Fighto! comments

I don't want to see Japan go up against China. China would crush Japan and I live here!

Absolutely no one does.

But, from history, Japan dealt with China pretty well last time around.

The GOAT with the Golden Arm has done it again! Extraordinary, unprecedented talent.

Ohtani (10-5) surpassed Babe Ruth in yet another measure of two-way excellence at the Big A

Rewriting all of Ruth's records - game by game.

19 medals in a sport as tough and brutal as track cycling - and the endless hours of hard training demanded - is phenomenal. Hats off to Jennifer Valente!

As a sidenote - I am kind of shocked this article hasn't been swamped by a few angry men pointing out that "women's cycling is boring...Why would anyone watch? ... Female cyclists could never compete with men!".

She, Linda and up till a dumb back stomp, Lauren were the stars of the WC, so far.

I agree and will add to that list Mary Fowler, the young Matildas midfielder. Silkily threading the ball through to her forwards, setting up goals. A real game changer!

It's been a marvellous tournament - from the crowds, to the PK dramas, the brilliant keeping from Sweden's Musovic, total football from Japan, "lower ranked" teams making a big impact, the upsets of the past champions being eliminated...and many more twists and turns to come!

May the best team win!

@ Yubaru - it's a team nickname, and a well liked one. Anyone living in Japan during the victorious '11 WC certainty knows of Ms Sawa, Nadeshiko Japan, are and how great they can be.

The nickname is here to stay.

Time to move on and talk about the sport.

What's Friday's score going to be? Japan 3 - Sweden 1, IMO. Miyazawa on the score sheet again.

Bye, I hope God isn't mad at you about that picture episode you pulled.

Tell us that you support those priests without actually telling us. If there were a hell, that's where all those scum ended up burning.

She was before her time. To speak against the catholic church in Ireland 35 years ago, to state - correctly - that many of their leaders were pedophiles and criminals, was unheard of.

Rest in Power, Sinead.

10 years for shooting a stallion?

Seems harsh.

It wasn't a violent tackle by James, she stepped on Alozie's back, like an idiotic chump.

I agree - it was frustration leading to stupidity. Nothing malicious there, and it would be a crying shame IMO if James has to sit out the rest of the tournament.

@ Yubaru - fair points. Japan ladies to now be called the Blue Samurai.

I now unilaterally declare the England women's team shall be known as The Three Lions, and the Australian women's team The Socceroos.

Holy Books are Wisdom Banks.

Unfortunately I cannot agree with the Good Doctor here.

Scientific journals and manuals are some examples of "wisdom banks" to learn from and build on.

"Holy Books" are collections of fiction - and I include Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jewish texts and all others. Some of them are extremely dangerous, and harmful in the minds of the easily led and unintelligent.

"Holy texts" deserve no protection in free, secular, democratic nations. Only backwards states offer them protection.

All the best to all 8 remaining teams! Dare I say, we will be in for even more surprises! It's been a great WC so far, and the 7 biggest games to come.

Good luck to the Samurai women of Japan!

Haven't heard of them.

Good luck to Nadeshiko Japan, however. Keep up that attack and they'll take a power of stopping!

Targeting civilians, rescue workers, women and children? Straight from the Russian playbook. Their rampage of rape, violence and murder through defeated Germany in WW2 is well documented.

Nothing has changed with the Russians.

Stupid old dropkick.

Hopefully old Aso's official trip provokes and antagonizes Communist China.

Anyway, there should be many, many more high level Japanese visits to free Taiwan. They are a true ally of Japan.

Good for Tsimanouskaya. Who would want to be connected to fascist puppet state Belarus - or their master, fascist Russia.

Wishing her - and Poland - every luck and success!

Well played to the Matildas!

It was a joy to watch the talented midfield general Mary Fowler thread the ball through all night to hungry goalscorers Foord and Raso. Superstar Sam Kerr adds another dimension to the ladies in gold, and will be better for the run. The Danes were unable to crack the mean-spiritqed Aussie defense who gave them nothing.

With the additiin of Kerr, and home support roaring them on to new heights, the Matildas have the ability to go deep.

Hats off also to the victorious Lionesses, but they will certainly need to get their fluency and threat in front of goal sorted- soon.

Leo Messi is promoting the game better than anyone else could. And he has earned the right to play in a league not as cut-throat as the top Euro leagues. Where he can express himself and entertain.

There is no doubt the US is a massive market - much of it untapped for football. If Leo inspires more girls and boys to join a soccer club in the States, the next generation is going to be the winner!

Thank you to the government for finally setting a date.

The lunatics and Japan-haters in HK, China and Korea will moan for political theatre. Ignore them all.

It was a Mistake to give the games to France. They have had all sorts or problems. They cant handle the games.

Beggars can't be choosers. Fact is, the only rival for Paris was LA.

Long gone are the days when cities were banging down the door to host the Olympics. People have woken up to the obscene corruption of the IOC, the insane cost blowouts and the debt that will remain for years.

Only LA and Paris remained as bidders for '24 and '28, after all other cities withdrew. Paris got '24, LA '28.

I think it's cute there is a "World Cup" for women. It is unfortunate, however, that the women cant sell TV commercials or make money like the male version.

You do realize that the men's world cup has had a 60 year head start on the women's?

What they've done in a short space of time is extraordinary.

In full flow - which is often - Nadeshiko Japan are a force to be reckoned with, and a pleasure to watch. Teamwork, discipline and total football are their hallmarks. Miyazawa is a constant threat, and favorite for the Golden Boot. She is now a household name like Sawa in those glory days of '11.

125 million people - and many others overseas - will begin roaring at 4.30pm Japan time on Friday night!

Hats off to the phenomenal Megan Rapinoe on an unprecedented, 17 year international career. 200 plus games, 2 WC trophies and an Olympic Gold! Her feats will almost certainly never be topped.

Take a bow.

Neither of these teams would have troubled Japan in the next round

Nadeshiko fully deserve to go in as warm favorite - I've been their biggest advocate all along. But if the sweden keeper Musovic makes saves like she did vs the US, Japan could be pushed. Best keeper by far I've seen at this WC!

Sport - in all its cruelty, beauty and euphoria - was on full show in the penalty shootout between Sweden and the USA Ladies. It was one for the ages. Take a bow, both teams!

The US created the chances and played the better football for most of the game - 11 shots on target to just 1 - but the remarkable Sweden keeper Musovic kept her team in the game. Some of her saves were truly world-class.

Nadeshiko Japan will no doubt be doing their homework on the amazing Swedish defense - just 1 goal conceded in 4 games - and the brilliant Musovic. Licking my lips in anticipation of Friday's match!

Full credit to the Oranje Lionesses. They played with power and precision to earn their place in the QF against Spain. Jill Roord is in fine goalscoring form.

Big respect to the Banyana Banyana on going the furthest in their history. May they advance even more next edition.

Get your money down, sport. 8/1 being offered.

I'm an unlucky man at betting so never bother - but at the start of the tournament they were 29/1! That looked tasty. Even 8/1 looks too long. Someone will step up and fancy those odds.

by the end of this century, life-expectancy will be early 40s.

Incredibly unlikely. Any basis behind that wild assertion?

Japan is correct.

The biggest threat the world has of nuclear war is from fascist Russia - especially while a midget madman holds the key to the button.

Russian may need to launch a nuclear strike to prove their still a viable adversaries too the US on a third country , knowing the US will not respond

The Russians need to realize if they do, Moscow, St Petersburg and other major cities and their suburbs will be vaporised - permanently - within 20 minutes.

Hege Riise is not wrong!

Nadeshiko Japan has now jumped to favoritism to hoist the Cup, IMO. The depth in the squad is astonishing, the attack-minded "total football" levels above any other team seen thus far. Not to mention the stingy defense - just goal conceded in 4 games.

There is a positive feeling about this campaign just like 2011. And if they do make that final, many more Japanese eyes will be watching than back then!