07-28-2023, 12:09 AM
MFI...
The Nigeria upset of Australia really surprised me. As you noted Australia vs Canada will determine who advances.
Like you, I much prefer the women's game, for a number of reasons:
1) I detest how the men fake injuries, rolling over and over an impossible number of times, writhing in apparent agony, but if they convince the ref to call a foul they jump up and scamper away. (I regret that I'm seeing signs that the women are adopting this behavior.)
2) IMO opinion, the women are as tough - or maybe tougher - than the men. Two examples from the US Women's National Team come to mind, but no doubt there are similar examples in many countries. My example is Michelle Akers, a star on the USWNT teams in the 1990s and early 2000s which also featured Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy. She was a devastating scorer and later switched to tough-as-they-come midfielder. But she played her entire career with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and that's inconceivable. I remember one game when she jumped forward to head the ball away just as an attacking opponent tried to kick the ball. Michelle caught cleats right in the face and crumbled to the pitch, but was quickly back on her feet and continued playing. (Years later a similar thing happened to Carli Lloyd, who was lying on the pitch after a collision when an opposing player (I will not mention her name) intentionally stepped hard on her face. Carli was back in the game almost immediately.)
3) Also IMO, the top women are just as talented as the top men. About 20 years ago one of the top men's players was asked who he considered the best player in the world. In his reply he explained the many facets of the game in which this player excelled, finishing by saying some like "The best player in the World? Her name is Mia Hamm."
The Nigeria upset of Australia really surprised me. As you noted Australia vs Canada will determine who advances.
Like you, I much prefer the women's game, for a number of reasons:
1) I detest how the men fake injuries, rolling over and over an impossible number of times, writhing in apparent agony, but if they convince the ref to call a foul they jump up and scamper away. (I regret that I'm seeing signs that the women are adopting this behavior.)
2) IMO opinion, the women are as tough - or maybe tougher - than the men. Two examples from the US Women's National Team come to mind, but no doubt there are similar examples in many countries. My example is Michelle Akers, a star on the USWNT teams in the 1990s and early 2000s which also featured Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy. She was a devastating scorer and later switched to tough-as-they-come midfielder. But she played her entire career with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and that's inconceivable. I remember one game when she jumped forward to head the ball away just as an attacking opponent tried to kick the ball. Michelle caught cleats right in the face and crumbled to the pitch, but was quickly back on her feet and continued playing. (Years later a similar thing happened to Carli Lloyd, who was lying on the pitch after a collision when an opposing player (I will not mention her name) intentionally stepped hard on her face. Carli was back in the game almost immediately.)
3) Also IMO, the top women are just as talented as the top men. About 20 years ago one of the top men's players was asked who he considered the best player in the world. In his reply he explained the many facets of the game in which this player excelled, finishing by saying some like "The best player in the World? Her name is Mia Hamm."
Don't blame me - I didn't vote for him!
Nikon D7500 with Nikkor 18-300 mm; PSE2021, PSCS5
Ny Flickr Albums