I implore all those soccer detractors who do not understand the sport, or the concept of a draw to watch the final minutes of the Mexico versus New Zealand group game at the Women’s World Cup. Neither team had a chance to advance and heading into the final minute Mexico led by two goals. The Kiwis pulled a goal back and then scored an unexpected, but deserved equalizer deep into injury time. The unconfined joy of the New Zealand players and staff celebrating an equalizing goal in a supposedly meaningless group game was one of the highlights of the tournament. The draw was the first ever point earned by the Kiwis in a World Cup and was celebrated as if the team won the tournament itself.
Those same detractors should also recognize that the US women’s games against Brazil and Japan provided some of the best entertainment in all of sports. The Twitter generation is certainly in agreement based on the number of Tweets sent during the final itself. Abby Wambach’s late, great headed equalizer against Brazil will define this summer in the same way that Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria was the seminal moment of 2010. The goal received Best Play at ESPN’s ESPY Awards. Oh yes, Americans don’t like soccer.
Those same detractors should also recognize that the US women’s games against Brazil and Japan provided some of the best entertainment in all of sports. The Twitter generation is certainly in agreement based on the number of Tweets sent during the final itself. Abby Wambach’s late, great headed equalizer against Brazil will define this summer in the same way that Landon Donovan’s goal against Algeria was the seminal moment of 2010. The goal received Best Play at ESPN’s ESPY Awards. Oh yes, Americans don’t like soccer.
If there is one thing English teams do well at major championships it is to concede ridiculous goals – Seaman versus Brazil (World Cup 2002); concede late and dramatic goals – Zidane and Henry for France (Euro 2004); lose on penalties when in a position to win – against Germany (World Cup 1990 and Euro 1996); or managers make ridiculous substitutions – Graham Taylor replacing Gary Lineker (Euro 1992). Hope Powell and her English women paid attention down the years because they proceeded to emulate their male counterparts in one game. Powell made some strange substitutions to protect a 1-0 lead against France in the quarter-final. An 88th minute French equalizer took the tie into extra time and with the shootout in their control England missed two in a row, to go home in dramatic circumstances. Shame!
Germany, the hosts of the Women’s World Cup were for that nation, sadly missing from their own party in Frankfurt last weekend. However, their team’s absence did not stop German fans from coming out and supporting the final. Approximately three quarters of the 48,817 crowd were locals and while they supported the United States throughout the game, they provided Japan with a great ovation when receing their trophy.
Germany, the hosts of the Women’s World Cup were for that nation, sadly missing from their own party in Frankfurt last weekend. However, their team’s absence did not stop German fans from coming out and supporting the final. Approximately three quarters of the 48,817 crowd were locals and while they supported the United States throughout the game, they provided Japan with a great ovation when receing their trophy.
The only SIP (Self Important Person) the German fans turned on in the pregame ceremonies was Sepp Blatter, who was roundly booed when introduced to the Frankfurt crowd. The FIFA President may have been forgiven for thinking he was in front of an adoring crowd. He wasn’t! The women’s fans are every bit as perceptive as those in the men’s game and Blatter got the abuse he deserved.
Another figure who received a hostile reception was the world’s best player, Marta. The Brazilian maestro sullied her reputation in the quarter-final defeat to the Americans with her theatrics and brazen attempts to get opponents booked or sent off. The crowd in Frankfurt let her know in no uncertain terms that they did not appreciate her performance against the USA. Marta is an extremely gifted player, but her play against the Americans and the tactical approach of her team was more reminiscent of the ugly Brazil sides of 1974 and 1990 rather than the much loved teams of 1970 and 1982. She deserved her abuse every bit as much as Blatter.
Another figure who received a hostile reception was the world’s best player, Marta. The Brazilian maestro sullied her reputation in the quarter-final defeat to the Americans with her theatrics and brazen attempts to get opponents booked or sent off. The crowd in Frankfurt let her know in no uncertain terms that they did not appreciate her performance against the USA. Marta is an extremely gifted player, but her play against the Americans and the tactical approach of her team was more reminiscent of the ugly Brazil sides of 1974 and 1990 rather than the much loved teams of 1970 and 1982. She deserved her abuse every bit as much as Blatter.
Abby Wambach is one of the best players in the world although not an especially skillful or graceful player. In recent years she has become the de facto leader of the US team, leading by example and scoring some very important goals, none more so than her last gasp equalizer against Brazil. She is the one US player who did not deserve to be on the losing team in the final against Japan. It was gratifying to see a player of her stature walk over to Japan’s celebrating players and congratulate them one by one. She was the only American player to do so. Wambach was class personified.
The nearest thing to Barcelona in the women’s game is Japan. The manner in which they beat Germany, Sweden and then the USA deserves to be replicated in the American youth and college games. The Germans ran out of ideas long before Japan scored their winner and there was a touch of England playing route one football about the Germans. In the final against the USA, Japan never panicked and continued to pass the ball while probing for an equalizer. They have supplanted Brazil as the most entertaining and attractive team in the women’s game.
The nearest thing to Barcelona in the women’s game is Japan. The manner in which they beat Germany, Sweden and then the USA deserves to be replicated in the American youth and college games. The Germans ran out of ideas long before Japan scored their winner and there was a touch of England playing route one football about the Germans. In the final against the USA, Japan never panicked and continued to pass the ball while probing for an equalizer. They have supplanted Brazil as the most entertaining and attractive team in the women’s game.
The US women came home to a loving media and garnered a lot of attention last week. Why? They lost a game they were expected to win. They threw away two leads in a World Cup Final and missed three penalty kicks to start the shoot out. The star goalkeeper was nowhere to be seen as the two Japanese goals went in. The first goal was calamitous while the second was from a set play in the final minutes of extra time, two supposed strengths of the US team. The forwards missed a host of chances throughout the game. The team won one of its last four games. A bit of perspective is needed. I am sure Bob Bradley would agree.
Pia Sundhage is a great coach and for the most part she has been good for the women’s game in America. She was heavily praised and rightly so, for the manner in which she coached her team against Brazil in the quarter-final and France in the semi-final. She was 10 minutes (three in extra time) from being lauded for leading the USA to an unprecedented third World Championship. Sadly for her, it was not to be and now she will come under scrutiny for some strange decisions in the final. Why leave an unused substitute on the bench when so many players were visibly shattered in extra time? Would fresh legs have secured the victory before penalties? Why bring on the inexperienced Tobin Heath, who lost possession a couple of times before the second equalizing goal? Why replace Megan Rapinoe, who was having a tremendous game, was not visibly tired and who could have been called upon to dispatch a penalty in the manner she did against Brazil? Amy Rodriguez did not have a great tournament, but would her pace off the bench have caused more problems for Japan in those key final minutes? How does a defender, Becky Sauerbrunn play for 90 minutes in a semi-final and not see the field, when her team is leading 2-1 with three minutes to go in a World Cup Final?
Pia Sundhage is a great coach and for the most part she has been good for the women’s game in America. She was heavily praised and rightly so, for the manner in which she coached her team against Brazil in the quarter-final and France in the semi-final. She was 10 minutes (three in extra time) from being lauded for leading the USA to an unprecedented third World Championship. Sadly for her, it was not to be and now she will come under scrutiny for some strange decisions in the final. Why leave an unused substitute on the bench when so many players were visibly shattered in extra time? Would fresh legs have secured the victory before penalties? Why bring on the inexperienced Tobin Heath, who lost possession a couple of times before the second equalizing goal? Why replace Megan Rapinoe, who was having a tremendous game, was not visibly tired and who could have been called upon to dispatch a penalty in the manner she did against Brazil? Amy Rodriguez did not have a great tournament, but would her pace off the bench have caused more problems for Japan in those key final minutes? How does a defender, Becky Sauerbrunn play for 90 minutes in a semi-final and not see the field, when her team is leading 2-1 with three minutes to go in a World Cup Final?
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