Women's Soccer

Senator Donut

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View: https://twitter.com/clickhole/status/960568745298223104


Solo is correct on the facts, but her conclusions were wrong. Once the equal pay claims were dismissed by the courts, the USWMNT’s lawsuit was standing on narrow legal ground. Their only remaining real leverage was the poor PR it generated for the federation. The players decided to cash in on that leverage and USSF was more than happy for that problem to go away for a few million dollars.
 

Dummy Hoy

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Goddamn.

I hate that I don’t follow women’s football more than I do…I confess Macario didn’t ring a bell. Further research reveals an interesting backstory and apparently some fucking ridiculous skills for scoring goals.
 

67YAZ

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There’s as much talent as ever in the USWNT pipeline, but there’s much more talent coming through Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia, and especially Spain. We’re entering a new, much more competitive phase of womens soccer. it’s a great time to hop aboard the train.

While Japan and Brazil have held pretty steady in terms of talent (although any nation would struggle to replace Marta), I find China’s drop off really curious. Comparatively, they have some of the best sporting infrastructure in the world for women and seemingly could continue to develop tons of talent from their massive population. But it’s all slowed down, even while the country has improved in other sports. Must be a strategic change?
 

Dummy Hoy

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It’s a great point…the last few years we’ve seen the European giants put money into their women’s clubs (I won’t stoop low enough to throw a shot at Liverpool here ;)) and we’ve seen the club game elevated tremendously because of it. The days of non traditional football powers (US, China, Canada, Norway, etc) reigning supreme may be coming to and end.
 

SoxFanInCali

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It’s a great point…the last few years we’ve seen the European giants put money into their women’s clubs (I won’t stoop low enough to throw a shot at Liverpool here ;))
I know you're having a little fun here, but Liverpool lead the Women's Championship by 10 points currently, so they are on track to get back into the Super League next season.

Fortunately, Meikayla Moore's 3 OG's came on international duty for New Zealand rather than for Liverpool.
 

67YAZ

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It is shameful that FSG have taken this long to make meaningful investments in the women’s side and actually make a real push to develop the squad. Like, for the cost of one Minamino, they could snatch up 2-3 balon d’or candidates.

Plus, when Everton is eating your lunch in some facet of the sport, Liverpool ownership needs to step it up.
 

Zososoxfan

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My daughter just turned 1 and I'll freely admit that her birth has increased my interest in womens sports considerably. Sad that it came to that, but better late than never I guess? I also really enjoyed the winter olympics womens competitions. Great vibes for sure from the snowboarders and the womens alpine events are batshit fast too.

To add, I really like that womens football is taking off in Europe. I was thrilled to see Argentina's women get pretty good results in the last WC, but that was bittersweet as the story there was about how much adversity they had to overcome for their success. Funny that it would be like that, as womens sports in Argentina are supported OK--but that may just be limited to field hockey, tennis, and sports that they've been good at for some time.
 

Senator Donut

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It is shameful that FSG have taken this long to make meaningful investments in the women’s side and actually make a real push to develop the squad. Like, for the cost of one Minamino, they could snatch up 2-3 balon d’or candidates.

Plus, when Everton is eating your lunch in some facet of the sport, Liverpool ownership needs to step it up.
LFC has a player who just scored a first half hat trick for the United States, which is pretty good for a second division club.

I’m surprised by how bad the LFC women are. They were relegated the same year their brother club won the league. It’s pretty embarrassing for a club with their resources to play in the second division.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I know you're having a little fun here, but Liverpool lead the Women's Championship by 10 points currently, so they are on track to get back into the Super League next season.
No need to defend the club here. This is the correct response:

It is shameful that FSG have taken this long to make meaningful investments in the women’s side and actually make a real push to develop the squad. Like, for the cost of one Minamino, they could snatch up 2-3 balon d’or candidates.

Plus, when Everton is eating your lunch in some facet of the sport, Liverpool ownership needs to step it up.
 

67YAZ

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LFC has a player who just scored a first half hat trick for the United States, which is pretty good for a second division club..
Brilliant.


My daughter just turned 1 and I'll freely admit that her birth has increased my interest in womens sports considerably. Sad that it came to that, but better late than never I guess? I also really enjoyed the winter olympics womens competitions. Great vibes for sure from the snowboarders and the womens alpine events are batshit fast too.

To add, I really like that womens football is taking off in Europe. I was thrilled to see Argentina's women get pretty good results in the last WC, but that was bittersweet as the story there was about how much adversity they had to overcome for their success. Funny that it would be like that, as womens sports in Argentina are supported OK--but that may just be limited to field hockey, tennis, and sports that they've been good at for some time.
Never too late to get with it!

Not sure if you’re states-side, but NWSL matches are great events to attend - usually inexpensive, intimate stadiums where you can see & hear world class players doing their thing, and the players tend to hang around long after matches to greet fans.

Plus, NWSL consistently puts out the best kits of any league anywhere.
 

SoxFanInCali

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No need to defend the club here. This is the correct response:
I mean...they did win the league title twice under FSG, including a crazy last day in 2014 where they jumped from third to first.

Yes, I was annoyed when they were relegated (by 1 point in a season that was cut off in the middle due to the pandemic) and I'm happy to see they are on their way back up. Feel free to give FSG grief for not investing more, but it's not like they're Manchester United, who didn't even have a women's team until 2018.
 

Zososoxfan

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Brilliant.




Never too late to get with it!

Not sure if you’re states-side, but NWSL matches are great events to attend - usually inexpensive, intimate stadiums where you can see & hear world class players doing their thing, and the players tend to hang around long after matches to greet fans.

Plus, NWSL consistently puts out the best kits of any league anywhere.
Just looked it up, and the closest club to me in Tampa is Orlando. I understand why leagues and clubs have prevented Orlando and Tampa having teams in the same competitions, but as anyone who lives here can attest, they're entirely different markets. Hell, most Tampeños (including me) kvetch when they have to cross the bridges over to Pinellas! I also think it would create an immediate and obvious rivalry. As the metro populations in FL continue to swell, I think the numbers will win out the day and any sports league that just looks at markets will want to be in both.
 

Dummy Hoy

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I mean...they did win the league title twice under FSG, including a crazy last day in 2014 where they jumped from third to first.

Yes, I was annoyed when they were relegated (by 1 point in a season that was cut off in the middle due to the pandemic) and I'm happy to see they are on their way back up. Feel free to give FSG grief for not investing more, but it's not like they're Manchester United, who didn't even have a women's team until 2018.
see you’re doing it again- you can’t help yourself. I’m not trying to be a jerk here, but it’s kind of crazy to me how people can’t just admit wrongdoing by their beloved corporate entity.
There is absolutely no comparing the barely semi professional women’s league when Liverpool won those titles (way to edge out Bristol Academy in 2013) to the fully professional league since 2018 when FSG has neglected to support the women’s team properly (despite being one of the 10 richest clubs in the world) to the point of them getting relegated. Why? Because they don’t give a shit about women’s football- the only reason they’ve put effort in now is because of the embarrassment that leaked over to the men’s side.
But FSG has already shown time and time again they don’t give a fuck about anything except profits- that’s who they are and what they do (along with pretty much every other team owner). It’s okay to admit this.

And good call, United not even having a team is probably more disgraceful, although since they’ve got a team they’ve shown the willingness to spend (as I’m sure Liverpool is doing now and will continue to)
 
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SoxFanInCali

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But FSG has already shown time and time again they don’t give a fuck about anything except profits- that’s who they are and what they do (along with pretty much every other team owner). It’s okay to admit this.
As someone who supported both the Red Sox and Liverpool long before FSG showed up, it still amazes me how prevalent this opinion is. I'll fully admit that 4 World Series, a Champions League, a Premier League title (and a couple near misses), and two renovated 100+year old classic stadiums without having to root for an ownership group with a body count bought a little goodwill from me.
 

Dummy Hoy

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As someone who supported both the Red Sox and Liverpool long before FSG showed up, it still amazes me how prevalent this opinion is. I'll fully admit that 4 World Series, a Champions League, a Premier League title (and a couple near misses), and two renovated 100+year old classic stadiums without having to root for an ownership group with a body count bought a little goodwill from me.
We've wasted too much of this Women's Soccer thread with our BS, feel free to hit me up on DM if you want to continue this deeper. I will just say there's largely a personality difference here I'd guess. FSG is the reason I don't root for the Red Sox anymore, and I've freely admitted I would be an FC United of Manchester fan were that my circumstances. But I don't think you can call it an opinion that FSG are in it for the cash...winning is part of that strategy, and that bothers some people more than others. Cheers
 

67YAZ

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Just looked it up, and the closest club to me in Tampa is Orlando. I understand why leagues and clubs have prevented Orlando and Tampa having teams in the same competitions, but as anyone who lives here can attest, they're entirely different markets. Hell, most Tampeños (including me) kvetch when they have to cross the bridges over to Pinellas! I also think it would create an immediate and obvious rivalry. As the metro populations in FL continue to swell, I think the numbers will win out the day and any sports league that just looks at markets will want to be in both.
The Pride have been treading water as an organization the last few years - I can’t recall them making any significant on or off pitch investments even while a few USWNT players have moved on.

But they still have Marta! How often do you get to see one of - very possibly? - the best womens player in history? Plus, if you get tickets when Portland, LA, Carolina, or DC are in town, you’ll get to see a cavalcade of stars.
 

67YAZ

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NWSL Challenge Cup is underway. Chicago beat Houston 3-1 behind a Mal Pugh brace. Welcome to the Petrucci era!
 

Awesome Fossum

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https://www.espn.com/soccer/barcelona-barcelona_women/story/4628542/barcelona-real-madrid-womens-champions-league-clash-breaks-attendance-world-record

Barcelona set a world record for attendance for a women's match with 91,553 supporters attending Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid at Camp Nou.

The previous record crowd for a women's game has stood since 1999, when 90,185 fans watched the World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
 

ninjacornelius

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Bayern and PSG just had themselves a MATCH in the Champion's League quarterfinals. Bayern was so plagued by injuries that they only had four players on the bench, all of them teenagers. But they took PSG to extra time on the road and only lost because their healthy players absolutely had nothing left in the tank. If you haven't been watching the women's UCL, all of the matches are free on YouTube. Tomorrow we get Arsenal-Wolfsburg and Lyon-Juventus, and a few Americans should feature in both games (Heath for Arsenal, Horan and Macario for Lyon).
 

Joe D Reid

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Hope Solo arrested for DWI, resisting arrest and child abuse charges late last night in NC.
https://wcti12.com/news/local/retired-soccer-star-hope-solo-arrested-in-winston-salem-on-dwi-child-abuse-charges
This source claims she passed out behind the wheel in a Walmart parking lot with her kids in the car.
https://myfox8.com/news/north-carolina/winston-salem/hope-solo-arrest/
The worst part of the whole thing is that one of the kids' names is "Vittorio Genghis". I know this is antithetical to the notions of personal autonomy that undergird our great nation, but if you turn in a birth form with "Genghis" on it your child should be whisked away instantly. It is a pretty short line from that decision to passing out in a Walmart parking lot.
 

67YAZ

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Liverpool Women win the Championship, secure the bowls promotion spot to the Super League. FSG finally put a big of investment into the squad and management this past season, and it paid off with 14-4-1 campaign so far & promotion with 2 matches to go.

Birmingham look like the relegates side coming down with only 5pts from 18 matches. It’s going to be a hard fight for Liverpool to stay safe next season. I hope more investment is forthcoming.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Liverpool Women win the Championship, secure the bowls promotion spot to the Super League. FSG finally put a big of investment into the squad and management this past season, and it paid off with 14-4-1 campaign so far & promotion with 2 matches to go.

Birmingham look like the relegates side coming down with only 5pts from 18 matches. It’s going to be a hard fight for Liverpool to stay safe next season. I hope more investment is forthcoming.
Bringing back Matt Beard as coach seems to have really helped, as well. He was in charge for their 2 WSL titles in 2013 and 2014, but then left for the NWSL, After he left, they went through 4 managers in the next 3 years, so hopefully some stability going forward will pay off.
 

67YAZ

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The NWSL kicked off this weekend. Of course, it was overshadowed by Houston suspending its manager and starting an investigation into past abuse. But here’s hoping for a great season that culminates in another good final & star turn for one of the league’s many great young players.

The Women’s Super League is closing out with an all time great trophy chase. Chelsea sits in first with 53 points and a +49 GD. Sitting four points back with a game in hand is Arsenal, who sport a +50 GD.

Chelsea wrap on Sunday hosting ManU, who currently sit in 3rd. The Blues also have a chance for the double with the FA Cup final against City the week following. (Side note: I hope the next Chelsea owner continues to invest in the women’s side.)

Arsenal play Spurs (5th place) on Weds and then West Ham (6th) on Sunday.

Of course, Barca have cemented themselves as the best team in the world - maybe ever - by not dropping a single point all season until last week’s second leg of the UCL semifinal, when Wolfsburg won 2-0…but Barca won the tie 5-2 in aggregate. Barca are a mindbending 27-0-0 in league play with 146 scored and 8 conceded. It’s like an FM cheat.
 
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67YAZ

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Anyone looking to warm up for Sounders-Pumas, on CBS sports right now is NWSL Challenge Cup semi-final Washington v OL Reign. No Pinoe, but the Spirit’s killer front three are on: Sanchez-Rodman-Hatch.
 

67YAZ

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Fun thread on WSL stats from this past season. Miedema & Kerr tied as the most productive attackers.

 

67YAZ

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A nice story on how Barca built up to packing 90,000 plus into Camp Nou.

The UCL final between Barca & Lyon is being broadcast on DAZN, sadly. Barca is the heavy favorite, but Lyon won't show any fear.

Plus, USWNT star Catarina Macario has banged in 10 in her last 12 matches for Lyon. Wish she could've gotten a star turn on a major network this weekend.
 

67YAZ

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Catarina Macario just announced that she has a torn ACL. She has been playing at balon d’or level this year. Here’s hoping for a fast and full recovery - the womens World Cup starts on March 4 July 20, 2023.

 
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InstaFace

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March 4th is exactly 9 months from yesterday. Recovery time in soccer is (*googles*) usually 8-9 months, though some people manage shorter than that. She can probably start on-field rehab ~3 months after surgery, and return to competition as soon as 6-7 months after surgery (at least Lyon will be in-season), with wide error bars on both of those numbers.

I guess it's possible she could be back in time and playing enough, well enough, to earn a call-up... but man it'd be hard to call her a likely participant in the 2023 WWC.
 

67YAZ

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March 4th is exactly 9 months from yesterday. Recovery time in soccer is (*googles*) usually 8-9 months, though some people manage shorter than that. She can probably start on-field rehab ~3 months after surgery, and return to competition as soon as 6-7 months after surgery (at least Lyon will be in-season), with wide error bars on both of those numbers.

I guess it's possible she could be back in time and playing enough, well enough, to earn a call-up... but man it'd be hard to call her a likely participant in the 2023 WWC.
Agree, 9 months seems very optimistic. But even if Macario can into “30 minute attacking sub” shape by then, you have to bring her. She’s the best American player now.
 

OCST

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My daughter just turned 1 and I'll freely admit that her birth has increased my interest in womens sports considerably.
Dude: as father of a 12 yo, I have one huge tip for you:

Womens College World Series.

I'm getting verrrry close to the point where, generic game no rooting interest, I prefer softball to baseball - certainly in the best apples-to-apples comparison I can find, I'd much rather watch college softball than college baseball. The pace of the action is significantly faster. The ball doesn't travel as far - fence is 220' to center - and the bases are 60'. Every play is bang-bang. The level of skill and athleticism is very high. Most of all it's FUN. The teams have elaborate chants and routines in the dugouts. It's nothing like the stoic, don't show up the opponent culture of baseball.

Highly highly recommend. It's going on right now. Double elimination 8 team bracket. Northwestern, Florida, Oregon St., and Arizona have been bounced so far. Oklahoma is the dreadnought. They are 55-2 this season and have the best player in the game today, possibly the best hitter in college softball history, and likely in the conversation for dominant college athlete and female athlete in the country right now, full stop: Jocelyn Alo. Great backstory too, from a tiny rural town in Hawaii.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/33482627/jocelyn-alo-legend-comes-full-circle-record-breaking-home-run-hawaii

So although it's "a bunch of teams do a bunch of stuff and then Oklahoma lifts the trophy," check it out.

Monday, June 6

Game 11: 12 p.m. | Oklahoma vs. UCLA | ESPN
Game 12 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m.
Game 13: 7 p.m. | Oklahoma State vs. Texas| ESPN
Game 14 (if necessary): 9:30 p.m.

WCWS Finals

Game 1: 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 9
Game 3: 8:30 p.m. (if necessary), on Friday, June 10
 

Zososoxfan

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Dude: as father of a 12 yo, I have one huge tip for you:

Womens College World Series.

I'm getting verrrry close to the point where, generic game no rooting interest, I prefer softball to baseball - certainly in the best apples-to-apples comparison I can find, I'd much rather watch college softball than college baseball. The pace of the action is significantly faster. The ball doesn't travel as far - fence is 220' to center - and the bases are 60'. Every play is bang-bang. The level of skill and athleticism is very high. Most of all it's FUN. The teams have elaborate chants and routines in the dugouts. It's nothing like the stoic, don't show up the opponent culture of baseball.

Highly highly recommend. It's going on right now. Double elimination 8 team bracket. Northwestern, Florida, Oregon St., and Arizona have been bounced so far. Oklahoma is the dreadnought. They are 55-2 this season and have the best player in the game today, possibly the best hitter in college softball history, and likely in the conversation for dominant college athlete and female athlete in the country right now, full stop: Jocelyn Alo. Great backstory too, from a tiny rural town in Hawaii.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/33482627/jocelyn-alo-legend-comes-full-circle-record-breaking-home-run-hawaii

So although it's "a bunch of teams do a bunch of stuff and then Oklahoma lifts the trophy," check it out.

Monday, June 6

Game 11: 12 p.m. | Oklahoma vs. UCLA | ESPN
Game 12 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m.
Game 13: 7 p.m. | Oklahoma State vs. Texas| ESPN
Game 14 (if necessary): 9:30 p.m.

WCWS Finals

Game 1: 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 9
Game 3: 8:30 p.m. (if necessary), on Friday, June 10
Thanks for the tip! Will definitely give it a shot. The Florida-OKST game was on at the restaurant I was at on Friday, so it's definitely getting good broadcasts and like many other sports the interest likely starts as very local (i.e., Florida game on in Florida, and I will tune into any big game that Michigan is involved with). Speaking of Michigan, I know there's been a lot of buzz around Coach Hutch lately, although I can't say what it's actually about.
 

67YAZ

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March 4th is exactly 9 months from yesterday. Recovery time in soccer is (*googles*) usually 8-9 months, though some people manage shorter than that. She can probably start on-field rehab ~3 months after surgery, and return to competition as soon as 6-7 months after surgery (at least Lyon will be in-season), with wide error bars on both of those numbers.

I guess it's possible she could be back in time and playing enough, well enough, to earn a call-up... but man it'd be hard to call her a likely participant in the 2023 WWC.
My bad - sloppy googling gave me the dates of the women's Cricket World Cup. The soccer World Cup is July 20-August 20. So Macario has a little more than a year to get back and into form.
 

67YAZ

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The Euros kick off a week from today. A good preview here. 23 of the matches will be on ESPN or ESPN2, the remainder on ESPN+. Makes it easy to see high quality matches during a downtime in the calendar.

Should be a banging tournament. Germany & Spain have some key injuries, but should still be dangerous sides - especially with the Spain fielding the best player in the world, Putellas.

In classic French style, they have maybe the most talented roster top to bottom but a lot of locker room tensions that will probably derail them.

The English are flying high with a ton of talent and a string of victories, plus they are playing at home. Who needs Phil Neville? Under the netherland’s former manger, Weigman, this squad will start off as the betting favorite.

But the Swedes (Olympic silver medalists) and the Dutch (reigning Euro champs) are fully capable of winning this thing, too.
 

67YAZ

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England opened proceedings yesterday with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Austria. The home side looked nervy. In the midst the Boris Johnson meltdown, a deep run into this tournament is definitely going to becoming a national rallying point. That will be real pressure.

Spain is sadly in disarray. They had already lost their second best player (and balon d’or runner up) Hermoso to an acl tear…and yesterday they lost the world best’s player, Putellas, to the same injury. Plus a half dozen of the squad tested positive for COVID. Total shit luck.
 

67YAZ

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8:0 FT.

That’s a massive statement from England after an unconvincing win win against Austria (who fields a number of semi-pros).
 

67YAZ

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Oh boy. England goes down 1-0 to Spain in the 54th minute. Spain have controlled the game really well so far. England needs to find another gear.
 

swiftaw

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I've been trying to watch the England-Spain match on the BBC, but the all-female commentary duo they've chosen as their #1 pairing for this tournament...isn't mellifluous, let me put it that way.
Well the ESPN commentary team seems to have disappeared all together
 

67YAZ

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Huge win for England. They passed a real test, though Spain were missing their 2 best players…who also finished 1-2 in last year’s balon d’or.