Japanese players celebrate defeating the United States on Sunday in the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Frankfurt, Germany. (Michael Sohn/Associated Press)
It is now part of history. The 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup is over for winners, losers and spectators alike. There was incredible drama, great goals, embarrassing mistakes and some wonderful memories.
The final itself between the U.S. and Japan could hardly have had more twist and turns. The Americans dominated the early stages and were twice rewarded only to have the trophy snatched away at the death. FIFA couldn't have wished for a more fitting climax in its quest to make the women's game something we value and await with eager anticipation.
But for a sport so globally dominated by men, what did we learn about the women's game at its highest level? Here is a selection of my impressions. Please feel free to add yours.
1. Women's soccer has come a long way
Make no mistake - the women's game has come on leaps and bounds. The days of kick and rush are long gone. Today's players are not only highly tuned athletes; they are skilled performers who have learned the art of incisive decision making whether on the ball or supporting the play.
The technical ability of just about every team in Germany was a joy to behold. It is all very well for a coach to decide the team is going to play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. He or she must have the players capable of understanding and executing the plan.
Even the emerging nations, such as Colombia and Equatorial Guinea, were comfortable in possession and able to quickly turn defence into attack. Inevitably their inexperience was exposed by stronger teams but nobody can argue women's football lacks pattern or flow.
2. Canada has a long way to go
Where do we start? In four short years Canada will host the tournament and the work to right the wrongs of Germany cannot begin quickly enough. The Canadians were the first team to be eliminated from a competition in which we thought they would revel.
If Canada needed a wakeup call, it got one in the loudest and rudest fashion imaginable. Let's not make excuses about broken noses and groups of death. Let's accept Canada is not good enough and has a mountain of work ahead to avoid embarrassing itself on home soil.
Canada must learn from those who excelled. The Japanese, the Americans and the French all pushed the program forward and were rewarded. 2011 amounted to one thing - Canada's worst-ever showing at a Women's World Cup. This can never be allowed to happen again.
3. Women's soccer is competitive and fair
Where were the divers, the simulators and the time wasters? Happily they were almost invisible. I hesitate to use the word naivety, but there was a refreshing honesty about the players' collective work ethic. It was a highly competitive tournament, almost devoid of gamesmanship.
Marta is the world's best player. Her individual skill is on another level to just about every other female player on the planet. Sadly, on occasion, she allowed the cynicism of the men's game to influence her performance and the critics couldn't wait to pounce.
She was not the only culprit, but the World Player of the Year is there to be shot at. Marta must use her stature and incredible ability to elevate the profile of the women's game, not to draw unhealthy comparisons with her male counterparts.
4. Goalkeeping needs to be improved
This is an area which needs serious attention. I lost count of the number of goalkeeping howlers which punctuated the competition. With the possible exception of American Hope Solo, just about every keeper in Germany had something to answer for.
First - the obvious. The majority of women goalkeepers are physically smaller than their male counterparts but are nonetheless expected to defend a goal which is still eight feet high and 24 feet wide. Let's not even think about getting into a debate about reducing the dimensions.
Ball handling, distribution and decision making are all in need of a serious upgrade. Too many keepers came for crosses and corners they were never going to get to. Many more invited unnecessary pressure with poor choices or execution of clearance.
5. Women's soccer has a healthy future
The growth of the women's game is assured. For some it will never hold the appeal of its male equivalent but the Women's World Cup is a legitimate competition which demands and deserves our interest, support and attention.
There's no right or wrong way to succeed. The power play of the Americans, the swarming application of the Japanese and the elegance of the rapidly improving French were showcased in a tournament which drew healthy crowds and attracted millions of armchair fans.
Canada 2015 has a lot to live up to. The expanded Women's World Cup will involve 24 nations playing at six venues across the country. There are stadiums to build, players to emerge and fans to engage. It is a World Cup - it needs to be a world class event.
The final itself between the U.S. and Japan could hardly have had more twist and turns. The Americans dominated the early stages and were twice rewarded only to have the trophy snatched away at the death. FIFA couldn't have wished for a more fitting climax in its quest to make the women's game something we value and await with eager anticipation.
But for a sport so globally dominated by men, what did we learn about the women's game at its highest level? Here is a selection of my impressions. Please feel free to add yours.
1. Women's soccer has come a long way
Make no mistake - the women's game has come on leaps and bounds. The days of kick and rush are long gone. Today's players are not only highly tuned athletes; they are skilled performers who have learned the art of incisive decision making whether on the ball or supporting the play.
The technical ability of just about every team in Germany was a joy to behold. It is all very well for a coach to decide the team is going to play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. He or she must have the players capable of understanding and executing the plan.
Even the emerging nations, such as Colombia and Equatorial Guinea, were comfortable in possession and able to quickly turn defence into attack. Inevitably their inexperience was exposed by stronger teams but nobody can argue women's football lacks pattern or flow.
2. Canada has a long way to go
Where do we start? In four short years Canada will host the tournament and the work to right the wrongs of Germany cannot begin quickly enough. The Canadians were the first team to be eliminated from a competition in which we thought they would revel.
If Canada needed a wakeup call, it got one in the loudest and rudest fashion imaginable. Let's not make excuses about broken noses and groups of death. Let's accept Canada is not good enough and has a mountain of work ahead to avoid embarrassing itself on home soil.
Canada must learn from those who excelled. The Japanese, the Americans and the French all pushed the program forward and were rewarded. 2011 amounted to one thing - Canada's worst-ever showing at a Women's World Cup. This can never be allowed to happen again.
3. Women's soccer is competitive and fair
Where were the divers, the simulators and the time wasters? Happily they were almost invisible. I hesitate to use the word naivety, but there was a refreshing honesty about the players' collective work ethic. It was a highly competitive tournament, almost devoid of gamesmanship.
Marta is the world's best player. Her individual skill is on another level to just about every other female player on the planet. Sadly, on occasion, she allowed the cynicism of the men's game to influence her performance and the critics couldn't wait to pounce.
She was not the only culprit, but the World Player of the Year is there to be shot at. Marta must use her stature and incredible ability to elevate the profile of the women's game, not to draw unhealthy comparisons with her male counterparts.
4. Goalkeeping needs to be improved
This is an area which needs serious attention. I lost count of the number of goalkeeping howlers which punctuated the competition. With the possible exception of American Hope Solo, just about every keeper in Germany had something to answer for.
First - the obvious. The majority of women goalkeepers are physically smaller than their male counterparts but are nonetheless expected to defend a goal which is still eight feet high and 24 feet wide. Let's not even think about getting into a debate about reducing the dimensions.
Ball handling, distribution and decision making are all in need of a serious upgrade. Too many keepers came for crosses and corners they were never going to get to. Many more invited unnecessary pressure with poor choices or execution of clearance.
5. Women's soccer has a healthy future
The growth of the women's game is assured. For some it will never hold the appeal of its male equivalent but the Women's World Cup is a legitimate competition which demands and deserves our interest, support and attention.
There's no right or wrong way to succeed. The power play of the Americans, the swarming application of the Japanese and the elegance of the rapidly improving French were showcased in a tournament which drew healthy crowds and attracted millions of armchair fans.
Canada 2015 has a lot to live up to. The expanded Women's World Cup will involve 24 nations playing at six venues across the country. There are stadiums to build, players to emerge and fans to engage. It is a World Cup - it needs to be a world class event.
