A light hearted Womens Euros thread.

[WhiteRussian]

!-0 to England at half time but not the greatest match so far. Funny listening to the crowd condsidering it's a pretty well full Old Trafford, it's rahter hogh pitched and no chanting!

What standard do you think this is at? League 1, 2?

Anyway, come on England. Get the Trophy and thump your noses at the men failing last year!!

 

[Bartonyellow]

I don’t watch womens football as it’s not very good. I think it’s more conference standard from what I have seen.
Good on them - glad it’s well attended and it’s great news, it’s just not for me.
And on a separate note. It really pisses me off on the bbc website when it does not differentiate between the mens and womens football, so I see the headline “Chelsea lose 1-0”…scratch me head because they are not playing then realised it’s the women.

 

[Chief Rocka]

If they were playing in the back garden I'd close me curtains.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

I don’t care what the standard is. I enjoy it for what it is, a competitive game between two equal sides. It was great to see 68k at OT last might. Anything that helps, encourages and empowers more girls and women into the sport of their choice is good in my eyes.

 

[Greenacres]

This is the first tournament with any England football team, of either gender, that I have looked at the squad and believed we have a real chance of winning it. There is real strength in depth, to be able to bring players like Kelly, Toone and Rousso off the bench can be a real game changer. I watched the friendly game against the Netherlands the other week, who are the reigning European Champions, and was really impressed with how England played, particularly in the second half. The match turned on one incident when the scores were level, the Dutch missed a penalty and England went ahead barely a minute later, after that they never looked back and completely dominated the rest of the game. I accept that last night wasn't perfect, maybe the occasion got to the players a bit, but it was job done and who wants to peak in the first game of a tournament.

I read a few articles about the tournament, and players, on the Beeb website yesterday and to say that some of the comments were bizarre is perhaps an understatement...I wonder if the people who posted them, presumably men, would repeat their comments to their mother, sister or daughter (if they have reached puberty and are actually capable of fathering a child)...although these were balanced by comments from somewhat more rational people who chose to celebrate the Women's game for what it is, a sport on the up, expressing hope that this tournament will elevate the game to new levels of recognition and interest. I have no interest in quite a few sports but don't feel an urge to seek articles about them to post negative or dismissive comments...anyone who does surely comes across as an utter knob!

I accept that the Women's game is a few years behind the men's, but that is perhaps to be expected in comparison to the most popular sport on the planet, it is still growing. I prefer to celebrate the things it does well, respect on and off the pitch, family friendly entertainment and above all inclusivity...I'm not sure that those things always apply to the men's game, no matter how much we like to pretend they do. Anyway, now looking forward to watching Northern Ireland take on Norway this evening, to see how our opponents in the group shape up!

COYL

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Didn’t the USA women’s reigning world champions lose 5-2 against Dallas U15 boys in 2017?

I reckon teams from step 7/8 would beat our England team fairly comfortably.

I’m glad the woman’s game is getting more investment and viewers nowadays but it just doesn’t interest me as the quality is horrific. Especially the keepers!

 

[kieran_vale]

I can't claim to know much on the women's game other than the USA strangely tend to be very good at it. Pointless really comparing it to the mens game as its naturally going to be played at a different pace and physicality so comments comparing it L1/2 etc are a waste of time. Nothing wrong with that though and end of the day it's still football so will enjoy it on that basis.

Wish them well in the tournament and growing the game.

 

[Greenacres]

I’m glad the woman’s game is getting more investment and viewers nowadays but it just doesn’t interest me as the quality is horrific. Especially the keepers!

Mary Earps made a couple of pretty decent saves last night...after not having too much to do, thanks to the quality of our defence...so maybe that comment is a little unfounded.

 

[cookiemonster]

I can't claim to know much on the women's game other than the USA strangely tend to be very good at it. Pointless really comparing it to the mens game as its naturally going to be played at a different pace and physicality so comments comparing it L1/2 etc are a waste of time. Nothing wrong with that though and end of the day it's still football so will enjoy it on that basis.

Wish them well in the tournament and growing the game.

USA is good at it because it's a popular sport among US girls and women, and there are lots of them. I would imagine the US men will get better and better too as the demographics in the country change.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

When a few years ago Heather Knight’s team won a major one day competition it acted as a catalyst to helping further develop cricket. Hopefully, this competition will do the same for football In England and Northern Ireland.

 

[Bobbin']

Mary Earps made a couple of pretty decent saves last night...after not having too much to do, thanks to the quality of our defence...so maybe that comment is a little unfounded.

From Austrian women.

 

[K-Win]

Well I enjoy it, generally. As long as you don't expect too many 25 yard screamers. As has been said in this thread, it's competitive and so I find it reasonably exciting. I'll be watching the England games and also some of the other favourites when they meet each other. Netherlands v Sweden on Saturday could be a good-un.

Also, it's refreshing to not see too much moaning at the ref and play-acting. Everyone tends to just get on with the footy.

 

[Sydney Posse]

When the Olympics were in the UK I got tickets for GB vs Brazil at Wembley. It was only my second game watching women’s football. And it was great. Lots more time on the ball, plenty of skill, end to end. Some say the mens game has become 90% athlete and 10% footballer, not sure I agree with that, but the womens game is definitely not that ratio and all the better for it

 

[WhiteRussian]

Well,either NI were poor or Norway very good. I suspect more the former as NI are at best semi professioansl. I'm really glad they got the goal though.

 

[Greenacres]

Most of the Northern Ireland players are semi-professional, who were given six month professional contracts by the Northern Irish FA so they didn't have to work and play at the same time. Contrast that with Norway who fielded players from some of the best teams in Europe, such as Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Stand out player from Northern Ireland for me was Abbie Magee, who may find that one or two of the teams from the WSL are trying to secure her services ahead of next season, hard working and fearless in defence, certainly my player of the game.

Only criticism of Norway would be that they tried to walk the ball in on a number of occasions and perhaps underestimated the determination of their opponent, they will certainly give England a good game...hopefully Hegerberg leaves her shooting boots at home!

 

[Laker]

It’s great that the women’s game is coming on so much, hopefully it’ll keep progressing at the rate it has been.

I actually think they should make the goals slightly smaller. It’s not meant as a slight on women at all but most GKs at EFL level are 6ft 4in at least and thus they fill the goal. From what I’ve seen the keepers are generally the worst players in a women’s team (or at least comparatively much worse versus their male counterparts) and it isn’t because they are athletically poor but because they are too small compared to a men’s full size goal - they have no chance. If they shrunk the goals by around 10% then I think you’d get better games and more skill.

 

[Chris FGR]

Yeah I’d agree with that, smaller goals would make sense. Maybe reduce the length of the matches too, possibly 30 minute halves? Grand slam tennis womens matches are shorter then mens and I think it helps make more people stay interested.

 

[kieran_vale]

Yeah I’d agree with that, smaller goals would make sense. Maybe reduce the length of the matches too, possibly 30 minute halves? Grand slam tennis womens matches are shorter then mens and I think it helps make more people stay interested.

I think it’s worth looking at though obviously should be driven by the women players themselves. To me if they prefer it then they should go for it. It’s true on the tennis though conversely if you look at womens cricket they play 4 day tests as opposed to 5 and almost always end up in a draw which is hurting the popularity of that. There’s a push on many fronts to go the opposite way.

 

[Laker]

Yeah I’d agree with that, smaller goals would make sense. Maybe reduce the length of the matches too, possibly 30 minute halves? Grand slam tennis womens matches are shorter then mens and I think it helps make more people stay interested.

I wouldn’t change anything else except the size of the goals. There’s no reason why women shouldn’t play 45 min halves in my opinion, in fact I think it’s demeaning if they don’t. My suggestion is literally due to their size, nothing else.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Well I went to the Spain/Finland match at Stad MK today and it was quite an enjoyable experience. Spain were pretty good and after the suprise quick goal from Finland thay never really looked like losing.

More women at a football match than I've ever seen and some rather ear piercing shrieks from some of the younger supporters but as a bit of entertainment for a tenner, can't complain at all.

 

[Chris FGR]

I wouldn’t change anything else except the size of the goals. There’s no reason why women shouldn’t play 45 min halves in my opinion, in fact I think it’s demeaning if they don’t. My suggestion is literally due to their size, nothing else.

Do you think it’s demeaning that their tennis matches are shorter?

In any case I think it’s important to see women’s football as it’s own unique thing, comparing it to the men’s game is not a good idea as there is a huge gulf in class, but it is still pretty entertaining. Thought Spain played some decent stuff in the bits I saw.

The thing that could really improve is the atmosphere at games, it’s even worse then rugby at the moment. Sounds like a school sports day. Need more crowds like they got at the women’s El Classico, where it was genuinely a proper football atmosphere and the players loved it.

 

[Greenacres]

The thing that could really improve is the atmosphere at games, it’s even worse then rugby at the moment. Sounds like a school sports day. Need more crowds like they got at the women’s El Classico, where it was genuinely a proper football atmosphere and the players loved it.

But that is part of the attraction, you have a family friendly environment which by nature will attract more women and children, a bit like the much maligned Hundred tournament in cricket. If you watch highlights from the men's game, particularly at the higher levels the majority of spectators are male and in the 20-50 age range, this is even more obvious with the England men's football team. I wouldn't describe the atmosphere at England games as family friendly, in fact quite the opposite, who would want to expose a child to some of the rubbish and drunken loutery that follows our men's team around.

I have seen highlights from a few European games, the PSG ultras turn out to support their Women's team, and you are right about the atmosphere at the El Classico match...but if you looked at the crowd scenes from that game it certainly mirrored WhiteRussian's comment about the Spain versus Finland game.

Maybe we just view the game as similar to the men's game, the players are chasing a ball around and trying to stick it in the back of the net, but at the same time accept that the people who are attracted to each version may be somewhat different...perhaps like you have with the two rugby codes, where fans of one (sometimes) acknowledge the other but wouldn't necessarily go and watch a game of the one they don't follow.

I watched the Denmark versus Germany game last night and have to say that the Germans looked good...very good...if England play them in the tournament we will need to be at our very best to beat them. The scary thing is that this is regarded by some as a team in transition, and like Spain they are missing a couple of their best players...even without them they are a really decent team that has considerable strength in depth. On last night's evidence it isn't hard to see why they are considered one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

 

[Laker]

Do you think it’s demeaning that their tennis matches are shorter?

I do actually, and I don’t understand why women’s matches in grand slams are shorter. It would actually put to bed all the arguments about whether prize money should be the same (it should be but only as a reward for the same amount of work).

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Well I went to the Spain/Finland match at Stad MK today and it was quite an enjoyable experience. Spain were pretty good and after the suprise quick goal from Finland thay never really looked like losing.

More women at a football match than I've ever seen and some rather ear piercing shrieks from some of the younger supporters but as a bit of entertainment for a tenner, can't complain at all.

I know what you mean, we have at least one game a season where there are a thousand or so kids from the local Saturday morning league. I am 100 plus yards away at the other end and it is still piercing. Fortunately they normally place them next to the away fans and they can “enjoy” the full effect.

that said it is, like the game you saw yesterday, really good to see (just not hear )

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Wow! it is not half time yet and England are 4-0 up. I was a bit unsure of their performance in the first game, there seem to be little movement and some unforced errors. But today, the tackling, movement, passing and shooting has been excellent. Just wow.

Edited: Jeez still not half time and it is six nil. They are on fire. Rock on Tommy.

 

[kieran_vale]

The pressing from the England team has been very good. The Norway defence are playing like a bunch of competition winners though.

 

[Chris FGR]

We are destroying them down the right. Superb clinical performance, but Norway are all over the place.

 

[kieran_vale]

We are destroying them down the right. Superb clinical performance, but Norway are all over the place.

Aye that gap between the left back and the centre back is ridiculous. England exploited it well to their credit but the fact they’ve not reacted to that is pretty poor.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Norway all over the place but England absolutely put them to the sword. Super clinical and some really incisive play cut them open time and again.

Think the Norway manager has to take a lot of blame, got some really good players in that side but tactically they were miles off England who were spot on. Mead was just absolutely destroying her fullback and the gaps in that backline were obvious but the guy just sat on his hands and watched his team get destroyed. Norway no mugs and England just wiped the floor with them, super impressive.

Great result, this England side have really got a chance to do something special here.

 

[Super_horns]

Only 2 goals in the 2nd half...

Rubbish!



What an impressive performance though - early goals helped but Norway were totally outclassed and shell shocked and we kept on going too.