Semi-finals

WanderingSheep

Marto

TBH, having just watched the game at work at LHR most here don't care. Worse, some men fear the ladies doing better then the men (potentially winning both the WC and Euros within 2 years)!

That's the general vibe (not caring) i've been getting from all my mates back in the UK. No one cares which is a massive shame. Even my non footballing wife agrees how refreshing it is to see the women not dive around like the men.

My (probably baseless) hunch is that countries where there is large unfulfilled market for football in general - due to men's sports crowding the market - will be those where women's game can prosper and be watched by men an women.  USA is a case in point.  
Another view could be that development of women's football depends on having strong women's league which often means existing clubs putting money into creating women's teams with all the support and framework required.  That would be the case of England?  Their women's league is strong.
Spanish clubs seem to be also doing well for women's teams. This would then be the reason we are seeing Spain in ascendance while traditionally strong teams of the past (Germany, Norway) perhaps not as prosperous now, with smaller leagues?

Looking forward to others' comments.

The diving has ramped up the closer we have gotten to the final.

I saw piss all in the pool play.

Gordinho

English ultra cynical. Australia played worse than some of their other games. Now all power to Spain! Kerr is amazing though.

If you don't like cynical teams then Spain is certainly not the side for you

WanderingSheep

Marto

TBH, having just watched the game at work at LHR most here don't care. Worse, some men fear the ladies doing better then the men (potentially winning both the WC and Euros within 2 years)!

That's the general vibe (not caring) i've been getting from all my mates back in the UK. No one cares which is a massive shame. Even my non footballing wife agrees how refreshing it is to see the women not dive around like the men.

It's an English national past time, to get all into a sport for 2-3 weeks in a UK summer. Basically a fad. Cue Wimbledon every year, when they love the story of some Pommie battler getting through to the 3rd round. Plus like everyone they adored Roger F. The other 50 weeks of the year, the average Brit would have no idea who had won the Aussie, French or US Opens etc.

So not a huge surprise the UK got into the Lionesses in such a big way with the Women's Euros for a few weeks, last year. Now they are playing on the other side of the world, and with the EPL, Championship underway - sounds like the interest with women's football has dropped off. At least with the menfolk.

In Australia this morning there is already alot of talk about making sure Fooball Australia capitalise on the this WWC. Talk about lobbying Government for money, better facilities, raising the profile of the ALW, getting the Matildas playing more in Aussie etc. But for sure within 1-2 weeks the sports media attention will all be on the finals series for AFL & NRL, and (domestic) football will be done the priority list.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/300952013/fifa-womens-world-cup-matildas-stars-call-for-more-funding

That challenge is going to be even greater for NZF. A better performing Nix ALW team, and a new Auckland A League Club (ALM & ALW) will greatly help. But hopefully they can somehow get the Ferns back in NZ regularly at least once per year playing some high profile friendlies. Maybe an annual co hosted quad tourney with Matildas, Japan, Sth Korea or China. With at least 2 Ferns games in NZ. It won't be easy, but NZF need to try their damnest, otherwise alot of the WWC momentum will be lost.

At least with the AWs they will play a few reasonably competitive WC qualifying games at home against the OFC teams in 2024-2025. The Ferns don't have that, with the OFC teams all so weak, and qualifying done as a low profile tourney with 10+ goal blowouts.