Japan’s second goal against the Netherlands in the Women’s World Cup was a sequence of perfection. It couldn’t have been executed better if they practiced that alone for the last three weeks. It ended up being absolutely necessarily too, since they ended up conceding a goal at the opposite end of the spectrum during injury time.
Category: Women’s World Cup
Netherlands player has shot thwarted by her other foot
The Netherlands had a chance to take an early lead against Japan when Manon Melis slipped past the world champions’ back line, but then her right foot thought “dribble” just before her left foot thought “shoot.” This proved to be a problem.
Melis ended up on the ground as the ball trickled over the endline and Japan went up 1-0 a few minutes later. This was very much out of character for Melis, however. She was voted the top player in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan in 2010 and she has 55 international goals in 125 appearances.
But these things can happen to anyone. Just ask Steven Gerrard…
Abby Wambach thinks referee “purposefully” booked Rapinoe and Holiday in U.S. win over Colombia
The United States beat Colombia 2-0 in the Women’s World Cup round of 16. But that’s just the rug that all the dirt was swept under.
Norway players in brilliant documentary mocking stereotypes of women’s football
Norway will face England in the Women’s World Cup round of 16 and in the lead-up to the big match, NRK (Norway’s version of the BBC) produced a mockumentary that sees the players having some fun with sexist stereotypes of the women’s game.
Presented as the players “admitting the truth” to reporter Nicolay Ramm, every asinine opinion of women’s football from physical shortcomings to mental lapses and problematic lesbianism is addressed, highlighting the absurdity of the claims. It’s very well done and definitely worth a watch.
Meanwhile, one Norwegian newspaper is getting serious about the next match…
Colombia get their Hand of God moment in Women’s World Cup
How did the referee miss this ridiculous Colombia handball? pic.twitter.com/9PMKWpcAZj #COL #FRA #FIFAWWC
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) June 13, 2015
Colombia (ranked 28th in the world) beat France (ranked third) 2-0 in Group F of the Women’s World Cup thanks in part to a blatant handball. The referee somehow didn’t see it, so France were denied a penalty that could have made it 1-1. This was almost certainly karmic payback for what Thierry Henry did to Ireland in 2009.
With that massive upset, Colombia jump to the top of Group F. And now all three of the world’s top teams (Germany, USA, and France) look far from invincible after their second group-stage matches.
Sepp Blatter’s preview of the 2015 Women’s World Cup
Since I, Sepp Blatter, am the godfather of women’s football, there is no one more qualified to tell you everything you need to know about the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup!
Even though the tournament has not yet begun, people are already talking about it with so much excitement that you might think it started last Saturday. That’s how far I have brought women’s football! And that’s one of many reasons why the American authorities should not arrest me.
Megan Rapinoe scores twice, mocks referee to help U.S. beat Australia
☺ just leavin this here pic.twitter.com/Eq6pXNs68Y
— The Beautiful Game⚽ (@fyeahsoccer17) June 9, 2015
Megan Rapinoe became the first United States player to score to score two goals in one Women’s World Cup match since 2007, helping her side overcome an ugly first half to beat Australia 3-1 in their Group D opener. She also burned the ref after getting booked in the 64th minute.
Norway celebrate Women’s World Cup goal by miming a group selfie
Norway celebrated their third goal in their Women’s World Cup opener against Thailand by miming a group selfie. We’ve seen footballers celebrate goals by taking selfies with actual phones before, but this might be the first pretend selfie at a World Cup.