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Jonathan White

“There are kids watching,” was one response to the US women’s national team getting their Fifa Women’s World Cup defence under way with a 13-0 thrashing of Thailand in Reims, France.
The score was a record in the tournament finals – for men or women – and Alex Morgan tied another for most scored (five) in a game, matching Michelle Akers in 1991.
To say there was reaction was an understatement, with people indignant at the audacity of a sports team to win a sporting contest.
It was not exactly unexpected. In their only other meeting, the USWNT beat Thailand 9-0 in a 2016 friendly.

#DebutGoals
Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Sam Mewis and Mal Pugh ALL scored in their first career #FIFAWWC game. pic.twitter.com/vcKRH81EQy
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) 11 June 2019

For many, the biggest issue was not even the score but the fact that each and every goal was celebrated as if it was the first. “Decency” and “respect” were called for, while others were “disgusted”.
But is it not more indecent and disrespectful to not celebrate? Would that not leave the Thailand players feeling pitied in their second appearance on the biggest stage in the game?

WHOLESOME CONTENT ALERT @sammymewy's parents reacting to her first #FIFAWWC goal is what dreams are made of. ️ pic.twitter.com/ayTywhTJSr
— U.S. Soccer WNT (@USWNT) 11 June 2019

Moreover, it has to better for Thai football in the long term to be treated as an equal from the outset.
No one benefits from the USWNT taking their foot off the gas for the last half an hour.
A possession game risks losing their sharpness and goal difference, while keeping the ball gives Thailand even less chance of a consolation goal.
Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019: when does it start, favourites, odds, what channel and more for on action in France
Also, we should not forget that these are goals scored in the World Cup, a point that Abby Wambach, scorer of 14 herself, made on Twitter.
“For all that have issue with many goals: for some players this is their first World Cup goal, and they should be excited,” she wrote.
“Imagine it being you out there. This is your dream of playing and then scoring in a World Cup. Celebrate. Would you tell a men’s team to not score or celebrate?”
Fifa Women’s World Cup: France 2019 is ‘chance to empower our girls,’ says Hong Kong head coach Ricardo Rambo
Samantha Mewis scored her first ever World Cup goals with a brace. That was matched by Rose Lavelle, while Lindsay Horan and Mallory Pugh scored one each. That’s six of the goals scored by debutants and it is bound to mean something to them and their teammates, even if like Pugh it came in 84th minute and made it 10-0.
One reason for the outrage is that in the US many youth leagues have rules where teams are not allowed to “run up the score” and add any more once they are so far ahead in a game. That’s fine for kids as you want them to turn up next week, but this is elite sport.

After beating Thailand 13-0 & celebrating each goal #USWNT may have lost fans, domestically & internationally...and sealed themselves as villains of the @FIFAWWC. I love it. But the soccer gods can be cruel and vindictive. If US goes on to fail, their behavior will be on a loop.
— Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) 12 June 2019

The bigger issue here is not that the best team in the tournament, the current holders and the favourites to retain their title ran amok against a hapless defence, it’s that Thailand are in this situation.
An expanded World Cup format brings such disparities. A collective lack of support for women’s football worldwide reinforces them.
That this is the top ranked team against the 34th ranked shows the gaps in the women’s game – that’s the equivalent of Belgium v Austria in the men’s game.
The worry for the USWNT’s next opponents, Chile, is that it could be worse for them. Chile are 40th on the rankings and the very definition of “worse on paper”. That could well mean another goal fest in Paris on Saturday.

NATIONAL TEAM - U16 | China started well the campaign in the qualification stage for the AFC U16 Women's Championship next year with a 20-0 win against Guam at the CR & FC Grounds in Sri Lanka today. (click from @theafcdotcom) #SteelRoses #WomenInFootball pic.twitter.com/Qhv6v0njD2
— China Women's National Football Team (@ChinaWNFT) 17 September 2018

Lopsided women’s games are nothing new. At the Asian Cup, which took place in Jordan last April, there were big scores. Australia and China put eight goals past Vietnam and Jordan respectively, while Thailand beat Jordan 6-1.
To show the disparity further, Jordan had beaten Iraq 10-0 and Tajikistan 10-2 in the Women’s World Cup Asian qualifiers a year earlier.
It continues through the age groups. At under-16 level, Guam lost 20-0 to China last September but what’s the other option? They don’t have a team. Creating competitive football for all is the scope of the confederation and it is not an issue that is confined to Asian women’s football.

#OnThisDay one month ago... #MUWomen pic.twitter.com/wwo1r5v7a0
— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) 11 June 2019

In the English domestic game, both Manchester United women and Salford City started their debut seasons last summer with 13-0 wins. It was pointed out that the Manchester side’s tactic of being the only professionals and attracting internationals in the second tier was only going to end that way.
Many were opposed to that but they are now in the top flight EWSL, which is regarded as one of the best leagues in the world.
The development of the game has to be the most important thing and that means there are going to be big scorelines. It was the same with the men’s game but rapid progress has been made in recent years with Asian teams at the World Cup.
You have to feel for the Thai players but with Chile in their final group game they can go some way to forgetting this.


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Fifa Women's World Cup

Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019: USWNT beat Thailand 13-0 to provoke criticism for ‘running up the score’

Mallory Pugh (2) of the USA celebrates her goal with teammates during the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019 win over Thailand. Photo: EPA

Sport

Football

The US women’s team post record win in opening game with many outspoken at the scoreline and the celebrations
Game proves disparity between established and developing football nations and provokes debate over what is best for growth of the women’s game


Game proves disparity between established and developing football nations and provokes debate over what is best for growth of the women’s game


Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Opinion

Column

Fifa Women’s World Cup 2019: USWNT beat Thailand 13-0 to provoke criticism for ‘running up the score’

The US women’s team post record win in opening game with many outspoken at the scoreline and the celebrations Game proves disparity between established and developing football nations and provokes debate over what is best for growth of the women’s game

The US women’s team post record win in opening game with many outspoken at the scoreline and the celebrations

Game proves disparity between established and developing football nations and provokes debate over what is best for growth of the women’s game