I truly hope that they don't make Olympics U23. At least, not in the near future. Yes, there needs to happen changes like bigger rosters. But Olympics means so much in women's soccer. And it's not good for it that there will be just one major tournament for not European countries. Women's soccer is growing but there aren't that much young talent yet, that it would be good product.
@kateofthings2 күн бұрын
The NWSL is the best league because it is the only real, self supporting women’s league in the world. The WSL is made up of charity side projects of men’s football clubs who are encouraged by the FA to effectively donate money to women’s football in order to run the league. As long as these European leagues are run on charity, the more they exist at the whims of men’s football clubs and their boardrooms and all of the progress they have made can be taken away in a moment.
@_MindfulAthleteКүн бұрын
Harsh comment but one I've heard before! To be fair, there are some women championship teams who are not tied to men's owners. It's rare but with what we see Michele Kang doing with London City (and her other clubs), hopefully it can encourage more independent owners/investors.
@user-jz8rd4ly4c2 күн бұрын
NWSL is slightly above than WSL. There as few WSL teams that could really compete for talents, while NWSL have their best homegrown plus player from abroad, and they could retain them. But that may soon change, because as of now, female players needs to prioritize salary over legacy, and you can't devalue them for that which is not the case for men. But when time comes where they don't have to do, players would start to choose playing in Europe which have more established history and have champions league.
@MN7972 күн бұрын
I don't think it's about being selfish when European football starts talking about making the Olympics U23. I think it's about safety for the players. We've had so manya ACL injuries on top players for the last 3- 4 years that we have to reduce the amount of matches they have to play over the entire year. And when you look at the different tournaments in which European teams and players participate, the Olympics is in many ways the least important, since only three Euorpean teams can qulifay. Somethings got to give and to make the Olympics a U23 is an easy solution. But I can also see UEFA making this a rule for Euoropean teams only.
@_MindfulAthleteКүн бұрын
Thanks for watching, and yes for sure I understand the injury concerns. There is something to your point about specific nations deciding who to send. And if they want to send U23s that is possible, as opposed to making it a tournament wide rule. E.g., the USA men used to send college basketball players to the Olympics because they were so good. But eventually the rest of the world caught up and they decided to start sending their NBA players represent the US again. These were decisions the US made for themselves as opposed to a higher body dictating it for everyone.
@nevillethompson29282 күн бұрын
Too early, these leagues are being built up at the moment, the WSL is now being taken over by the Women's Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL), more money, better organisation, funded by the EPL big things are expected, I foresee similar changes in Spain and other European countries, with increasing connections to the men's teams exciting times lie ahead, the big advantage for the WSL is connection to the juggernaut premier league clubs, the plan is for Arsenal women to play matches at the Emirates stadium for example which expands the financial stream.
@_MindfulAthleteКүн бұрын
Thanks for watching, and yes I totally agree. The sport is still growing and every league has things to improve upon. The new WPLL is interesting. I've been thinking of making a video about it as the CEO has made a few comments that some people like and don't like!
@georgepasley48912 күн бұрын
As much as US owners claim that they want parity, they still push for super teams. You see the cyclical nature of dynasties in NFL, MLB, NHL and the NBA. MLS is no different. If they truly wanted parity, they wouldn't have tried to create super teams with the LA Galaxy in the 2000s and Inter Miami now.
@_MindfulAthleteКүн бұрын
Thanks for your comment and you're definitely right. There isn't really parity even if rules are put in place to try and encourage this. Even the fact that teams can pay into the luxury tax in the NBA to afford more players shows the flexibility being given to owners to create super teams.
@BUSH4REAL2 күн бұрын
When it comes to infrastructure and sponsorship,no European league can compete with nwsl,but when it comes to football European league is better.
@_MindfulAthleteКүн бұрын
Interesting point and I think I lean towards the way you feel as well. Thanks for leaving a comment!
@noodle_fcКүн бұрын
It really depends on what you mean by "better." In European leagues, a few powerhouse teams are expected to easily defeat lower-ranked rivals. In NWSL play, every match is a contest whose outcome is impossible to predict with confidence. Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, and Barcelona are some of the strongest teams in the world. There's no denying that. But the downside is they dominate everyone else because they have all the best players. If "better" means watching real competition week in and week out, well, maybe Europe is not the place to be.
@giovannigallant62103 күн бұрын
The NWSL can never be the best league, because of its structure, theres no relegation. So its like playing a bunch of friendlies and every team can just go at any team because there are no consequences to loosing, theres this weird thing of playoffs. So i think the sole purpose of that league is for entertainment, which in turn results into revenue and players are paid well i would like to believe. There great players there dont get me wrong but the league is just not it. I mean a team can loose the whole season and nothing will happen
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Yes playoffs is really a North American thing, and also when it comes to football, there just hasn't been a great professional pyramid to allow for a pro/rel model we see in Europe
@falladath76953 күн бұрын
Women’s football needs all these leagues. It would be nice if we had a club cup where they did play each other it might help
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Thanks for commenting! And yes I agree, women's football needs all these leagues, and I actually think it's a good thing that people arguing about what is the best league, because it means the quality around the world is improving. And FIFA club world cup for women is coming in 2026!
@potdog10003 күн бұрын
The banter in the WSL games is fun whereas in the men's it can be nasty
@potdog10003 күн бұрын
NWSL the best league? not really, ok you won the Olympics but did nothing in the last world cup Thinking about it the WSL, Spanish, & German are probably better in depth
@ishmaelnabome67613 күн бұрын
European league is the best league in the world period
@kvn25823 күн бұрын
NWSL fans were talking so much shit before the games and after they got beaten they started with the excuses and now say 'why are we comparing' or friendlies don't matter🤦don't dish it if you can't take it
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Haha yes, if you're going to banter it has to go both ways! If you can dish, have to be able to take 😂
@alexjvee6836Күн бұрын
Can’t believe people are either taking these games so seriously or making excuses 🤣
@hmahdavi3 күн бұрын
why would the Olympics be inferior to the World Cup? The exact same national teams participate in both competitions. The NWSL is the best in the world because they have many, many more paying fans going to stadiums thanks to their style of constantly attacking football which is more entertaining and exciting to watch than possession football. Also, the number of international players who choose to play here is a good indicator. Correct me if I am wrong but the only European team that won in real competition in the US was Olympique Lyonnais.
@rikmoran39633 күн бұрын
No, the same teams do not participate. For example, England, one of the top teams in the world, did not enter a team.
@hmahdavi2 күн бұрын
@@rikmoran3963 England was eliminated when they lost to Spain and Germany in the preliminary games for the Olympics.
@DerekLangdon-w9eКүн бұрын
@@hmahdavi No it was a GB team, not England!
@hmahdavi21 сағат бұрын
@@DerekLangdon-w9e It was The Lioness
@ryanporter74003 күн бұрын
The NWSL needs to petition for entry into the Champions League. Surely you got the qualifications for membership, let's just take it to the pitch. It can happen, there are European Leagues that play out of season in the CL.
@DerekLangdon-w9e3 күн бұрын
The Champions league is a European league! (Union of European Football Associations)…If the NWSL wants to play a similar competition in North/South America do so!
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
There is actually a CONCACAF Champions Cup! They couldn't call it Champions League (probably for legal reasons), but it is the CONCACAF equivalent of UEFA Champions League. It is new this year. Of course, the best teams are from the NWSL and Liga MX for now, but eventually as more leagues develop, it will become a better tournament.
@alexjvee6836Күн бұрын
It can’t happen because of different schedules and different continents
@DerekLangdon-w9eКүн бұрын
@@_MindfulAthlete I hope it succeeds! But US soccer will never reach the standards of European football until they embrace Pro/rel it’s not a debatable! question either! It’s a fact!
@javierluissantosrubio66034 күн бұрын
Liga F is the best league in the world not just because Barcelona but it's the League with more clubs closed to Barcelona level. They "stole" young girls from other academies that lead them to reach that level before the others clubs. And there are a lot of people saying Liga F is the best league… but they are saying in spanish. Usually spaniards share ciberspace with the rest of spanish speaker community of the world that are 22 countries
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Thanks for this context! Yes my algorithm mainly shows English speakers who don't praise Liga F much. But I know Spanish people believe Liga F is the best. It's just like English think WSL is the best, or Germans think the Bundesliga is the best 😅
@mlondolozimntambo79682 күн бұрын
REAL MADRID ENDED UWCL WITH 1 POINT, IN WHICH THEY SCAMMED OUT OF CHELSEA COME ON NOW
@DerekLangdon-w9eКүн бұрын
Liga F is Barcelona! What other top teams are there? None!!! It’s a one horse race.
@grimm_toys4 күн бұрын
I think in general it is just banter, but some people don't take the banter well. When you mention the difference in crowds, where NWSL opposition fans high five, etc. I'd put that down simply to the teams being somewhat new (in the scheme of things), whereas in England, people are born into familes that might be die hard Man United, etc. It's a longer history, and it's very much a football nation where people are incredibly passionate about their team. I like watching many leagues (I'm Australian), but I personally prefer the WSL to the others. I think if America really wanted to know where their club sides are at, let them play in the Champions League.
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Yes, I agree with you. The history of clubs that exist in Europe and the fact that the men and women's teams are from the same club help. But most NWSL teams are independent (no men's team), so the history is not long and has perhaps attracted newer fans who prefer to show support in different ways.
@calc16574 күн бұрын
Well, before the Olympics, there had been quite a bit of banter about the USWNT having fallen behind the best in the world. There will be a Club World Cup in 2026. We'll see how that goes.
@DerekLangdon-w9e3 күн бұрын
The USWNT is number one in the fifa rankings as a result of beating up on the minnows of international football, South Korea etc! You would not have top rating if you were playing Euro teams! I believe the USWNT have a fixture against the lionesses at the end of the year. It will prove my point!!
@calc16573 күн бұрын
@@DerekLangdon-w9e The US played European teams in the Olympics.
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Thanks for leaving a comment, and yes, I'm excited for the Club World Cup!
@alexjvee6836Күн бұрын
@DerekLangdon-w9e Bruhh the USWNT just won the Olympics undefeated that’s why they’re number 1on FIFA rankings 🤣🤦🏻♂️. I’m a huge USWNT fan but I’m looking forward to the England game because England has a lot of good players that I like 🤝
@DerekLangdon-w9eКүн бұрын
@@calc1657 my post remains valid. The USWNT are rated number one in the FIFA rankings by beating up on the minnows of international football! The Lionesses by comparison, have hardly played any Football this past year yet are rated number two in the world! And that is not a result of beating up on no hoper’s
@For_Cruyff_Sake4 күн бұрын
Currently nwsl is trying to put more tournaments in with the champions cup and summer cup but it's still less games than the european leagues. I think nwsl was the best league to prepare players for the intensity and short rest times in between games for olympics But it might not be the best when we get to the world cup format. You're not afraid to lose in nwsl since there's no relegation but WSL you have to strategize more to prevent losing so nwsl plays more with high risk high reward whereas WSL engages in a war of attrition to ultimately win a championship. This philosophy goes with that european style of valuing ball possession, which plays slower, which doesn't go for high risk play. Anyways i don't think any league is better. Seems ridiculous and contradictory to conclude nwsl is better just because the players come from nwsl but the coach, emma hayes, has been in wsl for 12 years 😂 usa won gold cus of a wsl coach
@For_Cruyff_Sake4 күн бұрын
I think the olympics highlight the toll that the euros qualifiers and champions league had on the european teams. The support and funding of adequate medical staff for the team recovery is also very obvious. I see Japan lacking physicality and having a young generation of players that haven't polished up due to lack of experience. I see columbia and brazil just riddled with injuries probably because their recovery staff team is not as good as usa and germany. Spain looked sluggish and tired probably due to having the euros qualifiers and champions league games in their legs. Just because there's some firings at the federation level doesn't mean they suddenly have top tier ancillary staff to help with recovery. On top of that they don't have a good loving relationship with their coach like usa and england. I think there's also lingering barcelona vs real madrid tension between the players. Canada got as far as they did out of sheer emotions and a new coach that put in belief for the players. You cAn see lots of cramps in brazil which put them at a disadvantage. If they had the aftercare that is the same as usa, i think they could have won gold. I don't buy into any of the nwsl vs wsl drama. I think it all boils down to amount of extra games and level of recovery provided at the international teams
@ithan19773 күн бұрын
You gave nice excuses for the Colombian and Brazilian National team and you assumed a lot of stuff for the Spain team also.But you failed to say the most important reason of all. Fatigue,games played and minutes played for the majority of the Spanish players at least the 7 of Barcelona who are the backbone of that Spain squad.When a player from USA starter 11 with the most minutes(Trinity 2200 min before of the Olympics)had a difference of 1100 to 1700 minutes than any of the 7 Barca players then yes you will see the differences in the pitch.We are talking here about 15 to 17 games more than any other player in that tournament the current time the Olympics begun in their legs. I think that Spain put a worthy fight until the end. There was no gas left in their tank. Colombian,Brazilian,Canadian and USA Leagues were all in the middle of their season. Players were in their top form. All the others Leagues were long finished. For me this was the real key factor and the minutes every player had in their legs. Look it up. 1000 and 1500 minutes more are a huge disadvantage. Only Lindsey Horan played around 3300 minutes before Olympic started and we watched her inside the field. She was very tired.
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Thanks for this comment. It perfectly described a lot of how these teams functioned at these Olympics!
@user-xq0hloy4y4 күн бұрын
I disagree with seeing the Olympics as a down-tier tournament. (Not saying you said this but in general) The men only do U-23 because FIFA didn’t want to share the attention of a World Cup with the Olympics. It doesn’t take away how it’s a harder tournament. Secondly, the Spanish players got humiliated badly by the Brazilian players, and their terrible sportsmanship showed when they said they didn’t play "Real Football," which is typical for these Europeans to say about anyone in the Amerícas when they lose. Considering how many World Cups the continent has won from the men’s and women’s sides, it's a downgrading and incredibly stupid thing to say.
@javierluissantosrubio66033 күн бұрын
Brazil women nt was a shame in all aspects
@DerekLangdon-w9e3 күн бұрын
In the UK there is no interest in Olympic football! It wasn’t even shown on TV. England, Scotland, Wales cannot compete in it! Only a Great Britain team can participate and as such, there is no appetite for such a team!
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Thanks for commenting! I think the history of men's football at the Olympics plays a big factor in the lack of interest. It started as only amateur players. But even once it went professional in the 80s, FIFA did not allow European and South American players who had competed in a World Cup. So those nations still weren't sending their best to the Olympics. So it's not been highly valued by people from certain countries, and I think it's affecting how people see the women's competition now.
@StephenBoley-k8b4 күн бұрын
It's not just the style of play, it's also the level of play. For one, as long as the NWSL has playoffs, myself that lives in the US and everyone in Europe is not going to find the NWSL interesting. Why fight to finish top when you can settle for middle of the top then give everything you got in the playoff. Since the league started in 2012, one twice did a team finish top and went on to be crown champion, North Carolina Courage. Not to mention Seattle Reign has finish top three different times and never won the chip
@noodle_fc4 күн бұрын
I fail to see how NWSL is less interesting than a league in which all but the top two teams are mathematically eliminated from winning with weeks left in a season. Last year in the NWSL, 5 or 6 teams were fighting to qualify for postseason with just two games remaining. With a postseason format, the majority of supporters can still hope for their team to win it all very late into a season. That's exciting! Conversely, no team can get way out ahead of everyone else and rest on their laurels. All but the very lowest-ranked teams have something to play for all through the season. Teams still fight to finish with the highest possible ranking because they will have more favorable seeding (i.e. be paired against ostensibly weaker teams) in the elimination matches. And what does the championship format have to do with "level of play" anyway?
@user-jz8rd4ly4c2 күн бұрын
I enjoy the ranking better than the play-offs. In elimination format, the only thing that matters is the champions. It doesn't matter if the team is second or third. As a fan, that hurts, and I feel that when my favorite basketball team Dallas didn't win last year. It felt as though all their efforts went into nothing. Meanwhile, the team I supported in the premier league, which is spurs, finished 5th, and that didn't hurt, didn't feel all their efforts were for nothing. Ranking based format is also more flexible. You can have another competition like an FA cup, and that works because one is a ranking based competition, while the other is elimination. You can't do that in a Playoffs type of format just like what the nba is trying to do with the Emirates cup. To sum up, in playoff format, you only have one choice which is to become a champion or have nothing, while in ranking based competition, you can look forward to finishing within 4th and call that a success, plus you add other competition like FA cup or champions league.
@user-jz8rd4ly4c2 күн бұрын
And for a playoff format, the preseason game is not very exciting. The NFL and NWSL did great job by having less games in preseason, so that each game has huge effect while the NBA is facing problems. In ranking based format, every single game and points matter, even goal difference. That is why I feel so much tension watching both WSL and Premier League. Plus, it is hard to form rivalries in playoffs format with preseason, because the real battle only happens in playoffs, so teams is less likely to face each other in competitive matches like what is happening between Boston and LA. In a ranking format, competitive competition between rivals is guaranteed to happen every season. And competition between rivals also occurs in their ranks. In America, there is no such thing like St Totteringham's Day.
@noodle_fcКүн бұрын
@@user-jz8rd4ly4c You can be just as proud of a team finishing 4th on the NWSL table as you can of one doing so in a league with no postseason. You could be proud of your team winning the Supporter's Shield (best regular season record), or for reaching postseason, or the semifinals, or the final. Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion, and you don't have to justify how a league structure makes you feel about your team's performance. I'm not here to change your mind. However, you don't seem very self-aware-your feelings are arbitrary, not inherent in a league's structure. One could as reasonably conclude that nothing but top-of-table matters in WSL or Premier. _You_ are proud of a 4th-place finish, but another might say that qualification for postseason competition is a meaningful reward for non-1st-place finish, thus in a league without playoffs 2nd or lower has no meaning.
@ionspear4 күн бұрын
I just have this feeling Leah Williamson's generation are going to be very tempted to move to NWSL rather than Lyon/Barca when they're ready for a change. Not sure what would tempt young US talent to move the other way? You've got the banter thing spot on. It is a cultural stress relief valve here. Some live to take it to extremes. Sweden used to have the best league and we don't even talk about them any more 🤷
@milan...19404 күн бұрын
I mean depends what they want doesn't it? To solidify yourself as a legend of the game you kind of have to join one of those big European squads, win uwcl, and one of the big leagues ykwim. European football just has more going for it in terms of getting glory idk if you get me. If they want money and better conditions then ye nwsl is the place
@milan...19404 күн бұрын
Obviously there's exceptions to this like a LOT of them, but I think in general its easier if you play for Barcelona with all their history (from the mens side too) than if you're a idk gotham player which is a newer team and such
@ionspear4 күн бұрын
@@milan...1940 yeah I hear that and agree about prestige. There's such a cultural explosion around the women's game I feel the pull to something really different sparks a curiosity that might rival the UWCL trophy you never won with your WSL club. England's women are making these decisions unlike generations before of having already won a major trophy.
@ionspear4 күн бұрын
@@milan...1940 perhaps the mens equivalent is the Saudi Pro League, playing with greats you never got a chance to in your 'regular' career. NWSL is a lot more compelling is where I'm at.
@uniikdiscord56663 күн бұрын
Williamson is a proper gunner, don't see her leaving her home soil even if Barca comes calling
@mayrinaidah54634 күн бұрын
The Spanish league is not in the conversation because Barcelona is the only dominant team in Spain but if you look at last WSL season chelsea won it on the last day on goal difference this shows how competitive the league is
@javierluissantosrubio66033 күн бұрын
The Spanish league is in the conversation because Barça achieved this by showering players from other clubs in Spain by taking advantage of the work of others in grassroots football, and And that is not always going to work for them, among other things because now they have no money and the other clubs continue to train at the highest level.
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Yes, I agree. I used Spain/Liga F mostly to highlight why I don't like people using teams that win a tournament final (e.g., Spain, USA) as justification for what is the best league. Spain won the world cup but very few said it means Liga F is the best.
@mayrinaidah54634 күн бұрын
Those who claim Gotham was missing some players come on chelsea was missing around 7 first team players and Chelsea used many academy players so cry more Americans😂 and remember chelsea has not played for months
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Yes, I agree, Chelsea was missing stars too. However Gotham finished 6th last year. They were just able to do well in the playoffs and win. So to be honest I don't think Gotham is the best team in the NWSL this year. So people saying the Chelsea win means the WSL is better than NWSL isn't a good argument to me. Personally I do actually think the WSL is better, but not because Chelsea beat Gotham in a mid-August friendly when both were missing players lol
@alexjvee6836Күн бұрын
Gotham were also missing 7 players 🤷🏻♂️ (most were starters). I’m American and I’m not “cRyInG” lmao at the end of the day I honestly enjoy watching both teams and for me it’s a whatever. Idk why people are taking this too serious 🤣
@mayrinaidah54634 күн бұрын
Nwsl teams were defeated before even the WSL started😂 sorry Americans learn more about football
@TL04114 күн бұрын
11:15 They do now: the Concacaf W Champions Cup just started a few days ago. And in 2026, we'll hopefully be seeing some NWSL teams play actual matches against top European teams in the Women's Club World Cup. This was a great video, as always. I do agree that it's mostly a subjective topic, and it doesn't really matter which league is better.
@DerekLangdon-w9e3 күн бұрын
Absolutely! A football team is only as good as its last game! And as such Washington and Gotham lost to the Arsenal and Chelsea! So as it stands WSL came out on top! Maybe next season Washington and Gotham could come to the UK and maybe turn the tables?…..Perhaps it could give rise to an Anglo American trophy competition, which could be played for annually?
@uniikdiscord56663 күн бұрын
The champions cup is played against Mexican teams, not similar.
@TL04113 күн бұрын
Teams from all over North America, Central America and the Caribbean take part in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Last Tuesday, San Diego Wave played against Santa Fé from Panama, and Alajuelense from Costa Rica played against Frazsiers from Jamaica. Every confederation has an equivalent to the UEFA Champions League now, for both men's and women's clubs.
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Thanks for your comment! And yes you're right there's new competitions. Tbh it will be many years before Champions cup gets to any level close to Champions league. But Club World Cup will be interesting
@mdpius4 күн бұрын
The best league is where players are paid well, respected, and not grabbed by the p.....
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Grabbed by the p... ? Police? Lol
@benabe66274 күн бұрын
Both games are not serious games. The washington Spirit and Ny/nj gotem players do not attend for those games, so wsl clubs, as far as I am, consider they're not winer.
@DerekLangdon-w9e3 күн бұрын
Are you trying to say Washington, and Gotham had no interest in winning their games! Grow up bud, you are talking nonsense!!
@tonysoanes73013 күн бұрын
Benabe6627 no words 🥳🥳👎👎😂😂🤮🤮🤣🤣👎👎
@tjtreks71345 күн бұрын
The Olympics aren't prestigious for BroSo precisely because it's U23. Why should 30 years worth of WoSo throw that away just to match them? It's almost always UEFA (mostly English) and/or BroSo fans that disparage the Olympics for WoSo. And if the timeline is too compact, they could play the Group Stage prior to the Olympics?
@_MindfulAthlete3 күн бұрын
Yes, I agree that right now the Olympics is an important competition for many nations. But with only 12 teams, there are many countries that aren't benefiting from it. I wish there could be more teams, and yes, I wish something could be done to improve the toll on the players. Either pre-Olympics games, bigger rosters, rules about using everyone to spread minutes load, etc.
@beauzest55257 күн бұрын
Olympics will become U23 at some point. Federations need to be given time to set up U23 programs for their respective countries. Unlikely to be by LA ‘28. Maybe by Brisbane in 2032.
@_MindfulAthlete7 күн бұрын
Thanks for your comment, and yes actually I was thinking the same timeline as well! I also think by then, the quality of woso will have improved around the world and can support a u23 competition
@uniikdiscord56668 күн бұрын
The last Olympics that Fifa would allow Euro women's first national teams to participate in because of Marketing is the 2027 Olympics, after that it'll surely never happen again due to due to the European, Asian & Australian football schedule.
@_MindfulAthlete7 күн бұрын
Thanks for your comment. It's interesting you say that because when professional men's players were finally allowed to compete in the Olympics in the 80s, FIFA put restrictions on which European and South American players were allowed to compete
@ailbheoleary73298 күн бұрын
Think it also depends on the country you grew up in- for example Katie McCabe is on record saying she never dreamed of been an Olympian.. but she did grow up wanting to compete at a Euros and World Cup. And this is very common among Euro countries.. Where as you would have other continents and countries who grew up wanting to be an Olympian possibly bc they don’t have Euros the following year and have qualifiers in the Olympic year.. U23 for Europe works best because they don’t have as many competitions where as the senior teams who are competing constantly for World Cup, Euro & now as of late nations league spots to rank their country for easier qualification routes. The other solution in Europe would perhaps be to disqualify teams who are regular tournament goers and leave it so that the lower ranked teams have a tournament they could possibly qualify for but then that’s unfair on the countries who don’t have Euros also bc they don’t get to compete with high ranking euro nations but the way Euro Olympic qualifiers work atm most countries don’t even have the opportunity to try qualify so therefore as a whole the continent don’t really see it as the best of the best
@_MindfulAthlete7 күн бұрын
That's a good point and speaks to another issue that people complain about which is the Olympics only having 12 teams. There are players from countries that will struggle to ever qualify for the Olympics. So growing up maybe this tournament isn't all that important to them!
@ailbheoleary73297 күн бұрын
@@_MindfulAthlete I don’t think the Olympics will ever be what it is elsewhere in Europe and that’s purely because the qualification route doesn’t include every team. Only 16 teams get to compete for 2 places meanwhile there’s 50 European teams. And then the added complication of England Scotland wales and Northern Ireland compete as GB which causes complications bc by right NI can choose GB or Rep. of Ireland for Olympics but with Football they are forced to GB as Rep. of Ireland already have squads that are playing all the time together but for everything else they are Individual countries in football so makes it less serious
@_MindfulAthlete9 күн бұрын
Hey all! One thing I wanted to mention in the video is that if the Olympics were to become U23, the many federations without a u23 program would likely move to create them. While this would be good in the long run, there would be a big disparity in the early years seen between quality and resources put into supporting these programs around the world. This in turn would lead to an unbalanced U23 Olympics that heavily benefits nations with already established programs, mainly European teams. This isn't necessarily a reason to not make the Olympics U23, but it does raise a question of if senior teams around the world are still lacking in their own quality of play, who is most benefitting from taking away a competitive tournament from them to give to a newly established U23 squad who may not have a strong pool of players to draw from.
@ThomasSenkwe-t1d9 күн бұрын
What a player. Beautify goals and assists
@Delboy010 күн бұрын
The UK population has nothing to do with the representation at elite sport. Black men only make up 1% of the UK population but 40% of the Premier League, even the men's England team for the Euros was 68% black players. It is suspicious that the men's game can be so diverse and the women's game is not. 15 years ago the Lionesses were 50% black players. What has happened is English FA made huge mistakes in the professionalisation of the women's games in England, by shutting down the elite soccer schools in England in the big diverse cities for girls and relocating them to rural white areas. This one decision turned women's soccer in England into a white upper middle class sport
@Delboy010 күн бұрын
Irony is the English women's football used to be diverse, but the English FA made huge mistakes in the professionalisation of the women's games in England, by shutting down the elite soccer schools in England in the big diverse cities for girls and relocating them to rural white areas. This one decision turned women's soccer in England into a white upper middle class sport because only the girls who had parents who could arrange travel to these elite schools could be professionals and working class girls and girls of colour where shut out of the system. Imagine if the men's game did this and said they would stop developing talent from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle and only players with rich parents become professionals. There would be no Saka, Bellingham, Kane, Grealish, Foden, Walker, basically all the England currently. What a huge mistake and they still haven't corrected this because it has made women's football super white.
@zwiderwurzn590812 күн бұрын
Was für Reflexe, alter Schwede!!
@cravermututukalesha402914 күн бұрын
God bless Babra banda
@julsdereal14 күн бұрын
The lack of diversity in the Arsenal is caused by Jonas Eidevall. Arsenal used to be the most diverse team in the WSL. just look at how they treated Mana Nwabuchi for instance. JE is the problem
@Delboy010 күн бұрын
It is crazy how this Swedish coach is allowed to spit on the traditions of Arsenal as the team of the black folk and diversity, with him on buying white Scandinavian players. You could maybe justify such discriminative recruitment if Arsenal ladies was winning the league with their all white team, but they lose to Chelsea every year team with the most diversity. He should be fired.
@dolphmanity15 күн бұрын
I would love to see that All-Star Game. But for it to actually happen, it would have to take place during and international break. Players like Berger and Banda would be unavailable because they would be with their national teams.
@tropicalvegetable16 күн бұрын
Also evident in 2024 🎉 Olympics. Brazil and US teams are basically NWSL teams. Scariest and most exciting part is ahead. US would’ve been even LEVELS better if US started turning the corner sooner with more diverse players. Worse players on US team generally were the Europe based players. By definition it’s hard to match the hustle and work ethic of oppressed people.
@fakawat722018 күн бұрын
so you telling me the drone is worst then china's ped 😆
@e.s-brin834120 күн бұрын
Hi, just found your videos, love them. I do have a suggestion. I’m thinking if it’s the USWNT, and if this should ever happen, it would be during FIFA window so some your choices of other national team players would not probably be available for you to pick so it might be wise to just stick with NWSL players that’s not on the national team your team just a question.
@_MindfulAthlete20 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching! Yes interesting point and definitelya good option of when it could happen. I think another option could be they pick a weekend in the summer that isn't a FIFA window, and then not schedule nwsl games that weekend? This way American and international NWSL players would be available, as well as Americans playing in Europe since it's their offseason (e.g., Horan, Macario, Fox). Would probably need to lengthen the NWSL season by 1 or 2 weeks to accommodate this though 🤔
@Gabbame1120 күн бұрын
Nice video! And some pretty good picks. Like the Di Bernardo one, she's very underrated
@_MindfulAthlete20 күн бұрын
Thanks for the comment. And agreed, she's been consistently very good for many years now!
@mbrook84820 күн бұрын
Excellent research and reporting - very thorough, objective, factual & with great insight. Job well done! Keep up the good work
@_MindfulAthlete20 күн бұрын
Thank you, I appreciate the comment!
@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music22 күн бұрын
The players have to know because the only value of spying on training is to learn the opposition's set piece plays and how players are taking spot kicks (and CanWNT won both of its penalty shootout games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, defeating Brazil in the quarterfinals and Sweden in the final) and that information would have to be communicated to the players. Everything else is obviously public except maybe injury determination which wouldn't have much use for Canada. I've described the CanWNT's squeaking through to win gold in Tokyo as a "kissed by God" performance; it is clear now that that wasn't legitimate and should be taken away from them. As an American I'm not outraged because I'd let the Canadians play with 12 players if I thought it would provide better competition for us in this conference (speaking of which, how did CanMNT win the conference then absolutely fall flat on its face at the WC?). I feel badly for the players because both sides of the program have been painstakingly built to a credible level and now all of their accomplishments are in question.
@klaus722722 күн бұрын
Good job! Especially picking Marie Müller made me smile!
@_MindfulAthlete21 күн бұрын
Thanks for your comment! Really impressed with her this season!
@waterthecan22 күн бұрын
madison curry mention! she's been SO good this season at both LB and CB and wherever angel city need her...hope she gets a ROTY nod. obviously' she's not been the best rookie, but i think top 3!
@waterthecan22 күн бұрын
though i doubt she'll get it because croix (who will win obviously), hal, and claire hutton are not only doing very well this season but also all on top 3 teams, instead of bottom 3 teams, lmao.
@_MindfulAthlete21 күн бұрын
Thanks for your comments! Yes I think Bethune may have locked down ROTY but Madison will definitely get a good shout. Apart from keeper, I think being a rookie defender is next hardest in terms of transitioning to the professional game. So for Madison to be a starter has been impressive! My top 3 rookies have been Croix, Hutton, and Madison :)
@waterthecan21 күн бұрын
@@_MindfulAthletei've honestly not been watching KC games so all i know of hutton is through what others have said (i mean i've watched a few, but always for the other team, not the current), but given what i've heard, i'd LOVE the three to be bethune, hutton, and curry. we'll see if angel city do the pr well enough to get her there, given hershfelt has been given the uswnt nod 😅