For the Women’s Game, It’s Time to Pick a Side

By Eric Beard

The road has been a long one, but with an absolutely fantastic Women’s World Cup coming to a close there has never been more at stake for the United States and Japan. But perhaps more importantly, there has never been such potential for the growth (or revival or whatever you want to call it) of women’s football. TV Ratings will be massive. Twitter will explode over Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, and even the skillful passing of Japan’s Homare Sawa.

Asia will be watching. America will be watching. The world will be captivated by the women’s game, and whoever comes away as the world champions will provide positives for the game at large. Japan, of course, is playing as a symbol of triumph amongst the catastrophic horrors the nation has had to endure in recent months. Japan’s men’s team chose to withdraw from Copa América, but the women persevered, not only with wins, but with a gorgeous brand of attacking, pass-oriented footy. 

For a one moment before the final kicks off, let’s be greedy. Greed for the women’s game, a moment as rare as Mourinho showing a bit of modesty. Let’s think, “how can these 90 (or 120) minutes benefit female footballers around the world to the fullest? How can these women create a spectacle that will provide years of inspiration?”

Ideally, we would see the the trend of WWC-branded golazos continue from both ends and attacking, beautiful football would win over the bandwagoners and the winner would become a non-factor. Realistically, a United States victory is a key to progressing the sport for women all around the world. The United States, through Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), has become the epicenter of women’s football. WPS has faced its fair share of struggles (financial, support, etc…), but it lives on and has been the primary reason the women’s game has progressed.

The best female players go to America, just like the best male players flock to England and Spain. America’s league needs support, not to mention money. Quite simply, the fans in America, based on the current set up, are arguably the most important factor in determining the sustainability of women’s football. If the US Women become world champions, then chances are the beauty of women’s football continues to live on as a viable profession for athletes and artists year-round. May the best team win, but may women’s football be the real winner when the tournament is all said and done.

  1. readerimarriedhim reblogged this from afootballreport
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  4. varconc reblogged this from afootballreport and added:
    did Eric, I think it did.
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  8. acendam-as-luzes answered: japan, yes we can
  9. kafeis answered: All my nieces asked me if they can go play football with me and my friends, in their words today ” i want to be just like Hope Solo” beautifu
  10. This was featured in #Football
  11. afootballreport posted this
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