I watched both semi-finals, admittedly the first minutes I saw of the competition. I got into the England-USA game because of the VAR controversy, but, come on, it's a poor standard of football.
There's no speed or athleticism, technique is at a really low level generally and the worst part is the goalkeepers can barely touch the crossbar. The two headers the USA scored were in the middle of the goal and only about 6 feet in the air. Through a combination of a small goalkeeper and poor positioning, they went in without threat of being saved. No set-piece had any real power or whip on the ball. The ball was constantly given away under no pressure.
English non-League teams would annihilate the 4 teams I saw in those semi-finals. I'd even argue a decent Sunday League team would beat them. I saw Arsenal women at the Emirates when they were dominant domestically and I would say the same of them. Physcially it's football in slow motion, much the same way men's amateur football is, but without the occasional standout athlete you see, even in Sunday League teams.
Gabby Logan and Hope Solo were talking at full time about potentially making the goals smaller, and the former was confusing in what she said. My understanding is the goals are the same size as in men's football, but Logan seemed to be suggesting they were smaller?
In my opinion, it would make for a better spectacle played on a 3/4 pitch, with 3/4 goals. But I understand why that would damage the credibility of the sport when they are fighting to be taken seriously in comparison to men.
The atmosphere was fantastic in the England-USA semi-final and over 11m watched here in the UK. If they can translate that to the club game here--the Premier League are trying to take over the running of the game from the FA-- and pack out stadiums then more power to them.
I don't really have an interest because of the poor standard. I don't enjoy watching non-league teams play each other in the FA cup, let alone mediocre women's teams as part of league fixtures on tv. Burnley vs Brighton is bad enough in the Premier League, now imagine the women's versions of those teams! I watch football on tele to see what I can't see at the local park, women's football will always lack the physical level to offer that, and it certainly lacks the techncial ability at least for now.
