Womens Soccer World Cup

[Adam West]

I saw that and thought it was pretty funny. There is no rule against it. Now try pulling that stunt on any legit team and you probably won't score face forward.

[Hector]

In other soccer related news...

Check this penalty kick...lol...

UAEBlog - Yahoo! Sports


Soon after that...his coach benched him for bad sportsmanship...

[Hector]

Good posts, guys.

[Adam West]

This will definitely move Japan to #1 in the world and USA to 2nd. I wonder if Germany will just take one step down to #3 or Sweden will jump up to the third spot.

This will be the last World Cup for a lot of the players like Rampone and Boxx who are both in their mid-thirties. I have always thought Wambach was a good player but not a great player. She has a hard shot and can jump over just about anyone but most of her goals come off of headers. She also plays super aggressive. Her foot skills are just ok...nothing special and generally succeeds simply by bull dogging the ball in. It is great to see young unseasoned players like Morgan come in and score with speed and skill (nearly had a 2nd goal). A lot of good U.S. female players entering the professional ranks.

[megojim]

It's funny/odd to see the fundemental mistakes they made that led to both goals. In both cases there were two defenders at the ball, in both cases the outside player playing the ball inside took control in stead of allowing the inside defender clear it out and awya from the goal. Sometimes it's a game of inches, the posts that were struck along with the one save that was punched over the top proved to be all Japan needed.
The Morgan substitution was brilliant, that young lady is gonna be a STAR!
Happy for Japan.

[wolfie]

absolutly Japan deserve it. For a team that was not supposed to reach the final they not only won it but beat the best teams around in doing it.

They only lost one match in the whole tournament, modesty prevents me from saying to who.

[Adam West]

As far as the World Cup, I'm sad that the U.S. didn't win but I give Japan total props and if of all teams outside the U.S. that could have won; I was happy it was Japan. They had to go through Germany, Sweden, and U.S. to win and they did. I won't try to 2nd guess the what if's....U.S. could have ended the game 15 minutes into it and as far as the no call offsides; it was near midfield so who is to say she would have scored...someone might have caught her or Solo might have stopped the shot. I also don't 2nd guess Pia's subs. Morgan was a great sub. I won't even 2nd guess not playing Rodriguez. You can't look to the past as evidenced by the U.S. thinking they could beat Brazil in 2007 World Cup by pulling Solo and playing Scurry. Rodriguez had a horrible World Cup. They blew it on penalties. It is easy to sit back an rethink it now but I think the U.S. picked the wrong players to take them. Boxx was also having a horrible World Cup, Lloyd was the right person to take one but she blew it, and I would not have had Tobin Heath take one. She is unseasoned and to come in with that pressure on and take a kick was a bad choice. Like I said, no bad feelings. Japan deserves it.

[Adam West]

Chile is probably the favorite at this point...but I'm taking Uruguay to win Copa America (if Forlán wakes up)....just to pizz ya off...

My feelings aren't hurt. Maybe now, I'll get to see Messi play in the Bacelona/Manchester United Not So Friendly in Washington D.C. in a couple of weeks.

[Hector]

If you think the American women's soccer team were bad in the penalty kicks by missing three with Japan...look at Brazil vs Paraguay in Copa America play...they missed FOUR in a row...and are OUT...unbelievable...lol...

Brazil: First team to miss every PK in Copa America shootout - Dirty Tackle - World SoccerBlog - Yahoo! Sports

[Hector]

Hope Solo...what a class act...I feel so bad for her.

[Hector]

Losing against Venezuela...oh my...lol.

I can't see anyone beating Uruguay at this point.

[kennermike]

Chile! gggooonnnneeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

[kennermike]

Chile is probably the favorite at this point...but I'm taking Uruguay to win Copa America (if Forlán wakes up)....just to pizz ya off...

Chile! gggooonnnneeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

[Hector]

You have to question USA's coach, Pia Sundhage a bit, she substituted two players for this game...the big one...benching the struggling Amy Rodriguez...sure...she was a bit off...but she had been the most successful player against Japan in the past...scoring three goals against them in the past meetings between the two...I dunno if that was a strategic mistake...Sundhage almost brought in Rodriguez near the end of the game...but backed off when USA scored its second goal...so...we will just never know.

[Hector]

Japan also had some bad luck...especially that offside called against them...where the Japanese forward was all alone to score...but was called back...they could've been up by a goal at that point.

But wee should not make excuses on bad luck for either side...you win games by kicking/heading the ball into the net...period.

The game was pretty even...the game was lost because the Americans choked in the penalty kicks...simple as that.

And I'm saying this despite the fact that I was rooting for the USA...but I have to look at the result in a fair and balanced manner.