-out.

 

You might like this.

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

 

[TiScape]

8 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

 

 

Clearly don’t abide by the “don’t take candy from strangers” rule! 
🤣

[JungleJimbo]