2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

[Steve H]

And will be playing England

We should win, Aus not being a major footballing nation (proper football, that is: Aussie-rules football is nothing like it).

[ProfessorDavey]

We should win, Aus not being a major footballing nation (proper football, that is: Aussie-rules football is nothing like it).

Not sure it works like that - there are a number of nations where men's football has never really been a major thing, but women's football is top tier. The USA being the most obvious example - never likely to come close to winning the men's world cup, but their women have won the world cup four times, including the last two. Australia might not be at that level, but they are ranked 10th in the world and playing at home. Certainly no breeze for England.

[jeremyp]

We should win, Aus not being a major footballing nation (proper football, that is: Aussie-rules football is nothing like it).

This is women’s football. The women’s and the men’s game are different and success depends on how well developed the women’s game is in each nation, not how well developed football is overall.

For example, the women’s game in the USA has been comparatively well supported for a long time which is why they often win. Australia’s lack of impact in the men’s game is irrelevant.

We should beat Australia, but our form so far has been inconsistent and we have suspensions and injuries, so it is a long way from being a sure thing.

[Nearly Sane]

This is women’s football. The women’s and the men’s game are different and success depends on how well developed the women’s game is in each nation, not how well developed football is overall.

For example, the women’s game in the USA has been comparatively well supported for a long time which is why they often win. Australia’s lack of impact in the men’s game is irrelevant.

We should beat Australia, but our form so far has been inconsistent and we have suspensions and injuries, so it is a long way from being a sure thing.

Add to that the one team to have beaten England under Sarina Wiegman are Australia

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65232235

[Nearly Sane]

Spain into final, another semi final loss for Sweden


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66495265

[Steve H]

Aus v Eng 0-0 so far.

[Nearly Sane]

England 1 - 0 up at half time. Goal was well taken.

[Nearly Sane]

1 - 1 great goal from Australia

[Nearly Sane]

2 - 1 England - great game

[Steve H]

Jolly good show!

[Nearly Sane]

3 - 1 - after 2 great chances for Australia. Surely through?  Really enjoyed the match.

[Steve H]

Damn - you beat me to it!

[Steve H]

Not knowing much about football, I take it we're now into injury time, or something.

[Nearly Sane]

Not knowing much about football, I take it we're now into injury time, or something.

It's all over. 3 - 1. Well done, England!

[Steve H]

You beat me again you bastard!

[Steve H]

I'm so higgerant that I thought the Lionesses* were playing in yellow, so when a bluey scored with the score at 2-1, I thought the Matildas* had equalised for a minute. Until that moment, I'd been cheering on the wrong lot. (I hadn't seen the first three goals.)
*at least I know the team nicknames.

[ProfessorDavey]

This is quite remarkable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-66531590

I'd certain expect the semi-final to have had a big tv audience, but I certainly wouldn't have expected it to have been the most watched tv show ever on Australian tv. More than any Royal event!!!! More than Sydney Olympics opening ceremony. More than any of a number of finals that Australia have been in in sports that are, apparently, much bigger than football in Australia, such as rugby or cricket.

I think this does demonstrate that football is really a (the) dominant sport and that there are plenty of countries that might claim that football isn't big, but boy if they have a team that gets to the sharp end of a world tournament, you'll see just how big it is.

[jeremyp]

This is quite remarkable.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-66531590

I'd certain expect the semi-final to have had a big tv audience, but I certainly wouldn't have expected it to have been the most watched tv show ever on Australian tv. More than any Royal event!!!! More than Sydney Olympics opening ceremony. More than any of a number of finals that Australia have been in in sports that are, apparently, much bigger than football in Australia, such as rugby or cricket.

I think this does demonstrate that football is really a (the) dominant sport and that there are plenty of countries that might claim that football isn't big, but boy if they have a team that gets to the sharp end of a world tournament, you'll see just how big it is.

It doesn't mean football is big in Australia, it means Australians like to watch their sports teams do well.

What were the audience figures for Torvill and Dean's gold medal performance in the UK? Apparently, 24 million people watched it. Does that mean ice dance is a big sport here?

[ProfessorDavey]

It doesn't mean football is big in Australia, it means Australians like to watch their sports teams do well.

What were the audience figures for Torvill and Dean's gold medal performance in the UK? Apparently, 24 million people watched it. Does that mean ice dance is a big sport here?

This isn't big ... it is biggest ... of all time in Australia - that's astonishing in my opinion.

Australia have won the rugby world cup twice and been in the final on two further occasions (note that when people decide to watch a match they don't actually know who is going to win). Similarly Australia have won the cricket world cup five times, and been beaten finalists twice. On one occasion for each sport Australia was not only finalist, but also host, which tends to add to viewing figures. We are told that Australia's sporting national obsessions are rugby and cricket and that football isn't a big deal.

Yet the Australian team in a semi-final (not even a final) in football drew a viewing audience bigger than any of those finals appearances (where by definition their team had got further than the semis) in their so-called national sports. Or any other event in the history of Australian tv.

I think it is remarkable frankly, and really not what I would have expected.

Oh and on your Torville & Dean comment - was this the most watched tv event of all time in the UK. Is it in the top 10 most watched tv events of all time in the UK. Is it the top tv sporting event of all time in the UK. I think you may well know the answers to those questions.

[Nearly Sane]

This isn't big ... it is biggest ... of all time in Australia - that's astonishing in my opinion.

...

Just to note that isn't what the article says which is:

'The match also broke Australian broadcast records as it became the most watched television programme of any genre in the country since the existing rating system was established in 2001.'

[ProfessorDavey]

Just to note that isn't what the article says which is:

'The match also broke Australian broadcast records as it became the most watched television programme of any genre in the country since the existing rating system was established in 2001.'

That would still include the 2003 rugby world cup final. And the article specifically mentions comparison with data from previous record capture approaches - specifically Cathy Freeman at the 2000 Olympics. So they clearly aren't just restricting themselves to comparisons post 2001.

Regardless of any caveats this is absolutely astonishing in my view (and in a good way, by the way).

[Steve H]

How big a challenge is Spain in the final? They must be good to have got to the final, although maybe they were lucky in their opponents thus far (I don't know, I'm just wondering).

[ProfessorDavey]

How big a challenge is Spain in the final? They must be good to have got to the final, although maybe they were lucky in their opponents thus far (I don't know, I'm just wondering).

England are 4th in the FIFA rankings, Spain are 6th. So pretty close on paper. Spain have some top notch players including a fair few from the dominant Barcelona side, including Alexia Putellas who has won the Ballon D'Or for the past two years. They will be very tough opponents.

[Nearly Sane]

That would still include the 2003 rugby world cup final. And the article specifically mentions comparison with data from previous record capture approaches - specifically Cathy Freeman at the 2000 Olympics. So they clearly aren't just restricting themselves to comparisons post 2001.

Regardless of any caveats this is absolutely astonishing in my view (and in a good way, by the way).

Alexa not impressed

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-66508514

[jeremyp]

That would still include the 2003 rugby world cup final. And the article specifically mentions comparison with data from previous record capture approaches - specifically Cathy Freeman at the 2000 Olympics. So they clearly aren't just restricting themselves to comparisons post 2001.

Regardless of any caveats this is absolutely astonishing in my view (and in a good way, by the way).

Rugby union is a fairly minority sport in Australia.