FIFA chief dismayed at 11-0 scoreline in women’s World Cup opener
FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday admitted the one-sided 11-0 scoreline in the opening match of the women’s World Cup was “not good” for the sport.
Asked about the hammering defending champions Germany dished out to Argentina on Monday, Blatter replied: “Definitely I did not like this result, I can honestly say that.”
It came at a time when world football’s governing body is considering whether to expand the competition from its current 16-team format to reflect the improving standards of the game worldwide.
“When it is the opening match, the result of 11 to 0, and the team receiving 11 goals is the reigning champion in South America … This is not good when we look forward to the future,” he told a press conference.
Blatter added that FIFA would decide at the end of the tournament, which runs in China until September 30, whether to expand the next women’s World Cup from 16 to 24 teams.
The host of the 2011 World Cup will be decided in Zurich at the end of October, with France, Canada, Australia and Peru vying for the honour.
“At the start of the competition, the result of 11-0, this will not enhance the chances to do it, but it’s only the first match,” he said of the expansion plans.
“And I am sure the Argentinian team when playing later, they have to play England and Japan, I am sure that they will do it better.”
He also criticised some of the Argentinian tactics, going for goal when they should have been defending.
“In women’s football there is a lot to do in development,” he said.
“We have seen on Monday some naive attitudes of the team receiving so many goals. Instead of trying to block a little bit in the defence, they tried … to go for goal. (But) I can understand that, it is the World Cup.
Source:Soccer News
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