I'm not sure on the sexism point. I think it's more that there is a lot of expectation with the men's team. They are superstars and are expected to perform, whereas this team (they are not even all full time professionals - I read the left back for instance is an analyst at Deutsch Bank in London) were underdogs who most people thought didn't even deserve to be at the tournament let alone almost make the final. And after losing the first game it looked they would limp out miserably at the group stage like the U21s did and the men at their World Cup. While the treatment of Beckham did go on too long in 1998, he was a villain because he needlessly kicked someone and got sent off. This was a freak accident that no one deserved. I actually thought she got into a good position to intercept the cross, probably should have hooked away with the left foot.