Kayla's Salute: The US & Japan Ladies in the World Cup Final

I love football as much as the next guy, but at the base level, I'm still a woman. I appreciate the after-game shirt exchange just as much as the game itself. Kayla's salute is a recurring piece spotlighting the best footballers that also happen to be the best looking.  This week's salute is different because it's not only a salute to two groups of people, but they're all ladies.  While the preference is the males, I can still appreciate some ass-kicking women who are also classy.  And the US and Japan's women's teams are just that. 


---


By Kayla

The US and Japan ladies treated us all to one of the most memorable Women's World Cup finals in history.  Two teams who had been commended for their talent, heart, and unwillingness to give up kept everyone on the edge of their seats on Sunday as the US consistently dominated the Japanese while the Japanese displayed a stubborn refusal to give up.  The game resulted in the first World Cup final victory for Japan, bringing much needed joy to a country devastated by a tsunami while the US ladies graciously accepted their runner-up medals and showed much respect for Japan as Japan hoisted the cup above their heads.

Getty Images

As a fan, I always prefer a clean, hard-fought game over one riddled with questionable calls and dirty tactics to gain the upper hand.  Many fans do.  In a high stress game where more pressure comes in an extremely important final such as this, it's easy for the emotions to run high as the players fight tooth and nail to do whatever it takes to ensure a victory for their side. 

There's no doubt the women's football does not receive as much attention or money as the men's football.  Men do have more at stake and experience more pressure to succeed, which begins to push the sport into a place where dirty tactics are more acceptable as the "whatever it takes to win" mentality is held in such high regard.

Associated Press

Maybe that's why the women's sport feels much more pure.  The stakes are not so high.  The focus is on going out and putting the best effort forward.  Clearly the women's game is not completely pure as some teams do feign injuries, take dives, and waste time just like it's prominent in the men's game.  Regardless, the Women's World Cup final was an extremely enjoyable match that was played with pride and class between two humble teams with a tremendous amount of respect for each other.  And that's why this week's salute goes to the ladies of the US and Japan's World Cup squads.

For the sake of these wonderful athletes, let's hope those who have had their eye caught by the Women's World Cup stick around and learn to love the ladies' side of the sport, while the ladies who play the sport maintain their dignity and determination to shine with their talent and their talent alone.


Kayla is a writer, co-editor & co-founder of The Captain's Armblog.  She enjoys eating too many sweets, writing, and defending Fernando Torres.  Send her digital candies to thecaptainsarmblog@gmail.com