Wall Street Journal (July 19)
They may have won the World Cup, but Japan’s women’s soccer team, “considered strong contenders for Olympic gold in London, had to squeeze into economy seats on a 12-hour flight to Europe this week, while members of the less successful men’s soccer team, enjoyed the plush amenities of business class further up the cabin.” Last year’s World Cup win raised “hopes that the surprise victory would change attitudes toward women playing the beautiful game in Japan,” but those hopes “appear to have been premature.”They may have won the World Cup, but Japan’s women’s soccer team, “considered strong contenders for Olympic gold in London, had to squeeze into economy seats on a 12-hour flight to Europe this week, while members of the less successful men’s soccer team, enjoyed the plush amenities of business class further up the cabin.” Last year’s World Cup win raised “hopes that the surprise victory would change attitudes toward women playing the beautiful game in Japan,” but those hopes “appear to have been premature.”
