I want to discuss what I see as one of the biggest gains emanating the recent Women’s World Cup – the perception of Football.
I’ve got two mates: Peter, a hard core rusted on NRL Wests Tigers fan and Ian, a hard core rusted on AFL Sydney Swans fan.
Peter has always in a general sense watched Football, all the big once-every-four-years Men’s World Cup qualifying matches and some Men’s World Cup matches, while Ian never really watched but started from the Matildas’ game against Canada.
(Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
Some basic things impressed them and I am surprised they made it such a point. They were hugely impressed with the match officials, commenting on how consistent and mistake free on the whole the match officials were.
Secondly it was the media commentary they saw as brilliant, in that they called what was going on and never went over and over potential mistakes or rule interpretations.
(As a side note to the above, they believed the short statement by the ref on VAR decisions, i.e “Number 2 hand ball”, again was very informative, straight to the point and made a lot of sense.)
Peter in particular who has Optus watched most games, and he followed the Matildas closely. He told me he has a new understanding of Football he has never had before. He now understands Football is not ‘soft’ and it’s very fast. But most of all, he understands how difficult it is to score and the excitement a goal produces.
Peter even reckons some NRL games appear slow compared to the speed in the World Cup. He also conceded he saw hardly anyone dive – most players who went down were for real.
Ian, the Swans fan, had never watched a Football game before and what impressed him aside from the officials was the excitement of low scoring which he’d never believed possible.
Both said they were amazed at the speed of the games, and how it was in one half and then the other, and both were impressed at the skill and ball control players displayed.
Ian made an interesting comment – and remember he had never watched a Football match before. He said the lack of time a player on the ball has to attempt a goal and the defensive structures protecting the goal were fascinating. By comparison, AFL players had an age to attempt a goal.
Fundamentally, they now understand Football a lot better than they did before. It was heartening to see the stereotyping of Football as soft, slow, repetitive and so on has been replaced by an appreciation of the game.
Why do I think this is so important?
Because when the stereotypes disappear, much of the criticism goes out the window and for those under 40 it will more than likely never be a problem in the future.
I asked both Peter and Ian whether they would take a interest or watch local women’s or men’s A-League games. Ian said he was unlikely but he would start watching the Socceroos and Matildas, while Peter has agreed to come with me to a Central Coast Mariners game next A-League season.
Obviously I can’t have a real idea of how representative Peter and Ian are of their respective codes’ attitudes towards Football.
But having said that, neither of them had any knowledge or appreciation of Football before the Women’s World Cup and they do now, which I think is a massive achievement.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
The reaction to Vine's penalty against France was ... (I don't have the word) That game, that crowd, that penalty shootout, that penalty, was absolutely the best moment in Australian sport, ever. It would be remembered as such, or close it, if it had occurred in Sydney or Melbourne, but as it occurred in Brisbane and our football media is national (read Sydney/Melbourne) we don't and won't read or hear much about it. I attended with an AFL fan and a couple of less than casual sports fans, plus a couple of fanatics. We were all completely captured by the 0-0 game.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Kerr + crowd was unforgettable. Best crowd reaction I've ever been part of.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Great news Midfielder - unfortunately not repeated amongst some of my circle. They have doubled down on sokkah hatred in response to the both men's and women's World Cups. Now, where is that MLS article?
Iron Fist
Roar Rookie
FIFA left 40 pedestrian mowers at the 10 World Cup venues as a legacy item after the tournament. Let’s see if the groundsmen actually use them, or revert to the standard ride-on mowers Australian groundsmen generally prefer for efficiency. There’s a reason FIFA football pitches look the way they do, and plenty of it has to do with the strict standards enforced, and the painstaking effort to achieve it.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Yes indeed Sheffield WD. Hopefully, one day our A-Leagues can play on pristine pitches like that; thanks to FIFA's criteria we saw during the WWC what we can do, to improve the overall quality of our game.
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
I think we should actually thank FIFA for preserving the work that the groundies do by not letting the other codes or concerts anywhere near the pitch during or indeed weeks before the event. Amazing the quality of the game that can be achieved when football is not played on a pitch that was still paint marked and decimated by rugby league match the previous day.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
good article. :thumbup:
Grem
Roar Rookie
And I’m looking forward to seeing the new Mariners team in action. Can they surprise us again under Monty? Who will the new young stars be this season?
Grem
Roar Rookie
THAT WAS THE GREATEST GAME EVER. WHAT A SUPER STAR LATRELLE IS! What do you mean?
pacman
Roar Rookie
Excellent article Mid. As far as TV commentary went, I thought one or two of the ladies delved into team structures a little too deeply. Reminded me a little of my good lady, who has a tendency to make simple things difficult. As many of us are aware, playing formations are fluid and can, on occasions, bear little resemblance to the coach's intentions. Another observation regards the camera work. Sometimes I was thinking of locating my binoculars, the play appearing to be so distant. Plus the replays - often disjointed, far too late, and as a result truncated. Agree with Para+Ten regarding the playing surfaces. Unfortunately, I fear they will quickly revert to cow paddock standards. Overall though, a darned good show.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but how good were the playing surfaces in Aus/NZ? The stadia were amazing and we can thank all the grounds men/women for producing perfect playing surfaces. Well done people, you made the Women's World Cup such an amazing event. Sam Kerr’s wonder goal, was directly a result of such a perfect playing surface, the ball rolling true and without a bubble travelling over the surface. This is what I want the fringe supporters to understand; why FIFA (stadia requirements) insisted that the two weeks preparation of the playing surface is necessary.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Grem the pure joy and reaction from the crowd after Kerr scored, will remain with me forever. A goal of pure class from a truly global superstar. I was also in the crowd and the roar was reminiscent of when Bresciano scored against Uruguay in 2005. The noise just went straight through you.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Good article Mid. The perception of commentators is very interesting. The rugby league commentators whether it's on TV or radio are just constantly shouting, constantly offering opinions on this, that and the other. Basically your auditory senses are assaulted and it's hard to enjoy the game for you to come to your own conclusions etc. I think football commentators are streets ahead in this. The older cricket commentators are also very good and as Richie Benaud once said, never commentate on things that people can see for themselves.
Grem
Roar Rookie
An interesting article, Midfielder. I have some similar experiences as well, with newcomers not just watching the game, but thoroughly enjoying it. They may not move from rugby league to football, but they’ll more than likely tune into future Matildas games and that can be the start of something. That’s how my love of football began with the Socceroos. It’s also good to hear more people understanding the absolute tension and ecstasy of a low scoring game. Even in Australia’s last two games, when we were beaten by a better team, we could have won. When Sam Kerr scored at the Olympic Stadium to bring the game back to 1-1 the reaction was like nothing I have seen before in any sport. Hopefully more people are realising what we already know. It’s good to read that the Matildas 3 games in Perth have already sold out HBF Park and they are considering a move to Optus Stadium. The Matildas effect is still happening.