I actually don't care for that analogy because (A) those fist pumps
do happen, and (B) they're totally appropriate in a tennis context, as long as they're brief. Nadal and Serena get to 6-0, 4-0 on early-round opponents because they're more focused and amped up than their opponents, and part of that is feeling so intense about every stroke, even in the early rounds, that they may shout out on big plays. I've seen yelled "COME ON!"s, albeit less often, even in early-round blowouts.
If you want to argue the celebrations were inappropriate in soccer, I'd stick to soccer analogies, being played by soccer's unwritten rules of etiquette. From what I understand, there are countless examples of soccer teams who, once they've made it a blowout, keep celebrations very brief and modest. There are, to be sure, fewer such examples in the World Cup Finals, and that's an important piece of context that pro-celebration arguments make (this is the peak of their sport, what they've worked for their entire careers, they're gonna celebrate no matter the score - and should). And there aren't too many true blowout situations in the World Cup Finals, for either gender, just because of the level of play.
But you know what, we could use a little data, as silly as this subject is. So what other World Cup examples do we have?
Russia-Saudi Arabia 2018: The 4-0 goal (71') was celebrated fully. The 5-0 goal (90+4') was celebrated briefly but warmly.
England-Panama 2018: The 4-0 goal (40') was celebrated fully, but that was early. Harry Kane got brutally mugged at 45' and thus celebrated his PK smugly but modestly. His final goal at 62' for 6-0 was off a freak deflection that his team laughed about and hugged him over, but the celebrations were over quickly.
Belgium-Tunisia 2018: The 5-0 goal (90') was Batshuayi's first, so he celebrated intensely, but his teammates weren't too into it.
Cameroon-Croatia 2014: Mandzukic celebrated both his goals (61', 73', for 3-0 and 4-0) fully, but maybe less than full-energy.
Brazil-Cameroon 2014: Fred and Neymar went absolutely wild for the 4-1 goal (84') that clinched it
Spain-Netherlands 2014: Van Persie's 4-1 (72') got the full knee-slider, Robben's 5-1 (80') got a very joyful but briefer celebration. Though they were playing and demolishing the defending world champions in their opener.
Colombia-Japan 2014: James Rodriguez, for his 4-0 at 90', did the full Hulk Hogan hand-to-ear "I can't hear you" running-around routine
France-Switzerland 2014: Both the 4-0 (Benzema 67') and the 5-0 (Sissoko 73') got full and energetic celebrations
Germany-Portugal 2014: Muller's 4-0 (78'), for his hat trick, got brief hugs and thumbs-ups, but nothing wild.
Algeria-South Korea 2014: Brahimi's 4-0 (62') got a screaming run-around celebration
And of course, the
Germany-Brazil 2014 Semifinal: Khedira's 5-0 was only at 29', it got a fairly tame but joyful celebration. There was lots of back-and-forth over the next 40' with Brazil having plenty of chances but running into a Neuer-shaped wall. Schurrle at 69' for 6-0 got hugs and smiles, but Schurrle's golazo finish at 80' for 7-0 got big fist pumps from him.
Brazil-Netherlands 2014 for the 3rd place match: Wijnaldum scored a superfluous 3-0 at 90' and ran around dancing and fist-pumping like he'd scored a winner.
Germany-Australia 2010: The 4-0 (Cacau, 70') got a knee-sliding screaming celebration.
Portugal-North Korea 2010: In a game where they got 3 goals after 80' in what was already a 4-0 match, the 5-0 at 81' got a full make-a-heart-with-your-fingers celebration, the 6-0 got only mild smiles and hugs for Ronaldo, but the 7-0 on a great header got a jump-into-your-buddy's-arms party.
(I don't have the heart to keep looking through 2010 videos)
Frankly, I'd say the reputation of Germany as toning it down is easily overstated, they barely backed off in their SF triumph. In fact, the
only team that I don't think celebrated fully or near-fully at their well-more-than-needed WCF goals was England, on an excuse-me deflection for 6-0. Other than that, the men were largely fist-pumping and running around screaming with impunity, no matter the score. Now, sure, 5-0 or 6-0 isn't 12-0, but the final result isn't in doubt, either.
I went into this expecting to find a bunch of situations where the men's teams toned it down, but found the opposite. While examples are legion in league and cup play, it seems that if you're at the WCF with the world watching, you're fist pumping and running around for a goal no matter what the score is. I'm forced to reverse my previous opinion on the seemliness of the celebrations, and conclude that the USWNT is
not being treated the same as men in comparable situations, and they don't deserve any crap at all for celebrating. Especially since they had plenty of sympathy and sportsmanship once the final whistle blew.