General Football Thread (inc' Foreign, Non-League & Women's Football)

I have no idea what the Ecuadorian coach said at half time, but I bet they're regretting it #implosion

 

Switzerland didn't have to keep attacking like that. I mean it's awkward if you just pass it around the back without trying and all. But they could take the foot off the pedal a little. Take 10 minutes to score instead of 5.

Women's soccer, man. It's silly. Even in the U.S. the same teams dominate ridiculously at the college level. And half those college who win nothing could easily destroy 3/4 of the teams in this tournament. And if course the best college team would still get smoked by the national team.

It's not being sexist to point out that women's soccer sucks horribly. Someday maybe there will be better gender equity and maybe a demand and then it will be more entertaining. But some of these teams are completely incompetent. A good Sunday pub team could beat them.

 

Yes, and how developed do you think women's soccer is in Ecuador? Or the Ivory Coast? Or wherever? The answer is probably not very, so of course countries where women's football is slightly more developed (e.g. European countries, Japan and North America) are going to destroy them. The problem with women's football is that it's still very niche and that's even more so in places like Africa and South America and I bet the pool of players for such teams is tiny. There's no reason why countries can't become as good as the USA, but to do that they need to take the sport seriously, invest in it and make it a viable career option for women.

And tbh, I reckon a few domestic women's teams could probably outplay one or two of the team.s in this world cup Before you think women's football sucks, go watch a Women's Premier League match. Or maybe a Super League match, I don't know what the standard of football is like in the latter, but when two relatively even teams are competing, I'm sure you'll find it can be entertaining and doesn't suck.

Edit: To put it another way, some of these matches are like English men's football in the 1890s vs English football in the 1990s

 

Yes, someone needs to invest in the sport. FIFA obviously doesn't care.

The US Women aren't even that great, tbh. They are running out the same team more-or-less that they did six years ago. Probably half the squad will retire (or at least should retire) after this Cup. They need a massive injection of new talent, but there it isn't there as the NWSL is not doing so well plus the coaches are afraid to play younger players. So a lot of promising players just quit after college or a season or two as pros.

That's what is kind of depressing. Someone should be making the US pay for running the national team and generally managing the women's game so badly. But no one else out there is doing any better. Brazil has gotten worse. So has China.

But yeah, when you get two good teams competing the matches are enjoyable. US-Japan in 2011 was a great game. But you know, that's like one match out of dozens.

 

What channel are the games on tonight?

 

England on BBC 3

 

Only internationally. Domestically, there are often much closer games. Well, as long as the two teams are in the same league. Occasioanlly, you'll get big scores and one-sided games, but that's usually only against the one or two teams that may be fighting relegation.

And go Colombia!

 

What a win for Colombia!

 

England 0-0 at HT. Come on England! Show the men how it's done.

 

Well there is one way in which the women have equality. Both gender England teams are as boring as **** to watch. I am watching, but it is tedious.

 

You have no idea how many times I've said that in reference to Portsmouth

 

1-0 England. Cracking goal.

 

Aluko get out the way!

 

2-0!

 

2-0. Kirby is by far the most inventive, proper player in this team.

 

2-1. Stupid.

 

2-1.

 

Has Aluko actually done anything this game?

 

No. Kirby is the only one that looks like she treats the ball like a friend, rather than a mildly terrifying alien.

 

(After two games, I'm clearly an expert btw...)