[Mister Bent]

Originally Posted by dykeumentary

Frankly I am disappointed in the whole thing. The confusing/bad calls and drama took away from the game.
Also, it just doesnt seem fair that the US team has training facilities of the very highest quality, conditioning coaches, physical trainers, nutritionists, and on and on with the bankrolling of the team - and then to cheer that the USA won because of their fitness. Its like cheering when the NY Yankees beat a tram with no payroll.
The Brazil women's team hardly has any support in Brazil because they are women. The team members usually have to live in other countries if they want to play. Marta has to play for Rochester NY. She showed today that she is a passionate player with the skills to back up her fire. How many balls got into the net today past Hope Solo -- two from Marta and three penalty kicks (one of them from Marta). Hmmm 5 goals scored on Hope Solo.
So big nationalistic whoop for the USA today.
I guess I just need to let go of the outdated idea of a "level playing field" - even if it's a soccer pitch.

I agree that the drama and a couple of questionable calls are distracting, but they are part of the game, almost always. No doubt there's some amazing talent on the Brazilian team, but I think it's a little out of line to criticize people who support the US team simply because they have better support. All that aside, I'd say that playing almost half the game short sided does somewhat level the playing field. Hope Solo is widely recognized as one of the best tenders in the sport and, as a former goal tender, I can tell you that penalty kicks are greatly weighted against the goalie, perhaps as evidenced by the fact that Brazil's tender stopped not one (I won't count the one where she illegally came off the line, leading to a re-kick). Also, it is greatly underestimating the role of a goal tender to place their skills solely on blocking balls. Solo has a huge foot and fields the ball from her station beautifully.

Personally, as someone who was part of the generation that saw girl's/women's sports begin to be taken more seriously on the scholastic and collegiate level, I look at the fact that the US Women's team is so well backed as a positive advancement. Asking for a global "level playing field" in athletics is a challenging notion, don't you think? It doesn't even exist in men's sports. You can't effectively compare it to professional American sports, either, they're two completely different beasts. Generally speaking, I'm not a "go USA" sort (no nationalistic fervor here), but I have been a long time fan of the women's soccer program, because growing up, that was a dream I had. So to see it realized for others is something I recognize as a hard fought battle being won.