European women’s soccer championship final

[woodbutcherbower]

It’s been ramping up for the last decade and is now firmly established as a legitimate alternative to the men’s game, with big game attendances and a lot of media coverage. In the UK, the governing organisations have invested heavily in the sport across all levels from grass-roots up, and almost all clubs now have a women’s team with talented professional players. They’re a true inspiration to a generation of young people, and this tournament has, for the first time, captured the imagination of the entire country.

Let me tell you - these girls can play. Really play.

After a heroic (or should that be ‘heroineic’?) European knockout competition which started with our girls as distinct underdogs, they've battled all the way through to the final (beating really strong teams such as Sweden 4-0 along the way), and tomorrow sees this final of the women’s European championship between England and Germany at a sold-out Wembley national stadium in London. Germany are hot favourites, having won the championship multiple times. If our girls win this, it will be England’s first major soccer tournament win in 56 years. The country really, really needs a shot in the arm to at least temporarily lift us out of the gloom and tough economic times. Can these girls do it for us?

Go Lionesses !!!!

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[batmanimal]

Good luck, Lionesses!

I love women’s soccer. In the US, the women's national team has been very good for a very long time. Much of the world has caught up, making for some very exciting matchups at the next World Cup.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

@batanimal The US women’s team are excellent for sure. The special thing about this, however, is the fact that UK women’s soccer has stayed almost completely under the radar until now. At the last World Cup, for example, there was zero TV coverage, except a random 10-minute highlight reel showing our team losing to Germany. Everyone kinda knew we had a team, but no-one really paid any attention outside of the sport’s comparatively small circle of enthusiasts. For this championship, the BBC decided to show every game at prime time, folks saw the whole team progress from the first round up till today, and got really excited about it.

It’s this virtually instantaneous rise into public consciousness which is so special - folks here have suddenly realised that we have a great team, every soccer fan now knows the names of all the players, and the TV audience this afternoon will be huge. As I said - Wembley is sold out, 90,000 tickets. Every town suddenly has Union Jacks and St. George’s flags up everywhere, pubs have the big TV screens at the ready - just like when the men’s National team are playing an important game. It's great to see the girls being on the receiving end of such overwhelming national support.

Win or lose, these girls are already national heroines and have made their mark. Looking forward to the game. Given the strength of the opposition, an England win will be a miracle.

Best wishes (and fingers crossed)
Kevin

 

[Coen]

I have never understood the obsession with professional sports. Play a game yourself. Maybe occasionaly watch someone better play it to learn. But watching other people play a game... why?

The positive thing about women's soccer, in big contrast to men's soccer, is that the fans seem to behave a lot better. No pissing in the street, no throwing beer 'glasses' etc. Was a huge delight from the perspective of living close to a soccer stadium.

 

[oberlin1]

Congrats to England!  A fantastic game between two excellent teams.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Unbelievable. I'll just leave this here;

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[Ron B]

Well done!  My hat is off to your women's soccer team.  When you first posted this a few days ago, my mind immediately jumped to the 1980 Winter Olympics hockey game between the USSR and USA. I still remember watching that game. The USA team was outclassed in every category except for determination.  It sounds like your women's soccer team was also driven by determination and England should be very proud of that team. 

 

[tatane]

it’s a testament to their hard work and the growing support for women's football.

 

[kpeluso]

I remember the first time I watched a women’s match in person, the atmosphere was electrifying, much like what you describe. It’s not just about the sport, it’s about what it represents—a shift towards greater recognition and equality.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

it’s a testament to their hard work and the growing support for women's football.

Pretty impressive for a guy (or girl?) to join a woodworking power tool forum in 2015, stay silent for 9 years, then make a first-ever post about women's soccer.

Can anyone beat that?

 

[squall_line]

it’s a testament to their hard work and the growing support for women's football.

Pretty impressive for a guy (or girl?) to join a woodworking power tool forum in 2015, stay silent for 9 years, then make a first-ever post about women's soccer.

Can anyone beat that?

I don't know if I have any accounts that are old enough to be forgotten about and compromised (which is likely how this happened) quite in this way.

In fact, I have an account on an audio forum that used to go to an old email address but I can't regain access to that account any more because the email address is long since gone and the admins refuse to even respond to my inquiries.  But that's neither here nor there...

 

[Coen]

it’s a testament to their hard work and the growing support for women's football.

Pretty impressive for a guy (or girl?) to join a woodworking power tool forum in 2015, stay silent for 9 years, then make a first-ever post about women's soccer.

Can anyone beat that?

There are dozens of 0-post users with a double digit user ID..

 

[kpeluso]

I remember the first time I watched a women’s match in person, the atmosphere was electrifying, much like what you describe. It’s not just about the sport, it’s about what it represents—a shift towards greater recognition and equality.

 

[woodferret]

Once more, with more feeling this time.

 

[rst]

I coached competitive girls soccer for (U14 and high school) 18 years and was a US soccer referee during the same period.  The girls I coached were mostly some to the most intelligent and talented people one would ever meet.  Many became medical professionals, and  quite a few engineers.  A bunch entered the military and became rehab and sport technicians.