OK, I’ve got the four QFs on the TiVo To Do List. Actual soccer is starting this weekend, but only three EPL matches are being broadcast, should be able to find time for all this. Oh, and going to the Leagues Cup match at the Rose Bowl tomorrow (friend couldn’t use his tickets and doesn’t like the Rose Bowl for soccer-viewing). That should be fun.
What’s wrong with the Rose Bowl for soccer?
It’s pretty low-rising, which results in the seats being far away from the field. Same for football, and for cycling (used in the 1932 Olympics – look it up!) But, being there for the event is a big part of the experience. I saw U2 there, it was OK for that. The stage was high enough that the person in front of you was not in the line of sight.
My friend has season seats for LAFC. Not sure where the seats will be in the Rose Bowl, though.
Good story about Japan’s WNT:
Editor’s (if I were it) notes:
1.
While there was some misfortune in how they were eliminated – conceding a stoppage time penalty for an unintentional handball and losing 2-1 to the Netherlands in the round of 16 – they had again failed to show their best football.
If there was a penalty given for a handball, then it was not unintentional. It was deliberate. I’ll have to research to see if there has been a review of the call.
Although the Japanese FA pushed through the formation of the Women Empowerment League two seasons ago – the only fully professional women’s league in Asia, and one with lofty goals of affecting change in Japanese society and promoting more gender equality – it’s also no surprise that many of these players have left Japan to grow their game outside of their home league.
“effecting.” Yes, it is pretentious-sounding, but also correct.
1 Like
A penalty can be given if the player makes their body bigger (by not keeping their arm close to the body) and it strikes the hand/arm. Perhaps this may also be classed as intentional, even if their intention was to wave at somebody or scratch their side.
Edit. Yeah, looking at it, she was holding both arms out as she was defending, so I would call that intentional.
I wasn’t rooting for them to lose but definitely not a fan. They made a huge ordeal about “equal pay” that was based on extremely misleading info.
NED got screwed on that reversed call at 60 minutes or so. Hit from behind for no reason, and it is not a foul? Expect the game to get a bit more physical.
1 Like
Fun Laws of The Game note, spoilered in case you plan to watch:
Summary
75th minute Penalty, off the crossbar, the kicker touched it again before anyone else did: Restart: Indirect Free Kick.
Longest shootout in world cup history, women or mens.
Interesting semifinal matchups. Just a pity they are being played at 1 am and 3 am West Coast time.
Ha! I just woke up around 2pm (east coast) after staying up to watch both games, so I’m kind of on Australian time. Going to be fun getting up for work on Monday morning.
Night games in Australia/NZ work well for the European market but not for the Americas. Maybe now that Canada/US and others are knocked out that was a gamble that paid off.
But that means you slept through the Chess World Cup, taking place in Azerbaijan! Round of 16 (open side) and quarter finals (women’s) going on today through Monday.
3 Likes
It was a tough choice. 
1 Like
I’ll watch them at my own leisure. Just gotta figure out when they’re on. (They’re airing on my local Fox station and not FS1, which was a bit surprising. Then I remembered the writers’ and actors’ strikes and nothing new is airing.)
AUS-FRA was long.
ENG-COL was a great match to watch.
I watched both well after they were aired.
Seems the semis are on different days, and one finals team will have an extra days rest.
I’ll check prior MWC’s, but i don’t think that is how they’ve been scheduled.
I was surprised by that too. Spain to win the whole thing, then?
Well, crap, 2022 Men’s WC semi’s were also played on different dates.
But, really, for fairness sake, they should be on the same day.
The 2011 World Cup was the last time the semis were played on the same day.
The 1994 World Cup was the last time for men.
1 Like
Good final coming.
USA did a great job in today’s semi.
Of course I’m talking about the referee.
Might have one in the Final as well.
I think it has been a great World Cup despite the disappointing performances by Canada and the US.
Tempted to watch the Final live at 3 am on Sunday as I am almost as big a fan of the English team as Canada’s but it will be rerun at 6 am. Just have to avoid reading my WhatsApp notifications from my English family.