Special Event: 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup: Match Day 3

June 17, 2019 8:32 AM

It's you, it's me, it's Match Day 3.
posted by cortex (57 comments total)

Spain - China looks to be the important match of the first set of games today.
posted by nubs at 8:50 AM on June 17, 2019

Spain - China - Now Playing
South Africa - Germany - Now Playing
Nigeria -France
South Korea - Norway
Italy - Brazil
Jamaica - Australia
Japan - England
Scotland - Argentina
Netherlands - Canada
Cameroon - New Zealand
Sweden - USA (I think this is one to watch!)
Thailand - Chile
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:15 AM on June 17, 2019

OK, the Guardian liveblog is sucking for this. Trying to cover two games at once is confusing as heck.
posted by nubs at 10:16 AM on June 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

Anyways, Germany is cruising for the top seed; China needs to do something or they'll be in the pool of 3rd place teams (the top four third place teams from the group stage will advance.) China might be ok in that pool, though.
posted by nubs at 10:20 AM on June 17, 2019

And some digging makes the strategy make sense; China will move ahead on a draw, even in 3rd place...while the runner-up of the group will play the winner of Group F (the United States). So China is happy to play for the draw and let Spain be the 2nd place team in Group B.
posted by nubs at 10:44 AM on June 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

Dlamini for S Africa is putting in a nice performance in goal.
posted by Liesl at 10:52 AM on June 17, 2019

Group A final games coming up.

France is through, but need a draw to guarantee top spot.
South Korea absolutely needs win; Norway and Nigeria are less clear but probably both would be ok with at least a draw.
posted by nubs at 11:15 AM on June 17, 2019

After being away for a conference since Thursday, it's nice to be able to sit down at home and watch a full game. I hadn't seen Nigeria play yet, and have high expectations for them. So far, fifteen minutes into the game, they haven't done much wrong, but they don't look like they'll trouble France much either.
posted by Kattullus at 12:15 PM on June 17, 2019

Those VAR calls are overtly harsh
posted by motdiem2 at 1:35 PM on June 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

This is insane. I cannot even imagine Nigeria's frustration levels.
posted by Liesl at 1:37 PM on June 17, 2019 [1 favorite]

OK, the Guardian liveblog is sucking for this. Trying to cover two games at once is confusing as heck.

Covering the two games on the same page is ridiculous; it would be nice if there was at least a colour code or flag so you could tell which game was being talked about without having to read the whole comment.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 1:55 PM on June 17, 2019

The Most Interesting Group in the 2019 Women’s World Cup

What We Know (And Don’t Know) After 2 World Cup Games
posted by the man of twists and turns at 7:55 AM on June 18, 2019 [1 favorite]

I fell asleep yesterday watching France-Nigeria, which was a boring ay eff, but I'm having no problems staying awake during Brazil-Italy. It's not only because of those iconic colors on the same field of play summon forth a Platonic form of worldcupness, but because the game itself is a really closely-fought contest by two good teams. Both goalkeepers, especially, have really shone.
posted by Kattullus at 12:58 PM on June 18, 2019

Also, Marta is just so recognizable as a player. Even in a wide angle shot, it's so easy to spot her just by her gait.
posted by Kattullus at 1:02 PM on June 18, 2019 [2 favorites]

For once I'm happy that the Guardian liveblog is a minute ahead of the streaming, so I can flip to the right tab in time to see a goal. Congrats Jamaica!
posted by Liesl at 1:07 PM on June 18, 2019

And the Guardian is back to separate live streams for today's games; I'm guessing it might be because England is playing.

Anyways, ENG-JPN to determine who is top of the group (though the loser might have the easier path in the round of 16) but both teams advance no matter what. In SCO-ARG, Scotland must win to have any hope of advancement as a 3rd place seed while an Argentina win will guarantee them a spot in the round of 16.
posted by nubs at 11:17 AM on June 19, 2019

These Scotland kits are . . . very pink.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:17 PM on June 19, 2019

I found they kind of grew on me after a while.
posted by nubs at 12:18 PM on June 19, 2019

Argentina playing for their tournament lives is growing on me. . .
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:34 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

I, for one, would not want to see Sole Jaimes barreling towards me...
posted by Liesl at 12:37 PM on June 19, 2019

Unfortunately the place I’ve snuck out to watch has the ENG-JPN game on; it sounds like the other match is far more exciting.
posted by nubs at 12:55 PM on June 19, 2019

GOAL SCOTLAND!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 1:07 PM on June 19, 2019

Argentina will really have to press now.
posted by nubs at 1:14 PM on June 19, 2019

And they are! This is going to be a fierce fight for the remaining 10 minutes.
posted by Liesl at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2019

Geez, I though Scotland had their ticket to the round of 16 booked. Exciting finish ahead!
posted by nubs at 1:38 PM on June 19, 2019

Enter VAR, the greatest villain of our age.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 1:46 PM on June 19, 2019

Penalty for Argentina!
posted by nubs at 1:47 PM on June 19, 2019

This is crazy.
posted by nubs at 1:49 PM on June 19, 2019

that was, without a doubt, one of the wildest things ive ever watched in sports.

It legitimately seems like most of the players on the pitch (on both sides) are having trouble accepting the result, and i cant hardly blame them.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:55 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Big emotional swings in that game. Wow.
posted by nubs at 1:56 PM on June 19, 2019

I am baffled that there was not more stoppage time.
posted by egregious theorem at 2:02 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Considering the bad luck heaped on Scottish national football teams, someone at the founding meeting of the Scottish Football Association must have spat in the face of several major deities.
posted by Kattullus at 2:02 PM on June 19, 2019 [2 favorites]

I am baffled that there was not more stoppage time.

I am too; I figured there would be more time given after the length of stoppage for VAR.
posted by nubs at 2:10 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

Does anyone know if VAR has resulted in more penalties this tournament?
posted by TwoStride at 2:58 PM on June 19, 2019

Not sure on that, but someone has taken a close look and has some doubt about the VAR call to retake that penalty.
posted by nubs at 3:00 PM on June 19, 2019

Excellent result for England. Gamble on tickets for their next game has paid off. France on Sunday!
posted by biffa at 4:20 PM on June 19, 2019

The VAR for keepers coming off the line on PKs is terrible. From the two I've seen they're giving a second shot after the keeper's done something so standard the shooting team hasn't even bothered to protest after the first. Doing this for the first time in the WC is really strange - reminds me of the (men's) WC not too long ago where they introduced a ball with a new panel/stitching design and none of the players could control it.
posted by ethand at 7:21 PM on June 19, 2019 [1 favorite]

They apparently changed the law regarding goalies coming off the line on June 1, and it looks like no one has adapted to it yet. Being cynical, I expect that once it creates a problem for the men, it will be revised.
posted by nubs at 7:26 PM on June 19, 2019 [3 favorites]

And I don’t have to wait long - the Premier League has already announced VAR will not be used to judge goalkeepers position on penalties.
posted by nubs at 6:43 AM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

Both games 0-0 at the half. Come on, Canada!
posted by nubs at 9:53 AM on June 20, 2019

Cameroon's winning goal was a beauty.
posted by nubs at 11:26 AM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

Well, the US have started out strong.
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:07 PM on June 20, 2019

Am i wrong in thinking that CAM's winning goal will also very likely push them into the knockout rounds (unless chile wins by more than 3 goals?)
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:08 PM on June 20, 2019

I think Cameroon is definitely through, and Nigeria's the team on the bubble. Cameroon is tied with Nigeria for the 3rd third place qualifier at 3 points and -2 goal differential, but they have 3 goals scored vs Nigeria's 2. If Chile wins by three goals or more, then they also edge out Nigeria on goals scored (if Chile wins by 3) or goal differential (if Chile wins by 4 or more); if Chile wins by two goals or fewer, then Nigeria's through on goal differential. (And Thailand has no chance of overcoming the goal differential hole they're in from the US.)
posted by bassooner at 12:16 PM on June 20, 2019

is anyone having issues with the audio on the fox streaming app?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:07 PM on June 20, 2019

Ok, that was a beautiful goal from Tobin Heath!
posted by TwoStride at 1:09 PM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

I would not object to it being called back by VAR. Lloyd is clearly offsides and makes it possible for that ball to reach Heath.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:12 PM on June 20, 2019 [2 favorites]

Eh, Lloyd is offside but the Swedish defender had first touch on the ball and handled it poorly. I do agree with the commentator that if it's taking ages for a VAR call it's not clear and obvious...
posted by TwoStride at 1:17 PM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

Chile picked up a second goal! One more and they advance.
posted by bassooner at 1:40 PM on June 20, 2019

and they just missed a PK off the crossbar!
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:45 PM on June 20, 2019

Aw, that's kind of rotten that Heath's goal was changed to an own-goal. And I can't believe Lloyd just missed that chance!
posted by TwoStride at 1:49 PM on June 20, 2019

7 minutes of added stoppage time in which Chile will be desperately trying to put one more in the net.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:50 PM on June 20, 2019

7 minutes of stoppage time is ridiculous.
posted by TwoStride at 1:50 PM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

Oh, I was pulling for Chile so hard! Good work, ladies! Next time.
posted by Liesl at 1:57 PM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

True, though I'm happy to see Nigeria go through.
posted by TwoStride at 2:00 PM on June 20, 2019 [3 favorites]

Now that the bracket is in place, it has to be said that the top side of the draw is considerably more difficult. It's not quite as absurdly lopsided as last year's World Cup, but there's definitely an easier and a tougher route to the final.
posted by Kattullus at 2:36 PM on June 20, 2019 [1 favorite]

Hurray, all went to plan and will be seeing England-Cameroon on Sunday and Spain-USA on Monday!
posted by biffa at 1:17 AM on June 21, 2019 [1 favorite]