Stan Collymore · @StanCollymore
9th Jun 2015 from TwitLonger
Women's World Cup Blog
I've done 80 live commentaries this season so the intent after my final game of the season, Ireland v England, was to switch off for a few weeks, kick back, relax and do something that doesn't involve 22 people focusing on a round white spherical thing for 90 mins.
Well, that was the aim.
I had every intention of watching the England Women's National Team, have watched from afar for a couple of years, went to a Black Country Derby in tier 2 of the National League recently and have formulated opinions and thoughts on the Women's game and it's strengths.
This tournament so far has been superb to watch. No diving, cheating, feigning injury or waving of the imaginary card, just 22 extremely focused players, fighting tooth and nail for their team mates , their nations and of course themselves.
Sounds obvious doesn't it? The way it should be? Of course, but having commentated on 80 games as stated above, the men's professional game is a charlatan in sporting terms compared to the games i've seen thus far at FIFAWWC.
No, i'm not going overboard and i'm really trying very hard to not compare the men and women, but if the highly paid, wonderfully preened men are watching, they'll see the spirit of the game in front of their eyes, the spirit of the kid aged 11, running around with intent, wanting to tackle, wanting to score, wanting the pure enjoyment of this great sport, rather than the stupid hair, tantrums and cancerous cheating which all hallmark the modern mens game. The women's world cup is the purest form of the sport i've seen for years, and i love it.
Take Australia v USA. 45 minutes went like 10. Why? Players just got on with the game, the referee didn't have to second guess who dived, who didn't, who are the snides, who are going to get in their faces, because none of it happened! None! So the game flowed, players got into their groove and a cracking game unfolded. A simple game as someone once said.
Being an analyst though, i'ts hard not to be critical for long, although constructive, and like any sport played by anyone, there is always room for improvement.
Short passing and running with the ball have been excellent thus far. One and two touch from most sides has been crisp, good invention and in some extremely highly charged, aggressive games, midfielders like Megan Rapino of the USA have been exceptional.
However, over distance, the passing starts to become a little ragged, almost an afterthought, which, when watching, looks poor compared to the slickness of movement, passing and thought that may have preceded moments earlier. In other words, the aimless long ball is used far too much in this world cup so far. It's simply not needed, keep it for longer spells, tire the opposition, make them work rather than a 50/50 bun fight which tends to happen too much.
The development of the womens game has been astounding and that's down to the hard work of grass roots players, coaches and families to make sure that associations have been held to account, money and resources have been channeled into the sport ('m a huge fan of all pro clubs having a women's affiliate in FA statute), pro clubs have started to take notice and the end product is hopefully the feeling amongst women that they are equal partners and equal shareholders in the sport we all love.
This world cup hopefully, through the only thing that matters, on the pitch, will hasten that process.
One sport for all. That's why it's the best! Viva Football, and Come on Lionesses!!!
Stan Collymore