Women's World Cup 2011.

With the women's World Cup under way and defending champs Germany off to a good start against Canada and France beating Nigeria the group B games get going today with England playing Mexico at 5pm do you think we have a good chance of going all the way to the finals.

I'm going for Germany in this tournament because their number 19 is a cutie.

I'm going for Germany in this tournament because their number 19 is a cutie.

Post the photo please

Fatmire Bajramaj is her name.

Probably I shouldn't have done this but...hey, anything for getting women's football upwards and onwards

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2002206/The-best-football-strip-German-women-pose-Playboy.html

England about to kick off against Mexico.

England about to kick off against Mexico.

Game finished 1:1 for those interested.

Brasil v Ausralia now!

Brasil v Ausralia now!

Watching it, come on girls - do us proud

Brasil 1 v 0 Australia,final score.

Watched around 15 minutes of the game during my lunch time, managed to see the goal we scored, nice finish

Lovely finish.

Brilliant determination from our girls. They put up a hell of a fight. Were never in it technically, the Brazilians had our measure in that department, but could of scored a 1-1 draw with that chance in the dying moments.

The Ausies had a few chances to snatch a draw at least out of the game it was just the final touch that let them down in the end.

Friday, 1 July 2011
New Zealand 1-2 England

Tuesday, 5 July 2011
England 2-0 Japan

1    England              7
2    Japan                 6
3    Mexico                2
4    New Zealand       1

France or Germany next for England.

      
      

Looks like Brazil are gonna' carve up Guinea second half,what a cracking goal from Erika to get the game going Brazil lead 2-0.

Brazil win 3-0.
Australia go through against Norway.

Pulling for our ladies (USA) to win it all and show the boys how it's done.

Do they iron their own kit before the match?

 

Nail biter England v France 1-1 and now PENALTIES.

come on England !

Typical.

Hard lines girls.

On the whole match France deserved to win.

Host country, Germany, is out after a 1-0 defeat against Japan.

Own goal by Brazil, USA winning 1 - 0 in the 2nd minute.

Hope Solo 

This referee 

Brazil = no class.

This referee is a joke.

HOLY CRAP!!! 

Suck it Brazil...

This referee 

Suck it Brazil...

 

Where you guys watching this?

That was about the most exciting game of soccer (football sorry) that I've seen in a long time.

That was brilliant. Brazil were dirty bitches and karma came back and bit them in the ass. Suck it.

I feel sorry for Marta. She is such a genius, but has to play with another 10 idiots who can't cope with the pressure. Cristiane is the worst of them, cause she has bags of talent - but every time the team needs her, she tries to do everything by herself and ends up doing nothing. f***in idiot, always the same.

Brazil were dirty? Well USA were no better. They were kicking the sh*t ouf of the Brazilian players. One of them (can't remember her name) could easily have been sent off in the 1st half.

Brazil were dirty? Well USA were no better. They were kicking the sh*t ouf of the Brazilian players. One of them (can't remember her name) could easily have been sent off in the 1st half.

Brazil lost because of their lack of fitness, and lack of cohesion. The US is a TEAM first and foremost. No player is bigger than the team. If you think the US played dirty I guess you didn't catch the best women's player in the world getting jeered every time she touched the ball? She's great there's no doubt but her image is tarnished by her lack of integrity and sportsmanship. And that goes for most of the Brazil women's squad. The one that faked the injury at the end, that was pure garbage. She should have been sent off. But in the end it gave the US the time it needed to send Brazil home so I guess what goes around comes around.

Our player should have been sent off for that handball, I won't argue that. But I thought the penalty was a bit harsh, and the fact that it was given AGAIN even worse. Thank F**k that header went in, I about sh*t a brick.

Brazil lost because of their lack of fitness, and lack of cohesion. The US is a TEAM first and foremost. No player is bigger than the team. If you think the US played dirty I guess you didn't catch the best women's player in the world getting jeered every time she touched the ball? She's great there's no doubt but her image is tarnished by her lack of integrity and sportsmanship. And that goes for most of the Brazil women's squad. The one that faked the injury at the end, that was pure garbage. She should have been sent off. But in the end it gave the US the time it needed to send Brazil home so I guess what goes around comes around.

I dislike most of the Brazilian team, think they're all pretty stupid cause when it comes to the decisive games, some of them become so selfish in an idiotic desire to save the day, that the result is always the same. Why does Marta lack integrity?

One of the USA midfielders made a tackle with her feet above a Brazilian's waist, can't even remember if she saw a yellow, not to mention countless other fouls.

I agree USA work much better as a team and that's my biggest critic of the Brazilian women team, but don't try to make it sound like the Good vs the Evil, cause that's a lot of pretentious and biased bullshit.

Women's World Cup: England players hit back at Hope Powell

Several England players have hit back at Hope Powell after their coach accused some of them of "cowardice" ahead of the Women's World Cup quarter-final penalty shootout.

Coach Powell, 44, said she had to ask three times for volunteers to take the crucial spot-kicks against France.

But midfielder Jill Scott, supported by two team-mates, Tweeted: "You win as a team, you lose as a team".

England eventually lost 4-3 in the shootout after the match ended 1-1.
Scott was backed up by Karen Bardsley and Claire Rafferty.

And striker Eniola Aluko, who did not take play against France, added: "Obviously [that saying] is just words. Unbelievable."

Powell's comments were also in stark contrast to her mood immediately after the match according to Casey Stoney.

"I don't think anyone's a coward and that's not the impression I got from Hope when she debriefed us after the game," Stoney told BBC Radio 5 live.

"She said she was very proud and we should hold our heads up high."

Injured striker Kelly Smith and forward Karen Carney were the only non-defenders to take penalties.

They both scored with defender Casey Stoney tucking the third penalty away before debutant Claire Rafferty and skipper Faye White missed the last two kicks to send England home.

Rafferty, 21, only came onto the pitch nine minutes before the end of normal time for her World Cup debut.

Powell said on Saturday: "Faye said 'Right, if no-one else wants to do it I will do it'."

The missed kick may have been the 33-year-old's last act in an England shirt.

"Three times I had to ask [for volunteers] before anyone stepped forward," added Powell.

"'Where are you?' I was thinking, and then a young kid is the first to put her hand up. And Kelly Smith was dying on her feet but she stepped up and took one.

"You've got to want to take a penalty, but other players should have come forward and they didn't. That's weak, it's cowardice."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14094540.stm

Not good, not good at all. New team, or new coach. But they will not be able to work together again.

I dislike most of the Brazilian team, think they're all pretty stupid cause when it comes to the decisive games, some of them become so selfish in an idiotic desire to save the day, that the result is always the same. Why does Marta lack integrity?

One of the USA midfielders made a tackle with her feet above a Brazilian's waist, can't even remember if she saw a yellow, not to mention countless other fouls.

I agree USA work much better as a team and that's my biggest critic of the Brazilian women team, but don't try to make it sound like the Good vs the Evil, cause that's a lot of pretentious and biased bullshit.

It's funny how non-Americans always want to label us as being righteous, much like your Good v Evil comment and the pretentious bit. The funny thing is most of us aren't like that at all. You could have taken the jerseys off (hey, there's an idea) and the majority of people would have picked their "Good v Evil" based on the way the teams played and conducted themselves". The faking injuries and diving are not good for the game no matter who does it. That's where my issue lies. We Americans know we aren't normally in conversations concerning great football teams (unless you are talking about my Dallas Cowboys) but it sucks when we have a really good team like this women's team and they have to take 120+ minutes to win a game that they shouldn't have been trailing in if not for questionable calls.

Again, you're being extremely biased and looking it only by one side.

I agreed with you about USA working better as a team and, all in all, being the deserved winners. Brazilian players, except Marta, didn't show enough strength and the mentality needed to win those big games.

But, if faking injuries is not right, repeatedly fouling isn't that much better. If there were dubious calls for Brazil, there were also for USA - as you should have seen a red in the 1st half. The referee was a joke for either side.

And why are people complaining about the penalty being taken again? In this case, the referee acted according to the rules of the game.

I only wanted this team to win because of Marta, and I wasn't even that sad to see them lose. But making it look as if Brazil were the dirty bitches, while USA were the brilliant, hard working, faultless wonders is a lot of rubbish.

And why are people complaining about the penalty being taken again? In this case, the referee acted according to the rules of the game.

I only wanted this team to win because of Marta, and I wasn't even that sad to see them lose. But making it look as if Brazil were the dirty bitches, while USA were the brilliant, hard working, faultless wonders is a lot of rubbish.

The penatly being retaken was crap because it's something that is never ever called but mysteriously this referee happens to call it on a pk that had been saved. Never said the USA was faultless...but fouls and hard play are a part of the game, faking injuries and diving are not (or at least shouldn't be). I actually was excited to see what the Brazil team was all about after hearing so much about them, I just came away unimpressed with their play other than the pure skill of Marta. Brazil definitely has the edge in skill, can't argue that.

but fouls and hard play are a part of the game, faking injuries and diving are not (or at least shouldn't be).

Fouls are as much against the rules as diving is, and both can and should be punished in a similar fashion. Especially intentional fouls really are no different than diving when it comes to spoiling the game. Both shouldn't be part of the game, but unfortunately are. I certainly don't see any difference in them.

Exactly, fouls - particularly violent fouls - are also violations to the laws of the game, just like a player going inside the box before a penalty is taken.

Showing where my priorities lie, I remembered to tape the Liverpool friendly but not the USA's semifinal. They're up 3-1 on France

Congrats to our dirty US Women's team! 

Horrible goalkeeper for France...

The Final is about to begin. Go USA!

Great game so far but the US better start converting some chances or it will come back to bite them. Really clean game so far and it's nice to see the referee let the players play.

That Brazil match was one of the top 5 Football Matches...Overall.  EPL, WC, UCL....That was a fantastic match and all the debate, bad calls, no calls aside....The US deserved that win. The PK penalty was atrocious.  Solo made one of the best GK saves in WC history, including the Mens WC.  It was a fantastic save. Brazil may be more "Technical" than the US team, but overall the US team is far better conditioned and far better "Athletes" than the Brazil team and that is what decided it. The US can outlast any other team in conditioning.

The US has dominated today and so many chances that Japan lucked out on.  Eventually with all the shots on goal the US has had its inevitable they will score.  All it takes is one goal and that should be enough for the US.


OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a BEAUTY!!!

USA 1-0

What a goal by Morgan. 20 minutes left in the game. Come on USA!!

1-1! last 10 mins.

Game going to extra time.

Full Time and it's 1-1

Another 30 mins now. I'd like Japan to win after the earth Quake and all, but the US must be favourites.

2-1! Bugger.

I have to say that the standard over all has been very high, really impressed with Japan throughout this tournament! Hope they can peg it back to 2-2, they deserve it for the football they have played.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL LLLL!

Your time wasting failed epically!!!!!!!

2-2! Quality looks like pens then
Sending off in the last minute for a professional foul... what a game!

Pens! Japan down to 10 women at the death, as US fluff their final chances..

Japans Keeper is tiny!

Great save though
JAPAN WINS !!!!!!

日本では当選されました！

Well done Japan. Worthy winners.

Japans Keeper is tiny!

Great save though
JAPAN WINS !!!!!!

She also looks like she's got Lou Ferringo's hair, from when he played The Incredible Hulk.

Unlucky US, well done Japan, both team's have been a credit to the womens game

brilliant time wasting tactics

Hope Solo, marry me

No man... Alex Morgan all the way!!

Well Done Japan....WELL DESERVED!!

The US failed to convert their chances and they had a lot of them.  

Too many mistakes, especially the first Japan goal when the US failed to clear it out, secondly that was easily the worst Pen shootout I have ever seen. When it was 2-1 the US needed to continue pressing, instead they played the Clock game and tried to lay back, play D and that was a mistake. When you have a squad as conditioned as the US team you can easily out run and attack and still fall back and defend when needed.  They didn't play to their strength, conditioning, and Japan attacked and pressed and it worked.

The US played well for 100 minutes and outplayed Japan. It was a total of 20 minutes or so when Japan took control at the end of the 2nd half, the end of extra time and then stopped the first 3 Pen shots, 2 stops and a miss.

Congratulations Japan. You played like a Champion.

Congrats to Japan, they deserved this win and hopefully it will give their embattled country something to smile about. 

Hope Solo, marry me

Also the greatest name in football

Congrats to Japan, they deserved this win and hopefully it will give their embattled country something to smile about. 

Ha, ha, The rise of the East wind,

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N     J A P A N  .