Absolutely, an offensive player can commit a foul in the box, corner kick (set play) or in the “run of play.” But there’s also a lot of defenders holding (foul) offensive players that is not called a foul as well. The referee is given a lot of discretion to not call fouls in either direction in the box. Having said that, Lloyd’s play looked clean. Both Lloyd and the Chile defender were both moving towards the goal and Lloyd is allowed a landing spot when in the air.
I like to watch women’s soccer a lot more than men’s for the simple reason that the women flop a lot less, and they are not nearly so ridiculous about it when they do. The obviously-fake writhing on the ground in abject agony that the men so often engage in is largely absent from the women’s game, especially in the WC.
Maybe, but who could forget Brazilian player Erika’s blatantly fake injury in their World Cup game vs. USA in the quarters in 2011? That had to be the most satisfying karmic result I’ve ever witnessed.
https://www.holdoutsports.com/2011/07/video-did-fake-injury-costs-brazil-game.html
I don’t see Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Kelly O’Hara, Abby Dahlkemper, etc. playing to lose a game. If you’ve watched these women play the game over the years, and I’ve seen many of them play in college, then you know they’re not going to fear playing France or anyone else put in front of them.
@Nrdsb4 I’ll never forget Erika. That was historically bad acting job/performance.
If you ask my opinion, I thought the US squad took some Benadryl before the game started. They showed almost no aggressiveness and seemed to have their spirit “neutered” by all the criticism of the Thailand game, except Carli Lloyd. She doesn’t care. And I like that about her.
I will just leave this here:
@jmnva06 It’s true. People rally around the World Cup but attendance at womens’ games in their pro leagues, with the exception of a couple of teams, is pretty poor.
Did I miss the point? There is a national women’s league. The NWSL.
I should add that many of the European teams are adding women’s teams as well.
It’s satire so I think you did. 
The Nutmeg is a satirical site.
We leave on Sunday with our daughters to follow the US team in France. I’m really excited!
Oh good, I thought the writer was a moron there for a second. 
I guess my initial reaction was due to the fact that I actually watch some of the NWSL to see the USWNT players. I also tune into the WNBA sometimes to see some of the former college stars. Different perspective, I suppose, since I coached a lot of girls (and boys) sports for many years.
@sushiritto , thank you for clarifying my question about Carli Lloyd’s goal.
@Scipio , yes, much less flopping in women’s game, at the least in the one game I have watched! My dad used to watch women’s basketball rather than men’s because it was more pure and fundamental.
@Sue22 , have a great time! What an amazing opportunity for your girls.
“My dad used to watch women’s basketball rather than men’s because it was more pure and fundamental.”
That’s what John Wooden used to say too. To him all the big flashy NBA-style slam dunking and other showy moves were mostly bad basketball. He said if you wanted to see how basketball is supposed to be played, with teamwork, ball control, movement without the ball, and running plays, you should watch the women’s game.
“teamwork, ball control, movement without the ball, and running plays”
The thing is, I think the above can be found in spades in much of men’s soccer - Premier League, UEFA, World Cup, Copa America…
France and Nigeria 0-0 at half. FIFA rankings have Nigeria at #38. Upset alert!
Personally, I’d “fear” the Germans more than France.
Nigerian player double-yellow carded (red card) in a play in the box.
France misses PK, but GK came “off her line” (too far forward, GK offense) and a new PK is awarded. 2nd PK try is good. Bummer, 1-0 France. Nigeria playing with 10 players with less than 10 minutes to go. OVER.
Grrrrrrrr. Decent penalty call; ticky tacky call on the PK redo.
And there were French players in the box on the PK too. And I don’t believe the VAR (video-assistant referee) can be used to evaluate the GK coming off her line to award a PK either.
Nearly every PK ever taken, the GK will come off their line in similar fashion. Terrible. Both in French and English.
Obviously, the match was fixed for the French. 
The rule on PKs changed on June 1-- goalies only have to keep 1 foot on the line.
Everytime this happens, there is a bunch of whining. But it seems like it is getting called more consistently.