I watched my first women’s soccer match today. It was the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final between the USA and Japan. I was very impressed with the quality of play, especially from the American side. They scored two beautiful goals and should have scored a half dozen more. Unfortunately, Japan was able to scratch back from a 1-0 deficit, and then again from a 2-1 deficit in extra time. And then Japan won on penalty kicks. It was a tragedy for the USA side, but pure bliss for a wounded and suffering Japan. Hats off to both sides for a tremendous and exciting match.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
Too bad. Those American girls seemed like a great group. Congrats to Japan though – kinda like the Saints winning after Katrina, I believe a big sports victory like that can have a real positive effect on the psyche of a society.
I believe Japan was fated to win. They needed the good karma more than we did. Thew Japanese women were resilient and twice came up with late scores to send the match first in OT and then penalty kicks. I wouldn’t put it on the level of the Miracle on Ice but it ranks as one of the most amazing sporting achievements in my lifetime. No one picked Japan to make the Finals but they did.
My congratulations to them.
I’d feel a little better about it if the match had been more evenly played. It’s hard to say that Japan deserved to win. But, hey, they found a way, so they do deserve it.
You know what I loved most about this match? No bullshit. No stupid melodrama. No whiny fake writhing on the ground over non-existent injuries. Both teams played classy and played well, and the refs let them play (though perhaps that 1 red card at the end should have been a yellow).
Agreed. Although, perhaps a little more stalling and the USA would be champions.
That red card was absolutely correct, and well deserved. Very close to a PK. She was definitely fouled in a scoring situation. I sure would have given her a red.
Unfortunately, the US just did not finish the 10 or so golden chances they had. Too bad. Megan Rapinoe, my fav player, was stellar as usual. She should have scored.
“denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by
an offense punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick”
I missed it – traveling back from a funeral in New Jersey (although we did stop by Pat’s in Philly to grab a cheesesteak.)
good that you knew not to give that racist bastard at Geno’s your business.
I didn’t remember until we walked up and saw the Speak English sign – validated my original idea to go with the original. Oddly enough, there was a Hispanic family eating at Genos – shook my head as we walked to Pat’s…
A huge typhoon is pushing up from the South China Sea, and the weather last night was absolutely sweltering. So, I headed off to our cool air conditioned bedroom with ice cream and a DVD copy of Indian film maker Satyajit Ray’s “Mahanagar.” Ooops, missed the match. When I do venture out of the house, everyone will be upbeat and chipper. Now I know why. Thanks Booman (you’re more clued in than someone living here!)
I’ve ever seen.
Members of French women’s national football squad pose naked to ‘provoke some discussion’
Goalkeeper Hope Solo.
Hope Solo. A goalie.
Best sports name ever?
My nieces love her. They worship her. And yes, it’s a cool name.
I really don’t follow soccer at all but my sister messaged me this morning that I must watch because my two soccer-playing nieces wanted me to. This game is bigger than the Super Bowl in their household. So I watched.
It was a good game. Too bad soccer is a continuous game and doesn’t allow for commercial breaks or it would be as big here as everywhere else.
When it was over, she messaged me “That was the worst game I have ever watched…..depressing.”
I replied “I saw most of it. So the US lost. Sorry ’bout that. Japan won. It’s probably a bigger deal to the Japanese public that they won, with all that’s happened in Japan lately. So I’m happy for them.”
She agreed that if we were to lose to anyone, it’s best that it was them, considering…
My take from all of this is that it sucks that a game like Soccer can’t be covered in this country just because it doesn’t allow for commercial breaks. If ever there was a use for PBS, this is it. Maybe the taxpayers ought to give them a little money to do it right.
.
July 10, 2011 – Mexico City Aztec stadium attendance 99,000 great fans. The games in Germany were well attended and the fans enjoyed the games even after the favorite home team Germany was eliminated by Japan. Many great matches, I thought USA win over Brazil was the best!
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."FIFA women seem to play soccer and watch soccer. It’s not just some interruption to a drunken brawling party.