World Cup appreciation thread - starts Sat June 6th

I don't think I will be able to watch the US game tonight, or if I do I will have to pull a sickie on volunteering tomorrow.

Yes the whole issue of including more teams will mean one sided games are going to happen. This happens in sport for both sexes, certainly rugby watch the all blacks versus Japan say. Cricket in the men's world cup was painful to watch in some cases. And yes it will bring more people to the sport including new countries. I love the concept that the Ivory Coast drew a raffle to bring fans to the world cup so they had support. Just a shame there are only 2 reporters from the Ivory Coast covering the tournament. But I guess considering that our game isn't even in the IC FA charter it is a step forward being at the event.

If I am honest this next bit followed a discussion with the boys and some of this is down to them. The key issue and difference with our game is that the marking in the box is so different. There seems to be a lot more space for attacking teams especially German vs IC. The Germans pushed the full backs on so that they play as wing backs thus creating overlaps and more attacking options. This will have to change against stronger teams but the space and time in the box is such that against weaker teams big scores seem very likely. The fluidity of the game is better than the men's mainly because we don't roll all over the floor crying. But in terms of pace and power the top teams are very rarely going to be challenged and that is probably the issue. Teams will play the team in front of them not aim at some goal that bears no relevance to qualifying or winning a world cup.

Ennuid - you already have a whole thread of your own in which you advance your hypothesis that women should play against men in all sports even though you think women ae a bit crap. Please could you keep your posts over there and not come and crap all over this thread which was started and is being posted on by those of us who actually like women's football. (Invokes imaginary "hide poster" button from now on).

Watched bits of last nights game - as the pundits said beforehand (forget which of the women it was), it was always going to be a total mismatch, but unless new countries get involved and start trying to play at a higher level, they're never going to get better. Germany's first goal was one of those moments where you can see where it's going to go before it happens! Right down to the complete lack of marking in the box from Ivory Coast.

Can't help but feel the goal should be smaller ... The Ivory Coast keeper is just not big enough. Maybe it will be less of an issue for the better teams though?

And that is the difference between a strong side and one that has less physicality. German could have probably got more. The earlier game the simple difference in height caused issues.

Ennuid the one thing that needs to be made to clear is the physicality that is in the male game. We have the skills but a male team will be able out jump, on average run faster and push us aside in tackles. Skills wise we are going to be better but physically we will struggle to compete. Remember while the US team is professional they wont have played as much as kids. I would say that every year I would think we would get closer but it will take years for the physical aspect to be eroded.

sausage,

I found a few results and I'm pretty shocked tbh. The women's US team lost 2-8 vs the U-17 boys team (team that even qualify for the U-17 world cup next year even though North America is an extremely easy qualifying group). They also lost to other boys' US local teams (SoCal etc) 1-5, 0-5...

forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/uswnt-vs-u-17-usmnt.1939180/

forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/uswnt-vs-so-cal-boys-odp.929075/

How the hell can this be? Not only these are 15-16 yo kids, but they aren't even great in their age group... Many of them won't ever see a pro contract when they grow up, never mind end up playing for Real Madrid. And we're talking about the best female team in the world with fully professional players making tons from sponsorships and endorsements.

Ennuid depends on the nation but in terms of skill they do well. The issue would be the power and the pace of the Men's game. Would love to see how we compare against say a second division side. Skill wise I would expect us to do well but in the terms of the physicality we would struggle especially in the air. Was nice to see us play 90 minutes rather than some cut down version.

I have been to Twickenham to watch the rugby and stayed to watch. The cricket often has been first followed by the men and from what I have seen the ground doesn't start to fill till the match is over half way.

I was looking at some of the players' history and was shocked to find how well paid and popular female football players are in the US. They don't make that much money from their salaries but the sponsorships, endorsements, appearances fees etc are huge since they are very bankable and appeal to young girls. If anything , the most bankable football players in the US are female not male since it's seen as a ''girls' sport''. Quite a few of them are millionaires and the ones who aren't certainly don't train every other week, work 2 jobs, get equipped in the parking lot before matches or face the issues of most players in other countries .

For anyone who knows more about football, how good would you estimate the US team (widely seen as the best female side in the world for many years, from what I've reading and their results) is compared to men's football? How would they fare against against a Premier league team or 15-16 y.o. boys from average national teams (or even local teams)?

Drinks, I think they tried that in rugby - women's game straight after the men's in the same stadium, no extra ticket needed, most people left IIRC.

I suspect you need to have the women's game first. Quite depressing though, it's a crying shame about the rugby but it's worked for other sports.

Just dropped DS1 for his cricket today, quick coffee then DS2 is off out and expecting his taxi to be ready.

Well I did stay up and watch the match, impressive crowd of over 50k but as it was the home nation playing not really a surprise. Not a great match, China seem to be playing for a draw which stifles the game. As Canada won most people will be happy I guess but I do wonder if the penalty would have been given if it had been the other way round.

The BBC studio guests were good as well not an overbearing arse in sight.

DS hasn't yet grasped the difference - he thought if the two world cups were on in the same year then people wouldn't know which one to watch. I told him that was right!

I think Tennis and the Olympics (and now the boat race) show that having the male and female competitions at the same time is the only way to get a lot of people to watch female sport. Was muttering about this to DH as we watched the first half of the opening match last night.

Anyway, thanks to Footy Pups on cbeebies my kids are now big Rachel Yankey fans. Torn over this, really they should be big Gemma Fay fans (I'm Scottish).

I want to stay up and it is the weekend but the boys have a busy weekend and it is my turn to play taxi. However coffee may be the answer.

Nice to see that the Americans are at least earning decently out of this. Okay no one is getting more than £40k a week yet and a lot is through endorsements but I guess I should not be surprised at the fact the US pay big money and we are behind in that.

Getting excited now.

Unfortunately whoever takes power at FIFA will not address the issues of tv coverage of the game for us and we will still be seen as second best. My boys are very much "we will watch women's football if there is no other good sport on" and that is the attitude we need to change.

Germany were awsome in the last world cup - open, flowing, stylish passing football (I think their men must have been watching... because their men's team has finally gone from playing a dull as ditchwater game to actually playing football that's beautiful to watch).

I did manage to see Japan versus Brazil in Cardiff during the Olympics - that was a great game (and I was chuffed to see Japan win - Brazil's women's team have, in the last couple of world cups, been a very dirty team - they just try to hack the opposition off the park, and it's not pretty to watch).

Anyway, great, great news for women's football - sleazy lech extraordinaire Sepp Blatter has finally been forced out.

I can talk football and rugby and cricket but I would say my heart is in the rugby first. With us qualifying for the Olympics I was so happy. But I will watch anything with the boys.