Today's Games 2018/19 Season

I enjoyed most of the games I saw, I like watching women do most things more than men. But really some of the teams played some lovely football at times, notably for me Japan and Spain, and the US are of course very fit. Think the standard overall has improved a lot.

 

That was a shame because otherwise Neville has been doing really well. Hopefully he’s learned, and I liked his comment that he will be around until ‘we beat the USA at least’. It really should be us v them always, the only 2 fully professional leagues. Though our league has a lot of the best Europeans playing in it.

 

Just had a look at the Copa America details, a competition which has passed me by this year. Final is tonight. Surprised there are only 3 groups, and so it looks like first, second and third place is good enough to progress from two of the three groups.

Question is, can anyone explain to me why Japan and Qatar are in the competition?

Edit: Answered my own question...https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/copa-america-2019-japan-qatar-invitees-conmebol-no-concacaf-afc/

"“The presence of both teams is due to the high interest of the Asian Football Confederation to participate in CONMEBOL competitions and the commitment of the South American Football Confederation to contribute to the development of football worldwide.”

Which can be translated as...The presence of both teams is due to the huge amount of money we will make for drawing interest from the Asian market.

 

I'm sure you are right about it being for money. But for the better Asian teams, and come to that African and Mid East, more competitive matches against teams from the Americas and Europe would surely help their improvement.

 

Jamaica were in it last time and I doubt there’s much commercial value in that.

 

I dunno, would probably be a boost for your weed trade, Mon.

 

I suppose if you look at it geographically all the Carribean islands are fairly central to the American continent and should be included. Then again Asia is where the silly money is at present...

 

Is it just me or are about 50% of the throw ins in the Women's World Cup foul throws?

The referees either don't care or can't spot a foul throw.

 

Dutch are the first side that the US have come up against in this WC who are prepared to be very physical

Got to keep Rapinoe marked though - the US best moves have come from her crosses

 

No idea if she’s any good or not but she seems exceptionally annoying.

 

Even moreso scoring the penalty, there's nothing in their make-up that is appealing, just an arrogant bunch who are head and shoulders above the rest...

 

Other countries will catch up. I know next to **** all about the sport but that’s inevitable.

I just saw on Twitter her moaning that the Copa America and Gold Cup finals are today and it’s scandalous they’d be arranged on ‘World Cup Final’ day. Let the sport grow organically and it will.

 

It will be interesting to see which of the US players other than Rapinoe refuse to go to the White House and meet Trump

 

Great news everyone!

The Champions League kicks off again today. Yay.

Celtic away in Sarajevo. I have no idea which team is the underdog in this one.

 

So that must mean I ought to start a new thread then Stan
Todays Games 2019/2020

 

The old order changeth, yielding place to new........

 

Bosnians are famously good at shooting. Bit of WWI banter for your Tuesday.