Regardless, I reckon most of us if we care to admit it, are probably not too disappointed to see the US falter (even if our motivations are quite different to Trump).
Just not a particularly likeable team. And have dominated women's football (soccer) in it's formative stages simply due to first mover advantage. I think as the more recognised football nations (as in, those that feature prominently on the men's scene) continue to catch on and pay their women's ranks more attention, a lot of this early mover advantage will dissipate. So the US will come back to the pack somewhat. Perhaps not as pronounced as their men, as their male athletic talent pool will still have the situation that the best and brightest are attracted to primarily domestic sporting pursuits. All of that probably something Australia will need to be keenly aware of too, with some common themes. As time goes on, I foresee a situation where the men's and women's FIFA rankings correlate relatively closely, with a few differences (such as countries like Iran and the Arab world being far slower to catch on and the likes of Australia, US and Canada perhaps relatively out performing their men a touch due to unique domestic sporting dynamics I mentioned).
On a bit of a tangent, Sam Kerr was a very good junior Aussie rules footy player. Only left the sport to pursue soccer at the age of 13 due to no pathways to youth and seniors existing at the time for females. Had the AFLW and associated pathways existed at the time, sounds perhaps like a sliding door moment in history where soccer and the Matildas never would have been treated to her talent. Similar to how it seems Erin Philips likely would have never been known to basketball if further pathways existed for her to pursue Aussie Rules footy.
By the way, Megan Rapinoe has been widely criticised recently even by people who might otherwise be loosely aligned to her world view. Her social justice performative persona is a bit over the top. Trying to display an overt piousness to the causes she aligns to. Hence, when questioned recently on the issue of transgender people in sport, her response was rather predictable. She supports the principal of trans-women (biological males who have transitioned to, or identify as females) competing in women's football (soccer). Seems a pretty sanctimonious stance. She's had a long and prosperous career, and now essentially infers, subsequent generations of female players should compete against people born biologically male.
www.crikey.com.au
