Both PK calls are probably what differentiates recreational players from professional players. I can see myself flying with my hands slightly up and saying it was an incidental handball on the first PK foul and getting to the ball first but having the player run into me and saying it wasn't my fault on the second PK foul (called by VAR). However, in a professional setting, players know to have their hand near their body or even behind their backs when attacking a cross to avoid the incidental handball and a players know to clear the ball and not completely follow through to avoid unnecessary contact to the onrushing player (that looked painful and would've been doubly so if it was against a male). VAR was needed to call the foul and penalty (and doubly bad for RSA as the foul was the second yellow on the player) on the second PK which ESP converted for a 2-1 lead. VAR was earlier used to confirm no foul in the box that would've gave ESP a PK while down 1-0.
A3-Norway scored early
and often in a 3-0 win over A4-Nigeria. At one point, NOR had 3 goals on 2 shots on goal (the other goal was an own goal). FRA leads Group A with a +4 goal differential with NOR second with a +3.
NOR played without one of the best players in the world, Ada Hegerberg, who refuses to play for NOR due to the federation's treatment of women. While I just thought this was an interesting tidbit, this has grown into a life of its own and kudos to NOR for coming out strong and handling the controversy well. I don't think Ada should allow "men" to dictate her to not play as she could have a bigger platform for playing or coloring her hair or wearing a colored headband that the WHOLE NOR team could get behind to bring up the issue. Instead, she's a solo protester as none of the other NOR players are protesting. Speaking of "solo", the best GK ever Hope Solo has spoken up as the USA prepares for their first match by bashing head coach Jill Ellis. Sigh. Not that I don't disagree (it really seemed like the USA fans helped change Ellis's formation in the knockout round after boring scoreless ties at halftime in the group stage in 2015) but let's not add more distraction to a team already being asked about their lawsuit.
41 got NOR correct, 43 got GER, and 43 got ESP. That leaves 40 in a tie for 1st with 4 points each. Soccerhorn went 1-2 and is last. A note that points will be awarded for qualifying for the Round of 16 after all six group matches are complete. So if FRA qualifies after beating NOR in the next match, you won't get credit for FRA until after their last match is complete. And watching the USA U-20 team play and lose to ECU in the Quarterfinals is just as frustrating as watching the regular men's USA team play in the final 15 minutes -- lack of urgency, lack of speed on the 50/50 balls, no concerted attack when they need a goal. But great job making the Quarters and boy, they could've faced KOR in the semifinals. Sigh # 2.
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