The problem I see with Brazil is not that key players are old but rather that the young players are feeble. It's like they dont have players in Brazil with a physique that is up to the current standard in women's footy. I mean the Japanese are small too but at least they got core strength if you know what I mean....
56' 0-0 Andressinha fk at 30m mid-left, to 6-top 1/4 right. Kathellen jump-tucks in the middle of a line of runners, sideheads just wide left low as Giuliani dove late. 63' 0-0 Italy subs in (1 of 3) #2 Valentina Bergamaschi for #19 Valentina Giacinti. 65' 0-0 Brasil subs in (1 of 3) #16 Beatriz for #11 Cristiane. 65' 0-0 Ludmila drives down wide right to 2m, cross to 4m 4-right, Beatriz hops facing away and spin-flicks right outstep full volley across mouth, just wide left low.
I remember someone on the NWSL boards who had admired a good FK goal by Andressinha, wondering if she could have showed something of the kind at the WWC. She was almost there with this FK hitting the crossbar. Phew!
71' 0-0 Italy subs in (2 of 3) #11 Lisa Boattin for #13 Elisa Bartoli. 72' 0-0 Debinha sprints through box top arc left, veers leftward, Linari cuts across her path and body-checks her down. Foul, penalty. 74' 0-1 Marta pk, left instep to back right low, as Giuliani dove wrong. Her 17th WWC goal beats Klose for 1st MARTA BREAKS THE ALL-TIME RECORD! 🇧🇷🐐She puts Brazil on top from the penalty spot for her 17th career #FIFAWWC goal! pic.twitter.com/qmxBkpqNRX— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 18, 2019 76' 0-1 Brasil subs in (2 of 3) #2 Poliana for #13 Letícia Santos. 78' 0-1 Italy subs in (3 of 3) #18 Ilaria Mauro for #10 Cristiana Girelli.
That is such a soft penalty. I've seen multiple much clearer fouls not given in VAR this Cup, and *that* qualifies?
I'm going to have to unwatch the referee discussion thread. There is no way I can read through 3 pages of posts, of 5 paragraphs each, discussing this PK. It looks like Italy coming back down to Earth (PK aside) with the level of play. Both sides very evenly matched.
I'm impressed with Italy's technical ability, which seems to have evolved at light speed in just a few years. But they really need to work on conditioning. Most of their players have completely wilted in the second half.
This is ridiculous! I thought VAR is supposed to review every penalty decision. Did they review this? What was the defender supposed to do? Let the opponent just get by without protecting the ball? The only way the defender can pretect that ball is to get between the ball and the opponent which the defender did. Not Italy supporter but this pk call is unfair. I hope Brazil get knocked out in the round of 16 because of this.
Kudos to the Brazilians who look a lot fitter in this WWC. I credit the NWSL and the Americans rubbing off some of their good "conditioning" habits on the Brazilian players.
Funny thing is that, even with this result, I believe Italy still tops the group with a +5 GD to Brazil's and Australia's +3 GDs - with Australia in 2nd and Brazil in 3rd based on total goals scored. (Thanks Kerr!) =edit= Yes, that's ^ what is happening, and since B3 and C3 are through, that means Brazil (as C3) will face FRANCE in the R16 - unless E3 and F3 are the other two teams that go through, in which case Brazil gets Germany instead. X-D
90+4' (of +4') 0-1 Italy longball to arc top box left, Bonansea watches ball over left shoulder, Kathellen comes across for a header(?) and plows chest-first into Bonansea from the blind side. Both go down, Bonansea stays down. Stoppage, yellow card on Kathellen. 90+5' (of +5') 0-1 Bonansea stands up ... 90+6' (of +5') 0-1 ... and gingerly walks into box. She's staying in! 90+6' (of +5') 0-1 Cernoia fk at arc top box left, into the wall, deflects out to box top wide left. #_ cross to 2m right post, Barbara dives and blocks it wide right anyways. FT 0-1. Brasil remain C3 on 6+3 (+6-3), Australia pip them for C2 on 6+3 (+8-5) on goals scored.