All I keep hearing is how the men are “much better than the women.”

How the women “wouldn’t be able to compete with the men.”

If you are one of the people who keep doing this, then please take this moment to realise that you are simply an idiot.

You know who you are…

You see, all of the factors that make men “better” than women are simply based on genetics and nothing else.

The male body is designed to be faster and stronger than a woman’s. As football is a physical sport, these two major advantages are more than enough in helping males be “better” than females. 

I simply cannot believe I am having to explain this…Sigh!

So, let’s take genetics out of this, and have a look at the entire game solely based on ability and knowledge. 

Both men and women:

• Understand the game equally well. 
• Train equally hard.
• Play the same amount of time.
• Use the same size pitches and goals.
• Follow the same rules.

The only aspect in which men trump women is in decision making as they are more clinical in and around the opposition box. 

However, women are more honest and don’t dive around as much. This aspect alone makes the game more entertaining as there’s no time wasting or “professionalism” as it’s referred to. 

No mate, it’s just plain cheating. 

Let’s call a spade, a spade.

If anything the women’s game has less stoppages simply because the players just get on with it.

Then there’s the people referring to USA’s thumping victory against Thailand as something that would never happen in the men’s game.

Actually, that’s not entirely true…

Yes, the 13-0 win for USA is a record victory in the Women’s World Cup, but that’s not too different to the 10-1 win for Hungary against El Salvador in the 1982 Men’s World Cup finals. What’s interesting is that the largest margin of victory during World Cup qualifying for the two sexes were the 21-0 victories attained by 4 different nations in the women’s game (Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada) all in the late 90’s, which is a colossal 10 goals fewer than what the Australian men notched up when they beat American Samoa 31-0, in 2001.

So don’t tell me it doesn’t happen in the men’s game.

Is the Women’s World Cup worth watching?

Honestly, it’s been great so far.

As the group stages have come to a close, it’s clear that the women’s game has come a long way in the last four years alone. The physical nature of the players, their fitness levels and aggression is excellent. And these ladies can play.

The games between Australia and Brazil (3-2) and Germany against Spain (1-0) have been two of my favourites. Pure end to end football with no let-up by any team.

Now, I have to admit that I used to tune into the Women’s World Cup for the same reason I used to watch the African Cup of Nations (The major men’s continental tournament played amongst the African countries), the goalkeeping was shambolic.

Any Ideas who these goalkeepers are? (Via WikiCommons)

This time round though, I have been incredibly impressed with the goalkeepers. The Chilean keeper, Christiane Endler, has been unbelievable. Some of the saves she pulled off against the Americans were good enough to rival any male counterpart.

Moral of the article…

Stop being an idiot.

Instead of trying to come up with a reason to ridicule something, enjoy it for what it is. A good-old-fashioned game of football, played at a high level, by people who are proudly representing their nations for the entertainment of millions.

After all, football is a game for everyone, and that’s why we love it!