Women's World Cup kicks off as hosts France shoot for historic double

theguardian.com ^ | June 7, 2019 | Suzanne Wrack

[Berlin_Freeper]

Nearly one million tickets have been sold for the Women’s World Cup before the start of the tournament on Friday, organisers say.

In the biggest and – Fifa, football’s governing body, hopes – the best Women’s World Cup yet, France play South Korea at the Parc des Princes in the first of 52 games.

The host nation hopes to emulate the success of the men’s team in Russia last year and make history by becoming first country to hold both World Cups at the same time. Among the 24 teams taking part, France are narrow favourites to win the tournament, just ahead of the holders, the USA.

[Berlin_Freeper]

[Berlin_Freeper]

But Scotland hung around and capitalized on a counter in the 79th minute. Lisa Evans intercepted the ball and thundered forward before playing through Claire Emslie, who scored the first Women’s World Cup goal in her country’s history

[Berlin_Freeper]

Match day Result
JUNE 07 2019, FRIDAY FRANCE 4-0 SOUTH KOREA
JUNE 08 2019, SATURDAY

GERMANY 1-0 CHINA

SPAIN 3-1 SOUTH AFRICA

NORWAY 3-0 NIGERIA
JUNE 09, 2019

AUSTRALIA 1-2 ITALY

BRAZIL 3-0 JAMAICA

ENGLAND 2-1 SCOTLAND

[Berlin_Freeper]

Portugal became the first team to win UEFA’s Nations League competition when a well-crafted goal by Goncalo Guedes gave them a 1-0 win over Netherlands in the final on Sunday.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=540881

[dfwgator]

Meanwhile, the men lose 3-0 to Venezuela.

The US Men’s team hasn’t been this bad since the 1980s.

[Berlin_Freeper]

It's like the level of The Mad King all over again,
Britain's Bloody Crown: The Mad King Ep 1 of 4 (Wars of the Roses Documentary) | Timeline

[Berlin_Freeper]

Second Straight Dud Gives USMNT Cause for Concern Entering Gold Cup

Following Wednesday’s lackluster loss to Jamaica, Gregg Berhalter said that the U.S. men’s national team was poised to improve, but that “more poor performances” were inevitable en route.

On Sunday in Cincinnati, Berhalter and his players delivered on that promise. The second one.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/06/09/usa-venezuela-gold-cup-friendly-berhalter

[Berlin_Freeper]

Monday, June 10

Argentina vs. Japan, noon (FS1)

Canada vs. Cameroon, 3 p.m. (FS1)

[Berlin_Freeper]

Groups tables
https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/groups/

It used to be that webpages had print version you could easily copy and past but those days seem over.
So click the link and be one with the tables.

[Berlin_Freeper]

About Fair Play Points (FPP) at the tables link above:

Teams lose: one point for each yellow card. three points for each secondary yellow that leads to a red card. four points for a straight red card.

[Berlin_Freeper]

FPP could be important getting out of the Group if all else is equal.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Canada captain Christine Sinclair says it would “mean a lot” to break the all-time goalscoring record in men’s and women’s international football at the World Cup this summer.

Sinclair is three short of the record of 184 goals held by American former World Cup winner Abby Wambach.

The 35-year-old striker will be playing in her fifth tournament and has scored 181 goals in 281 senior appearances.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48285575

[Berlin_Freeper]

The USA’s top nemesis in the Women’s World Cup comes into 2019 with plenty of questions to answer, despite winning it all in 2011 and placing second in 2015. A disastrous failure to qualify for the 2016 Olympics ended the eight-year tenure of Japanese manager Norio Sasaki, and as Japan enter their first major international tournament since that change of leadership, they arrive with a much younger, much less experienced team than we’ve seen before. https://deadspin.com/japan-arrive-at-the-world-cup-with-a-new-look-and-somet-1835277103

[TruthFactor]

Soccer is uninteresting. Easily, one of the most boring athletic games ever devised.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Easily.

Except for the 3.5 billion soccer fans making it the number 1 in the world.

OOP!

[TruthFactor]

Even Golf and Chess are more interesting than soccer.

[Berlin_Freeper]

3.5 billion soccer fans making it the number 1 sport in the world.

Planet Earth says you are a boring idiot.

[Berlin_Freeper]

While the U.S. women’s national team is just hours away from playing Thailand in its first Women’s World Cup game, the most talked about player might not even be on the team. Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and midfielder Julie Ertz fielded questions Sunday about former goalkeeper Hope Solo – who was in goal for the U.S.’ 2015 Women’s World Cup victory. Solo had been critical of U.S. coach Jill Ellis and called her a poor leader who “cracks under pressure.” https://www.foxnews.com/sports/womens-world-cup-2019-hope-solo-comments-alyssa-naeher

[Berlin_Freeper]

Friday’s opening game of the Fifa Women’s World Cup delivered record viewing figures for a women’s soccer match in France.

French free-to-air broadcaster TF1 recorded a total 9.83 million viewers tune in to watch the game, which saw the hosts run out comfortable 4-0 winners over South Korea.

The broadcast enjoyed an impressive 44 per cent viewing market share in France and peaked at 10.9 million, smashing the country’s previous best for a women’s game of 4.12 million.

[Berlin_Freeper]

England's win over Scotland in the Women's World Cup on Sunday was the UK's most watched women's football match of all time, drawing a peak of 6.1m viewers on BBC television.

The figure - 37.8% of the available audience - breaks the previous record of 4m viewers for England's Euro 2017 semi-final against the Netherlands.