What's the point of the new substitution, get-off-the-field rule--to eliminate a bit of time wasting by teams leading late in a match?
That is exactly the reasoning, I believe. Since referees lack the guts or ability to correctly add on time to a match this is a way to remove some time wasting from the match and take the responsibility for such complex reasoning and math skills away from the poor little referees.
Yes, seriously! Just add another minute (or whatever) to any already accrued stoppage time and be done with it. It's dumb to make players have to walk halfway around the field, in some cases, to get back to their bench. Seems a bit demeaning, really.
I think it's a good idea - the player can step off the field immediately, the replacement enter, and play can resume toot suite. However, in real life, in many leagues, the player subbed out would be subjected to unreasonable abuse and pelted with all kinds of projectiles. Having players exit the field through the playing surface protects them. Stewards, ARs and referees can not/will not be able to do it.
Standings through Round 2: With all these 2-2 draws, I'm wondering if Thanos is interfering with the USWNT in this tournament.
If we are honest we (men) all (at least most: added for political correctness) "like" watching women in shorts getting hot and sweaty more than we like men in the same situation. I know I just offended some people but I believe that political correctness is worse than outright bigotry. At least with a bigot nothing is hidden.
I understand, FoF, that's part of the enjoyment for me in watching men's football. I've heard a wide range of male comments about female sports. Sadly, most of them include, "why are they so flat?"
the commentator said one of the Japanese players has more caps combined then all the rest of her team combined! Their missing right now all their two previous games goal scorers; Momiki, Nakajima, Koyabashi, Yokoyama
I remember watching some documentary during the mens world cup. Apparently there was some kind of overhaul of the English program in general the last few years that's improved all the English teams.
Its because women's football is starting to become a 'thing' here, I didn't even realise there was an English women's football team until the last couple of years. I still don't know anybody that actually watched this game but it did make the BBC sports news this morning and when you consider that it featured alongside Spurs in the Champions League it says something. As women's football 'grows' here I expect the national team will improve.
In short: Serious developement with lots of $$$ invested + fully professional league since last year. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/20068540 (2012) From FA statement in May 2018: We will increase our investment in the women’s game. Over the next six seasons, an additional £50m will be invested into women and girl’s football taking the total investment from the 2018-19 season onwards to £114m Japan has build over the last decade the best grassroots and youth developement program in the world which is starting to bear fruits now. Foundations are solid and JFA intends to build further up with some serious investments (WWC'23 bid) while making Nadeshiko league fully professional (2021-22). In comparision US certainly has the biggest raw potential of the three but what's USSoccer strategy?
At the lower level there is plenty of youth and college players. At the highest level, we give contracts to a few players and play plenty of useless friendlies designed to pad stats and build stars. These stars stay way past their sell by date and basically castrate the coach whom the stars know they can replace. Meanwhile, there is a league that doesn't pay very well and too often great players will walk from the game knowing they can't get a contract or a decent living wage. Now I'm depressed.
While I agree with all that, I'd also throw in that any coach can look good as there is a 3-0 result against Chile or Mexico or Iceland at regular intervals. As long as you space out the really competitive games, your job is never in jeopardy as your talent will always get the job done.
An intersting analysis of the performance of the USWNT from The Equalizer: https://equalizersoccer.com/2019/03...rld-cup-shebelieves-cup-analysis-predictions/ Overall the article isn't bad. At the end are some comments about players "on the bubble" to be included on the WC team. Sam Mewis is mentioned as being on the bubble. Am I missing something? Though the games were relatively menaingless, she's a big reason the team didn't tie again vs Brazil and if she had played against Japan that would have been a winnable game as well. If she continues to do well in camp and matches, she should be a lock.
It sounds like you don't know that the US women currently play the toughest international schedule of any team in the world?