Canada 1-0 France - London 2012 Olympic Women's Football, Match for Bronze medal (9th August 2012)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Women's Soccer United on August 9, 2012 at 18:14

lol

Gromit said:

Do you know the Godwin Law (or Godwin Point) on Internet, Lars ? I think we should create an Jessica Innis law or Innis Point, just for you. The law would be : ""As a WSU online discussion is shared by Lars Breimer, the probability of a comparison involving Jessica Inni approaches"

As for ABBA, I'm afraid they are not so popular today in France, except for Disco nostalgic (but usually French people don't share so bad taste) and Gay community.

By the way, do you know that at half-time of France-Sweden in QF, the stadium played Abbas's "Waterloo" ? Double neutrality... ;o)

Lars Breimer said:

  Finally, what is all this weeping about? You may weep tears of joy, like Jessica Ennis on the podium when 80 000 full-throatedly sing (howl) your national anthem because you stood an delivered. When you don´t, don´t. "The winner takes it all" sang ABBA; maybe they were not big in France?

Permalink Reply by David Peak on August 9, 2012 at 18:20

I wouldn't criticise the French at all. They were the better team. It wasn't even close. The Canadian girls were very flat and just couldn't get their game going pretty much the whole game. The second half belonged totally to France, but they continued in the same vein as their previous game against Japan. Lots of pressure and possession, but not converted into goals. These things happen in football.... and often the fan's frustration is aimed at their team. I say it would be unfair if the French girls were criticised. Sadly, for them, It just wasn't their day.

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 9, 2012 at 18:23

"Déjà vu all over again", as Yogi Berra would have said.

   The Canadians learnt their lesson. It ain´t over till it is over. It ain´t over till the fat lady sings. It only takes a second to score a goal. Any more clichés?

David Peak said:

I wouldn't criticise the French at all. They were the better team. It wasn't even close. The Canadian girls were very flat and just couldn't get their game going pretty much the whole game. The second half belonged totally to France, but they continued in the same vein as their previous game against Japan. Lots of pressure and possession, but not converted into goals. These things happen in football.... and often the fan's frustration is aimed at their team. I say it would be unfair if the French girls were criticised. Sadly, for them, It just wasn't their day.

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 9, 2012 at 18:32

No, Lars, you store them all. ;o)

Lars Breimer said:

Any more clichés?

Permalink Reply by David Peak on August 20, 2012 at 18:54

OK, here's an observation. It's taken a while to get round to it... but here goes. I watched televised games from last year's Women's World Cup. I not only enjoyed the games I saw, but I was really very pleasantly surprised with both the quality of the football and the entertainment level.  So, the Olympics were not only in my country but in my home city of Coventry. I bought tickets and I'm glad I did. In the opening games Japan were obviously the best side, then judging quality of play, etc Sweden were second. Next came Canada and a really poor fourth were South Africa. Anyway, being neutral while watching a game isn't really possible for me so I had to have a team. Being something of a lefty I had to be with the underdog... but my underdog had to have a slight chance. So it was Canada. From the first game they improved... then improved some more. Then they were robbed against the USA... then they had absolutely all the luck against France and got the bronze medal. Of such incidents is football fandom made. I'm now a Canada fan... and that's it. Even when they played GB it made no difference... once you've chosen a team, that's it. So, for better or worse Canada it is!!

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 20, 2012 at 20:00

David, how I understand you and share with you the same spirit !

Let me tell you my story. I don't think it will be so much off-topic since it talks about what is a Football fan…

In 1966 I was a young French boy watching on TV his first WC (set in England). I supported the French team of course but also - because my grand-ma was from there and I used to spend wonderful summer and winter holidays there - Switzerland. Then, I watched the first round match between the Nati  (Swiss team)  and Germany. That's when I found my youth Football God ! Franz Beckenbauer ! He was 21 years old only and I immediately became a Mannschaft supporter (Germany won that day 5-0 with two goals by Beckenbauer).  For the Finale, everybody was supporting England just because WWII was still close in people 's mind (21 years ! people are crazy) and in spite of Nobby "butcher" Stiles. I was crazy about England myself because The Beatles, The Kinks, The Mods and the Mini-skirts (well, I'd rather say the English girls wearing Marry Quant's outfits). Germany being the underdogs playing with my idol I didn't hesitate and chose Germany. Two years later I turned into a young leftist teenager (I was politically rather precocious). Like you, I started to support any underdogs with a total inability to remain neutral. Even if I watch a sport I dislike, I have to choose my side (the weakest). I haven't changed a bit. But I also found that you have to remain faithful to your team, whatever can happen. You must be honest enough to say it plays badly and doesn't deserve to win, but you support it.

I kept supporting Germany, even against the wonderful Johan Cruijff in 1974. In 1982, Platini's France was outed from Spanish WC in SF by an infamous Germany with a monster named Schumacher who almost killed Battiston. Germany qualified through penalties. As all French I felt sick and desperate that night. Three days later, the Final opposed Germany to Italy. I'd always hated Italian football and its catenaccio. What could I do ? I stood for Germany. No doubt I was the only French to do it at the time…

That's why I know that I will die supporting my usual teams like Olympique de Marseille, OGCNice, France or Men's Germany. And even Death won't be able to take my love for the Nadeshiko off my heart.

You're right, David, stand by your Canucks since it is your team.  Faithfulness to one's dreams and loves, that is the right way to live and die, isn't it ?

Permalink Reply by David Peak on August 21, 2012 at 9:10

And talking of Germany and the Netherlands in 1974, there was an item on our local news just last week that Jack Taylor had died in Wolverhampton. He was, you might remember, the referee who awarded (correctly) penalties to each side in that final. He is generally regarded as being one of our best ever referees, and was also regarded as such by the players at that time.

I don't know if you're aware of the phrase "glory hunters". These are people who might come from absolutely anywhere but who don't support their local team. They might never ever go to Liverpool or Manchester United but it's Liverpool or Manchester United that they support. And the reason they don't support their local team is because they aren't any good and will never win anything. Of course that is precisely the team that you or I would support! I actually think many of these people (and there's a lot of them), lack something in their lives and need this regular infusion of glamour and success to give them self-assurance. They need the glory and cachet that association with a glamor club can bring. You or I are confident and self-assured enough to not need to be associated with the bigger, glamorous clubs. Is there any glory in winning when that is what you're expected to do? I don't think so.

This translates into every choice of team to support. I will support Everton over Liverpool, Sunderland over Newcastle, Manchester City over United etc etc. My father came from Manchester and was a lifelong City fan. So, there's an extra, emotional reason to dislike United. In the last minute, on the last day of last season City won the championship for the first time in 44 years. In the 92nd and 94th minutes of that game City scored twice. These goals came so late that United (playing at Sunderland), thought the championship was theirs. To see their celebrations suddenly change to despair was wonderful. I didn't see this live, I was away playing the violin... but my wife sent me frequent text messages and I saw the recording wen I got home.

There's more I could say, but I've rambled and meandered a little here so I'll save it for another time.

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 21, 2012 at 10:47

Wise words, dear David, as usual. Your remark about how people have a tendency to go and support those already winning is very interesting. In French, we say "Voler au secours de la Victoire". I don't know what is its English correspondent expression. Litterally, it means "To Fly and Help Victory". It's another way to talk about Opportunism, actually. But it can be also - as you wrote if I understood you well - a kind of fascination for what is glorious and "flashy", without opportunism's cynicism. Nothing is more irritating to my eyes - and to yours too, obviously - than rushing with the flock. In the 1970's and 80's, I used to hate Saint-Etienne just because all France was "green" or later Lyon for the same reason (the funny thing being that both teams are archrival ennemeies). How happy I was when my dear Bayern Munchen with my idol Beckenbauer defeated St Etienne twice in CL, in SF (75) then in Finale (76) ! In France, we don't have two teams per city as in England (or Italy, or Spain), so the rivalries are between close cities and not within them as with Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham or London.
Of course, the problem could surge when the underdog you support becomes #1 and remains it for a while with its flow of new supporters. Where were they when the team was at the bottom ? And will they still be there when this same team will be at the bottom again ?
Last word about Manchester City's last minute victory last season. I saw the match live and it was absolutely unbelievable ! I've never been a City fan but I supported them any way because I didn't want to se Man U winning. And I'm a great fan of Samir Nasri since his first pro match with Marseille at 17 years old (I saw it - it was against Sochaux - and I was astonished then by his talent).

Permalink Reply by David Peak on August 21, 2012 at 16:03

I'm afraid we're going to have to be on opposite sides with regard to Bayern München. I remember their victories against Leeds and Saint-Etienne as being extremely suspicious, and every referee's decision going the way of the Germans. There was some compensation when Manchester United beat them in Barcelona with two goals in stoppage time to win the 1999 trophy. Actually I think this might have been the only time I ever supported Manchester United! Sorry about this, but friends have to be honest!!

And the closest English phrase to "Voler au secours de la Victoire" would be, I think, "to jump on the bandwagon". A curious phrase, which just means to follow the herd like a sheep.

Permalink Reply by Gromit on August 21, 2012 at 16:10

Ah ah ! You're right, David ! I don't remember the details about Bayern-Leeds to be honest. And about St Etienne, I remember that Bayern was lucky ;o)

Permalink Reply by 2xehxtxemyk65 on August 21, 2012 at 18:39

I was in Basel when I watched the Bayern-MU final. I went to the loo when MU equalized. I could not understand the commotion when I came back. Eventually it dawned on me that the match was over and the right team won.

  It almost equalled, though not quite, watching the 1966 final in Bavaria.

  The 1998 final is, of course, the most bought one ever. One wonders if someone will ever dig out the truth? 

David Peak said:

I'm afraid we're going to have to be on opposite sides with regard to Bayern München. I remember their victories against Leeds and Saint-Etienne as being extremely suspicious, and every referee's decision going the way of the Germans. There was some compensation when Manchester United beat them in Barcelona with two goals in stoppage time to win the 1999 trophy. Actually I think this might have been the only time I ever supported Manchester United! Sorry about this, but friends have to be honest!!

And the closest English phrase to "Voler au secours de la Victoire" would be, I think, "to jump on the bandwagon". A curious phrase, which just means to follow the herd like a sheep.

Permalink Reply by David Peak on August 23, 2012 at 9:33

About the 1998 World Cup final, here's a link to a BBC page that pretty much tells the most likely story. I think!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/history/newsid_1749000...

Like most conspiracy theories, there doesn't seem to be a conspiracy at all, just humans being human. Obviously intrigue and dirty deeds would be more interesting and a better story... but that doesn't seem to be the case.

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