Women's World Cup Finals

[MooseMom]

OK, I know that for some weird reason, our culture pooh-poohs women's sports, but tomorrow (Sunday) is the Final of the Women's World Cup, and the USA is one of the finalists.  The last time they won the World Cup was in 1999, and they have not made it back to the final until this year.  They beat Brazil in a truly amazing match and then beat a very good French team in the semis.  They will be playing Japan, who have never had a team make it this far.  After what that nation has been through this year, they are the sentimental favorite and will give the USA a very good run for their money.

Even if you think women's sports are naff, this IS our national team (if you're American, that is!), and they have had much more success at this level than our men's team.  The match will be at 2PM Eastern/1PM Central on ESPN.  Stay out of the heat and go to your nearest TV and watch our national team in action.  Let the male sportsmen keep on haggling about how many millions they think they are being cheated out of.

[RichardMEL]

I'm very proud that the Matildas (Aussie women's team) got to the quarters, but were defeated by Sweden(I think). Well done girls!

[MooseMom]

I'm very proud that the Matildas (Aussie women's team) got to the quarters, but were defeated by Sweden(I think). Well done girls!

What a brilliant name!    Isn't the men's team the Socceroos?

Too bad the USA lost on (gasp) the dreaded penalty shootout.  England fans know well that particular agony, am I right or what??   

[RichardMEL]

yep, the boys are the socceroos You know your football/soccer (whatever you want to call it )

[MooseMom]

Will the Australian men's and women's football teams be going to the Olympics in London next year?

I have a story you might be interested in.  We have women's professional softball here in the US, and Chicago has a team, the Bandits.  They play teams from other nations along with other local teams, and one year we watched them play the Australian National Softball team.  I had to go to the ladies' and in the bathroom were several Australian players.  I asked them what kind of reception they had here in the States and how did it compare with their experience with softball in Australia.  They said that they were amazed at the size of the crowds that they play before here in the US because hardly anyone came to see them in Australia.  Each of these women were strikingly beautiful and very athletic, just what the stereotypical Aussie woman would look like.  It was so cool to get to talk to them.  They had travelled such a long way and were really loving the attention they were getting from the American crowds.

[Riki]

My best friend watched the game in Times Square.  She took a lot of pictures while she was there.  Very neat

[Ang]

Will the Australian men's and women's football teams be going to the Olympics in London next year?

  I asked them what kind of reception they had here in the States and how did it compare with their experience with softball in Australia.  They said that they were amazed at the size of the crowds that they play before here in the US because hardly anyone came to see them in Australia. They had travelled such a long way and were really loving the attention they were getting from the American crowds.

not sure if the matilldas and soceroos will be at the olympic games.
softball is not a sport that gets great crowds in australia,mainly because quite a lot of us grew up watching football(not soccer) and cricket, but saying that when major sporting events such as world cup and olympics are televised, we'll watch anything even paint dry as long as its green and gold.

GO AUSSIES   OI  OI OI

[RichardMEL]

I don't think the Socceroos will go to the olympics - mostly because most of them are professional players (eg: in the EPL) so that probably precludes them, but I honestly don't know. I know our Hockey team goes (the men are the hockeyroos, no idea what the ladies are) - we're pretty good at hockey if I recall correctly.

Like Ang said, softball is not a huge sport down here so I'm not surprised they don't get big crowds. In terms of girls/women's sports I'd say netball was far bigger (now if the softballers wore those short skirts that could increase the crowds  ). Actually in netball Aus vs. NZ - two of the power teams in the world, along with I think England and Jamaca (not sure where the US stands) are massive competitions - the aussies and kiwis have been neck and neck for years. I don't know much about netball, but if there's an aus vs. NZ game on and I have time I'll tune in because they are always very close and tough games (and now I actually watch for more than just the skirts and great bodies ).

In terms of overall sports, I would say that the big sports here are basketball, football (Aussie Rules or Rugby depending on your part of the country), cricket(in summer), soccer(the round ball game) and probably swimming/tennis.

[okarol]

I had planned to watch the final but I was in Idaho and my uncle has no cable tv. The family found a sports bar so I could watch the game and they all hung out with me. I thought it was a good game. Too bad USA lost, but Japan finished them off!
I saw the World Cup here in Pasadena's Rose Bowl in 1999 - an amazing win for the Americans - in 100 degree weather - what fun that was!
Better luck next time!