USA vs Brazil Results included

Regarding the on-field behavior, compare the Brazilians (including stunt noted above) with the class shown by Boxx when ejected. She was clearly wronged, the call was awful and not even her foul, yet she handled herself with dignity and departed the field to the jeers (ironic cheers) of the heavily pro-Brazilian crowd with her head held high (while the girl from Brazil who actually committed the foul was jumping up and down with glee). I agree that sporting behavior has a place in sport.

There is no way they can keep the coach and Hope on the team after that

The player in our family (girl) who is as team-oriented and into fair play as it gets, says - the Brazilians are having fun and it's not taunting. They are great players and they aren't afraid to show it and show a little ego. So I guess mom who didn't like those displays (me) is wrong. (again) :?

And on the flip side, she was horrified by Hope calling out her teammate now matter how unfair and wrong she thought the decision was. Thumbs down to Hope in her opinion.

Here's the ESPN article including a link to the video of both Solo and Ry an interviews.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/st ... 07&cc=5901

Meanwhile, DiCicco correctly pointed out that girls (and women) are different, and a change like the goalie change and the way it was done affects a team of girls differently than it does men, on a pyschological level. Ry an should have, in DiCicco's opinion, called on the team leaders first and foremost and let them in on the decision and included a discussion on how best to introduce the change to the team to accomplish as little disrpution and dis-harmony as possible.

[sccrdad]

The gold jerseys jynxed them.

Or they just stank.

The gold jerseys and the marketing hype from Nike were about as successful as the Dan vs Dave Reebok ads from 1992 in Barcelona. The best team no one has heard about??

[sccrdad]

Lets face it, the rest of the world has caught up on the womens side. The rest of the world will also continue to improve. The US has the wrong coaches in charge from the ODP level to the National level. A bunch of coaches who are YES people who will not speak their mind. Lets look at the region 1 girls coaches if you are a college friend of the Regional Girls head coach you get a job. Why do US soccer not look to coaches from clubs who continually develop players and teams to nationals PDA, for instance (they have probably been the most consistent club on the girls side over the past 5 years). Because the people in charge in US soccer are afraid of the new wave of young coaches coming in. You can criticise the US coach all you want but the US was just not good enough technically and tactically. The problem with the US soccer is it is not what you know it is who you know.

The rest of the world has caught up and top teams are past us. We were the first to sink big resources into womens soccer and we had a big jump on the competition. This is the same with basketball. baseball, the NHL, and Olympic sprinting, all of which were dominated by Americans until recently. If Brazil and other countries ever decide to back their women in the manner we do then the gap will likely close even more. Still, third or fourth in the world is good. It would be a major coup if the men pulled it off.

The gold jerseys jynxed them.

Or they just stank.

The gold jerseys and the marketing hype from Nike were about as successful as the Dan vs Dave Reebok ads from 1992 in Barcelona. The best team no one has heard about??

The Nike marketing company should also be fired after this World Cup. The uniforms are awful as are those Nike commercials.

[Dr Jay]

This is the same with .... the NHL....all of which were dominated by Americans until recently.

Since when did we annex Canada ?

I have never posted before but felt compelled to respond to whichever Guest it was that commented on Marta's showmanship. I couldn't agree more. My respect for her plummeted dramatically when I watched that little display.
Enjoying the game and having fun is one thing; mocking your opponent is another.

We teach our kids to be gracious losers; we also need to teach them to be gracious winners. Whenever I see a pro player sticking his face in the camera and talking about how great he is, I am appalled. I always hope they will eventually eat a large serving of humble pie. I love seeing a great athlete being truly gracious, both in winning and losing.

If my daughter, who is playing college soccer, ever displayed the type of behavior that Marta displayed on the field yesterday I would be very disappointed.

[Soccer Fan]

Here's an article from the Canadian Broadcasting Company, it seems they obtained the interview with Hope

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/fifawomens/blo ... ackfi.html

Solo had every right to be upset but in commenting to the press and the things she said, she was wrong, wrong, wrong.

(Although the article posted by the last poster reads like a journalist's "me me me" blog).

At one point during the first half of the Brazil game, the camera panned over to the bench where Solo was sitting with her head down looking at the ground. When teammate Kai noticed the camera on them, she nudged Solo & it appeared told her to look up, that the camera was there. There is no doubt (as the article notes) there are media consulting types that are supposed to guide the team, so I'm sure she has been coached on talking to the press (as all the team members undoubtedly were - there is an art to it).

There are no excuses for her behavior. She was immature and acted like a petulant child with a total lack of respect or class whatsoever. There a hundreds of keepers just chomping at the bit to take her place on the national team and she did herself no favors by speaking out like this. 100 to 1 that Scurry will remain in the net for Norway. When will the apology be issued?

Germany v Brazil -- I can't wait to see this match. Any predictions? Who is the favorite?

I pick Germany, better all around game, more players who contribute the whole game through (instead of reliance on one or two stars), much better defense than Brazil.

Solo had every right to be upset but in commenting to the press and the things she said, she was wrong, wrong, wrong.

(Although the article posted by the last poster reads like a journalist's "me me me" blog).

At one point during the first half of the Brazil game, the camera panned over to the bench where Solo was sitting with her head down looking at the ground. When teammate Kai noticed the camera on them, she nudged Solo & it appeared told her to look up, that the camera was there. There is no doubt (as the article notes) there are media consulting types that are supposed to guide the team, so I'm sure she has been coached on talking to the press (as all the team members undoubtedly were - there is an art to it).

There are no excuses for her behavior. She was immature and acted like a petulant child with a total lack of respect or class whatsoever. There a hundreds of keepers just chomping at the bit to take her place on the national team and she did herself no favors by speaking out like this. 100 to 1 that Scurry will remain in the net for Norway. When will the apology be issued?

Again I think you need to be a little more understanding. I don't care about her head being down, I saw that on the news and it wasn't a big deal. I will agree she didn't handle the situation with the comments well but the circumstances had to be tough on her. Try to understand that she dedicated this to her Father and this benching came out of the sky. This had to be devastating and she reacted poorly. I don't know if you ever had a parent die but I did and it is difficult and it must be even more difficult at age 25.

I didn't mean that the head being down was the issue, it's that Kai nudged her to let her know the camera was on, the point being that they all are completely aware that their every move is being watched and judged.... and yes, it was a tough time for her, very tough, but she had plenty of time to think and plan and measure her words for the press without dissing Scurry, for she knew the questions would come.

Whoever made the point about Boxx, great post...my girls and I were talking last night about how most soccer players would've reacted in her situation. She showed class and an unbelievable amount of restraint...

Just can't buy the excuses made for Solo though. Or her apology.

The reason it's a big deal is because of the tradition of this team - they do the right thing on and off the field, they are a TEAM, they are role models for millions of girls. Her actions could not be further from that tradition. Maybe right about if it were a man, but it wasn't.

I get the reasons she was upset, the issue with her dad, etc. BUT:
Sports don't build character, they reveal it. Same with tough times and tragedy. Hers was revealed to be less than what we've come to expect from a member of the WNT. And that ideal is one that I will not let go as has been done in so many other sports...I hope she watches the replay of Boxx leaving the field whenever she tries to defend herself.

GG