I caught 3 games and 2 of them went to a shoot out. Pretty entertaining soccer. Also, women flop far less. Its refreshing.
Brings back a bad memory in my soccer years (1978 to be precise; 7-8 years old; just looked at trophy just now) in a playoff game where I kicked a sudden death kick (just like this game came down to) on target but over the goal. It tore me up when I missed that and we ended up losing sudden death. Win and we were champs. Finished second and remember dreading that smaller trophy I was called up to get at the pizza place the team went to after. Damn. But, good game and I'm happy for Japan.
I lost 500 bucks on that game...crap. Outside of my disappointment in losing money, I have to say that women's soccer has landed on my radar. I never thought much of it, but I was able to catch a few games and I thoroughly enjoyed each one. Very entertaining stuff. Also, I love Alex Morgan.
Seriously, I enjoy the women's game just as much as the men's, much like in tennis, etc. It's not like women's basketball, where the pace of the game is slower and lower.
117' 3 (2 - 2) SAWA (Japan) scores!! 115' 10 Japan swing in the corner. 115' 32 The goalkeeper of USA pulls off a save. 115' 8 A player from Japan sees her effort hit the target. 114' 4 HEATH (in) comes off the bench to replace RAPINOE (out) (USA)
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I don't like it that when Hope Solo guesses wrong on a penalty kick she just stands there like a dumb ass.
OMG!! I had to work today but set the DVR (+30 min extra) I made it home without knowing the outcome and began watching THE DVR STOPPED RECORDING RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOOTOUT!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there anywhere to watch the PK's online?
Kinda like women's tennis, too. They hit the ball so much weaker, and the matches are at least a set or two shorter. Women's sports are kinda meh, aside from beach volleyball, but it's summer and there's only baseball or golf on right now with the NBA and NFL in lockout. Sigh.
A soccer pitch is a hell of a lot bigger than a basketball court, so relative speed isn't as noticeable (nor is speed the defining characteristic of the game). And there's no huge emphasis on vertical leap in soccer, unlike basketball. Athleticism isn't the end-all-be-all of the sport, the skill portions are more important... technique is paramount. The athletic part of soccer isn't what sells the tickets, it's a game of finesse and strategy. Because of that, soccer is a game that lends itself to a fairly equally entertaining style of play from both men and women, as opposed to other sports. (especially rare in the team sport format)
Sure, the men can run faster and kick harder than the women...but the pace of the women's game feels just as fast as the men's. Lots of action and energy. You also dont have the constant faking of injuries as you do in the men's game...that alone is very refreshing.
