The Women’s World Cup Final this Sunday between Holland and America is getting the well deserved Buzz.

It’s Outrageous  that the Men’s World Cup 2022 was awarded to Qatar. The foul atmosphere surrounding the selection of Qatar shows no sign of going away.  The world’s top sporting event must be moved to a more suitable venue when the corruption and payoffs finally see the light of day.

The Team USA leader has a point.  Guys can say anything. The women are supposed to be polite. Look what happened to Hillary Clinton in 2016 for a political example.

It gets worse when women criticize women for expressing themselves in a robust manner.

The Netherlands meet Team USA on Sunday in the World Cup final.

Excerpted from the Guardian 7.5.2019

• USA striker mimed sipping tea after goal against England

Alex Morgan has said that criticism of her goal celebration during USA’s defeat of England in the Women’s World Cup semi-final is an example of double standards.

Morgan mimed sipping a cup of tea after she scored what proved to be the winning goal against England, provoking a backlash with some claiming she was guilty of gloating. Former England international Lianne Sanderson, who played alongside Morgan at Orlando Pride, called the celebration “distasteful”.

“I feel that there is some sort of double standard for females in sports,” Morgan said, “to feel like we have to be humble in our successes and have to celebrate, but not too much or in a limited fashion. You see men celebrating all over the world in big tournaments, grabbing their sacks or whatever it is. And when I look at sipping a cup of tea, I am a little taken aback by the criticism.” She added that she was disappointed Sanderson was among her critics.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/05/alex-morgan-celebration-usa-england-womens-world-cup

Germany, responsible for the horrors of Nazism, has since 1945 addressed the issue head on. Time spent in Germany makes it perfectly clear that Germany has not buried the Holocaust it perpetuated from 1933-1945. This Deutsche Welle article is just one example of shining a light on anti-semitism. Still, in Germany anti-semitism, neo-nazism and xenophobia are on the rise.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 7.4.2019

Young Jewish Europeans believe anti-Semitism is on the rise in their countries. An EU report shows young Jews are concerned about safety and blame social media networks for a rise in anti-Jewish sentiment.

More than 80% of European Jews aged 16 to 34 strongly identify with being Jewish, and an equally high number of respondents believe anti-Semitism is a growing problem in their countries.

According to the “Young Jews in Contemporary Europe” report by the EU’s Agency for Fundamental Human Rights (FRA), close to 90% of those surveyed think that anti-Jewish sentiment has risen on social media channels and the internet in general in the last five years.

The report comes amid a rise in anti-Semitic crimes in Germany, with the country’s anti-Semitism commissioner, Felix Klein, cautioning Jews against wearing the yarmulke — or kippah — in public.

Other key findings

• Young Jews are “considerably more likely” to experience anti-Jewish harassment than their elders.
• 44% experienced at least one incident of harassment in the 12 months before the survey.
• 73% of respondents say that they have not worn anything that may identify them as Jewish on at least one occasion due to safety concerns.
• 41% have considered emigrating from their country because of safety concerns, mostly to Israel.
• Holocaust denial or trivialization, suggesting “nefarious uses of power by Jews” or that Jews themselves are to blame for anti-Semitism top the list of anti-Jewish “tropes.”
• 52% said they are being blamed for anything done by the Israeli government “frequently” or “all the time.”
• 31% of those harassed identified the perpetrator as “someone with a Muslim extremist view.”
• “Violent physical anti-Semitism” was most likely to be attributed to Muslim extremists.
• 21% of harassment was attributed to “someone with a left-wing view,” closely followed by “someone with a right-wing view” at 14%.
• Young Jews are “noticeably more likely” than their elders to identify intolerance towards Muslims in their countries as a problem.

Read more: Opinion: Is the only safe Jew in Germany an invisible one?

Sample size: The survey polled some 2,700 Jews aged 16 to 34 in 12 EU member states where more than 96% of the bloc’s Jewish population live.

https://www.dw.com/en/anti-semitism-a-growing-concern-for-majority-of-europes-young-jews/a-49477327

Skin color makes a difference whether it’s in Israel, France, Germany, USA. Everywhere.

Deutsche Welle 7.3.2019

Solomon Teka, a 19-year-old Israeli of Ethiopian origin, was shot dead by an off-duty police officer on Sunday in a town near Haifa. The teenager’s killing stoked accusations of racism and police brutality in Israel.

Teka’s killing has sparked a debate in Israel about racism and police brutality. The Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel is particularly outraged by the incident, saying they live in constant fear of police harassment due to their black skin color.

Deutsche Welle writes disparagingly about the sleepy World Cup semifinal between Holland and Sweden.   Team USA will come with its usual theatrics and hi-octane attack on Sunday to liven up the proceedings before a worldwide audience.

The weak Swedish performance was surprising given the manner in which the team dismantled the Germans earlier and played a very tough match against Team USA.

Deutsche Welle  and Wall Street Journal 7.3.2019

Netherlands 1-0 Sweden
(Groenen 99′)

Jackie Groenen’s (Shown above and below) fine extra time strike settled a forgettable World Cup semifinal against Sweden and set up a World Cup final against the United States on Sunday in Lyon.

The Dutch team has been one of the best-supported sides in France. While Americans traveled in the largest numbers, Dutch fans have made themselves more obvious, pouring into city streets and turning entire stadium sections orange. On Wednesday night, they even had two bugle players providing a 90-minute soundtrack in the stands.

Back home, their games have set viewership records. Their quarterfinal against Italy, for instance, drew an audience share of 80.3% in the Netherlands, according to FIFA. Sunday’s game will likely be another record-breaker for the Dutch, but the team itself is under no illusions. Against the three-time world champion Americans, it will be a clear underdog.

“Now we have to party,” defender Stefanie van der Gragt said, draped in a Dutch flag. “And tomorrow we’ll talk about the USA.”

The thought of Dutch orange blobs in the stands — not to mention the novelty of relative newcomer playing for the title — was irresistible. Also appealing: the Dutch horn section belting out kitschy numbers and the unbridled joy of the fans.

https://www.dw.com/en/womens-world-cup-groenen-the-heroine-as-netherlands-outlast-sweden-to-reach-final/a-49453157

Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher saved the game when she blocked a penalty kick by England in the 84th minute.

A dismayed team of Lionesses fought on only to watch the Americans party on the pitch in Lyon, France.  It appears the Brits are equally upset over Alex Morgan’s “Tea time” moment after scoring what proved to be the winning goal in the 2-1 nailbiter.

The Americans, along with their England born Coach Jill Ellis will play in next Sunday’s final against either Sweden or Holland.

The Guardian 7.2.2019

Tea Time on the Pitch.

US goal celebrations were a talking point yet again during Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final against England. After Alex Morgan scored USA’s second goal of the game, she raised her fingers to her lips, miming a sip of tea. (shown below)

“In the highest pressure game of this World Cup, Alex Morgan still had the presence of mind to produce a bespoke England celebration: She mimed sipping a cup of tea. “(Wall Street Journal).

“The Americans’ second goal was a matter of when not if. It came courtesy of Alex Morgan. The Californian’s bullet header was her 106th in US colors and ultimately proved the winner in a game where the scoreline didn’t truly reflect America’s superiority on the night. Her tea-drinking goal celebration were perhaps a further reminder of the confidence that runs through this US team.” (Deutsche Welle)

The meaning was not clear, although public opinion seemed to be balanced between the motion being a shot at England’s fondness for tea; a reference to the ease with which Morgan scored; or the fact that Morgan’s goal came on her 30th birthday. Piers Morgan called it “a declaration of war”.

Christen Press celebrates her goal in the 9th minute. She took over for Megan Rapinoe, forced out of the match with a hamstring injury.

U.S. forward Alex Morgan heads the team’s second goal past England goalkeeper Carly Telford. PHOTO: RICHARD HEATHCOTE/GETTY IMAGES

“Credit to the U.S.A. They do it time and time again. That’s why they’re winners,” England midfielder Jade Moore said. “If we want to start to turn the screw, if we want to be champions of the world, we’ve got to take a leaf out of their book and find a way to win.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/02/alex-morgan-tea-celebration-usa-england-womens-world-cup

In San Francisco it is mild and pleasant by the Pacific Ocean. In Europe the temperature is totally off the Thermometer.  In Berlin today it is 101 degrees Farenheit.

Excerpted from Deutsche Welle 7.1.2019

The last day of June has beaten all previous temperature highs for the month. Heat-related deaths have been reported in several European countries.

Germany set its all-time highest June temperature on Sunday, with 38.9 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The country has been baking in an early summer heat wave; however, Germany’s all-time high of 40.3 degrees Celsius still stands. 

Fifty-seven runners at Hamburg’s half marathon were hospitalized on Sunday after many collapsed in temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius, officials said. Some 141 runners needed treatment in what fire service officials described as “an emergency with mass casualties.”

Temperatures in the country’s central Rhine-Main region and into eastern Germany were expected to reach up to 39 degrees on Sunday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD).

Organizers of Sunday’s Frankfurt Ironman event made contingency plans to keep athletes from overheating.

As huge crowds gathered in Paris for the annual gay pride parade, firefighters sprayed water on revelers, some of whom used rainbow-colored fans and umbrellas to counter the heat, which was expected to hit 38 degrees.

Heat-related deaths have been reported in Germany and France, mainly among the elderly. At least eight people drowned in bathing accidents across the two countries.

http://www.dw.com/en/germany-records-all-time-hottest-june-temperature/a-49420773

Every Picture Tells a Story Ongoing Series

SFPD effectively by deploying overwhelming force swiftly put down a brief protest by the group “Anti-ICE SF” during the massive Pride Festival on the City’s Market Street thoroughfare.

Article and Photos – San Francisco Chronicle 6.30.2019

The group, part of Abolish ICE SF, handed out a printed letter of demands calling for SF Pride to exclude police and pointing out the hypocrisy they see in inviting police to celebrate the anniversary of a clash with cops.

“Too many years San Francisco Pride has chosen to ignore the asks for a safer pride free from police,” the letter said. “They care more about pleasing corporate interests and hosting a massive party than listening to LGBTQ2S communities and keeping them safe.”

Police arrested Taryn Saldivar, 21, of Oakland, and Kenneth Bilecki, 27, of Santa Rosa, on charges of resisting arrest and interfering with a parade route. Saldivar was also charged with battery on a police officer, police said, noting that one officer was treated at the scene for a nonlife-threatening injury.

As police drove the two protesters away in a van, the crowd chanted “Shame!” and “Let them go!”

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Anti-police-protesters-lying-in-street-shut-down-14062358.php

Media chieftans are reluctant to publish hard hitting commentary when it comes to the current  White House occupant.  Better to kow tow rather than speak uncomfortable truths to power.

CNN Business 6.30.2019

“The highs and lows of cartooning. Today I was just let go from all newspapers in New Brunswick,” De Adder tweeted. He later clarified that he had technically been under contract to work for Brunswick News Inc., and wasn’t an employee who could be fired.

The German team seemed tired in the near 90 degree heat, languid and unable to push themselves against a  more aggressive Swedish group.  Only in the final 10 minutes did the Germans go hard. By then it was too late. With Germany out of the action Team USA could meet Sweden in the final match on July 7.  In Group Play the Americans bested the Swedes 2-0 in a tough match. See Blog post 6.20.2019 when I wrote the USA “Smothered” Sweden.

Deutsche Welle 6.29.2019

Despite taking the lead in their quarterfinal against Sweden, Germany’s World Cup tournament came to an end. Sweden executed a brilliant matchplan to expose Germany’s weaknesses emege victorious 2-1.

After 24 years of not beating Germany in big tournaments, Sweden finally overcame their poor run of form to seal a deserved win. Germany are the first team to score first and not progress at this tournament.

It all started so well for Germany, when Lina Magull scored a superb scissor kick after a brilliant assist by Sara Däbritz.

That goal seemed to wake Sweden up though, and not long afterwards Marina Hegering misjudged a long ball, Sofia Jakobsson latched onto it and fired past Almuth Schult.

“We are in process, but it’s not stable yet. We have to defend better,” Martina Voss-Tecklenburg said afterwards.

From that point on, Germany looked rattled and despite cooling breaks and halftime, they couldn’t settle. Three minutes after the restart, Schult’s great save wasn’t enough to prevent Sweden from scoring as Stina Blackstenius stabbed home the rebound. Germany felt somewhat aggrieved that a tackle on Magull in the build up to the goal wasn’t seen as a foul by referee Stephanie Frappart.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg had brought on Dzsenifer Marozsan at the break, in the hope of seeing an increase in creative play but the Germany star was kept relatively quiet.

With time running out, 17-year-old talent Lena Oberdorf was thrown on and she instantly gave Germany more dynamism. Alexandra Popp got to a header but was called offside. The decision was a close one, and needed VAR to confirm. Had Popp not been offside, it seemed Germany were due a penalty as Popp was also clattered by Swedish keeper Hedvig Lindahl. (photo shown above).

“We lacked a bit of fortune, and that hurts. We lacked attacking penetration. In some passages, we weren’t clinical or brave enough. We will grow,” Voss-Tecklenburg said afterwards.

In added time, Germany had two more chances. First Oberdorf headed wide with the goal at her mercy, and then Hegering couldn’t keep her header down. It was too little, too late from this Germany team who exit the tournament having learned lessons that should see a young squad come back stronger in the future.

https://www.dw.com/en/womens-world-cup-germany-knocked-out-after-losing-to-sweden/a-49412696