Women's World Cup -- America v. North Korea

The American women's team  topped N. Korea today 2-0 in World Cup play.

The match took place in Dresden, Germany, the site of massive Allied (America and Great Britain) bombing late (1944-45) in World War II. Much of the city was destroyed and the place remains a site of controversy in part because the bombing qualifies the Anglo-American notion that WWII was a totally "good" war for the victors. Historians routinely now question whether the bombing that took place there was completely justified.

Americans like to believe they are always in the right -- but the finding historical "truth" is always complicated.

Women's soccer, however, does point to one area where Americans have been on the right course. While the American men's program struggles to move into elite soccer circles -- still dominated by the Europeans and South Americans -- the American women are considered a dominant force. Surely this success is in part because Americans have led the world in recognizing the equality (and, in many cases, the superiority) of women to men. In the last post I noted how many on the Mexican team play despite, not because of, their parents. For many cultures in the world playing sports is still not something women should do. America still struggles sometimes with granting women and girls the same "sporting" privileges as men, but to coin a phrase from the 1960s "feminist" movement -- women have come a long way baby.

Indeed, they came into today's match heavy favorites against a young North Korean team. 10 of the 21 North Koreans are teenagers! Certainly this should be noted by girls heading into U12 soccer. The North Koreans did well in the first half, almost taking advantage of some American defensive lapses. But in the second half a potent American offense took over. Lauren Cheney got the game winner on a terrific header. She managed to bang the ball into the corner while backing up in front of the North Korean goal. The Americans got tested in the "golden" five minutes following the goal, but hung in there and protected keeper Hope Solo (a player worth googling). Cheney's goal certainly made the American coach look like a genius. Cheney had not started in sometime, something that can always be hard on a player; but the American coach felt the time was right and Cheney came through.