General question on where to next for women’s football. What are the chances that the Australian based a league womens teams will now get to play at the same stadiums as the men, like the Phoenix do? Will all this hype actually change anything on the ground season on season or will the gains just be made in grass roots participation?
Interestingly, WSL had attendances increase something like 250% after hosting (and winning) the Euros.
Maybe Australia won't have the same boost because they didn't win the WC, but they really did have a fudgeload of people attend the games. Convert even a small percentage into ALW regulars and you'll have a similar increase I'd say.
But it's also up to the clubs because frankly a lot have them have been piss poor with promotion in the past. Better promotion, better and less hard-to-access grounds, better broadcaster coverage and better kickoff times.
General question on where to next for women’s football. What are the chances that the Australian based a league womens teams will now get to play at the same stadiums as the men, like the Phoenix do? Will all this hype actually change anything on the ground season on season or will the gains just be made in grass roots participation?
Interestingly, WSL had attendances increase something like 250% after hosting (and winning) the Euros.
Maybe Australia won't have the same boost because they didn't win the WC, but they really did have a fudgeload of people attend the games. Convert even a small percentage into ALW regulars and you'll have a similar increase I'd say.
But it's also up to the clubs because frankly a lot have them have been piss poor with promotion in the past. Better promotion, better and less hard-to-access grounds, better broadcaster coverage and better kickoff times.
Yes going to be interesting to see what push the ALW gets. The timing of the season start is pretty good being soon after this WC. I see the clubs have been pushing the free attendance for kids under 16. Also alot of the clubs have not really been announcing players recruitment much yet. So they might be waiting till after WWC so they can generate some hype. But more importantly for us. what is NZF got in mind to take advantage of the expected surge in interest. Potentially an announcement of a ALW team in Auckland. NZ National league is soon to get underway. But its at grassroots level where they need to be focusing on to most take advantage to support the womens game into the future.
It's been interesting being over here in Sydney with the group of people I'm with. All of the women play football back in NZ and one in Melbourne, all were super excited to come over to the world cup, they all love the sport however none bar one of them have ever even watched non international pro women's football and two of them have actually said they have no intention of watching any football outside of world cups. No love for the Nix unfortunately.
So to me the big question is how do you get women on board going forward? It's all very well and good for us (mostly) blokes online here to support the game but what we need are women superfans like the men's game has. We need women that get the tribalism of football and are going to show up week in week out to support. If we can't get women on board it won't work for long.
Tbh I have no idea how to achieve this. I've tried convincing people and so has my partner to come along to the Nix, there's just a complete lack of interest outside of internationals. I really do hope that changes.
Interestingly, WSL had attendances increase something like 250% after hosting (and winning) the Euros.
Maybe Australia won't have the same boost because they didn't win the WC, but they really did have a fudgeload of people attend the games. Convert even a small percentage into ALW regulars and you'll have a similar increase I'd say.
But it's also up to the clubs because frankly a lot have them have been piss poor with promotion in the past. Better promotion, better and less hard-to-access grounds, better broadcaster coverage and better kickoff times.
1. England won the Euros in a dramatic final verus arch rival Germany, and 2. England's players all predominantly play in the WSL
Sam Kerr and others like Mary Flower are the face of Australian's women's football. But the high profile Matildas like them are up in Europe. You also have a host of other top players at this WWC, playing in the English WSL.
The ALW will get a boost, but it will be less than what the Lionesses Euros win gave the WSL. 90% of the players in the ALW, most (male) football fans won't know, let alone the general Aussie sporting public. How many of us could name the players at a non Nix ALW club, aside from any Kiwis.
Double headers ALW & ALM at the one venue is a tricky one. You'd have to alternate mens & womens teams being the 'curtainraiser' and that might not always be so easy to match in with Paramount's scheduling etc.
But grassroots girls football (even boys) should get a massive boost in both countries next year. The beauty of having sporting heroes, and more active kids is always a good thing.
Interestingly, WSL had attendances increase something like 250% after hosting (and winning) the Euros.
Maybe Australia won't have the same boost because they didn't win the WC, but they really did have a fudgeload of people attend the games. Convert even a small percentage into ALW regulars and you'll have a similar increase I'd say.
But it's also up to the clubs because frankly a lot have them have been piss poor with promotion in the past. Better promotion, better and less hard-to-access grounds, better broadcaster coverage and better kickoff times.
Yes going to be interesting to see what push the ALW gets. The timing of the season start is pretty good being soon after this WC. I see the clubs have been pushing the free attendance for kids under 16. Also alot of the clubs have not really been announcing players recruitment much yet. So they might be waiting till after WWC so they can generate some hype. But more importantly for us. what is NZF got in mind to take advantage of the expected surge in interest. Potentially an announcement of a ALW team in Auckland. NZ National league is soon to get underway. But its at grassroots level where they need to be focusing on to most take advantage to support the womens game into the future.
What NZF have in mind is to cut the Women's National league from last season's full home and away rounds to single rounds where the ten sides only play each other once. So from 14 matches for each of the eight sides last season to nine this time round.
Interestingly, WSL had attendances increase something like 250% after hosting (and winning) the Euros.
Maybe Australia won't have the same boost because they didn't win the WC, but they really did have a fudgeload of people attend the games. Convert even a small percentage into ALW regulars and you'll have a similar increase I'd say.
But it's also up to the clubs because frankly a lot have them have been piss poor with promotion in the past. Better promotion, better and less hard-to-access grounds, better broadcaster coverage and better kickoff times.
1. England won the Euros in a dramatic final verus arch rival Germany, and 2. England's players all predominantly play in the WSL
Sam Kerr and others like Mary Flower are the face of Australian's women's football. But the high profile Matildas like them are up in Europe. You also have a host of other top players at this WWC, playing in the English WSL.
The ALW will get a boost, but it will be less than what the Lionesses Euros win gave the WSL. 90% of the players in the ALW, most (male) football fans won't know, let alone the general Aussie sporting public. How many of us could name the players at a non Nix ALW club, aside from any Kiwis.
Double headers ALW & ALM at the one venue is a tricky one. You'd have to alternate mens & womens teams being the 'curtainraiser' and that might not always be so easy to match in with Paramount's scheduling etc.
But grassroots girls football (even boys) should get a massive boost in both countries next year. The beauty of having sporting heroes, and more active kids is always a good thing.
The A-League Women is a major provider of players to squads in the tournament - and not to the Matildas (only two A-League players) but more to other countries like the Ferns (11 players) and the Phillipines (4 A-League, 3 state league). So a total of 20 players from Australian leagues (the table in the link above has it as 17 but they are ignoring the three state league players) I've corrected this in the table below, also removing China, South Korea and Vietnam where all the players listed (or nearly all) come from that country's national team. Australia thus becomes the ninth biggest provider of players to the tournament, behind only the seven top European leagues and the USA.
I would rank the A-League women as one of the top two or three in the AFC - the only real challenger is the new Japanese women's league. I suspect that the other top leagues, South Korea and China actually aren't very strong. Player representation by league system
League systems with 14 or more players represented are listed.
Interesting numbers. Though a bit damning on the ALW only 2 of the Matildas squad play in it now.
NZ & Philippines two of the weaker teams at the WC. Would the Ferns qualify for a 32 team WC if they were in any other Confederation? Certainly not every WC like they currently do.
Interesting numbers. Though a bit damning on the ALW only 2 of the Matildas squad play in it now.
NZ & Philippines two of the weaker teams at the WC. Would the Ferns qualify for a 32 team WC if they were in any other Confederation? Certainly not every WC like they currently do.
Would qualify in Asia, North America and maybe South America/Africa. Probably not in Europe.
England have been schooled this half: Need James on ASAP and hopefully her individual flair can create some problems. If not, it'll be a long second half...
Gutted. A reminder of why it's so horrible watching Spain in men's. But no shame in losing the final 1-0 to the better team. I suspect 30 other teams would have taken it over where they ended up.
Spain deserved the win. That first half saw them all over England like a rash. It was overall a good game that faded in the last 13 minutes of injury time.
Overall, this World Cup has to be seen as a complete success and proved that "Downunder" can put on a good show just like everyone else. Personally, I think the weak spot is the lack of being able to buy the jerseys online or in stores etc. My granddaughters would have loved the "Change" kits for both Japan & Aussie.
Would like to have seen a side on view of the penalty save. My instinct was the keeper had moved off the line too quickly but the back view showed that her foot was well behind the line to start with and at time of impact it looked like the trailing foot was quite high but still over the line (which is good)
Spain deserved the win. That first half saw them all over England like a rash. It was overall a good game that faded in the last 13 minutes of injury time.
Overall, this World Cup has to be seen as a complete success and proved that "Downunder" can put on a good show just like everyone else. Personally, I think the weak spot is the lack of being able to buy the jerseys online or in stores etc. My granddaughters would have loved the "Change" kits for both Japan & Aussie.
I've seen all the kits for sale here in aussie, lack of availability seems to be an NZ problem.
They spend more time on the ground than the Spain men's team. Ffs
Probably because England committed more than double the fouls.
yeah, England got very physical during the first half when Spain took control of the ball. Loads of lateish tackles. Surprised there was more yellow cards. Handball was definately a handball, hand was in a natural position but was extended and moving towards the ball - penalty all day.
Am I the only one annoyed when they keep saying the number of attendences as the number of "fans"?
Surely with me going to 6 games I am not 6 fans. I keep hearing that in commentaries and articles and it just sounds wrong. Or I am wrong, that is very probable too.
Despite a low scoring game it was thoroughly entertaining. England was (is) a very good team and I think overall Spain won because they started the game better. Yes the first half was in the end the winning difference; and it is the Spanish midfield that should get the gold medal first. Both sides could have scored, there were some shots on the post or crossbar that on a different day might have gone in. The game was much more even in the second half, and I truly expected the game might go to extra time, but it did not. Viva Espana.
Some credit has to go to Spain in that moment though. as soon as they won the ball off Bronze (who was swamped by about 3 spain players) higher up the pitch they identified the space and shifted the ball quickly to where Bronze wasn't so to exploit that space.
The key to NZ improving on the world stage was right there in that final. Spain showed us the way, their ability with the ball won them the cup. Its a simple simple formula. Produce the best technically gifted players we possibly can and everything else will follow. The most important coaches in the country are those coaching kids aged 5 to roughly 14. Thats where our energy needs to go in improving those coaches and giving them as much assistance as possible. if we give our youth coaches brilliantly gifted kids then they have a much better chance of producing world class youth players. Value our junior coaches above all else and just like Waynes world "build it and they will come"
Would like to have seen a side on view of the penalty save. My instinct was the keeper had moved off the line too quickly but the back view showed that her foot was well behind the line to start with and at time of impact it looked like the trailing foot was quite high but still over the line (which is good)
They showed a side view a few minutes after, during some other injury break. Looked like she moved early to me. Not a huge amount, and ok for AR to not call, but if you are using VAR you’d maybe call that I would have thought.
Would like to have seen a side on view of the penalty save. My instinct was the keeper had moved off the line too quickly but the back view showed that her foot was well behind the line to start with and at time of impact it looked like the trailing foot was quite high but still over the line (which is good)
They showed a side view a few minutes after, during some other injury break. Looked like she moved early to me. Not a huge amount, and ok for AR to not call, but if you are using VAR you’d maybe call that I would have thought.
I didnt see it clearly but thought whilst she moved early one foot remained in contact with the goal line, which is the only requirement I think?
As with all penalties, the Video Assistant Referee checked Spain’s penalty for encroachment by the goalkeeper and determined that Mary Earps’ back foot was in line with the goal line pic.twitter.com/F7vBDBYUOj
As with all penalties, the Video Assistant Referee checked Spain’s penalty for encroachment by the goalkeeper and determined that Mary Earps’ back foot was in line with the goal line pic.twitter.com/F7vBDBYUOj
