The Ref Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 It is interesting that after our Canadian women failed to advance, the number of post and related activity here has diminished drastically. Understandable, but there are other teams worth noting and more competition coming yet. Unnamed Trialist and narduch 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 13 hours ago, The Ref said: It is interesting that after our Canadian women failed to advance, the number of post and related activity here has diminished drastically. Understandable, but there are other teams worth noting and more competition coming yet. Not surprised at all, really. I've actually enjoyed this tourney quite a bit because the overall quality of play exceeded my expectatations and I have been quite engaged in almost all of the matches. I have been really impressed with what I hve seen from the other countries. JamboAl and Unnamed Trialist 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 ^ Agreed. The quality of play from individual players and across teams from different regions has been impressive. The 2023 tournament has be a huge step forward for the women's game. Unnamed Trialist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 Agreed with others, I’ve found the quality of play really good and haven’t missed our absence too much. As I’ve said previously, Canada’s (and the US’s) days of just bully CONCACAF rivals is coming to an end. And Mexico wasn’t here… The Ref and BearcatSA 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Green Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 (edited) 3 minutes ago, JamboAl said: And Mexico wasn’t here… Because they weren’t good enough to qualify. Hardly a reason to fear them. Edited August 14, 2023 by Colonel Green Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 1 minute ago, Colonel Green said: Because they weren’t good enough to qualify. Hardly a reason to fear them. I know but you don’t think they’ll be back in force with their strong league set up. The Ref 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colonel Green Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 An interesting subplot for the remaining games: whether Miyazawa can keep the Golden Boot despite Japan being eliminated. Working in her favour, the only remaining player with four goals is a defender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 (edited) The two most likely contenders for the Golden Glove (Mušović and Arnold) are still in this tourney. At least I won't have to see either "pull a Martinez" (or was it "Martinez pulling"?) upon receiving the award. Edited August 14, 2023 by BearcatSA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 3 hours ago, JamboAl said: Agreed with others, I’ve found the quality of play really good and haven’t missed our absence too much. As I’ve said previously, Canada’s (and the US’s) days of just bully CONCACAF rivals is coming to an end. And Mexico wasn’t here… Despite the feel good story of Jamaica, they're still a side premised on bigger time athleticism to get the job done but if they show the same commitment I saw Down Under, they will be a big problem for us over the two legged qualifier. Costa Rica and Panama (despite the latter's goals vs a France on rotation) are still subpar at this level. I still think we are a team in the top 10-15 ranking range in the women's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Spain vs Sweden: the Swedes have big mo going for them in overcoming two elite opponents in the knockout rounds, and the keeping gives them a big edge. However, Spain not only has talent and technique but they also showed resilience in scoring an extra time winner after conceding the tying goal in deflating fashion during second half stoppage time versus the Dutch. I am going with Spain to do the job here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 (edited) Sweden - Spain. It will be interesting to see if Sweden can clog the middle as the did for the first 60 against Japan or if Spain can move the ball quickly past them. Looking forward to it! Edited August 15, 2023 by kacbru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Spain dominating but Sweden with chances too. Well fought overall, and quite cleanly played. If Spain don't score it'll be the old story of not taking your chances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Spain look more likely to create a goal, whereas a Sweden goal feels like it would come from an opportunistic forced turnover. Unnamed Trialist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 (edited) A shame Putellas can't play 90. She's only at 80% though. Salma for Alexia is a direct attacking change and Spain has shifted to longer balls. It's a very high quality match, Sweden is totally in it and they've even had better luck pressuring. Credit to them for not fouling Spain too much. One of the most daring moves from Vilda is to put Cata Coll into goal, the young Barcelona second keeper. Seems to be to give them a bigger body and more presence in the air. She's also strong with her feet. Coll is not touted at all by the press in Spain. Edited August 15, 2023 by Unnamed Trialist kacbru 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 The hand that Coll just got on the Sweden cross about 10 minutes ago saved a goal. She has looked good. Unnamed Trialist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 She's done it again! Paralluelo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Well that lead didn't last long. Blomqvist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Well that lasted even less. Unbelievable! Carmona! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Olga Carmona the fullback! 2-1. These last 10 minutes have been amazing, great intensity from both sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unnamed Trialist Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Deserved I feel, though incredibly this is not even Spain's best play and not even the best team we could field. kacbru 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kacbru Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 Good game. What a finish! Both teams played well. But Spain deserved winners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrR Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 (edited) Not too many active on this thread (2) for a World Cup semi-final. Congrats to Spain. Great win! Edited August 15, 2023 by MrR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 It was a very good affair. Props to Sweden for their effort and fight back. Really good match. As a neutral (and a very long time contributor on here), I really want to see a strong technical side win this thing over sides whose stocks in trade are much more premised on athleticism, work rate, and discipline. But the irony here is that the introduction of the speed merchant striker really changed the match for Spain and stretched the Swedish d more. I don't think they win this if she's not sn arrow in their quiver off the bench. Even missing their "rebels," the technical abilities of the depth in this program allow them to be a "next player up" kind of team, to use the college gridiron phrase. That's something any country's program should aspire to have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamboAl Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 6 hours ago, MrR said: Not too many active on this thread (2) for a World Cup semi-final. Congrats to Spain. Great win! It doesn’t help that it’s in the middle of the night for almost everyone. Watched it on tape delay at 630 am; think Spain just about edged it but it was a good quality match with a frantic last 10 mins. Even though I was in Qatar and watched a fair number of matches and thoroughly enjoyed myself, I find watching this event on TV to be really entertaining. Probably more so than the men’s WC. Unnamed Trialist, Mango and The Ref 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ref Posted August 15, 2023 Share Posted August 15, 2023 I enjoyed seeing Spain a well deserved win in 90 minutes. Definitions on PKs not always yield the deserving winner. BearcatSA 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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