Good win for our girls again against a strong Norwgian team. Wonderful second goal. The USA deserved their hard fought victory too. But you have to ask whether the sending off of the Columbia goalie was an appropriate punishment. Not within the way the laws are currently interpreted mind but in the bigger scheme of things. The USA got their penalty. No better goal scoring opportunity than that despite Wanbach missing it. So surely a yellow card would have sufficed and an equal 11 v 11 spectacle could have continued.
My hat is off to Colombia. They played a great game and had they had s little more talent to execute on their game plan, USA may have been in deep doggy doodoo.
Great start from England, 1-0 up against the run of play after 10 minutes and then grab a second a couple of minutes later.
Won 2-1 and make the semis although Canada were probably the better team Next up Japan who will probably teach them a lesson or two about possession but you never know ... goals in Women's football always seen to come from total mix ups.
Japan has had stretches of absolutely perfect possession. Tough tough match for England ahead. I'd love to see an upset though. USA v Germany will be a slugfest. I wish France had been on the Japan side of the bracket. I think they could have advanced to the final...
Good win - defensively we seem pretty solid which against Japan is going to be required as they probably play the best football of all the teams in the competition?
I wouldn't necessarily say Canada were the better team. It was a scrappy first half with Canada not doing much with the extra possession they had. Come the second half we were always going to go on the defensive and let them come to us. The fact that they couldn't score was more of an indictment on them than us. But yeah that Geordie **** really looked liked he needed a slap
I have to agree. The first half pace was pretty good and I thought we were the better side. I was surprised to see the manager's tactic borrowed from the men's game was to sit on them for the 2nd half. The BBC male commentator was pretty poor/clueless as he kept going on about the "brilliant" Sinclair whereas I thought Schmidtt was by far their best player. The half time review was a revelation as the two ex-pros, Brown and the other one (forgive me), talked articulately and knowledgeably about the match. It made a refreshing change from the utter b0ll0x that Shearer and co. usually come out with. Just had a discussion with me daughter and the plan is to get up early the following morning to watch Wednesday night's match on iplayer as it's a school night. The TV camera angles were appalling. Anyone ITK: I'm assuming it's Canadian filmed and not by the BEEB?
Schmidt (sic) was by far the best player on the pitch and it's a shame (only slightly though) that her teammates couldn't match her quality. Agree with the pundits as well, Brown and Yankee both sounded knowledgable with Trevor Sinclair looking a bit dumb at times. Btw was it only me who noticed that Chapman kept on doing numerous foul throws for them?
Disagree. Maybe there are a few more mix ups in the women's game but it's marginal. There have been some wonderful goals in this competition including plenty struck with power from distance. Bags of skill on display too. England's first goal last night. A defensive blunder maybe but what a great piece of clinical finishing. Matty at his best. And England's second goal was beautifully worked and straight off the training ground. I really like Lucy Bronze. Great motor and competent all over the pitch including in front of goal. Terrific result for our ladies anyway. And how refreshing after the drudgery of the men's u-21 competition. I've enjoyed and been impressed by the whole thing. Anybody who still thinks women's football is boring, dull and second rate really hasn't been watching this stuff.
Tectonic struggle, a bit of luck, with a dash of poor officiating. I'll take it! Next up England Vs Japan, and an opportunity for England to really put its stamp on the Women's World Cup. Beating the Champions would be HUGE. Meanwhile, enjoy this review of the arm-folding player intros for the WWC. Pretty funny read. http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot...ns_who_folded_her_arms_best.html?wpsrc=fol_fb
Watched the Germany USA game. I couldn't believe how much better their football was than England's. Comfortable on the ball, accurate passing, kept possession for several passes, better heading, better goalkeeping, it was like a completely different competition to the England matches. Hopefully we can drag Japan and USA down to our level in the semi and final.
Their women have been playing it at a higher level than England for a number of years. I think that getting to the semis is a massive achievement. If we get to the final then we'll done. One thing for sure is I will be watching it with the volume turned down. I just can't put up with the crowds USA chant and the fans screaming everytime the U.S. makes a tackle, shoots etc. OTT
I attended the 2003 WWC here in the US. The crowd was filled with 7-10 year old girls shrieking anytime it was recognized Mia Hamm was involved in a play. Many of those very same girls are in attendance 12 years later in Canada, probably still shrieking the same way... It was intolerable after the 3rd game. I guess it is good for the sport to have them as fans and spectators, but I wish they would learn a bit more about using their voices more constructively as a supporter. #SupporterElitism
When there's a throw-in and from it they win another throw-in a little bit further up the pitch, so Americans cheer because they gained some yardage?
I would have loved to see France get to the final - to be beaten by england of course. I thought they played good football against Germany. England seem to be doing well despite the manager - reminds me of Bobby Robson in Mexico 1986.
The officiating is awful. The US announcers keep saying it is good, but when they go to their studio man who analyses the officiating performance and explains the finer points of the calls, he is usually contradicting them. Comical. It's a hard job, I know, but come on...
Yeah, it was for USA v Belgique in Brazil '14 but made the rounds again yesterday. When you have to explain things, they just aren't as funny anymore.
Ohno reminds me of Forestieri. Long sleeves, no.11, similar running style, hair and height, falls over easy.
And just like that... Why!? Such a miserable way to lose a match. That was so close to being a legendary game and a huge statement for England. Very disappointed.