My comment earlier about being cub scout standard. I take it back, we were much better at hoofing the ball in blind panic and running into each other at a 100 miles an hour.
Reckon the Japs will crucify us according to the reports of some on here who actually take an interest.
What did make me chuckle most were the throw ins taken by both sides. Is there a rule in women's football whereby as long as you stay on the same touchline you can lob the ball in from just about anywhere?
From the Sublime to the ridiculous. The 3 minutes highlights, show fantastic skill from Sinclair of Canada, 2 nutmegs and a 25 yard pass on a plate for her colleague, who ballooned the ball over the top. Shocking mistake from the girl with the Long eyelashes, but Taylor still had a lot to do and the finish was top draw, Great header from Bronze but being marked by the smallest defender ? Karen Bardsley yet again going from hero to zero, (90% of the time she is a good Keeper, but the clangers are mounting.) I wonder if her eye problem was caused by the black stuff from that pitch ?
The bottom line is you can see what you want in Ladies football. 22 English players have now been used, only the keeper Telford to go.
If we lose the Semi final Telford should get a half in the 3rd and 4th play off game.
That would surely be a 1st, for all 23 players to get on the pitch and play a part ?
can the knockers get their own thread? Your comments are boring and anti football. A fantastic, well earned win. Japan are the best team in the comp IMO, but that doesn't mean they will win it.
I am really looking forward to Wednesday's game. Having watched all of Japan's games I do believe they are beatable. But no team can touch their passing and movement which at times is just superb. A lack of drive in the final third may be their downfall. They are so well organised, it isnt surprising they win most games 1-0. I just can see them scoring 3 in a game and 2 would be a surprise. They have a tendency to give the ball away cheaply when advancing from the back - maybe half a dozen times a game, and that is another area the English enthusiasm and determination could manufacture a breakthrough. The English ladies should beware getting frustrated when they, as I am sure they will, find themselves chasing the game as the Japanese pass the ball freely. They have 2 tough tackling midfielders, but the English should muscle through most 50-50 balls. Really tough one to call. If the English score early, I fancy them to win. The longer it remains 0-0 the more likely Japan will conjure up a win, though they tend to score in the first half hour. It will be hugely entertaining and I'm not sure where to put my £20 bet - 1-0 Japan, penalties Japan or 2-1 England. (now there's a kiss of death and a 4-3 thriller for sure!)
Good call. I would add that I think England seem to defend better when they are more offensive as they are athletic enough and capable of last ditch tackles etc... The problem for me when they play defensively, is they can stand off players they should be tighter with a bit and their passing is not a strength so they can tend to give the ball away in dangerous positions . Basically, they can't pay Japan too much respect like they did to France in their first game. If they play their game, they do have a chance.
But to be fair- they have had a successful World cup whatever. They need to take this and class this as a no pressure game.
Agree Mutts - not sure how easy it is to relax in such a game but the English ladies will do well if they don't get too frustrated and accept they will spend time under pressure from the Nadeshiko, especially if Ohno is spraying accurate crosses or if the 36 year old Sawa plays for more than a few minutes. (she was an amazing player who could galvanise the team but is limited to sub appearances now)
England ditching Fran Kirby and depending upon defenders for winning goals feels slightly symbolic, tbh - resorting to the 'English way'. I'm almost hoping the Japanese (or, failing that, the USA, but somehow not the Germans, after their terrible steal from the French) show them up, although against this, England winning the tournament would improve the profile of the game in this country so much. I'm torn. I just hope that England revert to a Carney/Taylor/Kirby front 3 and win it in a semi-convincing manner, rather than the disorganised (in possession), frantic, set-piece-dependent mess that was the win over Canada.
Basically, playing all 3 of Williams, Chapman and Moore is anti-football garbage and I hate it. Drop one of them for an attacking player for heaven's sake, even if that player is Jill Scott, who looks like she will run all day even if for no particular end result. Or it'll probably be the France game over again and we'll be congratulating them for running a good team close when they could have been beaten.
There will always be some pressure, but they will be classed as a great success whatever. Japan will be under more pressure to beat us and we have to use that. The nation's message to the girls has to be well done and enjoy the game. We will applaud you whatever happens.
Great posts Arthur And Muttley, Also Leuth, i understand where your coming from, But as soon as Jordan Nobbs didn't recover quick enough to play, He went with the hard working Moore, Chapman, and Williams who's passing is very hit and miss. all 3 have done their jobs well but France we are not.(if only we had a player like Henry the blond French Pass master/mistress) Our Best and may be only chance of Beating The great technical players of Japan are to get in their faces and not back off them or they will out pass us all day long. Kirby's time will come again, as she is different to the rest of our players. In Taylor we have a proper number 9 who's First touch and finishing is right up there. In the long term i'd like to play with 2 main strikers, but this is a great springboard for English Ladies and girls football. We now find ourselves in the company of the 3 Powerhouses of Womens world football. Japan,USA and Germany. Our style of play will need to develop over the next few years but we have a young Coach who all the 23 girls seem to respect, and no other team has a better spirit than our girls.
If we find a Kelly Smith or two, all will be well. You need the gritty stuff with the talent. But what we have has got us to the semi final without Kelly Smith and if it has got us that far, it can get us further. Bardsley is going to be a key player - She has had an up and down tournament but maybe this will be her moment.
Found out yesterday that Chapman has a kid at my wife's school. They had a signed shirt as one of the raffle prizes at the summer fete. I thought it was a men's one but was struggling to make out the names until she told me.
It's a semi final and it's not getting much coverage for the time and date of live TV coverage.
Not saying it should be over-hyped but well easy for it to slip by people who'd have a passing interest. I missed the QF after confusing the small hours of Sunday am with the small hours of Monday am (I think!) My fault, but if it had been on Sky you'd have it drummed in...
It's a semi final and it's not getting much coverage for the time and date of live TV coverage.
Not saying it should be over-hyped but well easy for it to slip by people who'd have a passing interest. I missed the QF after confusing the small hours of Sunday am with the small hours of Monday am (I think!) My fault, but if it had been on Sky you'd have it drummed in...
Anyway good luck ladies.
yeah, i thought the qf was sunday night not saturday night at first, so was pleased getting home absolutely steaming on saturday night to find it was on and we were 2-0 up and 3 hours later when i woke up on the sofa - checking we won 2-1 - almost forgot my hangover for a second.
not sure i'll be able to stay up tonight to tune in - but will try!
My mate tells me that Japan are very stiff opposition. He has seen them quite a lot in the annual Algarve tournament we have down here. In fact most of the really top teams take part: USA, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway and China, as well as Japan. This begs the question, wouldn't our ladies be better served taking part in this competition rather than the FA sponsored knees up in Cyprus playing the likes of Scotland, South Korea, Belgium and Mexico?
Anyway - It hasn't done 'em much harm this time I guess...
The ref had a shocker last night, failed to send a USA player off for the most blatant goal scoring opportunity foul you can imagine, and then gave the USA a penalty that was clearly outside the box.......
Comments
That is how all England teams should perform
- What the hell is wrong with our keeper?
er...you think they are league 2 standard? obviously much worse than that
Reckon the Japs will crucify us according to the reports of some on here who actually take an interest.
What did make me chuckle most were the throw ins taken by both sides. Is there a rule in women's football whereby as long as you stay on the same touchline you can lob the ball in from just about anywhere?
"50 years of hurt never stopped me dreaming..."
The 3 minutes highlights, show fantastic skill from Sinclair of Canada,
2 nutmegs and a 25 yard pass on a plate for her colleague, who ballooned the ball over the top.
Shocking mistake from the girl with the Long eyelashes, but Taylor still had a lot to do and the finish was top draw,
Great header from Bronze but being marked by the smallest defender ?
Karen Bardsley yet again going from hero to zero, (90% of the time she is a good Keeper, but the clangers are mounting.)
I wonder if her eye problem was caused by the black stuff from that pitch ?
The bottom line is you can see what you want in Ladies football.
22 English players have now been used, only the keeper Telford to go.
If we lose the Semi final Telford should get a half in the 3rd and 4th play off game.
That would surely be a 1st, for all 23 players to get on the pitch and play a part ?
Just had to say how brilliant was that last night !!!!!
Stayed up until the final whistle and Mr F stopped snoring after our first goal and was glued to the action for the remainder of the match.
2 words summed up that performance for me : Brave & Committed.
I'm not a fan of international football but this team has gained my respect & support in bucket loads.
Hope Gareth Southgate & his U 21 team were watching ....
Come on England !
Having watched all of Japan's games I do believe they are beatable.
But no team can touch their passing and movement which at times is just superb.
A lack of drive in the final third may be their downfall. They are so well organised, it isnt surprising they win most games 1-0. I just can see them scoring 3 in a game and 2 would be a surprise.
They have a tendency to give the ball away cheaply when advancing from the back - maybe half a dozen times a game, and that is another area the English enthusiasm and determination could manufacture a breakthrough.
The English ladies should beware getting frustrated when they, as I am sure they will, find themselves chasing the game as the Japanese pass the ball freely. They have 2 tough tackling midfielders, but the English should muscle through most 50-50 balls.
Really tough one to call. If the English score early, I fancy them to win. The longer it remains 0-0 the more likely Japan will conjure up a win, though they tend to score in the first half hour.
It will be hugely entertaining and I'm not sure where to put my £20 bet - 1-0 Japan, penalties Japan or 2-1 England. (now there's a kiss of death and a 4-3 thriller for sure!)
But to be fair- they have had a successful World cup whatever. They need to take this and class this as a no pressure game.
Basically, playing all 3 of Williams, Chapman and Moore is anti-football garbage and I hate it. Drop one of them for an attacking player for heaven's sake, even if that player is Jill Scott, who looks like she will run all day even if for no particular end result. Or it'll probably be the France game over again and we'll be congratulating them for running a good team close when they could have been beaten.
Also Leuth, i understand where your coming from,
But as soon as Jordan Nobbs didn't recover quick enough to play,
He went with the hard working Moore, Chapman, and Williams who's passing is very hit and miss. all 3 have done their jobs well but France we are not.(if only we had a player like Henry the blond French Pass master/mistress)
Our Best and may be only chance of Beating The great technical players of Japan
are to get in their faces and not back off them or they will out pass us all day long.
Kirby's time will come again, as she is different to the rest of our players.
In Taylor we have a proper number 9 who's First touch and finishing is right up there. In the long term i'd like to play with 2 main strikers, but this is a great springboard for English Ladies and girls football.
We now find ourselves in the company of the 3 Powerhouses of Womens world football. Japan,USA and Germany. Our style of play will need to develop over the next few years but we have a young Coach who all the 23 girls seem to respect,
and no other team has a better spirit than our girls.
Not saying it should be over-hyped but well easy for it to slip by people who'd have a passing interest. I missed the QF after confusing the small hours of Sunday am with the small hours of Monday am (I think!) My fault, but if it had been on Sky you'd have it drummed in...
Anyway good luck ladies.
Thinking at this point that England could win the whole thing if they sort their forward line out, but then Japan might be too much for everyone
not sure i'll be able to stay up tonight to tune in - but will try!
Anyway - It hasn't done 'em much harm this time I guess...
Come on The Lioness's!