Was a great game. Netherlands really only looked aggressive when they were chasing. If they played like that from the start the definitely could have won.
Was hoping the Netherlands were gonna pinch one at the end for a 2-2 draw and gripping pen shootout.
Some good coverage of the first quarter-final on the TV One news tonight both in the main body of the news and in the sports news. Had a feature on the fans, covering the Dutch fans' parade to the stadium and a few fan interviews, including the ubiquitous Dutch cheese hat lady seen at all their games. And an interview with a famous fan, American actor Brendan Hunt, one of the stars of football comedy series "Ted Lasso" (Coach Beard) who was at the game and said something like "other sports are bullshark - this is the real deal." Both he and Jason Sudeikis, who plays Ted Lasso, have a big connection with Holland - they started their comedy career living for five years in Amsterdam which is where they fell in love with football, supporting Ajax. Afterwards, "Seven Sharp" lead with a story on the World Cup, how Ada Hederburg gave her boots to a young Kiwi boy who was at the airport saying goodbye to the Norway team; and an interview with Maia Jackman about he tournament. ______________________________________________________ Former Ferns captain Rebecca Smith is CNN's women's football pundit these days and can be seen filing reports from NZ and Oz at 9.30 am and 12.30am weekdays on "CNN World Sport", as she did during the Women's Euros last year.
My Dutch cousins are pissed off, as I am, that FIFA caved in to the demands of US television by scheduling all except one of the USA games at 1 pm NZT. Including today's Netherlands v Spain match (which FIFA and the US TV networks were certain would feature the USA if they had topped their group instead of the Netherlands and won the corresponding Round of 16 match). The Netherlands v South Africa Round of 16 match last Sunday was at 12 pm Sydney time or 4 am in Holland (again the thinking was that the USA would have featured in that match) 1 pm NZT is 3 am in the Netherlands - worst possible time for attracting a TV audience there. But 1 pm NZT or 12 pm Aust. Time is prime time evening TV viewing in the USA. Two of the US group games were at 1pm NZT, including the USA v Netherlands on a Thursday afternoon. Games should never be scheduled to suit one country. An evening kick-off is better for local fans on a week day - and better for local TV viewing figures. TV viewing figures in NZ for a 1pm weekday kick-off wouldn't have been great, just as they wouldn't have been at 3 am in Holland.
That adrenaline pumping. Beats the keeper but puts a little too much on it. Still so close. Think Endo in the pink hair needed to start. She’s been in a lot that was good for them in this cup. Her control and pass for the goal was nice.
But Sweden didn’t give them a sniff, mopped up every counter, and didn’t make a mistake until about 85 minutes!
My Dutch cousins are pissed off, as I am, that FIFA caved in to the demands of US television by scheduling all except one of the USA games at 1 pm NZT. Including today's Netherlands v Spain match (which FIFA and the US TV networks were certain would feature the USA if they had topped their group instead of the Netherlands and won the corresponding Round of 16 match). The Netherlands v South Africa Round of 16 match last Sunday was at 12 pm Sydney time or 4 am in Holland (again the thinking was that the USA would have featured in that match) 1 pm NZT is 3 am in the Netherlands - worst possible time for attracting a TV audience there. But 1 pm NZT or 12 pm Aust. Time is prime time evening TV viewing in the USA. Two of the US group games were at 1pm NZT, including the USA v Netherlands on a Thursday afternoon. Games should never be scheduled to suit one country. An evening kick-off is better for local fans on a week day - and better for local TV viewing figures. TV viewing figures in NZ for a 1pm weekday kick-off wouldn't have been great, just as they wouldn't have been at 3 am in Holland.
It isn’t real football if it isn’t in the middle of the night! Football for me is dad waking me up with a cup of milo and Arsenal sneaking past Liverpool in the last possible moment, FA cups and World cups.
They’ve got good cocoa in Europe!
And later of course the morning buffet at Some Place Else or The Fox…
My Dutch cousins are pissed off, as I am, that FIFA caved in to the demands of US television by scheduling all except one of the USA games at 1 pm NZT. Including today's Netherlands v Spain match (which FIFA and the US TV networks were certain would feature the USA if they had topped their group instead of the Netherlands and won the corresponding Round of 16 match). The Netherlands v South Africa Round of 16 match last Sunday was at 12 pm Sydney time or 4 am in Holland (again the thinking was that the USA would have featured in that match) 1 pm NZT is 3 am in the Netherlands - worst possible time for attracting a TV audience there. But 1 pm NZT or 12 pm Aust. Time is prime time evening TV viewing in the USA. Two of the US group games were at 1pm NZT, including the USA v Netherlands on a Thursday afternoon. Games should never be scheduled to suit one country. An evening kick-off is better for local fans on a week day - and better for local TV viewing figures. TV viewing figures in NZ for a 1pm weekday kick-off wouldn't have been great, just as they wouldn't have been at 3 am in Holland.
Spare a thought for those of us in this part of the world who have to deal with those times for every World Cup, and every game of every season for European football we follow.
Is it me, or is it suss that both the Spain vs Switzerland and the Japan vs Sweden matches both attracted 43,217 people?
On one hand, it seems counter productive to lie about attendances - but it seems highly unlikely (at best) that both matches had the same number of people attend.
So far i have got the first two qf wrong. I have no idea who will win this thing overall. I did have France as my choice but its anyones guess at this stage as far as I can tell. Love it though, 100 years of the mens WC and 8 winners, this time for the winner it will be 5 in 30 years.
Is it me, or is it suss that both the Spain vs Switzerland and the Japan vs Sweden matches both attracted 43,217 people?
On one hand, it seems counter productive to lie about attendances - but it seems highly unlikely (at best) that both matches had the same number of people attend.
Is it me, or is it suss that both the Spain vs Switzerland and the Japan vs Sweden matches both attracted 43,217 people?
On one hand, it seems counter productive to lie about attendances - but it seems highly unlikely (at best) that both matches had the same number of people attend.
Some good coverage of the first quarter-final on the TV One news tonight both in the main body of the news and in the sports news. Had a feature on the fans, covering the Dutch fans' parade to the stadium and a few fan interviews, including the ubiquitous Dutch cheese hat lady seen at all their games. And an interview with a famous fan, American actor Brendan Hunt, one of the stars of football comedy series "Ted Lasso" (Coach Beard) who was at the game and said something like "other sports are bullshark - this is the real deal." Both he and Jason Sudeikis, who plays Ted Lasso, have a big connection with Holland - they started their comedy career living for five years in Amsterdam which is where they fell in love with football, supporting Ajax. Afterwards, "Seven Sharp" lead with a story on the World Cup, how Ada Hederburg gave her boots to a young Kiwi boy who was at the airport saying goodbye to the Norway team; and an interview with Maia Jackman about he tournament. ______________________________________________________ Former Ferns captain Rebecca Smith is CNN's women's football pundit these days and can be seen filing reports from NZ and Oz at 9.30 am and 12.30am weekdays on "CNN World Sport", as she did during the Women's Euros last year.
Holy shark, did he work the American comedy gig that was in leidseplein? Boom Chicago was epic.
Gutted pretty much sums it up. Was born and raised in NL and mum is Japanese so had skin in both games and boy was that a sharke day 😂
Spain game, can’t argue too much, only one team were playing football but had the striker had a bit more composure, might have knicked it in normal time. Was gutted with the atmosphere though, was a sharke as the ferns game. Was expecting to hear oranje beat in full voice, but nothing. Just towards the end. But it was great to see so many families there, really need more events like this here. Wellington was thriving.
Japan didn’t get going until 60th min when Endo came on. Very sad, she was apparently carrying a knock and you could sort of see it. Can’t believe how unlucky we were with the free kick though, just knew it wasn’t going to be. Shame, but Sweden were very well organised. Very wide open now.
Great evening at Eden park last night Sweden managed to restrict Japans space very successfully and nullify their quick short passing game Were well worth their 2-0 lead (saw a shot count of about 11-0 flash up at some stage ) Certainly momentum shifted with about 20 to go and you could feel it at the stadium.Not sure if it was the influence of Endo ar the fact the japanese just kept coming and wore Sweden down.You felt the Japanese would score and it was just a issue of whether they had time to score 2 .Unfortunately not as it turned out Don't know if it came across on TV but the crowd was roaring the Japanese on for the last 20 minutes. Did see the crowd figure posted on the screen and thought it looked familiar ! Never thought in my wildest imagination that I would attend a succession of football games in NZ with attendances over 40,000 . Off to Stanmore Bay today to watch Hibiscus Coast - might be 400 there if you count the players on the other 3 fields and various people walking their dogs Never been a fan of Satans Lair , Eden Park (wrong place , wrong shape ) but the fan experience has been largely faultless. Still needs to be knocked down and a football stadium built more centrally though. I don't think you can be critical of FIFA pandering to the US Tv networks over kick off times. All FIFA tournaments are subsidised by the revenues from the Mens World Cup and the US networks would be the biggest purchaser of TV rights for the WWC so helping the overall position. Hopefully the undoubted success of this WWC will make the tournament self sustaining and perhaps not so dependent on one countrys TV money Can't wait for the semi final on Tuesday. Can't pick that at all and wondering what the TAB odds will be . Hopefully it doesn't go to extra time and god forbid penalties , otherwise I'll be getting home after midnight
Is it me, or is it suss that both the Spain vs Switzerland and the Japan vs Sweden matches both attracted 43,217 people?
On one hand, it seems counter productive to lie about attendances - but it seems highly unlikely (at best) that both matches had the same number of people attend.
Maybe its just a typo or mistake and not a lie.
Has to be a mistake. Do FIFA make mistakes? Aside from Qatar.....
Gutted pretty much sums it up. Was born and raised in NL and mum is Japanese so had skin in both games and boy was that a sharke day 😂
Spain game, can’t argue too much, only one team were playing football but had the striker had a bit more composure, might have knicked it in normal time. Was gutted with the atmosphere though, was a sharke as the ferns game. Was expecting to hear oranje beat in full voice, but nothing. Just towards the end. But it was great to see so many families there, really need more events like this here. Wellington was thriving.
Japan didn’t get going until 60th min when Endo came on. Very sad, she was apparently carrying a knock and you could sort of see it. Can’t believe how unlucky we were with the free kick though, just knew it wasn’t going to be. Shame, but Sweden were very well organised. Very wide open now.
Ah. That explains Endo. Yeh they got done down that left flank in the first half. If that’s how she played with a knock, Sweden got a lucky let off I’d say!
My Dutch cousins are pissed off, as I am, that FIFA caved in to the demands of US television by scheduling all except one of the USA games at 1 pm NZT. Including today's Netherlands v Spain match (which FIFA and the US TV networks were certain would feature the USA if they had topped their group instead of the Netherlands and won the corresponding Round of 16 match). The Netherlands v South Africa Round of 16 match last Sunday was at 12 pm Sydney time or 4 am in Holland (again the thinking was that the USA would have featured in that match) 1 pm NZT is 3 am in the Netherlands - worst possible time for attracting a TV audience there. But 1 pm NZT or 12 pm Aust. Time is prime time evening TV viewing in the USA. Two of the US group games were at 1pm NZT, including the USA v Netherlands on a Thursday afternoon. Games should never be scheduled to suit one country. An evening kick-off is better for local fans on a week day - and better for local TV viewing figures. TV viewing figures in NZ for a 1pm weekday kick-off wouldn't have been great, just as they wouldn't have been at 3 am in Holland.
It's a bit complicated though. Maybe the US TV networks threw big money at FIFA to broadcast. Pre tourney Infantino bemoaned that Euro TV networks were making pittance offers to show the WWC.
And of course bigger TV money is part of the jigsaw of getting female players (at international level anyway) parity with men.
Some good coverage of the first quarter-final on the TV One news tonight both in the main body of the news and in the sports news. Had a feature on the fans, covering the Dutch fans' parade to the stadium and a few fan interviews, including the ubiquitous Dutch cheese hat lady seen at all their games. And an interview with a famous fan, American actor Brendan Hunt, one of the stars of football comedy series "Ted Lasso" (Coach Beard) who was at the game and said something like "other sports are bullshark - this is the real deal." Both he and Jason Sudeikis, who plays Ted Lasso, have a big connection with Holland - they started their comedy career living for five years in Amsterdam which is where they fell in love with football, supporting Ajax. Afterwards, "Seven Sharp" lead with a story on the World Cup, how Ada Hederburg gave her boots to a young Kiwi boy who was at the airport saying goodbye to the Norway team; and an interview with Maia Jackman about he tournament. ______________________________________________________ Former Ferns captain Rebecca Smith is CNN's women's football pundit these days and can be seen filing reports from NZ and Oz at 9.30 am and 12.30am weekdays on "CNN World Sport", as she did during the Women's Euros last year.
Holy shark, did he work the American comedy gig that was in leidseplein? Boom Chicago was epic.
Hunt was the key figure behind "Boom Chicago" in Leidseplein Square near the famous Paradiso rock venue and not far from the Rijksmuseum. He was the main writer and a performer along with Sudeikis, Jordan Peele and Seth Meyers - all huge names in US TV comedy these days. Pretty weird but cool that these major US comic talents started off in Amsterdam and are so immersed in Dutch culture that they follow Dutch football teams around the world! Interesting info on Brendan Hunt here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendan_Hunt
I didn't see it but it sounded outrageous. What a huge win for Women's football in our neck of the woods - and not just in Australia either! What will happen next!
Well that was dramatic. Not sure the Aussies start was about nerves but the French certainly dominated the first half hour with some good pressing and slick passing. After that it was more even. I thought France had a definite penalty. Their player was clipped and fell in the box. Couldn’t believe VAR didn’t get the ref to have a look at it. As a neutral it’s tough that one of these teams had to go home after a shoot out. They both 100% contributed to a cracking match.