France advanced to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup tonight, when they beat England 4-3 on penalties, after the score was 1-1 after 90 minutes and 1-1 after extra time.
And to be clear from the start, France were the better side in almost every department tonight, but when you don’t take your chances, you keep the other side in the game.
Think of the way Arsenal play and overwhelm the opposition, but never put the ball in the net, and you get a good idea how dominant France were in this game.
In the first half, France out-shot England by 9 shots to one, and it got even worse in the second half, as France continually moved forward and were the much more skillful side.
But then in the 59th minute England surprisingly went ahead, when Jill Scott fired the ball home from 30 yards in a rare England attack, and England were ahead.
England were hanging on with everything they had, with some stout defending in central defense and in goal, but then the England coaches seemed to make a huge error in using all their subs, the last one coming on after 87 minutes.
That was even though Kelly Smith was clearly seen to be hobbling around – what were they thinking?
So if this game went to extra time England would be in trouble with essentially only 10 fit women.
And of course that’s exactly what happened as France equalized in the 88th minute. It’s called Murphy’s law – if something can go wrong, it will – and at the worst possible time.
The game went to extra time and how France didn’t score, we have no idea, and the England players were falling around like ninepins and continually booting the ball clear and handing possession straight back to the French side – it was desperate stuff indeed from England.
The game finished 1-1 after 120 minutes, and it went to penalties.
Goalkeeper Bardsley, who was born in the USA, was England’s best player and kept her side in this game, with two excellent saves and some very decent goalkeeping in those first 90 minutes of the game.
And then when she saved the first penalty in excellent style for England, things looked up, and after round 3 of penalties, England were still 3-2 up.
But then, almost to show that the England women are as bad as the men are in penalty shoot-outs, England managed to miss their last two penalties, when Rafferty and England captain Faye White both missed, and didn’t even get the ball in the frame and so didn’t even test the 3rd choice French goalkeeper.
France scored with their final two penalties with ease, and went out winners 4-3 on penalties.
Have England – men or woman – ever won a penalty shoot-out – when the chips are down?
England handed France the victory, and the French will now play either Brazil or the United States in the semi-final.
But the only mystery in this game was how England managed to take this game to penalties, because they were simply out-played by France.
It was guts and glory from the English woman, but like the men, they eventually came up short in the penalty shoot-out.
But to be fair, the England woman did win their group, and got to the quarter finals, and put in a much better overall performance than the men did last summer in South Africa – when most of them seemed to be scared stiff and it all seemed too much for most of them.
Comments welcome.
182 comments so far
RUNAWAY777
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:11 PM
Comment #1anything happing tonight lads.
GeordieToon89
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Comment #2nah mate, everythings shiiite.. takeover talk again but id imagine its all crap
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Comment #3Nowt do do with NUFC this post.
jackdnufc
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Comment #4“Good Old” England.
archaeomag
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Comment #5@runaway Our midfield will be celebrating their Women’s victory, but no real news.
Haway Les Pies,
ONLINE GUY
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Comment #6Anil Ambani’s name is being bandied about again. also Quatar group…Please sell up Ashley, please ?
jackdnufc
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:16 PM
Comment #7Anything new lads? Guessing not.
JackButler
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:17 PM
Comment #8BurnsieBen Ben ‘Burns’ Youall
N’zogbia is apparently on way to north east now….dunno how true.
Hugh Jorgan
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:18 PM
Comment #9Happy Birthday Geordie German !
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:19 PM
Comment #10Here is a totally fantasy question. If a woman was good enough could she be signed?
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:20 PM
Comment #11Cheers Hugh. you’re my 5th today. Bloody sad that. 🙁
JackButler
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:21 PM
Comment #12Happy birthday GG
archaeomag
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:21 PM
Comment #13Yesterday there were rumors of a 6’4″ french guy visiting SJP . .
Guillaume Hoarau?
GeordieToon89
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:22 PM
Comment #14Happy Birthday GG – i didnt even know mate all the best 🙂
jackdnufc
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Comment #15GeordieGerman-
I think Udinese did it at some point.
Don’t know otherwise.
Baro
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Comment #16Happy BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDDAAAAAAYYYYYY
GGGGGGG-GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
GeordieToon89
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Comment #17Jack – is tht off Twitter?
Zog said yday he was going away for a few days cant remember wher though
GeordieToon89
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:23 PM
Comment #18Jack Butler my last post is too btw.
DarloGeordie
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:24 PM
Comment #19Yup happy birthday GG there’s a drink here for ya but I guess I’ll have to drink it 😉
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:24 PM
Comment #20JackButler and GeordieToon89, Starting to feel better. Cheers.
shearerno9
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:24 PM
Comment #217.8 million done deal for shane long
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Comment #22Ta Baro and Darlo. Phew.
JackButler
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Comment #23GT89
yeah, i have asked him where he got if from will let you know if he replys
archaeomag
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:25 PM
Comment #24Happy birthday GG
Eastander
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Comment #25Happy birthday GeordieGerman! have a good one whats left of it!
Baro
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Comment #26shearerno9
U said that before on one of the comments but when do you reckon this will take place?
eaststandgeordie1982
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Comment #27Happy birthday gg
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:26 PM
Comment #28shearerno9, really?
JackButler
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Comment #29GG
get some beers in you and dream of signing messi lol
GeordieToon89
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:27 PM
Comment #30ther is no way we will pay nearly 8million for a player who has had 1 good season and was in championship.. pards has said wer staying away for british market as its over priced
Andy
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Comment #31Happy bday GG all the best. Also I talk to one of the Talksport guys on twatter reguarly and he’s just been producing the programme with Dave whelan on. He reckons zog will join. Take with a pinch of salt as it is ts but just telling you guys what I’ve been told
JackButler
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Comment #32shearerno9
where you hear that from??
belfastmagpie87
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Comment #33cwarr07 Colin
Thanks for all the positive messages today, twitter is simple you either Follow or Unfollow, need any help get in touch. #twitterbanter
1 hour ago
haha
i cant believe that people on twatter still believe this fuc***.
GeordieToon89
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:28 PM
Comment #34jus got meself some Coors and couple bottles of tht new Bulmers for tnyt ha =] get yourself some beers GG mate
shearerno9
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Comment #35apparently so, i posted it back on the fiorentina thread a few days ago…..
dazza
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Comment #36Schalke bid £6m for target Roux
Whelan admits they must sell Nzogbia and have had bids but they dont meet his valuation.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league
DarloGeordie
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Comment #37Why would we want long? Someone posted his games/goals ratio against bests and its rubbish…
GeordieGerman “allez les gars!”
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:29 PM
Comment #38archaeomag, eaststandgeordie1982 and Eastander, thanks. Celebrating how I like it. Quite and with like minded mates. 🙂
TemuriKetsbaia
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Comment #397.8 million done deal for shane long FICTION. lol
shearerno9
Jul 9, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Comment #40have to go to work now but have a look on that fiorentina thread, im just passing on what i was told by a man in the know