Poor Iraq lost the half final of the U-20 WC. Wished they had been farwarded.
I thought this day would not be a day worth commenting anything, but the Netherlands was a surprise!
Today I did see only the second half of Germany-Netherlands, because we had guests. I taped both in case something spectacular happens Which I will watch now and come back tomorrow.
On Germany-Netherlands, I guess it can be said that Germany played total crap (at least in the second half). [EDIT: now saw the first half, that was actually OK from Germany, not super duper, but OK. So "total crap" would be too hard]. Good their goal keeper is so superb that they do not need the defense that does not do their job. Her name is Nadine Angerer and is the Manuel Neuer of Women's football (or given the age, the Buffon), she is about to move to the US professional league in 2014 (which is a step upwards in women's football).
There were rumors before that the Netherlands had worked hard and strengthened their structures. Funnily they were seen taking a video of the Germany-Japan friendly with a home-camcorder (which would fit the picture of the low amount of money that is invested in women's football). That improvment can't just come from having done video analysis and doing some here and there. They must have worked hard. OK, to be honest the last match I saw was 2 years ago, when they lost something like 5 or 7 to 0 against Germany.
That they managed to get a 0:0 against Germany this evening is great. It's quiet remarkable to play a draw against the No 2 of the FIFA World list and even being the better team (than the Germans). I would have found a win for Germany undeserved. Which is, why I find it ok, that Germany were not given the penalties for the fouls and the raised arm in front of the box as well as some tackling was not punished. I would find it unsatisfactory, if Germany had won due to a penalty. [EDIT: ok, in the first half, there were some fouls committed by the Germans, too, though they were not done in the penalty area, but then again, the Netherlands got free kicks for it, while the Germans didn't, when they were fouled in and that was in the penalty area].
I knew that Germany was weakened, due to injuries and retirements and having to rely on very young players, but I did not expect them to struggle in any way against the Netherlands. But the Netherlands had injuries before the Euro Cup, too, to be fair, so this can't be an excuse.
Though there is some truth to it, that some of these young players are not that ready. Also the coach circulated to much with the positions, so they might not have had the time to adapt to one another. Hm, I do not want to downplay* this.
The players btw. said it was that they got more and more insecure, because they did not expect this, too and felt unconfident. Their goal keeper half funnily said, there is no problem, now they are in the tournament and the "little ones" now know where they are and this will turn out good.
Their coach was denying the facts as usual and said that everything is ok and the Netherlands are just a strong team.
(I think that attitude led Germany to being kicked out of the World Cup early,... maybe, well at least I know I do not like that or she is just not saying publicly what she will tell the players - or another theory, she just knows to well, that that team is still to inexperienced and being better in technique and being able to do tricks on the ball is not everything on the other hand they played well or won against the US, Kanada and Japan in the friendlies a few weeks ago).
[Edit: fun fact - the German team plays "the young against the old" matches in their trainings from time to time. 2x 15minutes. So far, the old players have won everytime. The current team on the pitch is 50% under 21 years, though!].
*(Can't believe that word does really exist, sounds like a wrong translation from German into English)
Gee! Is that a long text. Sorry!
PS: Norway-Iceland was OK. I find it is a good sign, that Norway no longer does its "one long ball from teh defense to the striker"-tactic and have learned to play passes through the (wing-)midfield, same as Iceland. It seems all women's teams have improved from that playing style to a more attractive pass-playing style. (Though you could see Sweden, still make very light use of their midfield, which may be the reason, if they do not get far this time. One will see.)
Ah, Finland... I knew it was something beginning with the letter "I"
I thought this day would not be a day worth commenting anything, but the Netherlands was a surprise!
Today I did see only the second half of Germany-Netherlands, because we had guests. I taped both in case something spectacular happens
Which I will watch now and come back tomorrow.On Germany-Netherlands, I guess it can be said that Germany played total crap (at least in the second half). [EDIT: now saw the first half, that was actually OK from Germany, not super duper, but OK. So "total crap" would be too hard]. Good their goal keeper is so superb that they do not need the defense that does not do their job. Her name is Nadine Angerer and is the Manuel Neuer of Women's football (or given the age, the Buffon
), she is about to move to the US professional league in 2014 (which is a step upwards in women's football).There were rumors before that the Netherlands had worked hard and strengthened their structures. Funnily they were seen taking a video of the Germany-Japan friendly with a home-camcorder (which would fit the picture of the low amount of money that is invested in women's football). That improvment can't just come from having done video analysis and doing some here and there. They must have worked hard. OK, to be honest the last match I saw was 2 years ago, when they lost something like 5 or 7 to 0 against Germany.
That they managed to get a 0:0 against Germany this evening is great. It's quiet remarkable to play a draw against the No 2 of the FIFA World list and even being the better team (than the Germans). I would have found a win for Germany undeserved. Which is, why I find it ok, that Germany were not given the penalties for the fouls and the raised arm in front of the box as well as some tackling was not punished. I would find it unsatisfactory, if Germany had won due to a penalty. [EDIT: ok, in the first half, there were some fouls committed by the Germans, too, though they were not done in the penalty area, but then again, the Netherlands got free kicks for it, while the Germans didn't, when they were fouled in and that was in the penalty area].
I knew that Germany was weakened, due to injuries and retirements and having to rely on very young players, but I did not expect them to struggle in any way against the Netherlands. But the Netherlands had injuries before the Euro Cup, too, to be fair, so this can't be an excuse.
Though there is some truth to it, that some of these young players are not that ready. Also the coach circulated to much with the positions, so they might not have had the time to adapt to one another. Hm, I do not want to downplay* this.
The players btw. said it was that they got more and more insecure, because they did not expect this, too and felt unconfident. Their goal keeper half funnily said, there is no problem, now they are in the tournament and the "little ones" now know where they are and this will turn out good.
Their coach was denying the facts as usual and said that everything is ok and the Netherlands are just a strong team.
(I think that attitude led Germany to being kicked out of the World Cup early,... maybe, well at least I know I do not like that or she is just not saying publicly what she will tell the players - or another theory, she just knows to well, that that team is still to inexperienced and being better in technique and being able to do tricks on the ball is not everything on the other hand they played well or won against the US, Kanada and Japan in the friendlies a few weeks ago).
[Edit: fun fact - the German team plays "the young against the old" matches in their trainings from time to time. 2x 15minutes. So far, the old players have won everytime. The current team on the pitch is 50% under 21 years, though!].
*(Can't believe that word does really exist, sounds like a wrong translation from German into English)
Gee! Is that a long text. Sorry!
PS: Norway-Iceland was OK. I find it is a good sign, that Norway no longer does its "one long ball from teh defense to the striker"-tactic and have learned to play passes through the (wing-)midfield, same as Iceland. It seems all women's teams have improved from that playing style to a more attractive pass-playing style. (Though you could see Sweden, still make very light use of their midfield, which may be the reason, if they do not get far this time. One will see.)
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