Well Littlefish, Austria Vienna is the favourite to advance in the two match duel against Valerenga, but Valerenga has good results lately. I hear Austtria Vienna has good strikers, and Valerenga has not scored to many goals this season.

In the Womens World Cup our ladies did crush Ghana 7-2 today, meeting the host China in the quarterfinal. As China lost 0-4 to Brazil, we are happy to avoid Brazil.

Chelsea's shock draw to Rosenborg was the last straw to the manager of Chelsea. Mourinho leaving. I understand that the co-operation between the owner and the manager got increasingly difficult. The superrich russian owner Abramovich wanted the team to play more attractive football. Abramovich insisted to get the russian star striker Shevchenko to the club, against the wishes of Mourinho. Mourinho leaving seems to be bad news for the fans, but it will be nice to se Chelsea play a more open, attacking game.

Austria, one of the two big clubs in Vienna together with local rival Rapid, had some problems last season when their patron (an Austrian-Canadian billionaire) reduced his sponsorship, but now have recovered and even lead the league, although that's mostly because Salzburg underperformed. In spite of hiring former league topscorer Kuljic their offense didn't look impressive recently, though. So it should be a close fight against Valerenga. Salzburg is currently playing AEK Athens, and each team had one Austrian in their starting formaton...

Hello Littlefish,

Of course Salzburg underperforms, because they do not have Matthäus anymore!, not?

It's an open question whether they underperform because or in spite of not having Matthäus anymore. Anyway they went down 0-3 to AEK today and look more and more like a small Chelsea - huge budget (well, for the Austrian league), but unattractive play (no surprise for a Trapattoni team) and mediocre results. Red Bull owner Mateschitz must be wondering whether that's a smart way to spend his money. On the other hand, it's petty cash compared to what he spends on his formula 1 team. At least the Viennese clubs are doing well today - Austria is playing a fine game against Valerenga and leads 2-0, Rapid just equalized against Anderlecht.

I was looking forward to watching Brazil-Australia from the Women's World Cup today, but instead Eurosport TV (which had broadcast all other games live so far) showed a go-cart race. Must have been an exciting game, Brazil won 3-2. The US team had some trouble against the solid English defense at the beginning, but eventually managed a clear 3-0 and will now face Brazil. That should be an interesting match-up. The other semifinal is Germany-Norway.

Women sport makes a mixed viewing experience. Tennis, golf, yes, the womens game is just as attractive as the mens game. But in football the girls look kind of slow and clumsy in comparison. Anyway, in the Womens World Cup I saw both USA and Brazil play in the quarter final. USA suddenly just stepped up a gear against England - showing some muscles, speed and determination - winning convincingly. Brazil - Australia was more even in results, but the women from Brazil seemed to be in full control. I have USA as just a slight favourite in the semi final.

Norway beating the home team China 1-0. China has over 1300 mill inhabitants, and Norway under 5 mill inhabitants, so more people got sad than happy from this results, but you get what you deserve in sport. Germany vs. Norway in the semi final Wednesday. Germany have been playing a bit better in the tournament so far, but Norway have a win and a draw against the German team this year. Go girls!

Women's football doesn't have a long tradition as a professional sport like, say, women's tennis, so I guess it's normal that the difference in the level of play between men and women is still a bit higher in football. But the women's game has greatly improved in recent years, I'd say it's on a serious competive level now. A bit slower than among men's world class teams, but certainly not clumsy or unattractive. Maybe it's just that they don't wear sexy dresses like female tennis players?

Yes, the up-coming USA-Brazil semi-final match looks to be very evenly matched, (in terms of overall soccer playing talent), between the two teams.

It will be a match-up between the "big power gals", (i.e., Abby Wambach, etc.), of the USA against the finesse of the Brazil gals, (i.e., Marta, etc.)

"GO USA GO, AND, BEAT BRAZIL!!!!!"


Chess Fan

Wow, what a game by the Brazilian ladies, 4-0 against the US! They had a bit of luck with the own goal, the goalkeeper error (bad move from the US coach to change goalkeepers) and the red card, but most of the time the US team looked helpless against the surprisingly fast and aggressive play by the Brazilians, not to mention their technique. That final Marta goal was amazing. Germany must be seriously worried now, in spite of their 3-0 against Norway. The Norwegians put up a great fight and had their chances in the first half, but in the second Germany was just too good. Should be a good final, after today's performance by the Brazilians it's hard to still consider Germany the favourite.

Yeah, what a bummer for the USA team today!

Littlefish, I did not get a chance to watch any of the game today; so, are you saying that Brazil pretty much totally out-played the USA in today's semi-final game?


Chess Fan