OT: Women’s World Cup - the final four
The quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup are almost complete and it’s looking like three European teams will be in the Final Four.
At this moment - three extra time minutes remain in the last quarterfinal - three teams have reached the semis - Sweden, Spain, and Australia (host country), England leads Columbia by one. And, the three previous games were decided by a single goal - or PKs.
These quarters, IMO, illustrate the level of play for the best sides in the game. Quick accurate passing - effective counters, solid defense, solid tactics, good execution.
It’s been an enjoyable round to watch.
The semifinals should be: Spain v Sweden, and Australia v England.
Any thoughts / predictions?
August 12th, 2023 at 8:39 AM ^
I am rooting for Spain. They play a beautiful game. Ball possession, with quick accurate passing, just like their men's team.
August 12th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
Dude. Spain's men's team is a brutal watch. 1000 horizontal passes and no shots on target.
They are the living embodiment of this:
Their women, thankfully, actually try to score sometimes.
August 12th, 2023 at 4:52 PM ^
Watching that great individual-effort goal that won their quarterfinal. That player was looking for that beautiful pass the entire match, playing it back, everyone passing one too many times. So she looks around, every passing lane is blocked. She looks again. She hesitates. "What is this terrible situation? I cannot pass to anyone."
Then she makes a move and finds herself with an angle and took her shot. Placed it perfectly in the corner of the net. Makes you think the best way to defend Spain is to let them pass the ball to their heart's content, as long as they stay out of the penalty area.
They're like Hoosiers, only without Larry Bird.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
Makes you think the best way to defend Spain is to let them pass the ball to their heart's content, as long as they stay out of the penalty area.
That's a common defensive strategy, the "low block." It has its downsides of course, but against a highly technical team committed to possession, that's often the best you can do.
August 12th, 2023 at 8:42 AM ^
Pulling for Australia since they’re a host nation and haven’t even been able to play their best player more than 35 minutes a game during the knockouts (and not at all in the group). Sweden is my second choice since they’ve come close so many times in major tournaments:
Euros: one win, three runner ups, five semifinals
Olympics: two runner ups, one semifinal
World Cup: one runner up, three semifinals
August 12th, 2023 at 8:49 AM ^
Give me Spain vs England final.
England wins it all. I think they're the most complete team.
August 12th, 2023 at 9:53 AM ^
Agreed & I think they play a physical/rough style of football that can throw of the beautiful, rhythmic passing that Spain employs
August 12th, 2023 at 11:00 AM ^
Sweden also plays a pretty rough style. I also happen to have money on Sweden to win it all so that’s who I am rooting for
August 12th, 2023 at 9:10 AM ^
England. Long suffering football nation deserves a win.
Plus, their nickname is cool. Lionesses.
August 12th, 2023 at 10:08 AM ^
Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!
Pretty tense, 10 rds of PKs.
Was hoping for Japan from this side. But Spain has looked good. Hope to see Aitana Bonmati do something amazing.
But I'm not all that invested. I would like to see wins before it gets to PKs.
August 12th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
I've gradually gotten into soccer, first with my kids playing. I even "coached" one game when the coach had to be absent and chose me (probably because I knew all the players names). Then the coverage for World Cups.
So I enjoy it now.
BUT it's still a weird game that's over only when someone says so. No clock. No definite score. Nothing until the ref blows the whistle.
August 12th, 2023 at 4:14 PM ^
Clarification: I meant I'm not all that invested in any particular remaining team.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
I mean, baseball has no clock at all and play isn't stopped until the umpire calls it too. It's really not that weird, even in sports like basketball refs can add more time to the clock based on replay review etc. Or in football, the clock can be zero but the game doesn't end until the ref calls the last play over.
The score is pretty damn definite in soccer though, not sure what you mean by that.
August 13th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
The ump in baseball doesn't decide when the game is over, just signals that the final action was an out or a winning run.
As for basketball or football refs adding time, they go to a monitor and look at a specific number of seconds based on specific actions and specific time on the clock.
By contrast, the ref in soccer has sole discretion how long the game continues and exactly when it's over, based on their feeling about the time.
August 13th, 2023 at 6:06 PM ^
Actually this isn't true anymore. Since the men's world cup they've been totalling up the time the game has stopped for injury and adding it. Maybe they round down to the minute. But that's why instead of less than 5 min, it's often closer to 10 (assuming a bunch of stoppages). As to who's keeping track, I'm not sure.
August 14th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
Good point. Thanks.
Still, I can't think of another sport—other than judged ones like gymnastics or diving—where it's normal for fans to only know the outcome after an official decides.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
Meg Linehan had a recent podcast with Kim McCauley where he talked about how the USWNT was moving more towards a possession style of play but that got thrown out the window due to covid and the performance in the Olympics. There is no question that the game is moving in that direction. Japan was a great example of this style of play but were knocked out by Sweden. Here is my order as far as my preference for which team wins it all:
- Sweden
- Australia
- England
- Spain (I do love how dismissive they are of their coach though)
From all accounts this World Cup has really taken off which is awesome. Nations which were once dismissive of women's soccer are now staunchly supporting their teams.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:29 PM ^
The thing is the heavy possession style only works with technical excellence. I believe this current version of the USWNT is not a technically proficient as previous generations, so it's probably an inconvenient time to switch, but the game is moving inevitably in that direction so not necessarily a good idea to delay it. Also, the senior team switching means it will inspire the youth system so that in 5-10 years the next generation will be comfortable playing more possession oriented.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:33 AM ^
Watched the France Aussie game live with my French friends here in Seattle. These guys are a group of former semi-pro level players who are just bonkers for the sport. It was a wild experience. Felt bad for them, but also happy for the host nation.
August 12th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
I'll root for Australia to beat the Brits for no other reason but to avenge the death of Peter Handcock in "Breaker Morant."
August 12th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
- Sentry: Do you want the padre?
- Harry Morant: No, thank you. I'm a pagan.
- Sentry: And you?
- Peter Handcock: What's a pagan?
- Harry Morant: Well... it's somebody who doesn't believe there's a divine being dispensing justice to mankind.
- Peter Handcock: I'm a pagan, too.
- Harry Morant: There is an epitaph I'd like: Matthew 10:36. Well, Peter... this is what comes of 'empire building.'
- Major Thomas: Matthew 10:36?
- Minister: "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household."
Breaker Morant was one of those free movies shown on campus when I was a student. Really liked it.
August 12th, 2023 at 1:13 PM ^
It's an excellent movie -- one of my favorites. The first time I saw it was in a film class at Michigan.
August 12th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Or payback for Gallipoli in general?
August 12th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
Would love if Spain or Australia won it. Australia looks like the most complete team. Sweden is tough, though. This should be the end of the line for the Lionesses.
If Spain had their other nine players, I think they're the world number one. But the tikka-takka is heart-breaking when you play beautifully, fail to score, and the other team hammers you on the breakaway.
August 12th, 2023 at 12:56 PM ^
Can't help rooting for England. They've won squat since the Falklands. Let them have this.
August 12th, 2023 at 3:42 PM ^
Hmm. Ex-girlfriend in Australia. another girlfriend was from England. AND I'd love to date someone from Spain. OR from Sweden.
It's so hard to choose what team to root for.
August 12th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
These games are too close to pick a winner. The Swedes which were lucky (PK) to get past a dominant USA, out played a better Japan. The French, one of the best teams lost in PKs.
I don’t think the Swedes are the best team, but given their experience and coaching, I picking them to win out.
The other team that might get through on talent is Spain
August 12th, 2023 at 2:10 PM ^
For Sweden to move on it seems like they need to capitalize on set pieces. Can Ilestedt (4G) catch Miyazawa (5G, 1A) in the golden boot race?
Spain has 3 players with 3G, Bonmati also 2A, Redondo & Hermoso 1A ea.
Aussie Haley Raso has 3G, as does England's Lauren James, but the latter is out unless England makes the final.
August 12th, 2023 at 3:34 PM ^
Australia vs. England. Regardless of soccer, it's a fascinating matchup historically.
August 12th, 2023 at 8:56 PM ^
I predict I won’t watch any of these matches.
August 13th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
delete
August 13th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
gut tells me spain wins it but have not been able to watch much due to fox/pay tv BS and odd times of games. like all the teams left...would be cool if the lady mat's call pull it off.