Like I said, its that time of year again! Time for FIFA officials and media to vote on who will be the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year. And just like last year, I'l be analyzing the short list.
Abby Wambach
Hope Solo
Alex Morgan
Sonia Bompastor
Louisa Necib
Marta
Kerstin Garefrekes
Lotta Schelin
Homare Sawa
Aya Miyama
Anybody who knows their Women's soccer and is looking at this list can tell most of this was based on each player's performance in the WWC. The World Cup is very influential in deciding a player's candidacy for that year. Its seen in the Men's evaluations as well. However, many of these players had successful club seasons too. They were likely taken into account, but not as heavily as WWC performance. I'm gonna cut to the chase and give 4 people who I really think have a chance at being named a finalist.
Here we go!
Abby Wambach- I'm gonna get this out of the way now, and say, before even touching on any other nominees, that in my eyes Abby Wambach fully deserves to be the winner of the WPOTY this year. She has deserved it many years prior to 2011, but never received the award. If she doesn't get at least one in her lifetime, it will be an utter shame. She is a living legend, and is sure to go down as one of the best to play the Women's game. You don't see a player like her very often. Wambach did have somewhat of a rocky start, and she experienced a scoring drought, falling from her original goal-every-99-minutes ratio. However, much of this could be credited to her nagging achilles injury, which caused her to miss out on some matches, and also caused her pain, affecting her running and scoring abilities. As the World Cup was on the horizon, many people wondered if Wambach would be able to carry the team. Two matches into the WWC, she was already being criticized for her lack of productivity and her weakening presence. However, in the fashion of a true world class player, she stepped it up and broke her lengthy scoring drought in order to help the USA. And as many predicted, once she got that start-up goal, the flood gates opened. Wambach went on to score arguably one of the most important goals in USWNT history, and helped make one of the greatest comebacks ever seen in sports history. Her header in the 122nd minute against Brazil to tie the game and send it into penalties was a goal that sent millions around the world out of their seats, and would keep the United States from what looked like a certain Quarterfinal exit. In fact, Wambach's goal won the ESPY for Play of The Year, and has likey won some smaller accolades. This goal alone will go down in USWNT and WWC history, and sports history, too. Wambach would once again come to the USA's rescue against France. France had equalized and had put USA on the backfoot. They were commanding midfield and had the USA on a tiring defensive strategy. It looked like trouble for the USA, but once again Wambach came in and headed it home to put the USA ahead. The game changed after that. And Wambach would yet again prove to be the clutch savior, in the Final. In extra time, Japan and the USA were tied. Wambach headed in what was thought to be the winning goal to put the USA in front. Unfortunately, Japan would equalize 2 minutes before the end of ET and send it into penalties. Every single player who kicked for the USA missed their penalty. Only Wambach scored her penalty. Wambach went on to win the Silver Ball, the award for the tournamen't runner-up MVP. She would also win the Bronze Boot, having scored 4 goals in the tournament. These 4 goals put her ahead of Michelle Akers on the USWNT's WWC scoring list, making her the team's top WWC scorer in history. She was also named to FIFA's WWC All-Star team. After the World Cup, Wambach was back to her normal self in terms of scoring, despite still having the nagging heel injury. Wambach scored at least one goal in each of the two September friendlies against Canada. Also, it should be noted that Wambach had an excellent WPS season too, acting as player-coach for magicJack and taking the team to the WPS play-offs. Wambach went on to score 9 goals; just 1 goal shy of top scorer. She also joined the "hat-trick club", a select group of only a few players who have scored 3 goals in a single WPS match. With 125 goals to her name and a stellar World Cup and WPS performance, its a sin if she doesn't get a WPOTY. This is the perfect year for her to finally get what she deserves. Its a bit overdue. This was definitely a highlight year for her, and for the Women's game as well. Both the sport and Wambach herself got a lot of deserved attention and recognition in 2011.
-Do I think Wambach will get the award? I think the evidence is too stacked in her favor, that it would be absolutely absurd if she did not win it this year. I have a good feeling that she's finally going to get that WPOTY which is overdue. I see no reason why she shouldn't.
Hope Solo- After coming off of shoulder surgery, Hope Solo fought hard to push herself to be ready for the WWC. This was not an easy feat at all, but she pulled through, recovering in time to play in the World Cup, after much pain and hard work. Solo was excellent in the World Cup, making crucial saves especially in the USA's penalty shoot-out against Brazil. She held a clean sheet for the first two group games, and made many critical saves during the knockout rounds. Hope Solo was absent for much of the WPS season, so the nomination is based solely on her USWNT performance. During the World Cup, Solo received the Bronze Ball award, and also received the award for the tournamen't Best Goalkeeper. She was also named to FIFA's WWC All-Star team. Hope Solo played a huge role in the USA's World Cup success.
-In terms of Hope's chances of winning it, Goalkeepers almost never win. Hope Solo had a great year, and she is without a doubt the best GK in the women's game. However, GKs just don't win WPOTYs.
Homare Sawa- Sawa had a splendid year, scoring 5 goals in the WWC, and notching the only hat-trick in the competition as well. Sawa was undoubtedly Japan's MVP, as she equalized against the USA in Extra Time during the Final. Sawa's goals were critical and important, and they helped her team through the competition, and eventually helped them to win. She went on to win the Golden Ball (tournament MVP) and the Golden Boot.
-Sawa's chances of winning WPOTY are very high, seeing as her country won the WWC. She also grabbed individual awards, and being the tournament's MVP certainly helps.
Marta- Marta had a pretty good year, scoring 4 goals in the WWC (winning the Silver Boot), and scoring 10 in the WPS (winning the Gold Boot). However, if this makes any sense, these goals were not influential like, say, Wambach's goals. Not that she didn't have important goals in her WWC or WPS campaign, but Marta did not play as big of a role for club or country as many others on this list. I know I'm sounding completely biased but its the truth. Christine sinclair also scored 10 goals this season in WPS, and was really responsible for WNY's success and advancement. Sinclair scored the important goals. However, Marta received the golden Boot because she played one less game. If it were based on assists like it should have been, Sinclair would have won the Boot. Anyways, while Marta did have a prolific year, she did not play as big a role as many others on this list.
- Marta as always, has a decent chance at winning. I'm sure she'll be announced as a finalist. But honestly, I don't think she should, or will win the award. There are a handful of players on here who really did have stellar years, they're in a league of their own on this one. Marta is always going to be considered, and will always receive votes. She's a good player and she consistently does well. However, there are players every year who do just as well, but maybe don't have the recognition or that one stand out moment. This year is different. FIFA can't just pick Marta like always, not this year. Because this time, it really would be a farce. Marta did not have the best year out of all these nominees, and she did not do the best. Brazil was knocked out early in the WWC and did not place in a rank. Marta scored a lot, but she is not the WPOTY for 2011. Not at all.
It seems only fitting that the 3 MVP Ball winners (Gold, Silver, and Bronze) would make it to be a finalist. This group also boasts players who are top scorers, and one who was considered the WWC's top GK. The other players on the shortlist all were consistent and effective for their country during the WWC and stood out. Most all of them were named to FIFA's WWC All-Star team. However, their accolades and impact on their team's were not as great as these 4. I think the 3 finalists will be:
Abby Wambach
Homare Sawa
Marta
In terms of who wins it, I wouldn't be surprised, but I think FIFA is going to pass over Marta this year. Sawa and Wambach had much better years and much greater impacts on their respective teams. I think Wambach is going to edge out Sawa in the end, if based on all of the accolades combined, from both club and country. I just think Wambach had a better year. But I wouldn't put it past FIFA to give it to Sawa because her country won the WWC, and because she got the Golden Ball. Also, I think sympathy might play a role in the voting. We will see however, since the finalists will be announced sooner rather than later.
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