Was the Women's WC thrashing of Thailand poor sportsmanship? (OT)

[bkeich]

In general I agree with the way the ladies played against Thailand, but I do think some of the celebrations were out of line. The 9th goal particularly was excessive, but when I watch it is also true that Rapinoe had tried to score a few and missed and this was her only goal and I think she just celebrated without really thinking about the score. There was a little bit of piling on at the end, they could have pulled the forwards back and just let the game end, but one might argue that is also a little disrespectful.

I think they should have pulled back, but I dont think it is egregious. In basketball you dont try to score when you have a 20 point lead and the ball in the last minute, you just let the clock expire.

In baseball, well, players always try to get a hit, even in a blowout. But there are unwritten rules about bunting to advance a hitter or stealing a base when you are too far ahead.

Was this poor sportsmanship?

• Yes, very poor sportsmanship
• Yes, but it was not terrible
• No, play hard until the whistle
• Who cares, it is Soccer

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[el-pietro]

Its unlikely to be an issue but goal difference matters in Football. Thailand will have to face Sweden, and its possible that Sweden puts up a similar score. If the US draws with Sweden (far from impossible) then goal difference will be important.

There is never any suggestion that a football team would ease up in a serious competition. Perhaps in underage football but not at this level.

Thailand are there on merit but they appear to have had a tough year following qualification, losing most of their games since they finished qualification.

The German mens team beat Estonia 8-0 last night and Estonia is a far more established footballing nation than Thailand (I was in Estonia for a Europa League qualifiying game in 2017 as it happens). No one would suggest Germany did anything wrong.
Ireland beat Gibraltar 2-0 on Monday night and everyone is upset that they didn't press home their advantage because it may cost them later in the group when other teams score far more.

[jimbomill]

Yes, very poor would be my vote

[Squire]

I'm ok with the goals but they should have muted the celebrations after like Goal 6.

[bigegypt0417]

I think this is where I'm at...you play until he end in soccer.

Goals can matter.

[zambonir]

Perspective | The U.S. women’s national team is an American treasure. Pay them a...

[schillingfan]

I’m going to be an annoying feminist here. I know it makes men crazy when one minute women appear to want to be treated like men and the next, to be told hwomen are different and don’t understand how women look at things. I’ll give it a try though. Men are looking at this from a man’s perspective. Men would see it as piling on and showing up the other team, staring at your home run. That’s kinda they way testosterone acts. I don’t think for a minute that occurred to the women, although yes they are competitive athletes. I saw it as sheer joy, exhilaration. For a low scoring game, it must have been amazing to score and score and keep scoring,like something beyond their wildest dreams. Yes, it must have been demoralizing for Thailand, butt I don’t think their women thought they were having their noses thumbed at.

JMO from a female perspective. BTW the women’s movement has advanced to where we don’t want to be treated the same as men, but to be respected and rewarded for what we do and to be given the same opportunity to show what we can do.

[julio]

From the standpoint of one who played soccer in high school, for a team that sometime put up some lopsided scores... I don't think we ever stopped trying to score, even if the opponent was way behind, and clearly outclassed. What we did do was use every kid on the team - and we're talking about a situation where nobody got cut - freshmen who weren't really good were assigned to the jv squad (which also played other schools), but upperclassment never got cut - and in blowouts, our coaches ran everybody out there. If the last guys on the bench continued to score... that was a big deal for those kids. It wasn't about showing anybody up.

[Purduke]

After about six goals, as Squire said, some form of decorum has to kick in. What troubled me the most though was the celebrations looked excessive. So now what, if the Swedish woman will be tied after a win against the Thai's, they need to beat them 15-1 "just to be safe?"

Maybe somebody can talk me into "first game", "joyous, unexpected celebration" etc, but they can't talk me into the coach not saying something to her team. I don't want anyone to stop competing, but I've watched enough UConn WBB over the last 20 years to recognize the difference between how they compete when the score is nil-nil vs how they compete when it is 63-12.

The coach should have taken a firmer rein of her team.

[zambonir]

But in WBB you're used to scoring 30-40 times a game. In soccer goals can be so rare.

Most of the people I know put the blame on FIFA, which has expanded the World Cup field without sufficiently supporting/developing the lesser countries (and is terrible with women, and in general, too).

[schillingfan]

But in WBB you're used to scoring 30-40 times a game. In soccer goals can be so rare.

Most of the people I know put the blame on FIFA, which has expanded the World Cup field without sufficiently supporting/developing the lesser countries (and is terrible with women, and in general, too).

I just think of those endorphins that must have been flying around on the field,x since goals are so rare. They must have been high as kites.

[jimbomill]

in blowouts, our coaches ran everybody out there. If the last guys on the bench continued to score... that was a big deal for those kids. It wasn't about showing anybody up

If that's the case, bravo. I have no problem if that is the case.

[Florida_Sunshine]

I forget who said this but I think it is true with the add on that someone said the celebrations should have been muted.

Our job is to score point (goals) and their job is to try to stop us.

Schillingfan, interesting perspective.....