Anybody following the action? Japan beat Germany (the tournament hosts and odds-on favorite) 1-0 in the quarterfinals, and now the US women's team pulls out a dramatic 2-2 penalty shootout win over Brazil in literally the last minute of overtime! (The game had some truly abysmal refereeing though)

Japan defeating Germany was a truly awesome story. Especially after everything Japan has been through lately.

As for the USA game? That refereeing was TERRIBLE!! That's the worst officiating I've ever seen in any game. Hope Solo's penalty kick save was legit, and should have stuck. Also, why did Marta kick the redo penalty kick instead of the player who kicked the first one? There were so many mind boggling decisions in this game.

But they still hung on to win. I was so happy, I darn near cried. That was the greatest comeback victory I've ever seen. Abby Wambach's last minute goal was absolutely surreal.

Next on the list: France! That should be a fun game. I have no doubt the USA will win the Cup this year. GO USA! n_n

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Slava Ukraini!

Seeing England fail at penalty kicks never grows old.

Also, I hope Erika is feeling better.

After her flopping helped cost Brazil the game? I doubt it. But at least she's not the one who got an own goal in the first minute, then missed the critical penalty kick at the last

@Hailthorn: I think whoever comes out on top in Sweden-Japan will be pretty dangerous if we beat France, but yeah, I like our chances to win the whole thing. Having the best keeper in the world certainly doesn't hurt!

The referee penalty shot repetition was a correct decision: a US player started to run before the ball was touched. This can irritate the shootist's concentration and be an advantage in continued play. (Why is the rule so complicated; a simpler rule of not continuing play after a penalty shot would be better because it could lead to disputed decisions less frequently.) Afterwards, during continued play, though the referees lost some confidence and made some minor mistakes.

The repeated penalty shot in the final penalty shorts was also a correct referee decision as was the red card. However, Marta can consider herself lucky for not receiving a second yellow card for continued complaining...

The game had all the strange excitement one could imagine, only surpassed by Diego's Hand of God:) Marta's technical skill was as superb as ever and in front of the goal even better than what I have seen from her in the 2007 game against USA. Solo was not the penalty killer she was rumoured to be.

Agreed. I reckon it'll be USA vs Japan in the Final. As for France, they could be tough to beat, but with the heart our team displayed, I don't have any doubt about them winning. USA 2, France 0.

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Slava Ukraini!

Let them come! The better the team, the better the game, in my opinion! And as weird as it may sound, I wouldn't be too disappointed if Japan won the Cup. They've been through a rough time lately. However, I will still be rooting for the Red, White, and Blue all the way!

On a related note, me and a friend were joking around by saying our Women's team could defeat our men's team 10-0. So funny.

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Slava Ukraini!

Well, congratulations to the U.S. and Japan! (who both won 3-1)

It should be a great final; I'm honestly a little worried, Japan is playing at an incredible level right now.
But we have a far better goalkeeper than Sweden, and while I give major props to Ayumi Kaihori, facing Abby Wambach is no easy task. (or Alex Morgan - go California!)

I agree entirely. This is going to be a match of the ages! I think I enjoy the Women's side more than the men's. It just seems more competitive than the men's side.

Prediction:
Japan 3, United States 4

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Slava Ukraini!

If Germany could make goals instead of only playing well and if Brasil would aim at the right goal only, then these two should have been in the final. Japan excels at keeping the ball and defense, USA at efficiency of shoots per made goal. Both goal keepers are strong. So the final must become exiting!

Interesting that people seem to have so much interest for the women's world cup. Here in the Netherlands, while men's football is the absolute number 1 sport, there is basically zero media coverage for women's football. In fact, I wouldn't even have known that the tournament was ongoing without this thread.

Do you folks really enjoy watching full matches of women's footy? No offense, but the only thing that I enjoy while watching a women's match are the (one or two) pretty chicks on the field. The game itself can't keep my interest. Everything is just sooo dreadfully sloooooow, and they can't even seem to maintain ball possession for ten seconds. And half the goals seem to go in more by accident than by skill... Dull! Better watch the Champions League instead

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My name is Gijs, from Utrecht, NL.

When in doubt, play the most aggressive move

In the US, I wasn't expecting much coverage but our big cable sports network has been promoting the women's world cup heavily. It was a bit of a risk but with US getting by and into the finals, it has paid off with better viewership. I still haven't had the time to or desire to watch any of it. I do look forward to seeing Manchester United come play a friendly here in Seattle.

I am a huge football fan - mostly English Premier league - but my favorite national team is the Dutch.

I can honestly say that the Brazil US quarterfinal is one of the best football games I have ever seen.

You are right about the speed - although the skill at the World Cup Final level for the women is impressive. Did you see the second goal by the US against Brazil. I do not think you can argue that the pass was an accident - it was brilliant. And the finish was textbook good form and one of least accidental things I have ever seen.

What I enjoy about the women is that, with the unfortunate exception of Brazil in the quarters, they really seem to enjoy the game, and play with great sportmanship. There is far less abuse of the referee and rolling around the ground trying to get calls. The game is more innocent, and joyful and not played by a bunch of primadonnas. I loved watching the French player who scored the goal yesterday - she delivered and received some serious challenges - but ever time I saw, she bounced back up with the greatest joyous smile on her face - I think the women really appreciate just the chance to play the game, to be watched by so many, and, at this level, those rare occaisions when they can meet great atheletes like themselves.

This is why one of the first things Abby Wambach said after beating Brazil was how disapointed she was that she would not get to play Germany - She is not looking for the easy path, she wants to be challenged.

Gaius - I certainly share your appreciation of an attractive, athletic woman but that is not why I watch - it is a more positive and healthier game then the current state of the men's game. All things being equal, with no team or country that I particularly follow, I would rather watch a generic women's game than a men's game.

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My days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle

In my honest opinion, I prefer the Women's side of football (soccer). I've been watching for about a year now, and the games in the Women's World Cup have been the most entertaining games I've ever seen.

Of course, I could also have some bias here. Our men's team is....terrible. Our women's team is #1. So I suppose I'll leave it to y'all to do the math!

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Slava Ukraini!

I would like this x4 if I good. Excellent points! It does seem to be far more pure than the men's side. Except for Brazil. But their own lack of sportsmanship ended up costing them in the end anyway.

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Slava Ukraini!

I'm looking forward to that too. I believe Man is also playing the Galaxy (My favorite team).

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Slava Ukraini!

Sweden won out over France in the 3rd place game, 2-1. Can't wait for the final tomorrow, going to go watch it on a big screen in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza.

I liked the final. The end was thrilling. How could USA miss first 3 penalties?

In the Copa America today, Brazil missed all four penalties against Paraguay, and lost the shootout 2-0.

Great game. Japan showed a lot of the qualities the USA showed throughout the tournament: Resilience. The USA missed a lot of chances early on, and that proved fatal.

But Japan played great. It was so hard to be disappointed too, so I just smiled. I'm happy for the Japanese.

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Slava Ukraini!