I know not everyone will follow this, but this thread is for those that would like to discuss the WWC, which kicked off this weekend in Canada. Already there has been a wild 10-0 win by #1 Germany over Ivory Coast, who I don't believe have professional players on their roster.

Pulling for the U.S., although not feeling very confident.

I know not everyone will follow this, but this thread is for those that would like to discuss the WWC, which kicked off this weekend in Canada. Already there has been a wild 10-0 win by #1 Germany over Ivory Coast, who I don't believe have professional players on their roster.

Pulling for the U.S., although not feeling very confident.

Germany, a force to be reckoned with alongside the inexperience of some of the other teams.

I'll be watching England (our Chelsea girls in particular) tomorrow afternoon for sure and think Aus will have the upper hand over the U.S today/tonight.

Having a sporty daughter I think the coverage is encouraging and a huge step forward.

Here in the US, I am loving Fox's FIFA women's world cup Today show. Expert analysis for everything, but I was heart broken when I found out that Kelly Smith is a gooner <_<. You Blue Bloods can take her back now. Another thing I am finding out that is dissappointing is the fact that all of the matches are played on turf. If there isn't enough water then I can understand, but have the matches played at night. Don't put the players at risk w/ the increase temperatures from the turf. Germans are favorite, but they have mad injury concerns. The Yanks will choke like always. Curious to see how far the Host Nation can go. Good TV & plenty of footie for this footie junkie. So many tournies going on right now. I am in heaven atm.

Edited June 8, 201511 yr by robdog

Here in the US, I am loving Fox's FIFA women's world cup Today show. Expert analysis for everything, but I was heart broken when I found out that Kelly Smith is a gooner <_<. You Blue Bloods can take her back now. Another thing I am finding out that is dissappointing is the fact that all of the matches are played on turf. If there isn't enough water then I can understand, but have the matches played at night. Don't put the players at risk w/ the increase temperatures from the turf. Germans are favorite, but they have mad injury concerns. The Yanks will choke like always. Curious to see how far the Host Nation can go. Good TV & plenty of footie for this footie junkie. So many tournies going on right now. I am in heaven atm.

The early games were in extreme heat apparently, very difficult.

Sweden v Nigeria in about half an hour, should be a great game.

Go canadaaaaaaaaaa 

Pretty solid stuff, with some amazing games (10-0 to Germany v Ivory Coast)

 

Shame that FIFA have decided that they'll use turf as a "test" in this WC.  Heat, ligament damage, fatigue, and having their legs scraped up....not ideal, and not sure why they decided to test it out now is a good idea

What's all this about turf?  Can you explain or provide a link to explain?  (I thought turf was just grass but I'm obviously wrong?)

What's all this about turf?  Can you explain or provide a link to explain?  (I thought turf was just grass but I'm obviously wrong?)

Astro turf.

Fake grass. A group of prominent women players sued FIFA before the tournament to install real grass, and Sepp basically made them drop the suit. If Canada were to host the men's WC, you can bet that every stadium would have real grass.

Ah right - that makes sense then!  Why didn't you say so! 

anyone checking out this 5 goal thriller w/ Sweden v Nigeria?

What a game that was. Nigeria coming back twice, really like the look of them. Got some skillful players in that bunch. 

Good game, some good football and some hopeless defending.

I have been watching it and to be honest it's absolute garbage. It's no better than what you would see from semi professional teams.

USA and AUS up now.

Embarrassing play acting in the Cameroon and Ecuador game. Barcelona would be impressed

I stand corrected!

I have been watching it and to be honest it's absolute garbage. It's no better than what you would see from semi professional teams.

Cheers Scott, To each their own. As a U.S. fan, I make the joke that the women are more fun to watch than the men since they often seem to be better technically and I see better trapping, dribbling, and crossing than their American male counterparts, albeit at a slower speed.

Unlike other the other WC, I won't watch every game, but I'll at least watch every American game that I can.

I have been watching it and to be honest it's absolute garbage. It's no better than what you would see from semi professional teams.

I think the problem is there is a huge gap between the best women's teams and the rest.  A bit like in the 70s with men's football there were some teams who hardly seemed to be able to play.  The gulf in ability has been narrowed now - as the cliché goes "there's no easy games" (not quite true but much truer than in the past).  Women's football is in very early stages in lots of countries - I think the Ivory Coast were all amateur, imagine that in men's football now.  I think the women's world cup will get better to watch in the later stages when only the more established teams are left. 

Anyone see USA and AUS? Some nice work.

Cheers Scott, To each their own. As a U.S. fan, I make the joke that the women are more fun to watch than the men since they often seem to be better technically and I see better trapping, dribbling, and crossing than their American male counterparts, albeit at a slower speed.

Unlike other the other WC, I won't watch every game, but I'll at least watch every American game that I can.

The technical qualities such as passing, etc are definitely on par with the mens teams. Obviously not Barcelona-esque but of a good standard nonetheless. 

 

I don't think the women's game will really kick on though until they do something about the goalkeepers. 

 

Women play on the same size field and goal as the men, which is fine for the outfield players but when it gets to the goalkeepers then they are at a real disadvantage. The average height of a GK in the mens game is 6ft 2. In the women's game, Hope Solo is 5ft 9, Nadine Angerer is 5ft 9 and the keeper for Australia last night (forgot her name) was 5ft 6. The exception to this is the Japanese keeper Erina Yamane who is 6ft 1 but generally speaking it rare to see a woman keeper over 5ft 9.

 

5ft 9 is tall for a woman but no matter how good of a keeper they may be it is much harder for them to cover the same size goal as a man who is on average 5 inches taller, some extra pounds heavier and has a better reach. It's why the scores tend to be quite high and also why being able to have an organised defence is so important. 

 

If the field and goal size where shrunk, the quality of football would drastically improve all round but if that were to happen it wouldn't really be "proper" football so I'm really sure what they can do. 

The technical qualities such as passing, etc are definitely on par with the mens teams. Obviously not Barcelona-esque but of a good standard nonetheless. 

 

I don't think the women's game will really kick on though until they do something about the goalkeepers. 

 

Women play on the same size field and goal as the men, which is fine for the outfield players but when it gets to the goalkeepers then they are at a real disadvantage. The average height of a GK in the mens game is 6ft 2. In the women's game, Hope Solo is 5ft 9, Nadine Angerer is 5ft 9 and the keeper for Australia last night (forgot her name) was 5ft 6. The exception to this is the Japanese keeper Erina Yamane who is 6ft 1 but generally speaking it rare to see a woman keeper over 5ft 9.

 

5ft 9 is tall for a woman but no matter how good of a keeper they may be it is much harder for them to cover the same size goal as a man who is on average 5 inches taller, some extra pounds heavier and has a better reach. It's why the scores tend to be quite high and also why being able to have an organised defence is so important. 

 

If the field and goal size where shrunk, the quality of football would drastically improve all round but if that were to happen it wouldn't really be "proper" football so I'm really sure what they can do. 

 

Hopefully within time the woman's game will improve. I think we are a long way off though.

Come on England!

I have to say the standard is higher than I was expecting judging from the first 10 minutes of the England match. As has been mentioned, I think the standard between the best and the rest is huge as only the best are professionals. The goalkeepers also have a lot of catching up to do. Things bode well for the women's game though.