Italy actually won this and deservedly so It was Kerr actually who didn’t come up high enough in the end
90+5' (of +5') 1-2 Cernoia fk at 8m wide right, left instep inswings to 5m 1-right, drops just over Kerr backpedalling. Bonansea reads it better, light forearm pressure to Kerr's neck impedes any jump (Kerr has used this trick herself ). Ld.Williams comes out into Kerr's back but doesn't follow through, ends up nowhere. Bonansea nods ball down just inside left post, it bounces up over Polkinghorne's right foot. All those body parts along 6-top, and it ultimately came unimpeded directly to Bonansea's head. FT 1-2. Wow, stuff just got real. Now we'll micro-analyze this for four years
Ok, guys, the only game of the WWC I missed so far (lost in nowhere land in Paris, just reached my hotel) was the spectacular debut of my own country that just made the upset of the century (or at least of this WWC), but I can't help smiling anyway! I hope RAIsport in my country will replay the whole match later this evening, so I can enjoy it, despite already knowing the result. If I know my country even just a little, it will happen: you see, the typical Italian guy will pretend WWC isn't even happening, until suddenly Italy wins a game we weren't suppose to win, so everyone goes crazy and we go from about zero coverage, to rewatching the match on every channel again and again. So I have faith I will find a way to rewatch Bonansea's prowess and the ultra-emotional comment that I am sure went with the broadcast on Italian TV. I'll have to retrieve my post (can't remember in which thread I had put it), but I called that result: I had claimed early that Italy, at this round, had the potential to surprise Australia or Brazil or both! I stand by my claim and I now say that Italy can win the group. And, believe it or not, I feel like the most difficult match for them will be Jamaica. I'll go retrieving that message, so you can believe me, guys! The icing on the cake? Hold on... In my fantasy team for the World Cup I had Bonansea... and Kerr! Oh, thank you very much all you people for updating this thread, with also pictures of the goals. I still haven't seen highlights but by reading you, it felt like being there. @Val1, you were away too long! Of course @Gilmoy writes his pieces himself! And, with his super-natural powers, he often follows and comments different matches at the same time! True fact. Just randomly browse US boards to confirm that.
I quote myself from Nadeshiko Japan thread on 2th of June: Of course, if you go to the rest of my post you'll also find predictions that I completely missed instead (an example: Group A will be very balanced until the end ), but my early prediction for Italy stands.
I root primarily for Japan (in fact I don't want to think at the possibility of a Japan-Italy game later in the tournament! ), Nadeshiko Japan is the team that definitely made me fall in love with women's football and I didn't change my mind since. Italy grew into me: I am not the kind of guy necessarily rooting for its own nation in sports, if I don't particularly love the team, but in the last 10 years this Italy team ended getting me, while they were slowly but steadily putting themselves on the women's football map. Now they're there and I fully support them. (But... don't ask me about my allegiance in a Japan-Italy match... I'll only say: "Sorry, my country!").
Definitely looking like the upset of the tournament - it'll be hard to top! But I think FRA 0-2 COL is going to tough to beat in terms of biggest WWC upset ever.
from reading the over1K post game comments on the Matildas/facebook page, whoever Heather Reid is will be facing an firing squad(she's probably the Aussie official got aruptly fired the former coach, Staj, a few months back) there's anoither set of Aussie fans that feel that the Italians were well coach by their...........national diving team! I didn't see it that away, in fact it was the Matildas that kept diving in the penalty area. nice to see the games(today) played at a breathless pace/woso definitely has come a long way, baby! congrats Italy, now you'll be facing the might of the Amercain college system(No,, not the Jill Ellis led team, but pretty much the enitre Jamaican squad!
This was a great game. The Aussies played quite a crazy high defensive line at times and Italy were very brave. The Euro teams can all play at a strong level now. I thought the Italian disallowed goal was very harsh. I feel with those really tight calls the benefit of the doubt should go to the attacker if they have their feet onside.
Brazil looked really good against an athletic Jamaica team-----i think the Matildas may be thru: as in finished....
What a game. I don’t know if Australia necessarily played poorly or Italy had the game of their lives but the former will have to play better to deserve their contender status and if the latter can maintain this level, they will be trouble.
Can we also make sure not to discuss later games in any thread? I, probably like many in the US will be watching most games on delay. [emoji120] [emoji120] [emoji120]
You seem to be suggesting that it is racist to describe an black team as "athletic." I disagree with this and think you are being hypersensitive. In fact, some teams are more athletic than others, and I see no reason they can't be described as "athletic." The chief quality of some players is their athleticism, as opposed to, say, their technical ability, so why wouldn't you say so? The same applies--generally--to teams. I have often described the Nigerian teams as athletic, because, across the board, they are--more so than a team like, say, Italy. Would you describe the Japanese women's NT as "athletic." I wouldn't. Athleticism is not their strength. I also don't ever recall an African American or black person pointing to the word "athl You seem to be suggesting that it is racist to describe a black team as athletic. I disagree and think you're being hyper-sensitive. Some teams are more athletic than others--fact--just as some players are more athletic than others. Would you describe Japan as an "athletic" team? Or Italy? That's not the first word that I or others would be used to describe either of them. Athleticism is not the strength of those teams whereas athleticism might very well be the strength of Jamaica or, say, Nigeria--the latter always notable, to me, for its athleticism.
Anyone else still think De Vanna should have started. She is still their best playmaker and creates oppoortunities for her teammates. If she is fit, how can you not start her? For all the hype i was not overly impressed with Kerr.