WAY TO GO ENGLAND!

[FellowTraveler]

The women did great.

They beat a tough Colombian team today.

GO ENGLISH GALS!

I tell our local women football players about and to Google the wonderful system that is in place for women's football in England today. They are envious. There is nothing like that here.

[FellowTraveler]

They drew Norway.

[FellowTraveler]

Whoa... Norway ran out of gas. They failed to put one in early from running play when they were dominating and when they still had some gas left in the tank.

England improved as the match went on.

The coach made the right subs too. Kirby was not having a good match.

England does have a pace and size problem. One that may prevent them from going much farther.

The women (as a whole - in general) lack skills moving with the ball. The ball seems to be faster than their reaction times - so they tend to play with their heads down on the ball - making their field vision drop off and thereby not see the passes that are there for them. It is frustrating.

They cannot turn and accelerate rapidly enough to play near balls that are behind them or to consider a shooting turn when they are not facing goal. Again, it is frustrating at times.

Movement off the ball is lacking too. **England's 6 defenders literally trotted (at best) often strolled out of the back in transition in th

[cufcaussiebranch]

I'm going to make an effort to watch the Canada game, FT.

It's on at 9:30 am Sunday morning down here, which is perfect.

Although I haven't been able to watch any games live on TV I've been watching quite closely. There's been some great goals, so far, and the skill seems okay. One thing that does look shocking is the standard of goalkeeping, there's been some real howlers.

I take it you're supporting the US?

England can potentially meet Australia in the semis, that would be interesting...

[moorlad]

FT you sum up the deficiencies in the women's game as a whole quite well there, not just England. They take longer to control the ball, they're a good deal slower off the mark, whether turning or going from a standing start, their coordination is not as good as male professionals, and as you rightly say their vision is not as good. Having said that they are much better than a few years ago, they seem fitter, faster and stronger, but they do have a long way to go - Workington Reds would have beaten that England side. It is, however refreshing to see they don't dive nearly as much and they don't pretend to be hurt when they're not.

I too will be watching the Canada game, England go in with a bit of a chance, and could even get to the final, which would be a massive achievement. I'll also be watching the Under 21s tonight, expecting them to be extremely dull.

[FellowTraveler]

Moorlad: Believe, I did include all of them.

Only thing on England was their lack of pace and size relative to the other better women's teams in the Cup.

A decent "boys" high school team here would beat the USA national women's team. In minutes!

I have seen it before where really good women's teams have taken on men in challenges (even with special touch rules). They all have been stopped within 10s of minutes - as unfairly lopsided bad ideas.

The best comparison of the differences of the ***es, where they preform together athletically is in the Ballet. There, the ***es physical differences are put on display side by side and they are quite obvious.

[FellowTraveler]

The Women in Football in the States have created some bad blood with the men's game.

It may be years before the men's leagues here umbrella their teams in our pro leagues like they have done in Britain.

Much of it revolves around the real threat of equal pay demands (or sometimes even wanting more than the men - as happened after the first Women's Cup here in our National program. - it was ugly). Most of the 1000s of pro men playing football here are starving football bums. Even at the highest levels

Yes, I will root for our gals - to be sure.

[postmanpete]

Don't think its very fair expecting our Girls to kick off at 00.30 they will be half asleep.

[FellowTraveler]

WHAT ABOUT THOSE GALS HUH!

Canada played hard and nearly took the game back. But not hard enough. haha.

Watched it with NorthernLad. The man (NorthernLad) is a football genius. It is amazing England let him get away to here in AmeriKa.

I really am surprised that all England and this MB is not going wild for the Gals. Seeing how, the England Men's team is sure not have to World Cup winner or even make it to the Semis there in this millennium.

[durhamblue]

well done to them-good win.

japan next-not sure of our chances against them.just wish the mens teams would do as well.