What A Game!

https://gjleonard500words.wixsite.com/500words/post/women-s-soccer-what-s-the-game

Above link is my blog from four years ago after the previous Women’s World Cup.

This week the cycle is complete and the next tournament began this week.

In these last few years, it has been a joy to see the women’s game grow hugely in a relatively short space of time.

I am happy to eat humble pie on the one negative I had issue with back then. I have watched many games since and my brain has adjusted when I watch a women’s match. I can now enjoy it for what it is. The Lionesses winning the Euro’s was a massive result and has definitely been an extra boost for the countries young girls who will hopefully become a legacy from heir tournament win. They were able to do something the men could not manage!

There have been more matches on the mainstream TV channels which is what is needed. Alex Scott as a pundit for the BBC has been a massive boost. She is a superb pundit in general but she has brought a lot of attention to the womens game since she retired from playing. She is not the only one Jill Scott in the jungle helped and Gabby Logan, Ian Wright and several others in worthy positions are all doing their bit to really get the word out and build grass roots interest.

To be honest it is very rare I bother with men’s soccer any more. It bores me now because in recent years it has gone from the back pages to the front. Almost daily headlines of players and ex-players behaving inappropriately puts me off. Too much money and spare time means drinking, drugs, gambling, having no respect for women with appalling behaviours, not to mention crashing supercars, WAG’s going to court about social media. No, sorry but men’s soccer has lost the plot. Commercially a huge success but morally not as impressive as it pretends to be.

Every positive element I praised the women’s game for I still see. It is so much more positive an experience and far more appealing than the men’s game. Even since the last World Cup the skill of the players has accelerated rapidly and the quality of play, the teams and the supporters have grown as a direct consequence. Which is what it deserves.

So will team USA defend their title again? Alex Morgan has probably had her best season ever, still lethal goal scoring machine. Megan Rapinoe has announced she is hanging up her boots this season. They have massive reasons to be favourites. Our Lionesses go there as Euro Champions but with several big name players missing with a concerning number of ACL injuries (might blog on this?) England are not fielding their strongest team.

As joint host nations I would love to see the Matilda’s and the Fern’s have good tournaments. Success in Australia & New Zealand will be another welcome boost for the profile of the women’s game to keep growing.