Official 2015 Women's World Cup Thread

[Quis_Separabit]

Originally Posted by Acey

Just the way the slots are allotted to the various federations, the end result is that Ivory Coast is ranked #67 in the FIFA rankings but is here playing in a tournament that's supposed to be the top 24 teams in the world. This is not unusual and happens in the men's game too, but the disparity between #1 and #67 is giant in the women's game.

World Cup doesn't mean the top 24 teams in the world. It's the best teams from each continent. If it was top 24 it would be Europe v South America doe the most part

[GirlySports]

Yeah there's just not enough money to play games in some regions. Africa was given an extra spot with the expansion to 24. Ivory Coast finished 3rd in the African Championship which is the only women's football Africa organizes.

They said during the broadcast that Ivory Coast have played 1 game this year. Nigeria, the African Champions, are ranked 36. They just don't get to play any games.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by Quis_Separabit

World Cup doesn't mean the top 24 teams in the world. It's the best teams from each continent. If it was top 24 it would be Europe v South America doe the most part

Yeah I know it doesn't technically mean that, which is why I mentioned slots... it does nothing to change the point about disparity, for whatever reason to which you want to attribute the disparity. Lack of play, lack of funding, lack of interest, whatever.

[GirlySports]

it's unfortunately that these two teams got put in the same group, that writes off the 3rd place team in this group from getting a wildcard spot. 4 of the other 5 3rd placed teams will get in.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Acey

As Ivory Coast sits in for the learning experience vs Germany, a casual fan in Ottawa now has zero reason to have any further interest in attending another game after watching two abysmal blowouts.

North Americans do complain about the lack of scoring in football, maybe they'll be enticed by blowouts. I don't mind a good goalfest and when you throw in beer and sunshine...

[Acey]

Yeah I mean is a 10-0 game a good thing? Is the fact that you can write off the majority of group stage games a good thing? Well I don't think so. We all like goals but it's not like any of them have been sensational.

I don't see how anything good can be taken away from this.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Acey

Yeah I mean is a 10-0 game a good thing? Is the fact that you can write off the majority of group stage games a good thing? Well I don't think so. We all like goals but it's not like any of them have been sensational.

I don't see how anything good can be taken away from this.

Women's soccer has to grow. African women just don't get to play at all. They only had 21 teams in qualifying

Ivory Coast players are thrilled to be there in front of a big crowd, some even in orange t-shirts!

BTW that was not a record, Germany beat Argentina 11-0 in 2007.

[d_phaneuf]

just like Das Sound Machine these Germans are hopefully peaking early, only to fail at the finals against the crowd favorite

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Acey

Yeah I mean is a 10-0 game a good thing? Is the fact that you can write off the majority of group stage games a good thing? Well I don't think so. We all like goals but it's not like any of them have been sensational.

I don't see how anything good can be taken away from this.

15 years ago it was basically a 2-3 team sport

its still very much in its infancy competitively

[East Coast Flame]

Had a blast up in Edmonton for the weekend. Seeing everyone in red all over the city was great.

But man, they could not handle that crowd. We also waited about 4 trains until we finally pushed our way onto one. Getting into the stadium was a gong show, we waited about 45 minutes in security and just made it for the start of the opening ceremonies. Concessions were about a 30-45 minute wait.

Heat was brutal, but we had a blast! Glad Canada pulled it off at the end.

Shermanator - I think we were right beside you. I was right in the middle of all the Chinese fans. Awesome seats.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

Had a blast up in Edmonton for the weekend. Seeing everyone in red all over the city was great.

But man, they could not handle that crowd. We also waited about 4 trains until we finally pushed our way onto one. Getting into the stadium was a gong show, we waited about 45 minutes in security and just made it for the start of the opening ceremonies. Concessions were about a 30-45 minute wait.

Heat was brutal, but we had a blast! Glad Canada pulled it off at the end.

Shermanator - I think we were right beside you. I was right in the middle of all the Chinese fans. Awesome seats.

A little late to the party here, but just wanted to say that on TV Edmonton looked like a great host city. The stadium looked superb and the crowd was great (and huge). Was it an official sellout? It was certainly record breaking I bet nonetheless.

Where is that twerp Kelly now from the National post? What a d-bag that guy was, ugh. At first I was like Toronto should have at least been a host city. Now I'm like, no I'm glad they got stepped over. They suck and that stadium sucks. BC Place & Vancouver will be a great final match, no matter who makes it.


Canada looked shaky for large stretches of the game and made many mistakes, but didn't exactly play bad. They need to be better, but I chalk that up to nerves in the opening game. They will settle down and play better. How about Sinclair? Simply the best.

I hope Canada wins it. And if they don't, I hope they at least bounce the States as revenge for 2012.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Was it an official sellout? It was certainly record breaking I bet nonetheless.

Record breaking yes, sellout no. But it was very close, and some seats were inexplicably blocked off as well.

I find myself wondering if the turf contributes to the feeling of heat at Commonwealth. We know it does for the players. Air temperature was only 25°, warm but not blazing.

[East Coast Flame]

In the stadium I believe they announced a little over 53k attendance. Looked like there were a couple empty spots in the top corners. The opening ceremony was only about half full due to everyone being outside waiting to get through security.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by Acey

Record breaking yes, sellout no. But it was very close, and some seats were inexplicably blocked off as well.

I find myself wondering if the turf contributes to the feeling of heat at Commonwealth. We know it does for the players. Air temperature was only 25°, warm but not blazing.

Wow, it was only 25? It felt a lot hotter than that in the stands, can't imagine what it was like on the field. Our section was right in the sun the whole game and I saw a few people that needed medical attention. It was brutal. Also the insane line to try and get water couldn't have helped.

[Acey]

Yeah on the BBC feed they were talking about the effect the turf has on temperature cause it's pretty much plastic.

I double checked temperatures -

4 pm kickoff: 26°
5 pm - 6 pm: 25°
7 pm NED/NZ kickoff: 25°
8 pm: 25°
9 pm: 22°

[Acey]

Sweden - Nigeria crowd in Winnipeg. 3 pm local kickoff on a workday. Crowd for the USA later should be near full.

[CroFlames]

It's kinda weird, but kinda smart to have 2 games in one day in the same stadium.

That pic of the Winnipeg stadium looks pretty cool actually. The only thing missing is grass.

[troutman]

Is this right? - origin of the word "soccer":

http://www.theskepticsguide.org/shut...-called-soccer

As the game of kicking random objects around outside evolved into organized sport, there came two differnet sets of rules, split by 1863. One where you could also use your hands, called “rugby football,” and one where you couldn’t, called “association football.” By 1871, the new British Football Association wrote rules for these two games which were then referred to as “rugger” and……. “soccer.” As these games spread across the pond to the US, Harvard and Yale picked up rugby as the players enjoyed using their hands more; the rules evolved and eventually modern American football was born, based in rugby football tradition.

The wikipedia article on the subject contains old links, but suggests that the reason football is called football refers to the fact that it is played on-foot, not ‘exclusively with your feet.’

So ha. 1) soccer is not only not incorrect, it is the original word,

[Acey]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

That pic of the Winnipeg stadium looks pretty cool actually. The only thing missing is grass.

It's the nicest and newest facility in this tournament. Wouldn't mind a clone to replace McMahon.

[calgarygeologist]

Great game by Nigeria today. They have been playing very aggressively against Sweden and have been rewarded nicely for their hard work in the second half.