Last nights match Germany managed a draw, again (if that's the right word). 2:2, with USA always shooting the leading goal.
I find it impressive that the USA still plays forward, when already heading and not concentrating on defence only (though they actually had to do that often enough. But they managed to do both things very well, still going forward, while keeping up very good defence work, despite the two mistakes, which promptly lead to the two German goals. I wonder, if Germany would have made any goal, if the US had not made these two mistakes, because though Germany had more chances, no ball was testing US-goal-keeper Solo hard).
I think its a big deal, and there is a lot of room for growth in the womens' game. I doubt that women's' professional league will ever approach the level of the men's leagues in terms of viewership or money - but the women's World Cup and Olympics have a lot of potential.
As I mentioned earlier, I took a look into the youth cups this year. It is interesting how much women's football has improved in such a short time.
(In a way you can already see this in the behaviour and the structures. 1. FFC Frankfurt is the FC Bayern of Women's football and they clearly adapted the clubs habits. Buying all good and well known players off of teams all over the world, partly as "bench warmers".
)
Germany featured 5 players on the field, that had won silver in the Under20 world cup two months ago against USA. In one way they are forced to rely on these young players and on the other hand they really benefit from them, after one year of recreation. It's intersting that they can keep up with those experienced players like Wambach, Morgan and Rapinoe, and not to forget Solo. German 20year old striker Maroszan is so cool in front of the box, like someone who has played a long time (maybe she is just one of those people that do not think a lot
and that is why she is so cool. Some of the younger players benefited from the rough playing by the US in the first match, because one was injured again and the other had to leave early.
(though both were playing rough some time, wonder what a World Cup Finale would look like).
Btw. I think it was Heath, who kicked her spikes against the head of another player. Got a yellow. Maybe the referee thought, well it is a friendly match, so do not give them a red card, when they will be needed in point-competitons later.
i think it is football and it would great if the ladies would/could have an equally decent league to spotlight their talents in.
p.s. US Women's Nat. Team is the best team in the USA.
...and the best women's team in the world! FIFA ranking place 1. Germany has actually place 2, which is odd, because it should be Japan, but FIFA ranking is somehow something hard to understand.
I know it sounds goofy, but I would like to see a test match USA-women national team against on of the 1. Bundesliga Mens clubs. Some US-players look so strong, body wise, like it would not be easy to "legally" foul them.
Now I think, if Germany played two draws against the US, they can win the Euro Cup 2013 again (allready won 7 of 11 Euro Cups so far
). France has gotten a lot better and will most probably be the hardest candidate. Sweden is just to much suffering from their goal keeper, for my taste.
France, by the way, has an extra ordinary U17 team (won the World cup), if those once integrate into the national team, they will really be a harder to beat team, too, given how developed they are already at a young age.
Well, now watching Dortmund!
