Women's World Cup

[JC...]

Originally Posted by Kyero Fox

and I mean Real Football ._.

You mean "football" where you carry the ball around with your hands and kick it once in a while?

[Father Hentai]

Originally Posted by Bri

Japan's passing game made them the side to watch this world cup. Still, I don't think their chances are very good against the US. The game against Germany showed Japans vulnerability against strong, athletic teams. Japan escaped as the German team was terrible in front of the goal that day.

It's ironic that the emphasis on athleticism in the development of young players has helped the US women's team to the world top while at the same time has held back the men's team (and the MLS).

If the Japanese team has ever shown any weaknesses then against the England, because they lost this game. Against Germany their tactic was to hold out as long as possible and avoid any forward pressings and only waiting for counter attacks. After 30 minutes it was very clear that Japan will win because they played a defensive and controlled tactic and at the end you have seen that the mental and physical advantage was for Japan while the German team was broken.

Watching Japan vs. Sweden yesterday showed that Japan still was the better team.

I won't hype Japan now, but I really do believe that they can win the finals because they are that far the superior team in terms of tactic and endurance. On the other side, U.S. are playing very passionate and have they never given up. But the last attitude is something what you can tell of the Japan women as well.

[germanturkey]

don't say that japan is an underdog. they're ranked 4th in the world, and beat sweden, which was ranked 5th. of course, US is ranked 1st though.

the US had a horrid time keeping possession yesterday and couldn't string a few passes together. but they have a winning mentality, and they clearly overcame that adversity. Given the fact that Japan doesn't have an out and out finisher, and the US will have a massive advantage in set pieces, I'll give it to the US to win this one.

or you can just be like any guy who knows nothing about soccer and cheer for the team that has the more attractive players. in which case, US wins again..

[Guardian Enzo]

Well, I disagree about the set pieces. Miyama is without argument the best set-piece artist in the women's game. The US has a size advantage, but so did Sweden and Germany and Japan was the better side in set pieces against both.

This is a pretty even matchup. Sweden dominated the US, and Japan dominated Sweden. They beat the best team in the field by acclimation, Germany, on their home soil. The US was massively outplayed by France despite winning. But the US has much more experience at this level and the better goalkeeper. With the form Japan is showing, I make this a tossup.

[Demongod86]

Originally Posted by Kyuu

About that. The awarding of WC2022 to Qatar is a huge sign of corruption. Technology is best served for verifying calls involving goals: offsides (if ball goes in the net), close line calls (see GER vs ENG), and simple verification of goals.

As for diving - that can be reduced by increased referees on the field. Three on-field referees (2 assistants, 1 head ref.). The diving is a problem because it is an exploit to sell to a single onfield referee who may or may not have seen the incident. Furthermore, this same ref. has to make deciding calls quickly; and it is not encouraged to contest referee calls. Finally, explanation of referee calls is either not done or very vaguely referenced after games.

Finally, here's an image for the final:

Spoiler:

Well at least that's the real Hope Solo . Wow wow wow though...that is a wonderful shot of her though. Holy moly. Honestly, in the off-time, Hope Solo really needs to get a modeling gig and become more mainstream. In an era in which we have all sorts of fake and plastic celebrities determining images for beauty, Hope Solo really is a gem.

(Double that on Alex Morgan. The cutie's a serious on-field threat!)

As for the game...I'm hoping we have a clean game, and none of the bitchfest that was the Brazilian team. Considering that Japan is a nation of honor and upstanding spirit, and the U.S. ladies are all about intensity and beating the opponent straight up and putting on a show, this should hopefully be an extremely clean, skilled game.

I'd still like the U.S. to win simply because the idea of Hope Solo glomping Alex Morgan or vice versa is simply too good of a mental image, among other things.

[risingstar3110]

Originally Posted by Bri

IFAB, the very conservative law making body of football, is dead set against the use of technology in the game. They want it to remain the people's game with as little requirements as neccesary. The game played in the slums of the poorest city should in principle have the same rules as a World Cup final. The growing popularity of football in the US won't change that.

That doesn't mean there isn't any game improvements. The games rules have become stricter over time to increase player safety. You will see a lot less bone crunching tackles that were common 20 or 30 years ago. Also the change of the off-side rule has created a lot more space on the field reversing the trend of using ever stronger, faster players. The current Barcelona team couldn't have existed a decade ago.

However, being able to play the ref or some calculated fouling is a skill requirement for any top team, there is no place for naiveté in football. Human error is part of the drama and excitement. It'd be like F1 or Nascar without crashes.

Let's not escalate this out too much.But while i agree on the need for consistency in principles from the lowest to top level of game plays. However,i don't think playing the ref or some calculated fouling is a skill requirement for top teams.In fact it is quite opposite, that's how the top team can break out the game flow and avoid the upset from lower or less experienced team.

English leagues for example,often seeing the newer teams from their 2nd tie (called "Championship") faced many troubles when playing against more experienced 1st tie teams ("English Premier League" or EPL) when they don't know when to dive or stay down, or avoid being fouled. I have seen many games (Championship team versus EPL team) where the Championship team has dominated with much more fluid passing and game spirits.Then to see the substitution of some EPL in their opponents, who just dive at every challenge, and winning through set pieces.

Then we have last season Real vs Barcelona match where the game turned ugly. Real with their calculated fouling won a match unpunished, was then countered by Barcelona calculated diving.

PS: that's why sometime (just sometime) it's more enjoyable to watch lower tie, or even woman games like in this case,where less calculated fouling are planned ahead

[flying ^]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

US because I want the sport to gain more supports from the States.

it will gain popularity in the U.S....... as a womens game

afterall... fútbol (not to confuse with american one) has a reputation as a "beautiful" game/sport ..... and U.S. women can carve a niche here

so far it's almost unwatchable for me to watch fútbol played be men because of diving and flops.... this is one of my most disliked sports besides pro basketball (NBA) where baaad officiating and flops are rampant

[Ithekro]

Women's College Basketball is generally interesting to watch as the players don't showboat around like the male players. They actually play the game.

[solomon]

Originally Posted by Tetra Vaal

As an American, I love Japan... and especially Japanese girls, but hey, who doesn't?

Ok, in all seriousness, it should be a fun match to watch. I'll certainly be tuning in and hopefully the U.S. wins in a nicely contested game.

Meh, like a lot about Japan, but their ladies...........meh. I prefer ours.

Anyways, my interest jumped ten fold (from zero to like ten) when I realized we'd be facing the Nadeshiko. They sound like a good team.

[Father Hentai]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

don't say that japan is an underdog. they're ranked 4th in the world, and beat sweden, which was ranked 5th. of course, US is ranked 1st though.

the US had a horrid time keeping possession yesterday and couldn't string a few passes together. but they have a winning mentality, and they clearly overcame that adversity. Given the fact that Japan doesn't have an out and out finisher, and the US will have a massive advantage in set pieces, I'll give it to the US to win this one.

or you can just be like any guy who knows nothing about soccer and cheer for the team that has the more attractive players. in which case, US wins again..

Are you serious about saying to a German native that he has no clue about soccer? You should be carefull with such words.

By saying that Japan are underdogs it is a view of the last games prior to the start of the womens championship. Germany, followed by America and Sweden were the teams that were thought to aim for the finals, however it was only America that reaches the finals. Most analyst did not even give Japan a chance to reach the finals because of phyiscal disadvantages as well as unknown playstile, while Germany for example had a 15 game winning streak.

Only one person in Germany at the beginning of the tournament said that the Japanese team would reach the finals and that was Guido Buchwald, who spend years in the J-League. If you look at the world ranking, Japan reached rank 4 in March 2011. Before that, Sweden was on rank four.

The Japanese team keeps fighting step by step for the tournament as well as world ranking, however compared to the other teams which they have thrown out, they were in an underdog position.

[Demongod86]

IMO the lack of technology in soccer is a major blow against it in terms of popularity in the states. In the NFL, coaches can challenge refs at least twice a game. Combined with instant replay, and who knows what other technology in the future, this goes a long way to making football a fair and objective game.

The idea that you can't use instant replays or other technologies in soccer because of tradition is just so much stupidity IMO. Honestly, what's wrong with adding a more meticulous look at make-or-break plays when you have world championships on the line? Yeah, maybe not every offside is called in casual play, but when that's the difference between advancing in a round and getting knocked out of the tournament, that's a massive issue.

Also, the idea that some rules are called and others aren't. For example, in the US/Brazil game, enforcing that encroachment when Hope saved Christiane's penalty kick was just a WTF moment. Honestly, IMO that rule is simply stupid. If the shot isn't interfered with, it should have been a legit save.

The idea that in soccer, playing to win means resorting to cheap tricks such as trying to get away with fouls when you commit them or trying to draw them by diving like a swimmer is just dumb. At the end of the day, sports are nothing more than entertainment the same way movies or pornography are. And there is nothing entertaining about watching underhanded play when your side loses because of it.

If FIFA wants soccer to be more popular in the states, then it has to do far more to encourage good sportsmanship. Yes, sometimes things can get physical. So what? In America, we encourage physicality in the NFL (obviously) and even in the NHL (who doesn't love a good, hard, clean check that sends a guy flying?). Granted we don't have body checking in soccer (IMO it'd make for a better game actually. Imagine a US defender just bodychecking Marta), but to approach the entire game with kid gloves like that is just all sorts of stupidity and allows for so much poor sportsmanship.

[Kyuu]

For the record - the USA has a 22-0-3 record against Japan.

HOWEVER

Seeing the Japanese play during this tournament - particularly against both Germany and Sweden -- you can toss that record out the window for this final. And that's a quote picked up from SportsCenter. With that said - I'm going to expect another nail-biter game right here.

On top of that - BOTH teams have exceptional "intangibles". If you don't know what that means in sporting terms, the "intangibles" applies to sporting attributes that can't be quantified or compared. For example, the Japanese team is motivated from the tsunami/earthquake disaster. The Americans have the "never say die" attitude. Pitting these two aspects - look for some high power levels clashing at each other.

My US nationalism is siding me towards the US side naturally. However, losing to this Japan team isn't going to feel bad. Had the US lost to Brazil - I woulda been royally pissed. Oh wait, I was still pissed even after they won.

Anyways, yea. Once again, I'm gonna expect one heck of a game.

[germanturkey]

Originally Posted by Father Hentai

Are you serious about saying to a German native that he has no clue about soccer? You should be carefull with such words.

By saying that Japan are underdogs it is a view of the last games prior to the start of the womens championship. Germany, followed by America and Sweden were the teams that were thought to aim for the finals, however it was only America that reaches the finals. Most analyst did not even give Japan a chance to reach the finals because of phyiscal disadvantages as well as unknown playstile, while Germany for example had a 15 game winning streak.

Only one person in Germany at the beginning of the tournament said that the Japanese team would reach the finals and that was Guido Buchwald, who spend years in the J-League. If you look at the world ranking, Japan reached rank 4 in March 2011. Before that, Sweden was on rank four.

The Japanese team keeps fighting step by step for the tournament as well as world ranking, however compared to the other teams which they have thrown out, they were in an underdog position.

that wasn't a comment directed at you. i was addressing if a person was an average male, they would probably cheer for the team with more attractive players.

also, Japan impressed me with their possession game and reminded me greatly of a Barca/Arsenal play style. This will be another game of technical ability vs athleticism. the US doesn't need to hold the ball long periods, though they probably could. they had a very very off game against France, and resorted to counter attacking football, which also played to their advantage because of their superior athleticism.

I definitely feel that Japan will be bullied off the ball. Japan is small and fast, but the US is large and just as fast. Germany was capable of doing this, but they couldn't take their chances that day. Yes, Japan has a very good dead ball specialist, but the height advantage the US has is undeniably going to play a role in the game. In any given game, a team will win plenty more free kicks from areas where the ball will be serviced, rather than shot. The commentators have said that Japan's keeper is bad in the air (though i didn't see that against Germany..), and i'll bet that the US will get TONS of service in from the wings.

Also, before you go high and mighty about being a native german, I've played soccer for 15 years at travel, premier, varsity and college travel levels, and have watched soccer for just as long. I think i'm fairly capable of watching, analyzing, and developing my own opinions...

[D2]

Originally Posted by JC...

You mean "football" where you carry the ball around with your hands and kick it once in a while?

Yeah, the one where you carry the ball in your hands and move on the field with your feet.

[exekute15]

Go Go Go....Japan all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[exekute15]

Im sorry to say this but Barca and arsenal have two different styles........

[D2]

Originally Posted by exekute15

Go Go Go....Japan all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO USA! BTW, way to represent Chrono Crusade, I like it.

[Blaat]

Originally Posted by JC...

You mean "football" where you carry the ball around with your hands and kick it once in a while?

Originally Posted by D2

Yeah, the one where you carry the ball in your hands and move on the field with your feet.

By that explanation most sports should be called football.

[D2]

Originally Posted by Blaat

By that explanation most sports should be called football.

I guess most of them could, but the developers of those games chose not to call it that. For whatever reason, the developers of American football did. IIRC, American football got its origin when a person in some random Association Football game picked up the ball and ran with it, which led to Rugby Football. In the US a man named Walter Camp then adjusted the rules of Rugby, which birthed American Football. For some reasons or another, both of the words "Association" and "American" were dropped when their respective games were talked about, and the word "Football" was dropped from the phrase "Rugby Football." To save time when talking, that's my guess at least.

[Father Hentai]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

that wasn't a comment directed at you. i was addressing if a person was an average male, they would probably cheer for the team with more attractive players.


Also, before you go high and mighty about being a native german, I've played soccer for 15 years at travel, premier, varsity and college travel levels, and have watched soccer for just as long. I think i'm fairly capable of watching, analyzing, and developing my own opinions...

Well, how you -not quoted- and how you replied regarding underdog your reply looked like you wanted to answer my post. Apologize if there has been a confusion. At least we should put aside such comments because we both have decent experience in soccer through our hobby or even "soccer religion". :P

Originally Posted by germanturkey

also, Japan impressed me with their possession game and reminded me greatly of a Barca/Arsenal play style. This will be another game of technical ability vs athleticism. the US doesn't need to hold the ball long periods, though they probably could. they had a very very off game against France, and resorted to counter attacking football, which also played to their advantage because of their superior athleticism.

I definitely feel that Japan will be bullied off the ball. Japan is small and fast, but the US is large and just as fast. Germany was capable of doing this, but they couldn't take their chances that day. Yes, Japan has a very good dead ball specialist, but the height advantage the US has is undeniably going to play a role in the game. In any given game, a team will win plenty more free kicks from areas where the ball will be serviced, rather than shot. The commentators have said that Japan's keeper is bad in the air (though i didn't see that against Germany..), and i'll bet that the US will get TONS of service in from the wings.

I don't think that that flank and head will work. Japan vs. Denmark has proven this in the mens world cup and in the womens championship you can also see that Japan defends against wingers with at least 2 people. I am almost sure that if the U.S. wants to use flank and head as their main tactic, then they will lose the final round. If they analyze the previous games, then they will see the mistake what the Germany and the Sweden have done.