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Related: About this forumUS women's soccer team = drama queens and divas. "Ugly American" stereotype on display...
U.S. forward Abby Wambach, right, and goalkeeper Hope Solo have been in the headlines for drama shows at the World Cup in Canada.
OTTAWA While the momentum behind the United States' World Cup campaign has still not picked up any genuine speed, the ever-present drama surrounding the team has shown no sign of slowing.
So much so that the steady stream of controversy is starting to wear thin, even among members of the eternally-welcoming public of host nation Canada.
United States forward Abby Wambach (20) kicks a penalty kick during the second half against Colombia in the round of sixteen in the FIFA 2015 women's World Cup soccer tournament at Commonwealth Stadium.
From the Hope Solo domestic violence scandal that kicked off the tournament, to Abby Wambach's comments on turf, refereeing and much more, to Alex Morgan's complaints about the overly physical play of the U.S. opponents, there has never been a shortage of topics to talk about.
"Boy, the American team sure talks a lot," said Gilles Blondeau, a member of an Ottawa fans group, who plans to attend the U.S. vs. China game and has mixed feelings. Blondeau would love to see the U.S. lose, but wants Canada to be the team to inflict the defeat. "You don't hear Canada talking like that, even though our coach has a lot to say. People up here don't appreciate that kind of thing too much. You're winning. Stop complaining."
"There is no conspiracy theory against you or the U.S. team," he said in a televised segment directed at Wambach. "As a matter of fact, stop trying to make the U.S. into this poor little U.S. team that everybody is against the downtrodden United States women's soccer team.
"No, you are a superpower, you are one of the best teams, if not the best team in the world. Act as such."
U.S. midfielder Carli Lloyd (10) and Colombia midfielder Yoreli Rincon (10) go for a header during the round of 16 in the FIFA 2015 women's World Cup at Commonwealth Stadium on June 23, 2015.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/06/23/abby-wambach-referee-yellow-card/29184477/
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Tsk, tsk, ladies. This is no way to project a positive image of the US or the US sports community.
T_i_B
(14,749 posts)...the England men's team beat the USA hands down.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)than the male version.
T_i_B
(14,749 posts)Still can't beat male footballers for bitching about refs.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)Big money means big corruption.
T_i_B
(14,749 posts)The incident occurred on June 16 against the Portland Timbers. Dempsey approached the referee Daniel Radford to protest a call in the final minutes of the match, slapped the notebook out of the official's hand and shredded the notepad. He was initially given a yellow card until the official realized Dempsey wanted no part of playing the rest of the match. Radford gave him a red card as Dempsey walked away from the field with his back turned to the official.
erpowers
(9,350 posts)This may have something to do with Sydney Leroux. Leroux was born in Canada, but left to play soccer in the United States. Even though her father is an American he did not play a major role in her life. She had to track him down and ask that he sign papers for her to get her American citizenship. She almost missed the deadline in that her father signed the papers right before she turned 18.
A number of soccer fans in Canada did like her. Some have called her a traitor. Giles Blondeau and other might want the United States to lose, especially to Canada in order to get back at Sydney Leroux and rub the win in her face. Some believe she left Canada because she thought the Canadian team was not as good as the American team and she wanted the best chance to win.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)Give a shit about soccer in general and even less about women's soccer. Were it not for some of these "controversies" Americans may not even be aware that a World Cup was happening.