It was a good game, worth an Olympic final. It was not a given, so thanks to both teams. I guess anyway that the best one was the winner (no, it's not a Solo reference ; I mean it: I guess Germany deserved the win tonight ).
The gold medalists get to vandalize a gas station of their choice. I've heard that's the new thing at these games.
Congrats to GER. I always thought that SWE could be a decent offensive teams. I saw the highlights of them playing JAP just before the Olympics and they won 3-0. Thought that they would be a tough match up.
Really happy for Silvia Neid Truly deserved for all of the great work she has done not just for the women's game, but the game
I meant to link earlier to this terrific Lufthansa ad produced for the men's Euros a couple months ago. It has more context in the men's game, where England has long suffered at the hands of the Germans but it's a brilliant ad regardless. I hope this doesn't induce too many nightmares. "We're flying with the Germans??!!"
Germany with the Gold, Sweden with the Silver and Canada with the bronze, yet Arlo and Kate are going on about what with wrong with the US. How f*cking rude.
Too bad Brazil didn't win bronze cause then we would have had: Gold Germany Silver Sweden Bronze Brazil Anyhoo congrats to Germany for taking their first ever gold... Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
What Japan did in 2011 becomes even more "unique" after today. Because every other champion of the WWC or Olympics has always been USA, Norway, or Germany. You can even throw the Euro into that conversation as well, and just about every U-20 WWC.
You know, there have been 13 championship teams in WWC's and Olympic Gold Medal matches combined. Count em', 13 for women's football in history. Out of those 13 champions, this German team is arguably the least deserving ............ -They were horrible in the group stage -They looked weak against Zimbabwe, and even allowed a goal in that match -They were down 2-0 against Australia (a team that lost 2-0 against Canada while up a player) -They lost against Canada, and allowed 2 goals to Old Smoky Bear Tancredi of all players -They only garnered 4 points in Group Stage (should have been 3) -They weren't that great against China in the Quarterfinal -They won 2-1 against Sweden, with their winning goal coming from an "own goal" from the Swedish player's foot This championship "resume" is arguably the weakest out of 13 former champions in major int'l women's champions. I'm not proclaiming that the USWNT were any better (they did earn 7 points in their group instead of 4 though). The USWNT did not deserve Gold, or even a medal in this tournament. They focused their entire efforts and cerebral sense this year in fighting compensation pay, and the Zika virus, etc. They just weren't ready for this tournament. And send-off matches against South Africa & Costa Rica didn't help them. But this German team was not that special (honestly, no team in these Rio Olympics were special). Canada was more consistent in this tournament, as they won 5 of their 6 matches, including wins over Germany, Australia, France, and Brazil. Germany's wins in this tournament do not compare. Germany only had 4 wins (not 5 like Canada), and those wins were against Zimbabwe, China, Canada, and Sweden. Again, Canada's wins were more impressive, and they had a "wash" against Germany in their two matches. The only difference is that Germany got the one that mattered a bit more. But beating China, Canada, and Sweden in the knockout round is not much of an impressive resume in knockout. Japan in 2011 beat Germany, Sweden, and USA (maybe the best run out of all 13 former champions) USA in 2012 beat defending world champion Japan. USA in 2015 beat Germany (#1 in the world at the time), and defending World Cup champion Japan. Germany did not beat a single Top 5 FIFA ranked team in this entire tournament (group stage or knockout stage). None of the former 12 women's champions of the major women's tournaments had a schedule so weak. They all beat at least one Top 5 FIFA ranked team either in the group stage, or in the knockout round. But not this German team. #6 Sweden was the highest they beat. I'm not saying they don't deserve their Gold Medal. They certainly do (they were the last one standing). Germany deserves it, and USA didn't deserve to medal. But they are probably the "weakest" of the 13 former women's champions in major international tournaments. And they won on an "own goal" from their opponent. That is officially now the winning goal. And if anyone denies this, they really don't know their women's football history in these major tournaments. Honestly, this was the weakest German team I've seen from 1999 -to -now, in relation to the rest of the world for its time period.
It is often the difference between a great and a good German team, the first win all games the second only the ones that matters. Congrats Germany, we will see you in Netherlands next year.
Cool story bro, but your beloved USA just went through a WC by facing the likes of China and Colombia (who they struggled against at times...) in the knock out rounds too. See, you need to remember the women's Olympic tournament remains a competition designed around rewarding failure in the group stage, and for all of your moaning, the weakest German side you'll see for a very long time didn't require ET, or blatant bending of the rules (2012 had some highly controversial match turning scenarios take place) to eventually pick up their medals in Brazil. I mean considering Brazil, France, and USA, couldn't break down or beat either one of Sweden or Canada during 90 mins, it's funny to read your new rationale stating why Germany being able to beat these same sides is somehow now lesser in it's genuine historical value lol. Why all the salt..?
The design of the tournament set-up could reward failure, but this is the first Olympic final ever that both finalists had failed to win their group. I also believe its the first time we've ever had a team that placed 3rd in the group stage in the WWC or Olympics to reach the final. I'd really like to see us go to 16 teams, but I'm not expecting it to happen. Disclaimer: US fan but not bitter; it was a fair result.
Guys, I guess we were mistaking the finger for the moon with all of our discussions about strategy, tactics, players, mentality, bunkering or not bunkering, shooting or not shooting, starting high or slowpoking... We were discussing, disputing, agreeing or disagreeing, but it was all much simpler than we thought, and FIFA made it clear for us with this article: http://www.fifa.com/womensolympic/n...and-canada-don-red-to-win-medals-2823027.html It was just a question of "the team in red beating the team in yellow": the two finals were all down to that. Neid was very wise to make her Germany team wear red: this was the actual winning move of the match, as simple as that!