I know that this is a college thread, but people here know each other in an on line way. Things that have surprised me. 1. How physical they allow defenders to be in the box on corners and free kicks. They literally put their arms around the offensive players and there is no call. 2. Conversely, very little contact by the offensive player in the box draws a whistle. 3. How much bigger, stronger and faster the men are. And how much better they are on the ball and with touches. The only one that is slightly surprising is the touches/passes on the ball and collecting the ball. IMO No reason men should be better at this part of the game. JMHO> I'm an FSU college fan (women), so I've enjoyed this WC and wonder if it will affect my enjoyment of the upcoming college season.
As is the case with tennis, which is my other sport, men's soccer and women's soccer are the same sport but completely different. I grew up playing soccer and played in college and later as an adult (men's soccer). I vastly prefer the women's game.
Depends on how important athleticism is to your viewing enjoyment. I guy on the politics board put it this way: he likes watching athleticism destroy the best laid plans of the coordinators. So, he prefers men's sports because the women just can't do that to anything like that degree. As for the men's game, this WC is something of a sea change in the amount of holding (esp in the box,) grabbing, running players off the ball that has been allowed. Lots of players, and most of the fans, are still getting used to this. These are different games. The only thing I find jarring, going back between the men's and women's games is how bad women's goal keeping is. You see how much space a 6'5" man with a 70" wingspan can cover and it can be really tough to watch a 5'11" woman diving for a ball after it's already in the net. As for touches, well, the men are playing a mature game, while the women's game, while not necessarily in it's infancy, is still very much in it's adolescence. The womens' touch is improving every year.
I know I'm being redundant, but I see no reason the women cannot pass as accurately as the men. Women will never have the power, speed or athleticism of the men, but passing and receiving passes????????
In terms of game flow in this World Cup, there’s regularly ridiculous levels of … chaos, I suppose, not related the game play. It’s a stream of never-ending theatrics to draw fouls, constant arguing with the ref and rising levels of bad fouls both of which should be dealt with earlier with yellow cards. There’s more, but I’ll restrict this to the preference of viewing that started this thread. I’ll take a decent college or NWSL game over the drama and interruptions of some of these mens’ games I’m seeing. However, if I’m only watching highlights of the game, I’ll take men’s professional soccer.
You must of not watched the US-Brazil women's game. The drama and chaos is growing in the women's game as more countries put more money into the game. If the US-Brazil game is any indication, it will be a part next year's Women's World Cup. Not as bad as the men, but it will be there.
Yes, maybe it’s more the difference between college and professional versus men and women. My impression is that the things I described are significantly more prevalent in the men’s game. I hope the next WWC doesn’t prove me wrong. There’s nothing about that type of behavior that brings glory to the beautiful game.
The things you lament are the logical progression when the financial stakes are raised. Players and coaches will push the envelope to gain any possible edge as the margins are fine and the rewards exponential. Women’s soccer is not at that stage.
Sorry, don't generally post here, so this is not necessary meant as argumentative. Yes, jarring, but different games. I think it is very unlikely to see a female playing 'keeper cover the space in goal that a male will. Saying that, watching the Argentina v. England match, Pickford's presence and response in goal reminded me very much of a typical national team keeper for a female, if not top level club 'keepers. What I'm getting at, though, is it is pick and choose for comparisons, and the two games are different (size, speed, athleticism, reaction time, etc.). IOW, a female versus a female is different than a male versus a male. Yes and no. Again, two different games. Two matches do make a proof. Brasil have recently developed that style under Elias, but few other countries are like that. There is also a difference between country play, and club play. One of the things that I have noticed quite starkly is how Caribali is playing for Colombia versus how she is playing for Boston. For Colombia, she is strong, forceful, and cynical. It never shocks me to see her give up a foul or receive a card. With Boston, that is quite different in that she plays a different game, less forceful and less cynical. Still strong, but not likely to receive a card, and much less likely to give up a foul. I do, too, and not just because of the play on the field. It is the overall. It's why I chose to watch the Denver v. Portland match over the WC 3rd place match (I could have watched both, but didn't find the men's match of any interest).