Japan Wins The Women’s World Cup
By Wyatt Earp | July 17, 2011
Dammit, dammit,
Japan has won the Women’s World Cup, stunning the United States 3-1 in a penalty shootout Sunday night after coming from behind twice in a 2-2 tie.
Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath all missed penalties for the Americans, who squandered dozens of chances throughout the game and blew a lead just six minutes from winning their third World Cup title.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking,” Wambach said. “Japan played well. They never gave up.”
She’s right. The U.S. had chance after chance to score, but kept coming up short. They took the lead both times, and both times Japan kept fighting back. Once it came to penalty kicks, all bets are off. As the father of a goaltender, I can tell you that making a save in a shootout is pure luck. Luck – and skill – were on Japans side today, and the better team won.
Topics: Soccer | 8 Comments »
July 17th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
How in the world did the Japanese girls win this? I mean, I have yet to see one with anything larger than a C cup. Most American girls these days have D or E cups…..
Oh. You were talking abbout soccer.
Nevermind.
July 17th, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Robert B. – Common mistake. No worries.
July 17th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
I watched most of the game and the team who made the most of the opportunities won. What made me happy to watch the game was the sportsmanship shown both by sides. A lot of times, sporting events such as these have become physical in a way that goes beyond appropriate. I think both teams did a nice job, and both teams should be very proud of the fact that they played a high level of soccer without having to reduce themselves to the level of thuggery seen at times. They allowed their skills to talk.
July 18th, 2011 at 2:07 am
Wyatt- Don’t think I have it in me to begrudge the Japanese on this- and it isn’t just the Yellow Fever talking.
After the kind of year the land of the rising sun has had (or are continuing to have), I don’t think I have it in me to grouse if the Japanese have some sort of transcendant, unifying moment like this….
July 18th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Sorry, I tried . . . . . really I did, but I just can’t seem to get excited about soccer.
** Yawn **
July 18th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Okay, so I’m shallow. Who had the better looking team Japan or the US?
You see when Anna Kornikova was playing tennis I really didn’t care who won the tournament. I cared about how high Anna’s Tennis Dress was. If she came in 27th in a field of 28th my answer was “Who Cares a Rat’s Behind -Anna K was in the tournament – that is all that is important…
July 18th, 2011 at 10:46 am
RT – Very few fouls, very few cheap shots. It was a good game.
Fenway – I agree. And really, they were giant killers in this tournament, taking out powerhouse Germany earlier on.
Bluwall – Then you missed a really great game.
Ferrell – The U.S. Definitely.
July 18th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
Gotta agree with Fenway… that one was just meant to happen.