Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Aventura 20: Fútbol Feminino

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/feminine/detail/article/draw-in-friendly-between-barca-ladies-and-inac-kobe-1-1
A few days ago, I came back from school around 16.00h and my host dad told me that the Women's Barca team was playing, "Today, against the best women's soccer player!" As he meant it, the Barca team was taking on in a friendly a team from Japan, INAC Kobe, with the center-midfielder Homare Sawa, the recently named FIFA Best Women's Futbolista of 2012.  She, along with the Japanese team, surprised and enchanted the world when they won the 2011 World Cup.

I couldn't believe it was TONIGHT! I'd been keeping an eye and ear out for Barca feminina but it often gets overshadowed by both the A and B Barca team.  I looked up information on the internet, but couldn't find much.  Instead of calling over the stadium, I just decided to go for a jog to there! (How cool is it living in the city, 20 minutes run from Camp Nou?).  I asked at the museum, and the game was indeed at 19.00h, in the MiniEstadi, and gratis (free) because it was a friendly.

At 19.00h I left the metro and walked towards the stadium, following Barca chant.  I entered the stadium and there were many more fans than I thought!  I sat down and was in awe of the game in front of me.

I love watching football, no matter what type, but watching women's teams is something really special to me.  I think because that's how I first fell in love with soccer: Watching the U.S. Women's run in the 1999 World Cup, ending up with Brandi Chastain's penalty kick winner.  I loved that team, I followed that team, I knew every player and wanted to be every player for Halloween.  And the same feeling came back watching these two women's teams.  I feel like I can follow it that much better, notice more things, be in awe or more things because I can more easily imagine myself on the field with them.

And the women's game is beautiful.  So much working together, passing, talking, and definitely not as much drama as the men's Barcelona team, and that's something I really really appreciate.  It just feels like a very respectful game.  Given, this was a friendly.  There are definitely female players who dive just like Dani Alves or are poor sports like Pepe from Real Madrid, but watching this game, I didn't see any of that.  Less fouls, only one card.  This was beautiful football because they loved football.  And many players seemed to be smiling while they were playing.

So with this feeling, I started watching the game.  Naturally, being in Barcelona, I focused on the Barca team, watching their passes, offense, defense, positions, but I couldn't help it - my mind shifted to focusing on INAC Kobe.  There passes, touches, relaxed nature, positioning, triangles and quick passes in tight spaces, creativity, was a magnet for my eyes.  I sat there with my mouth hung open and not because I was cheering.

At half-time, I switched seats before I left to go to my own training, and I saw a group of 11-yr old girls cheering like crazy at the end of the stadium, with signs and smiles and flags.  I laughed to myself as the image of being at the Gold Cup with two of my friends, our stomachs painted with the letters U-S-A, flashed across my mind.  This is something wonderful that women's soccer does - inspiring the next generation of young girls.  This is something I realized I'm really proud of of women's soccer - the role models that there are here, in these stadiums.

Leaving the stadium, I got to head to my own fútbol training! Which was wonderful but I definitely only got a taste of Barca fútbol life, but don't worry because tomorrow, at 19.00h I will be sitting (or standing, cheering like crazy!) and watching the Barca men's team take on Valencia in the semifinals of la Copa del Rey tournament.  ¡Vamos Barca!

http://www.barcelona-budget.net/barcelona-football-club-news-20120201.html

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