gerblod

I just watched a damned good game of football. Sure, no-one remembers who placed 3rd and 4th, but the Swedish team themselves looked very happy.

I'd guess so. Maybe the manager saw the 'writing on the wall' and decided to give the subs a go on the big stage.

Sweden started out strong and have generally bøssed this game. Two strong, physical teams with Sweden having been the stronger. Fowler needs to play off cleverer players - she's just too subtle for this kind of contest. Asllani combines tough and clever. No idea why Raso was subbed.

Beautiful strike by Asllani.

Penno for Sverige!!! And, it's in..barely...

I think the Chloe Kelly penalty has really given the stone-agers who feel the need to maintain a very fragile male superiority pov a lot to ponder. There are questions about the context of the claim that it is the fastest struck goal of the English season but, that a woman can strike a ball that hard, is proof that the gap is not as wide as is generally believed and that the huge psychological barrier women's potential has struggled against is being breached. It's often about questioning the propaganda one has been fed since childhood by those who have something to gain from suppressing ones potential.

Ramsey had one huge obstacle in his way - the best Brazil team there's ever been and, hence, the best footballing side there's ever been. Given that, they only lost by one goal in their group game against Brazil - Italy lost by four goals in the final. I honestly believe that no team could have beaten that edition of Brazil - Pele, Tostão, Rivelino, Gerson, Jairzinho, Clodoaldo and Carlos Alberto were all supremely talented footballers. Sometimes the footballing fates are too strong to fight against. If Wiegman pulls this off, then she deserves a nation's thanks and all the kudos that will be bestowed on her. But 1970 was played at another level - possibly, probably even, the best footballing tournament ever.

I think it's the concentration of excellent players at club level in England, France and Spain. They've upped their game in the last four years or so no end. There's also an aggression that wasn't there before. I don't wish to see an emulation of the men's game - with its petulance and constant haranguing of the officials so I hope it remains distinct in style. But it's very difficult now to distinguish a difference in how technically good the two games are.

That's the kiddy!

Proper scrapper is Hemp!

And Kerr

Give 'em room! Fvck!

England have technical ability to spare. Oz just have Fowler.

Not rubbish, but significantly too slow. One wishes for that Steph Houghton was still around.

C'mon, Sweden!!!

Because every other club is after them. And the moneyed clubs get dibs on them.

A tad Eva Green.

Watching this is hard work!

Frederick Pohl, Aldiss, Sheckley, Hal Clement, van Vogt. Above all I think Pohl, James Blish and Philip Dick.

More a mild press, but she was c certainly looking to get a dig in. We forget, in our admiration for their footballing skills, that aggression and competitiveness is part of their componentry and that kind of behaviour takes discipline to keep under control. In one moment of indulging herself she's damaged her rep. and England's chances.

On balance it should have been Ashleigh Plumtre. Much as I'm happy to see Ingerland go through, an inch or two lower and that volley would have gone in. Apparently, she's a free agent now after her contract with LCFCW expired in July. Seeing how well she played today, one wonders what the story is there.

Turns out the purple turned to green. No excuse - she's clearly got anger issues which outweigh her good sense and team loyalty. She strikes the ball beautifully.

But can't post on it.

I only went to Highfield Road a couple of times - once to see City and once at the invite of a referee mate of mine who was running the line at a local match between two junior teams. It was a nice ground, less ramshackle than Filbo. But like FS, it was suffering from being a post Victorian ground in a car dominated inner-city area. When I worked there Cov were, behind Arsenal and Everton the longest continuous presence in the first tier (I'll stand to be corrected on that 🤔). I only hope our fall from grace is much shorter than theirs.

Oh God - how true, and I worked there for twenty years! A concrete wasteland with a part elevated ring-road encircling it. Much Park Street was the estate agent and solicitor stretch. The joke was that the City Council (which I worked for ) finished the job in destroying the city centre - started by Luftwaffe bombers. Before the war, it was a picturesque, Tudor-looking place. However, I shall unashamedly admit that during the '87 Cup, I did support the Sky Blues in their ultimately-successful run. The buzz around the city was just so infectious. I wouldn't go back there except if someone offered me a free ticket to see City play at the Ricoh. Horrible place.