Yet, Republic of Ireland international and RTÉ pundit Stephanie Roche fears the Women’s World Cup, which began last night, will drift past most people. England winger Toni Duggan longs for the unpleasantness endemic in men’s football culture. It would be a shame, though, if progress was measured in acclimatisation to the norms of the men’s game. “Football should be about community, loyalty and inclusion — values that women’s football has in spades,” writes Kelly Welles in New Statesman. And perhaps it doesn’t really matter how many men are persuaded to tune into the World Cup.

Source: Irish Examiner June 07, 2019 23:03 UTC