It definitely is. Passes are less accurate, tactics are poor, technique is poor.
I didn't see the match today because I was working but I've seen the highlights. The first was a very good finish but there was 1 goal because the keeper was too small, 1 was an aimless long ball which the defenders let bounce multiple times and another came from an inexplicable scorpion kick attempt in midfield, a midfielder running past the player with the ball to let the player have a free run through the middle, the defenders were then completely in the wrong position playing the only attacker onside and the keeper stayed on their line instead of closing the angle.
There are regularly goals scored in men's football due to individual mistakes but rarely do you get 5 or 6 mistakes within the same passage of play. The ability to kick a ball cleanly isn't the only thing which determines the standard of football. The general attacking passages of play, defending and especially the goalkeeping is very low.
I fully expect it to get better over time as more and more people play and are coached by high quality coaches from a young age but at the moment the standard is still very low. I'm not saying Sunday League or anything so disrespectful but it's the sort of football you see in the lower leagues or in youth football.
The third goal came from great play by Hemp and a great finish from Russo to take advantage of Australia having a lot of players forward as they were chasing the game.
-Hemp picks up the ball and turns away from the midfielder.
-The defender is running back into position as the midfielder puts in that challenge. If she commits herself into a challenge as well and Hemp beats her, it's three against three.
-One defender comes out to pressure Hemp, Russo holds her run to stay onside.
-Hemp plays the ball through, Russo seems quite wide. Toone is making a run into the box on the far side. The keeper can't close the angle any further as Russo could play the ball across to Toone who has an open goal. She isn't expecting the first time shot either as it seems like it's not the best angle to take the shot.
Was the defending perfect, no, but you can say that for pretty much any goal at any level. But it definitely wasn't an error by the keeper, nor does a midfielder run past a player with the ball to give her a run at goal. Defensive errors always happen in the 70+ minute point of any game - especially when they're pushing forward to get back into the game.
I really don't see the reason for comparing it to any level of men's football. But I watch men's football and women's football regularly, and I see bad games at the top level of both. And good games at the top and lower levels of both. If you don't enjoy it, that's fine, but putting forward defensive errors late in a game as an example of women's football being of a poor standard is a bit rediculous.
