Drove down to Hamilton games today after being mighty impressed with first two games at NHS.
Crowd just over 5000 for both games.
USA v Japan great game. 3-2 to Japs but they hit the crossbar 3 times in the first half and both US goals keeper error (she did make some great saves later on). Japan very exciting to watch and played lovely fluent football in attacking third with a couple of classic goals in the second half. Don't ask me to name players as they all looked the same ( very stereotyped I know but lack of a programme is the only bugbear so far for the comp). USa for so called favourites workmanlike only and a bit disappointing.
France v Paraguay 6-2 to French.French very classy and the best of the 8 sides I have seen to date. Some tremendously talented strikerrs - CF got a hat trick and the African girl on the wing was magic. Paraguayans very pedestrian and seemed to have gone for size over style. Poor officiating and ended 10 a side mainly i feel due to frustrations with officialdom. Referee okay but two assistants from Korea (North ?) very poor - Geoff Hurst 1966 goal over the line by about a metre not awarded !
From what I've seen so far I'd place a wager on France . South American sides have been dissapointing .
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Yeah, great games to watch, both for different reasons. USA v Japan was fast paced, superb skills from the Japanese, thoroughly deserving of their win from what I saw. France v Paraguay was a bit titchy, lots of rolling around in "agony" from the South Americans (wife was busy, stretcher bearer) but the game on the whole a lot more physical.
Japan v France game on Sunday should be a cracker.
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Japan v France game on Sunday should be a cracker.
Was I right or was I right? First half the Japanese were unstoppable, fast, accurate and every bit as good as their 6 goals suggested. Slowed down a bit in the 2nd when they took their two strikers off - just the one goal in the 2nd half, but their defense looks pretty sound too. Keeper might be questionable, but thats probably 'cos she never has anything to do.
If they remain top of their group they play the 2nd team from the original Wellington group - still wide open.
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