Great start to the Women’s World Cup today. German was strong as predicted, but give notice to a very pretty free kick goal from Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
By the way, could a mod please fix the typo in the thread title? Most appreciated!
How did Canada play against Germany? They said if they played close that they would be very happy. Was that the case?
Not especially, in my opinion. The score was closer than the actual match.
Lauren Cheney’s header into the goal against North Korea at 54’ was a thing of beauty.
USA 2-0 PRK. Should have been 3-0, though – a goal was pulled back when the Korean GK faked getting a boot to the face. Replays seemed to show no contact, though.
Interesting matches today, with Norway and Brazil somewhat unconvincingly beating Equitorial Guineau and Australia, respectively, both 1-0 and seeming like they could have easily gone the other way.
Brazil has to be the favorites from that group, of course, but the commentators are, I think, correct in saying that a big theme this WC is that the difference between the favorites (Germany, Brazil, USA) and everyone else has narrowed dramatically. Wasn’t it just 4 years ago that someone beat Argentina like 11-0 or something?
Ouch! Sorry, Canada. Is France that good or did the Canada side just utterly collapse?
I think Max is right about the more competitive atmosphere in the group play, despite today’s results.
Nigeria hanging tough with Germany so far, 0-0 at halftime.
My new thing to pay attention to: how many names of national anthems will the ESPN broadcast get wrong in the on-screen graphics? So far they’ve failed on Advance Australia Fair (they had “Advance Fair Australia”) and Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey (they had “Arise, Oh compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey”).
We’re seeing a changing of the guard. The Nordic teams (excepting Germany, if that’s Nordic enough for you) have really not impressed me, and I’m worried that England and the US might not get through the quarters. Here are the teams I’ve really liked: Japan, Australia, and France. Japan is great with their ball movement in tight quarters, but I suspect that goalie play and lack of height might hurt them deeper in the tournament. I’m really looking forward to France-Germany and England-Japan. Those are going to be revealing matches. I can’t warm to Brazil for some reason.
As an American, I feel bound to support the US team – but damned if I don’t like the style of Les Bleus. Necib might be my favorite player of the tournament so far.
Weird that you thought the US might not make the quarter finals. Anyway, we made it handily, beating an outclassed Columbia today 3-0, and that score is closer than the actual match was. There’s some very serious speed and talent on the US side.
Considering that Australia lost its first match to Brazil (which was not as close as the 1-0 makes it seem), I’m not sure why you’re so impressed by them.
I agree about Japan and France, though.
England might still get knocked out, you’re right about that. We shall see.
I didn’t doubt that the US would make the quarters; I worried that they would lose in the quarterfinals. They looked strong against Colombia, but the Colombians lost practically all the physical one-on-one battles. Their next opponent won’t be such a pushover.
I thought Australia looked good against Brazil. They moved the ball fluidly, and were generating scoring chances. They look like a team on the rise. Their next couple of matches should be interesting. Equatorial Guinea up next for them, I believe.
Ah, I misunderstood. Indeed we haven’t seen the US play against any quality opposition yet this World Cup. We shall see. I doubt the Sweden match will be particularly exciting, but you never know. For sure we’ll need much better finishes when we face stronger sides, especially from Wambach.
I suppose you can argue that Australia played Brazil tighter than expected.
I suppose you’ve seen the picture of American players saluting our servicemen stationed in Germany, and the HORRIBLE timing of the picture.
No, can you link to it?
Why horrible timing? That area has a huge American military presence and a large part of the crowd was American military and their families.
The picture, taken in profile, makes it look like they are giving the Nazi salute.
I’m going to assume that is a joke. Because nobody in their right mind who actually saw it would think that. Oh, I get it, since the match is in Germany, everything must have some Nazi overtones.
I’m shaking my head and walking away from this one.
I didn’t say it was a Nazi salute! :rolleyes: All I said was: the timing of the picture, out of context, looks like a Nazi salute!
Every World Cup has its WTF officiating moment, and it would be hard to top today’s (for those who didn’t see it, an Australian shot hit the woodwork, caroming back to an Equatorial Guinea defender in the six-yard box…who caught it and held it for several seconds, before putting it on the ground for the keeper to pick up – without any response from any of the referees). Australia mercifully held on to win, but I didn’t think they looked particularly good in doing so. Nonetheless, I see them beating Norway. Norway looks like toast to me, and not just because Marta had her way with them.
And I’m feeling better about the Americans’ chances either way.